LIBYAViewing a trove of antiquitiesVisit ancient Roman...

LIBYA

Viewing a trove of antiquities

Visit ancient Roman and Greek ruins on a 12-day tour of northern Libya beginning Jan. 14. It will be led by John Rude, an English professor at East Los Angeles College.

Rude’s company, Vision Tours, is partnering with Issayan Travel, based in Benghazi, which has been leading tours in Libya for more than a decade.

Rude has led tours to East Africa, but this is his first into Libya, which until April had been closed to American travelers for two decades.

“It is a great treasure trove of Greek and Roman antiquities,” he said.

Leaving from Tripoli, the group will explore Phoenician and Roman ruins in the ancient trading-post town of Sabratha, then drive to the pre-Saharan city of Ghadames, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and to Kabaw.

Tour-goers will fly to Benghazi and spend a day at Leptis Magna, which was called the most beautiful city in the Roman Empire in the 2nd century. There will be visits to Shahhat and Apollonia, as well as boating and swimming in the Mediterranean.

Participants need to be physically fit. There is considerable walking during parts of the tour.

Cost: $2,400 per person ($300 single surcharge) includes accommodations, meals, English-speaking tour guides, entrance fees, ground transportation and internal airfare. Airfare from Los Angeles to Tripoli is not included.

Contact: Vision Tours, Los Angeles; (626) 676-1209 or www.visiontour05.com.

CALIFORNIA

Holiday travel in a rail car

RIDE the rails of yesteryear this holiday season on a fully escorted, four-day trip from Los Angeles to the San Francisco Bay, leaving on Thanksgiving or Christmas.

Passengers on the restored vintage dome car will wine and dine on holiday fare as they travel the coast route to Oakland on Nov. 25 or Dec. 25.

After a day sightseeing in San Francisco, they’ll visit Napa Valley and Sausalito.

The tour ends in Oakland with visits to the restored Paramount Theatre, Jack London Square and flights back to Southern California.

Cost: $1,099 per person, double occupancy ($190 single surcharge), includes three nights at the Hyatt Fisherman’s Wharf, eight meals, open bar on the train, tours, guides and all transportation, including return airfare and shuttles to Union Station.

Contact: AFC Tours & Cruises, San Diego; (800) 369-3693 or www.afctours.com.

YELLOWSTONE

Commune with the elk

OBSERVE herds of elk in Yellowstone National Park on a six-day winter tour by bus, snow coach and snowshoe, departing Feb. 20.

The group will travel by bus from Salt Lake City to Jackson Hole, Wyo., leaving the following day for a three-night stay at Yellowstone’s Old Faithful Snow Lodge.

They’ll spend the first day in snow coaches, a type of bus on tank-style treads, touring the park. The second day is free for exploring on skis or snowshoes or relaxing at the lodge.

An optional excursion to National Elk Ridge is available.

Cost: $1,175 per person, double occupancy ($300 single surcharge), includes airfare from Los Angeles, ground transportation, five nights’ accommodation, most meals, guides and tips.

Contact: Main Street Tours, Torrance; (800) 300-6246 or www.mainstreettours.com.

NEW YORK

‘Brooklyn’ and the real thing

SEE art and Broadway shows on a seven-day visit to Manhattan and Brooklyn, beginning Dec. 13.

The group will see the musical “Brooklyn” and two other shows and take three escorted art tours, including one to the newly expanded Museum of Modern Art and the Brooklyn Museum.

A guided bus tour will visit historical and cultural sights.

Cost: $1,795 per person, double occupancy ($700 single surcharge), includes accommodations and breakfast, airfare from Los Angeles, transfers, theater tickets and museum admissions.

Contact: Broadway Melody Tours, Pacific Palisades; (323) 227-8370.

TAHITI

Soak up sun, catch the wind

LEAVE winter behind on one of two seven-night cruises of Tahiti and the surrounding islands departing Jan. 8 or 15 aboard the Paul Gauguin.

Guests can kayak, water-ski and windsurf and take a variety of shore excursions.

Cost: $1,795 per person, double occupancy ($995 single surcharge), includes accommodations, meals with wine, gratuities, and kayaking, water-skiing and windsurfing equipment. Airfare from Los Angeles to Papeete is not included. Some excursions, such as helicopter sightseeing and scuba-diving lessons, are extra.

Contact: Radisson Seven Seas Cruises; (800) 285-1835 or www.rssc.com.

The Times is not responsible for changes to prices, dates or itineraries. Send information to Tours & Cruises, L.A. Times, 202 W. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90012, or e-mail travel@latimes.com.