Asia, Africa and Middle East

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ASIA

Bali & Singapore from $939
Singapore Airlines flights from L.A. or San Francisco to Singapore; transfers; two nights at the Peninsula Excelsior Hotel with a trolley tour and a river cruise; an onward flight to Bali; five nights in Sanur Beach, Kuta Beach, Ubud, or a mix of all three; and a full-day island tour. When: Aug. 21–Dec. 4. Other Gateways: Albuquerque, Boise, Denver, Portland, Seattle (add $180); Houston (add $200); New York (add $250); Dallas, Tulsa (add $280); Boston, Buffalo, D.C., Pittsburgh (add $300). SS: From $300. Information: Escapes Unlimited, 800/243-7227, escapesltd.com.

Bangkok & Vietnam Tour from $2,595
Air from L.A., San Francisco, or Seattle to Hanoi (via Bangkok), transfers, local transportation (bus, plane), and a 19-day tour through Vietnam. The price covers 17 nights' lodging and most meals. Spend two nights each in Bangkok, Hue, Hoi An, Nha Trang, and Dalat, three each in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and one aboard a junk in Halong Bay. When: Aug. 14–Sept. 30 ($2,595); Oct. 1–31 ($2,895); Nov. 1–Dec. 26 ($2,995). Other Gateways: Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia, Tampa (add $200). SS: $445. Information: Overseas Adventure Travel, 800/873-5628, oattravel.com.

Hong Kong from $1,189
Air from L.A. or San Francisco to Hong Kong, five nights at the BP International hotel in the Tsimshatsui district of Kowloon, and breakfasts. When: July 1–Aug. 15 (from $1,379); Aug. 16–23 (from $1,189); Aug. 24–Sept. 15 (from $1,199). Other Gateways: Dallas, Denver (add $300); Chicago, Newark, New York (add $350); Baltimore, Boston, D.C. (add $440); Atlanta, Miami (add $500). SS: $320. Information: Go-today.com, 800/227-3235, go-today.com.

South Korea & Malaysia from $1,650
Singapore Airlines flights from L.A. or San Francisco to Seoul (returning from Penang), all transfers, two nights in Seoul at the Biwon Hotel, an onward flight to Kuala Lumpur, two nights in Kuala Lumpur at the Cititel Hotel, two nights in Penang at the Hydro Majestic Hotel, a half-day tour in each city, breakfast daily, and airline fuel surcharges. When: Until Aug. 31 (add $350); Sept. 1–Dec. 4. Other Gateways: Denver, Portland, Seattle (add $175); Dallas, Houston (add $300); Boston, Chicago, D.C., Miami, New York, Philadelphia (add $350). SS: From $350. Information: Sayang Holidays, 888/472-9264, sayangholidays.com.

AFRICA & MIDDLE EAST

This month's reader report
Call of the Bushveld
"Thanks to Budget Travel, my friends and I booked a nine-day trip to South Africa for only $2,199 each!" says Timothy Coultas, of North Hollywood, Calif. "Lion World Tours took care of everything. During four days around Cape Town, we flew in a helicopter, scaled Table Mountain, tasted wine in the Stellenbosch region, visited a few townships, and saw penguins at Boulders Beach. Then we flew to Kapama Private Game Reserve, where rangers led us into the bushveld to track the Big Five. It was my best vacation." Lion World's six-night trip with airfare starts at $1,999 (800/387-2706, lionworldtravel.com).

Egypt Tour from $1,899
EgyptAir flights from New York to Cairo and a 10-day escorted tour round trip from Cairo to Luxor with transfers and local transportation (plane, bus, train), eight nights' lodging, and most meals. The price includes three nights in Cairo at the Sofitel Le Sphinx Cairo, an overnight train to Aswan with meals, and a four-night cruise on the Nile River with meals and shore excursions. When: Friday departures July 4–25 ($2,419); Aug. 1–15 ($2,299); Aug. 22 ($1,999); Aug. 29 ($1,899). Other Gateways: Baltimore, Boston, D.C. (add from $35); Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland (add from $170); L.A., San Francisco, Seattle (add from $270). SS: $389. Information: Foreign Independent Tours, 800/248-3487, fittours.com.

Morocco from $630
An eight-day escorted tour from Casablanca to Marrakech with local transportation, six nights' lodging (one night each in Casablanca, Chefchaouen, Moulay Idriss, and Marrakech, and two in Fez), an overnight train, a day trip to Tangier, and breakfasts. A payment in euros of €150 ($236) is due upon arrival. Airfare isn't covered. When: Until June 2009. SS: None. Information: Intrepid Travel, 866/847-8192, intrepidtravel.com.

Southern Africa Wildlife Tour from $995
A 10-day escorted tour from Livingstone, Zambia, to Pretoria, South Africa, with stops in Botswana's Ntwetwe Pan, Khama Rhino Sanctuary, Serowe village, and Mokolodi Nature Reserve, and South Africa's Waterberg mountain range. The price covers local transportation (bus), nine nights' lodging, guides, three game drives, and some meals. A local payment of $300 is due upon arrival. Add $250 for additional meals. International airfare isn't included. When: July 20; Aug. 17, 31; Sept. 14. SS: None. Information: G.A.P Adventures, 800/465-5600, gapadventures.com.