Trek the isles, from A to Q

EXPLORE the varied landscapes of New Zealand on 16-night trips from Auckland to Queenstown.

The tours, scheduled Nov. 19, Jan. 10 and Feb. 28, visit nature reserves and cities, glaciers and active volcanoes. They are led by “local guides who know the islands like the back of their hands,” said Caren Rapp of Eldertreks, a company that specializes in adventure travel for seniors.

Activities include bird-watching and hiking in Abel Tasman and Kahurangi national parks.

The group joins the indigenous Maori people for a traditional barbecue in a village, and members tour Parliament in Wellington. The itinerary also includes hiking at the base of the Franz Josef and Fox glaciers, cruises of Milford Sound and the Whanganui River, a chance to ride the rapids of the Tongariro River and a jet boat ride at Shotover Gorge.

Cost: $4,795 per person, double occupancy ($1,095 single surcharge), including meals, transportation, lodging and guides. International airfare is not included.

Contact: Eldertreks, Toronto, Canada; (800) 741-7956, www.eldertreks.com.

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MEXICO

Smooth sailing, smoother jazz

JAZZ it up on a cruise from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas that begins Nov 4.

The seven-day sailing, aboard the Holland America Oosterdam, features performances by contemporary jazz musicians, including radio host and saxophone player Dave Koz..

Ports of call include Puerto Vallarta and Ensenada.

Cost: $1,900 to $2,650 per person, double occupancy, including accommodations, meals and onboard entertainment. Transportation to San Diego, shore excursions, taxes, port fees and gratuities are not included.

Contact: Jazz Cruises, St. Louis; (877) 328-3569, www.jazzcruisesllc.com.

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YELLOWSTONE

Answering the call of the wild

LET it snow on a winter trip to Yellowstone National Park that begins Feb. 25.

The five-night tour features two nights in Jackson Hole, Wyo., and three at Old Faithful Snow Lodge in the park.

Participants tour the park in heated, track-driven snow buses in search of elk, moose, Canada geese and a variety of waterfowl that winter in the area.

Park rangers and naturalists lend their knowledge of the region’s history and ecology.

A trip to the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson Hole and a horse-drawn sleigh ride to the nearby National Elk Refuge are optional.

Travelers can join the tour in Salt Lake City or Jackson Hole.

Cost: $1,175 per person double occupancy ($350 single surcharge), including hotels, some meals, ground transportation, sightseeing and gratuities. Transportation from Los Angeles to Jackson Hole or Salt Lake City is not included. Sleigh ride is $18 per person.

Contact: Main Street Tours, Torrance; (310) 212-0791, www.mainstreettours.com.

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CALIFORNIA

Can the Zephyr be gift-wrapped?

HOLIDAY in vintage style on train trips to San Francisco on Nov. 23 or Dec. 25.

Travelers are served Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner in a restored California Zephyr rail car as they travel the California coast. The tour spends three nights in San Francisco. Highlights include sightseeing in the city and Napa Valley.

Cost: $1,149 per person, double occupancy ($180 single surcharge), including transportation (with return airfare to Los Angeles, Burbank, Ontario or Orange County); most meals; Napa Valley tour and home-to-airport shuttles. Taxes ($19) are not included.

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

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BRITAIN

Playful Python and Dame Judi

HIT the highlights of the London theater season on a seven-night tour that begins Dec. 28.

Tour participants will see six performances, including Monty Python’s “Spamalot,” starring Tim Curry. The group, led by arts writer Barbara Isenberg, will visit museums and meet actors, historians and critics.

The itinerary includes a visit to Stratford-upon-Avon to see Dame Judi Dench perform in “The Merry Wives: A Musical.”

Cost: $5,789 per person, double occupancy ($975 single surcharge), including round-trip airfare, hotel, some meals, excursions and transfers.

Contact: Susan Holden, Protravel International, Beverly Hills; (310) 271-9566 or (800) 301-3993, www.protravelinc.com.

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Send information to Tours & Cruises, Los Angeles Times, 202 W. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90012 or e-mail travel@latimes.com.