Asia, Africa and Middle East

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ASIA

Deal of the month! A River Runs Through It
Autumn is an ideal time to visit India: The passing of the summer monsoons means the average temperature cools from a scorching 99 degrees to a more bearable 88 degrees. Traveling in October also means you might catch another seasonal event: the celebration of the Hindu New Year, Diwali. Hindus mark the five-day festival—which begins on October 28 in 2008—by lighting diyas, small earthenware oil lamps, in honor of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. The lamps are often floated across the Ganges River and placed outside temples and homes. Even if you miss Diwali itself, OAT's 17-day itinerary through India will take you to Varanasi, a site of Hindu rituals all year round.

India Tour from $4,095
Air from New York to New Delhi (via London), transfers and local transportation, and a 17-day tour round trip from New Delhi with 15 nights' lodging and most meals. Spend three nights each in New Delhi and Jaipur; two each near Ranthambore National Park, in Agra, and in Varanasi; and one each near Geejgarh, in Khajuraho, and in Gurgaon. When: Until Dec. 30. Other Gateways: L.A., San Francisco ($4,345). SS: $995. Information: Overseas Adventure Travel, 800/873-5628, oattravel.com.

Bali from $1,090
China Airlines flights from L.A. or San Francisco to Bali (via Taipei); five nights at the beachfront Puri Santrian Hotel, on the southeastern coast of the island; and breakfast daily. Add $24 for round-trip transfers. A half-day tour of Ubud is $41 more; add $40 for a sunset dinner cruise. Fuel surcharges are an extra $370. When: Oct. 1–Nov. 30, Jan. 24–Mar. 31 ($1,090); Dec. 1–11, Dec. 25–Jan. 15 ($1,330). Other Gateways: New York (add $150); Chicago, D.C. (add $300); Miami (add $350). SS: From $230. Information: China Silk Tours, 800/945-7960, chinasilktours.com.

Cambodia, Laos & Singapore from $1,849
Singapore Airlines flights from L.A. or San Francisco to Siem Reap, Cambodia (via Seoul or Tokyo and returning from Singapore), and an 11-day tour of Cambodia, Laos, and Singapore. Spend three nights each in Siem Reap (the city near Angkor Wat) and Luang Prabang, two in Vientiane, and one in Singapore. The price includes transfers and local transportation (van, plane), a tour of Angkor Wat, a Mekong Delta cruise, and breakfasts. Add $460 for fuel surcharges. When: Until Dec. 5. Other Gateways: Denver, Phoenix, Seattle (add $200); Dallas, Houston (add $300); Chicago, Miami, New York, St. Louis (add $350). SS: From $445. Information: Sayang Holidays, 888/472-9264, sayangholidays.com.

China Tour from $1,599
Air China flights from L.A. to Beijing (returning from Shanghai) and a 12-day tour from Beijing with stops in Xi'an, Hangzhou, Suzhou, and Shanghai. The price includes transfers and local transportation, 10 nights' hotel, entrance fees, and all meals. Highlights include the Summer Palace and Forbidden City in Beijing, the terra-cotta warriors and horses in Xi'an, and the Great Wall of China. Add $515 for taxes and fuel surcharges. When: Monday departures Oct. 6-27, Dec. 15, 22 ($1,999); Nov. 10, 17, Dec. 1, 29 ($1,599). Other Gateways: New York (add $60). SS: $475. Information: Champion Holidays, 800/868-7658, china-discovery.com.

Hong Kong & Bangkok from $1,259
Air from L.A. to Hong Kong (via Seoul, returning from Bangkok), three nights at the BP International hotel in the Tsim Sha Tsui district of Kowloon, an onward flight to Bangkok, three nights at the Narai Hotel on Silom Road, and breakfasts. Add from $25 for a half-day city and temple tour of Bangkok. Add from $38 for a Hong Kong city tour. Transfers are an extra $146. Includes fuel surcharges. When: Oct. 13 ($1,379); Nov. 10 ($1,299); Dec. 8 ($1,599); Jan. 12, Feb. 9, Mar. 9 ($1,259). Other Gateways: Chicago (add from $286), Atlanta (add from $317), New York (add from $432). SS: From $87. Information: Gate 1 Travel, 800/682-3333, gate1travel.com.

