TOURS & CRUISES

ANTARCTICA

They march, you cruise

SEE more than emperor penguins on a voyage to Antarctica that begins Feb. 7.

The 12-night cruise, aboard the 98-passenger expedition ship Explorer, will travel through the narrow channels of Antarctica during the peak wildlife season, sailing the Weddell Sea, Antarctic Sound and the Danco Coast.

“It’s a rarity to see all three sides of the Antarctic peninsula,” said Dave German of Fathom Expeditions. The group also will visit Elephant Island, where a large group of penguins was sighted last year, he said. Participants can expect to see orca, minke and humpback whales.

Besides wildlife viewing, the cruise will feature photography seminars, day hikes and discussions of the area’s natural history with explorer Dave Hahn.

Participants go ashore on inflatable rafts to see penguins, climb extinct volcanoes and retrace parts of the routes of Ernest Shackleton’s historic expeditions in the early 20th century.

At the end of each day participants sit down to a good meal and some Argentine wines, German said. “You don’t need to rough it too much.”

Cost: $4,595 to $7,995 ($2,300 to $4,000 single surcharge) depending on cabin, including accommodations on board; hotel in Ushuaia, Argentina; meals, group activities and excursions; port dues and taxes; and landing fees. International airfare and gratuities are not included.

Contact: Fathom Expeditions, Toronto, Canada; (800) 621-0176, www.fathomexpeditions.com.

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CALIFORNIA

Making tracks in Sierra snow

SNOWSHOE and ski cross-country in the High Sierra with the Sierra Club. The five-day tour of Tahoe National Forest begins Jan. 22.

Participants stay at the club’s alpine-style lodge near Donner Pass, take guided outings in the forest and to historic sites in the area on skis or snowshoes and spend a day cross-country skiing at Royal Gorge.

“What makes skiing and snowshoeing here so special is that you have the trails virtually to yourselves, “ said Tanya Tschesnok of the Sierra Club. “Most of the time, you are skiing or snowshoeing through fresh snow on deserted wilderness trails.”

Skiers can warm themselves by the fire in the large living room or soak sore muscles in a hot tub under the stars.

Members help with meal preparation in the communal dining hall and furnish their own sleeping bags and towels. Sleeping rooms are mostly small and rustic with bunks or a double bed.

Cost: $745 per person, including accommodations, meals, guides and basic ski and snowshoe instruction. Transportation from Los Angeles and ski and snowshoe rentals are not included. Mandatory membership fees start at $15.

Contact: The Sierra Club, San Francisco; (415) 977-5522, www.sierraclub.org/outings/national.

The Times is not responsible for tour changes. 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.