TOURS & CRUISES

CHINA

In deep on rafting adventure

RIDE the rapids of the Great Bend of the upper Yangtze River on February trips to China.

The 12-day trips, which depart Feb. 8 and 20, include eight days of river rafting.

“The Great Bend of the Yangtze is about 2 miles deep,” said tour representative James Ellsworth of Mountain Travel Sobek. “You have eight days of class-four or higher river rapids.”

Participants meet in Kunming, then fly to Lijiang, where they tour the ancient city and nearby temples. From there, the group drives to Tiger Leaping Gorge and hikes to the area where participants will begin the raft trip.

Cost: $3,690 to $4,090 per person, double occupancy ($500 single surcharge), including lodging (three nights’ hotels and eight nights’ camping), internal flights, ground transportation, most meals, rafting guides, equipment, and medical and evacuation insurance. International airfare from Los Angeles to China is not included.

Contact: Mountain Travel Sobek, Emeryville, Calif.; (888) 687-6235, www.mtsobek.com.

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INDIA

Two compass points, 20 nights

EXPLORE India north and south on a 20-night trip that begins Feb. 8.

The tour, which travels from Chennai (Madras) to the holy city of Varanasi, will be led by Simon George, an Indian-born professor at Cal State Long Beach.

The itinerary will include Trivandrum, Cochin, Mumbai (Bombay), Aurangabad, Udaipur, Jaipur, Agra and Delhi.

Cost: $7,490 per person, double occupancy ($2,230 single surcharge), including round-trip airfare from Los Angeles, hotels, meals, ground transportation, entrance fees and lectures, and airport transfers.

Contact: World View Tours, Lakewood; (800) 373-0388, www.worldviewtours.com.

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CALIFORNIA

A backcountry trek for singles

SKI the backcountry of Mammoth on a three-night trip with Sierra Club singles.

The bus trip, which begins Feb. 3, leaves Orange County and stops in the San Fernando Valley before traveling to Mammoth Lakes.

Participants can ski at their own pace or take guided backcountry ski or snowshoe tours. Lessons with certified instructors are available.

Cost: $240 per person, double occupancy, including ground transportation from Orange County or the Valley, lodging, meals and happy hour. Membership fees, which start at $25, are not included.

Contact: The Sierra Club, Angeles Chapter, Huntington Beach; (714) 963-6345; www.angeles.sierraclub.org/ocss.

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