Women get back to nature and cook

CAST away, then poach, saute or flambe your catch on an ocean fishing and gourmet cooking adventure, starting May 16, in southeastern Alaska.

The five-night expedition, for women only, includes fishing every morning in the waters near Sitka on Baranof Island. Tour participants spend afternoons with a chef learning to prepare Northwestern cuisine before sitting down to dine on the catch of the day.

The temperate rain forest around Sitka “is especially beautiful in May,” said Chuck McNamee, who runs Angling Unlimited, the outfitter offering the tour. “The mountains come straight out of the water. The peaks are covered with snow.

“It’s also a great time to fish,” he said. “And the groups that come up here all bond with each other.”

On the fourth day, participants have the option to put down their poles and go on a wildlife excursion, “but most get hooked on the fishing,” McNamee said.

Cost: $1,545 per person, double occupancy ($375 single surcharge), including lodging, meals, fishing with captain and crew, daily transfers, airport transfers, bait and tackle, fish processing and Alaska fishing license. Transportation from Los Angeles is not included.

Contact: Angling Unlimited, Sitka; (800) 297-3380, www.anglingunlimited.com.

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NEVADA

Perfect for petroglyphs

HAVE a hot time in the Valley of Fire State Park, 30 minutes north Las Vegas.

May 13 is the last date this season to take a free guided tour of the state park, which has more than 100 panels of ancient petroglyphs 800 to 2,000 years old. The tour of the sites in the valley takes about three hours.

An optional visit to the Lost City Museum in Overton, Nev., is available after the tour.

Cost: Free; $2 per person museum entry fee.

Contact: Nevada Rock Art Foundation, Reno; (775) 315-5497, www.nevadarockart.org.

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TURKEY

Ancient meets the modern

STROLL ancient streets and study the history and culture of Turkey, often characterized as the bridge between the east and the west.

The 14-night tour, which starts July 3, stops in Istanbul, Gallipoli, Ayvalik and the Aegean resort town of Kusadasi and spends five days cruising the Aegean Islands aboard a traditional Turkish gulet, the Blue Voyage.

Charles Frazee, a retired Cal State Fullerton history professor, leads the group. He has traveled to Turkey many times in 35-plus years.

Cost: $5,890 per person, double occupancy ($1,480 single surcharge), including round-trip airfare from Los Angeles, hotels and ship accommodations, most meals, entrance fees and taxes.

Contact: East West International Tours, Laguna Beach; (800) 359-6719, www.eastwest-tours.com.

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BRITAIN

From London to Scotland

HIT the highlights of England and Scotland on a road trip from London to Glasgow.

The seven-night tours depart Mondays from April 30 to Oct. 15.

Travelers visit the Tower of London and other famous sites in the capital.

On their way to the Cotswolds they stop to see the 18th century Baroque confection, Blenheim Palace.

Next they take a walking tour of Chester, then drive through the Lake District on their way to Edinburgh, Scotland.

Cost: $2,021 per person, double occupancy ($425 single surcharge), including airfare from Los Angeles to London and Glasgow to Los Angeles, hotels, some meals and ground transportation.

Contact: Adventure Vacations, La Jolla; (800) 600-5587, adventurevacationsinc.com.

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GREECE

Isle to isle, at your leisure

ISLAND hop by yacht on a seven-day cruise from Athens.

The 40-passenger H&B; sets sail Fridays between May and October to the islands of Mikonos, Thira and the Kiklades.

Cruising times are generally about four to five hours each day. Stops in the Kiklades include the islands of Tinos and Siros.

For the remainder of the day, the ship is docked, and participants can explore the islands, swim or sample the taverns and nightlife.

Cost: $1,375 to $1,495 per person, double occupancy ($300 single surcharge), including cabin accommodations, most meals, and airport transfers in Athens. International airfare and port taxes are not included.

Contact: Vikings Yacht Cruises, Wilmington, N.C.; (800) 341-3030, www.vikings.gr.

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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 e-mail travel@latimes.com.