Tours & Cruises
SWITZERLAND
Trekking tour
Led by mountaineering specialists, Mountain Travel Sobek’s “Hiking the Bernese Alps: Eiger, Monch & Jungfrau†takes in the majestic Bernese Oberland with strenuous hikes. Experiences include descending by cable car into Lauterbrunnen Valley and ascending to the Kleine Scheidegg via cog-wheel train. Accommodations include a charming farmhouse in Bundalp.
Itinerary: Geneva to Crans-Montana, Lake Tzeurier, Simmenfälle, Lenk, Lourantse, Engstligenalp, Kandersteg, Kiental, Mürren, Wengen, Grindelwald and back to Geneva
Dates: Aug. 20-28, 2011; and Aug. 4-12 and Aug. 25-Sept. 2, 2012
Price: From $3,495, double occupancy (single supplement $300), including lodging, most meals, guides, airport transfers, ground transportation, hotel gratuities, entrance fees and basic insurance. The price does not include international airfare.
Info: Mountain Travel Sobek, Emeryville, Calif.; (888) 831-7526; https://www.mtsobek.com
COSTA RICA
Pedal power
The weeklong “Bike, Hike and Paddle Multi-Sport†excursion in Costa Rica from ExperiencePlus weaves rain forest hiking and white-water rafting into a cycling tour. Local naturalists lead much of the trip, which includes a visit to Arenal Volcano.
Itinerary: San José to the Orosi and Reventazón valleys, Turrialba, Angostura Lake, the Pacuare River, SarapiquÃ, Tirimbina Biological Reserve, La Fortuna, Lake Arenal and back to San José
Dates: Departures Sept. 1, Nov. 19 and Dec. 27, plus eight dates in 2012
Price: $2,295, double occupancy (single supplement $500), including lodging, most meals, ground transit, bicycle rental and guided excursions and activities. The price does not include airfare.
Info: ExperiencePlus, Fort Collins, Colo.; (800) 685-4565, https://www.experienceplus.com
PALM SPRINGS
‘Entourage’ escape
The soon-to-end HBO show is the inspiration for the Riviera Palm Springs resort’s “Entourage Final Escape†package. It includes a casino tour by chauffeured limo, a one-day cabana rental, a round at Escena Golf Club, a hearty breakfast with Bloody Marys, a steak dinner at Circa 59, plus martinis and cigars.
Dates: Available through Sept. 18 (with certain blackout dates)
Price: Starting at $1,287 a night, double occupancy ($637 a person for an additional room), not including food or beverages in the cabana.
Info: Riviera Palm Springs, Palm Springs; (866) 588-8311
NEPAL
Turn the page
Myths & Mountains’ literacy-themed “Read Nepal: Mountains, Monkeys and Books†includes temple and monastery visits, elephant-top monkey-spotting and canoe views of indigenous birds — as well as visits to small libraries to learn how their presence improves villages. There’s time to meet the board of the nonprofit Read, a group of Nepali intellectuals and artists.
Itinerary: Katmandu to Patan, Bhaktapur, Swayambhunath, Pashupatinath, Boudhanath, Pokhara, Syangja, Jomson, Tukuche, Pokhara, Royal Chitwan National Park, Jhuwani and back to Katmandu
Dates: Oct. 23-Nov. 2; custom dates are available
Price: From $2,995, double occupancy (single supplement $485), including lodging, most meals, in-country flights, ground transfers, guide-led excursions and entrance fees. The price does not include international airfare, gratuities or a mandatory $300 donation to the nonprofit READ.
Info: Myths & Mountains, Incline Village, Nev.; (800) 670-6984, https://www.mythsandmountains.com
—Avital Binshtock
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