Black Forest and Rhine River on Foot and Bike

Horizons Adventures of a Lifetime is offering two combination hiking and biking tours of the Black Forest and Rhine River regions of Germany, starting June 14 and June 21.

The seven-day tour of the Black Forest and Rhine River includes overnight stays in Rudesheim, Baden-Baden and Hinterzarten. Highlights of the tour include: bicycling along the Rhine River past fortresses, terraced vineyards and villages, as well as hiking and biking through sections of the northern and southern Black Forest around several Alpine lakes and past many typical Black Forest houses.

Also included in the tour is a boat ride from St. Goar to Rudesheim, and visits to several wine taverns in the Rhine River region and the baths in Baden-Baden.

All levels of ability are welcome.

Cost: $1,795 per person, double occupancy, including accommodations, meals, bilingual guides, use of 21-speed Trek hybrid bikes and support van to transport luggage. Air fare is extra.

Contact: Horizons Adventures of a Lifetime, P.O. Box 670565, Marietta, GA 30066; telephone (800) 246-3180.

Hiking New Zealand

Join the Gurnham Group on their annual hiking tour of New Zealand March 13 to 28. This trips includes both the North and South islands starting in Auckland and culminating in Christchurch. On the North Island, members will take a half-a-day city tour of Auckland and a full-day excursion to the Bay of Islands, which includes a jet boat ride to the historical village of Russell.

After a flight to Picton on the South Island, guests will stay at a hidden wilderness resort to take a canoe ride or a hike for views of Marlborough Sound. After a vineyard visit, members head to Greymouth for hiking up the Franz Joseph Glacier with a local guide.

Continuing farther south, the tour passes numerous waterfalls and lakes, stopping in Wanaka and Queenstown before arriving in Te Anau to begin a four-day trek on the Milford Track, which finishes at mile-high Mitre Peak on Milford Sound and the Tasman Sea.

For those who want a less strenuous itinerary, there is an alternate touring and shopping plan for these few days. After a day in Queenstown, guests visit Mt. Cook and then move on across the Canterbury Plains for an overnight on a local farm.

Cost: $2,295 per person, double occupancy, including lodging with breakfast daily, airport transfers, all ground transportation, two boat rides and guide services. Air fare is not included.

Contact: The Gurnham Group, 11950 Ventura Blvd., Suite 4, Studio City, CA 91604; tel. (800) 475-0004.

Christmas in Bavaria

Two seven-night escorted tours (departing Dec. 6 and Dec. 12) will take participants to some of Europe’s largest Christmas markets. Excursions take visitors to Rothenburg and Nuremberg, Germany, and Salzburg, Austria. They will also visit Linderhof Castle near Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, and the Nymphenburg Palace in Munich, Germany.

Cost: $829 per person, based on double occupancy. The package includes four-star hotel accommodations in Munich, daily buffet breakfast, entrance fees, a farewell dinner at Hofbrauhaus in Munich, motor-coach transportation and hotel service charges and taxes. Air fare is not included.

Contact: Jet Vacations; tel. (800) JET-0999.

Baja Christmas

Christmas Across the Border, a four-day tour to Ensenada, Baja California, is a casual celebration of the season. Guests will have lunch at the Cave of the Tigers, tour Ensenada’s sea geyser and have Christmas dinner at El Rey Sol Restaurant. The tour departs Tuesday, Dec. 23.

Cost: $159 per person, double occupancy, including round-trip transportation from San Diego, three nights’ accommodations at Hotel Villa Marina, some meals and tours.

Contact: Baja California Tours, 7734 Herschel Ave., Suite O, La Jolla, CA 92037; tel. (619) 454-7166.

Dancing With Wolves

Join experienced predator researchers for a week in Yellowstone National Park watching wolves Dec. 28 to Jan. 4. Participants will learn from Yellowstone Wolf Restoration Project leader Douglas Smith the dynamics of the wolf packs he follows and the challenges involved in restoring wolf populations to Yellowstone. Guests will celebrate New Year’s Eve at Mammoth Hot Springs with food and champagne. The tour is limited to 16 participants.

Expect very cold temperatures and true winter conditions. While cross-country skiing is encouraged, the focus of the trip is on viewing wolves and other wildlife; skiing is not essential to viewing the animals.

Cost: $1,695 per person, double occupancy, including all accommodations, meals, airport transfers and ground transportation, park fees, professional guides, and New Year’s celebration, including food and champagne. Air fare is not included. The tour begins in Bozeman, Mont.

Contact: Off the Beaten Path; tel. (800) 445-2995.

Down the Mekong

An 18-day journey departing Jan. 28 will take adventure travelers along the valley of the Mekong River from its rapids in the Golden Triangle (area where Laos, Myanmar and Thailand come together) to its waterfalls near the Laos border.

Participants will fly to Bangkok on Thai Airways, take an overnight train to Chiang Rai (Thailand) and then travel overland to the Mekong. Travel is by native sampan, minibus and plane to visit ethnic minority villages, Buddhist shrines, ruins, the cities of Luang Prabang, Vientiane and Pakse in Laos, and the waterfalls of the Four Thousand Islands (Laos). Accommodations vary from superior hotels in the cities to basic hotels along the river.

Cost: $3,495 per person, double occupancy, including all air (from LAX) and land transportation, accommodations, sightseeing and meals.

Contact: Ivanhoe Travel, 1012 Grand Ave., San Diego, CA 92109; tel. (619) 272-8747.

Irish Scenery

The World of Hibernia Tours is offering a tour to Ireland May 19 to 29. Itinerary highlights include Dublin, Kilkenny, Caterwaul, Kerry and the treasures of Glin Castle. Guests on this 10-day tour stay at several unique hotels, including the Shelbourne, Mount Juliet, Sheen Falls Lodge and Adare Manor Hotel.

Cost: $4,635 per person, double occupancy, including air fare on Aer Lingus from New York or Chicago, hotels, some meals and entrance fees.

Contact: Taylor Made Travel; tel. (800) 653-8808.

Classic Egypt

The Mysteries and Treasures of Ancient Egypt is a trip hosted by the Classical Alliance of the Western States. Departure is on Dec. 20 and guests return Jan. 3. Participants fly to Cairo, travel to upper Egypt to take a cruise on the Nile from Luxor (for a Christmas celebration) to Isna, Idfu and Aswan with a flight excursion to Abu Simbel.

Next, guests travel to the Red Sea and sail for a day, venture into the Sinai to visit the Monastery of St. Catherine and enjoy the final days with a New Year’s party in Cairo.

Cost: $3,898 per person, double occupancy, including Sheraton hotels and cruise ship, and private deluxe motor coach for all excursions.

Contact: Charles Smith, The Classical Alliance of the Western States, 3755 Avocado Blvd., No. 407, La Mesa, CA 91941; tel. (888) 670-5799.

Singles’ Costa Rica

Travel with other singles on an eight-day tour of Costa Rica March 28 to April 4. Highlights of the tour include a boat ride to explore an island, an aerial tram trip over the rain forest, a visit to the active Paos volcano, a train ride to a banana plantation, a visit to a butterfly farm and an optional river-rafting adventure.

Cost: $1,979 per person, including round-trip air fare from Los Angeles, breakfasts daily and seven other meals, accommodations in San Jose, local tour guide, transfers and tours.

Contact: Mimi Fane of Parties Etc.; tel. (714) 731-3399, or Jeffrey at SST Tours; tel. (888) 788-9152.

The Times is not responsible for changes in prices, dates or itineraries. These should be confirmed with cruise lines, travel agents or tour operators.