Travel: Tours and cruises

RUSSIA

Landmark sites

History professor Bob Feldman leads “The Changing Face of Russia,” with tour highlights featuring a ballet in St. Petersburg, a folk dance performance in Moscow and dinner at a Russian family’s home. It also hits the Kremlin, the Hermitage (Feldman’s guests get a special tour of the Gold Rooms) and important cathedrals and palaces.

Itinerary: Moscow and St. Petersburg

Dates: Sept. 15-26

Price: $5,990, double occupancy (single supplement $1,290), including airfare from Los Angeles, lodging, transportation, guided sightseeing via motorcoach, most meals, lectures, entrance fees and taxes

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

TURKEY

Insiders’ tour

The Santa Barbara Museum of Art has enlisted art historian Nigel McGilchrist to lead “Hidden Treasures of Turkey.” McGilchrist’s itinerary sidesteps tourist haunts in favor of little-known but worthwhile spots such as the Tektek Mountains’ astrological temples. The journey also includes an insiders’ tour of Ankara, plus Mardin’s notable architecture, Gaziantep’s refined cuisine and a customized look at Istanbul, including the Hagia Sophia.

Itinerary: Ankara to Cappadocia, Gaziantep, Sanl?urfa, Mardin, Nemrut Dag and Istanbul

Dates: Sept. 17-Oct. 1

Price: $5,720, double occupancy (single supplement $1,385), including lodging, most meals, excursions, admissions and all transportation within Turkey (including flights and airport transfers). The price does not include international airfare or a $350 museum donation.

Info: Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Santa Barbara; (805) 884-6436, https://www.sbma.net/travel

GUATEMALA

Cooking and crafts

Escalle & Co.’s “Culinary & Shopping Tour” visits a UNESCO World Heritage site, as well as women’s cooperatives where travelers are introduced to traditional crafts. Experiences include a jewelry-making demonstration, cooking class and native art shopping trip.

Itinerary: Antigua, Guatemala, to Chichicastenango, Lake Atitlán and villages surrounding the lake

Dates: Oct. 6-14

Price: $795, double occupancy (single supplement $300), including eight nights’ lodging, shuttle and boat transfers, tours, some meals, entrance fees, gratuities and a $150 donation to women’s and children’s charities. The price does not include airfare.

Info: Escalle & Co., Irvine; (949) 387-7163, https://www.sellin.com/GCFR/11S.html

PORTUGAL AND SPAIN

River cruise

Uniworld’s 11-day “Portugal, Spain & the Douro River Valley” tour and cruise aboard a 128-person vessel sails the Douro River Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage location. Guided tours take travelers through Lisbon and the region’s many ancient vineyards, farms and villages.

Itinerary: Lisbon, Coimbra, Porto, Bitetos, Régua and Pinhão, Portugal; Salamanca, Spain; Castelo Rodrigo and Guimarães, Portugal; and back to Porto

Dates: Multiple departures through Nov. 10

Price: Starting at $2,799, double occupancy (single supplement starts at $1,499, though waived on Aug. 11 and Nov. 3 and 10 departures), including airport transfers, three nights in Lisbon, stateroom accommodations during the seven-night cruise, most meals and beverages (including alcohol) and 10 guided shore excursions. The price does not include port charges ($112) or airfare.

Info: Uniworld, Los Angeles; (800)733-7820, https://www.uniworld.com

— Avital Binshtock

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