TOURS & CRUISES

Culture galore in Andalusia

Sip sangria on an Andalusian beach, explore the cobblestone streets of a hillside fishing village or learn to dance the flamenco on a lodging-and-learning tour to Spain.

The seven-night tours are designed to immerse visitors in the culture of Andalusia. Participants will stay in a cliff-top parador in the ancient walled town of Ronda, visiting Seville, Cadiz and Jerez.

“It’s a region where white villages perch on hillsides, where celebrities go to play at trendy resorts and where sherry is king,” said tour representative Dick Griffith.

Moorish Andalusia will be explored during visits to Seville and two other historic cities, Cadiz and Jerez. Cadiz is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the Western world. Jerez de la Frontera is known for its wine and sherry vintages.

A day trip to Gibraltar and visits to Marbella on the Costa del Sol are among the excursions offered during the trip, which includes educational programs featuring local experts.

Departures are scheduled on March 22 and 29, April 19, May 10 and 31, June 21, Sept. 6 and Oct. 11 and 18.

Cost: $2,995 to $3,495 per person, double occupancy (single surcharge $250), including round-trip airfare from LAX, accommodations, three meals daily, baggage handling, ground transportation and excursions.

Contact: AHI International, Rosemont, Ill.; (800) 323-7373, www.ahitravel.com.

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GREECE

Study the islands on a private yacht

Sail the islands of the gods this spring on a weeklong cruise through the Aegean Sea aboard a private yacht. The trip is sponsored by the Santa Barbara Museum of Art.

The April 21 voyage, on the 17-cabin yacht Callisto, has stops in Rodos (Rhodes), Crete, Thira (Santorini), Delos and Mikonos. There also will be visits to three islands off the beaten path: Karpathos, Simi and Tilos.

Accompanying the group will be Stephen V. Tracy of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens.

Cost: $6,395 per person (no single surcharge), including accommodation for one night in Athens, air transportation from Athens to Rodos, seven-night cruise, all meals aboard ship and wine, beer and soft drinks, port taxes and gratuities. Round-trip airfare to Greece is not included.

Contact: Santa Barbara Museum of Art; (805) 884-6436, www.sbmuseart.org/travel.

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FRANCE

Normandy, Paris, Monet and more

MaKE the French connection on a 10-day tour to Paris, Normandy and the Loire Valley.

The May 7 trip will include a visit to the home and gardens of Claude Monet in Giverny; other stops in the region will be Rouen and Deauville, the landing beaches of Arromanches and the American Cemetery.

The group will also visit Le Mont-St.-Michel and the Loire Valley, where it will stay in an 18th century castle. Three days will be spent in Paris.

Cost: $2,499 per person, double occupancy (single surcharge $900), including round-trip airfare from LAX, accommodations, some meals and guided sightseeing.

Contact: Hermes Travel & Tours Inc., Torrance; (310) 791-5556, www.hermestoursonline.com.

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SWITZERLAND

Scenic Alpine villages and city sights

Explore the Alpine villages, high mountains and fields of edelweiss that Switzerland is known for on a 12-day trip with San Diego State University.

The July 3 trip, organized by the school’s Continuing Education Center at Rancho Bernardo, includes visits to Lucerne, Zurich, Gstaad, Zermatt and Interlaken.

Cost: $3,223 per person, double occupancy (single surcharge $427), including home pickup, international round-trip airfare, most meals, sightseeing and paid admissions.

Contact: Bee St. Clair; (858) 674-4330.

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CROATIA,

SLOVENIA, ITALY

World Heritage cities and history

Explore the Dalmatian Coast on a 15-day European tour that visits several UNESCO World Heritage cities.

The June 22 trip includes Dubrovnik, Hvar and Pula, Croatia; and Bled, Slovenia. It will end in Venice, Italy. Charles Frazee, a professor emeritus at Cal State Fullerton, will lead the tour.

Cost: $4,390 per person, double occupancy (single surcharge $580), including round-trip airfare from LAX, accommodations, two meals daily, transfers, porterage and taxes.

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

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 [email protected].