Phuket, Thailand from $1,409
Cathay Pacific Airways flights from L.A. to Phuket (via Hong Kong); transfers; 12 nights at Deevana Patong Resort & Spa, a 10-minute walk from Patong Beach; and breakfasts. Add $441 for fuel surcharges. When: Oct. 1–31 ($1,409); Nov. 1–Dec. 9 ($1,669); Dec. 10–23 ($2,309). Other Gateways: New York (add $60), San Francisco (add $150), Chicago (add $400). SS: From $349. Information: Goway Travel, 800/387-8850, goway.com.

AFRICA & MIDDLE EAST

Mix It Up in Morocco
Djoser USA, the U.S.-based offshoot of Dutch travel company Djoser, organizes and leads group tours to far-flung destinations like Morocco and Myanmar. Tours are typically geared toward—and composed of—Belgian and Dutch tourists, but the company reserves four spots per trip for Americans and offers private tours for groups as small as two. In honor of its 10th anniversary this year, Djoser is giving away a Pacsafe backpack worth $140 to every traveler who books a trip by December 31.

Morocco from $4,070
Air from New York to Casablanca, transfers and local transportation, and a 13-day escorted tour round trip from Casablanca to Rabat, Beni Mellal, Zagora, Aït-Ben-Haddou, Fez, and Marrakech. The price includes 11 nights' lodging, breakfasts, and dinner at Rick's Café in Casablanca. Add $285 for fuel surcharges. When: Oct. 1–Nov. 30 ($4,070); Dec. 1–10 ($4,320); Dec. 11–Jan. 4 ($4,420). Other Gateways: L.A., Miami ($4,295). SS: $550. Information: Djoser USA, 877/356-7376, djoserusa.com.

Kenya Safari from $2,799
Virgin Atlantic Airways flights from Boston, Chicago, D.C., L.A., Miami, or San Francisco to London; Kenya Airways flights from London to Nairobi; all transfers and local transportation; and a 10-day tour through Kenya. Spend one night in Nairobi before embarking on a seven-day safari with guides, seven game drives, most meals, and stops in Masai Mara Game Reserve, Lake Nakuru National Park, and Amboseli National Park. Add from $232 for fuel surcharges. When: Oct. 1–Dec. 15. Other Gateways: None. SS: $350. Information: 2Afrika, 866/462-2374, 2afrika.com.

Namibia Camping Safari from $1,506
A 12-day escorted tour round trip from Windhoek with local transportation, 11 nights' lodging (tent, hotel), all meals, camping gear, park fees, eight game drives, and a guide. Spend two nights each in Swakopmund, the Namib Desert, Epupa Falls, and Etosha National Park, and one night each in Sossusvlei, the Skeleton Coast, and Palmwag. International airfare isn't included. When: Oct. 7, 21; Nov. 4, 18; Dec. 2, 16, 30. SS: None. Information: Premier Tours, 800/545-1910, premiertours.com.

South Africa Road Trip from $2,999
South African Airways flights from Baltimore, D.C., or New York to Cape Town (via Johannesburg); an 11-day car rental with insurance and unlimited mileage; 10 nights' accommodations; six game drives; and some meals. Spend three nights each in Cape Town and the Amakhala Game Reserve (within a malaria-free region of the country), two nights in the coastal town of Knysna, and one night each in the wine regions of Franschhoek and Klein Karoo. Upgrade your rental to an automatic transmission for $179 more. The price includes fuel surcharges. When: Oct. 1–15 ($3,099); Oct. 16–31 ($3,299); Nov. 1–30 ($3,399); Dec. 1–6 ($2,999); Dec. 7–23 ($3,999); Dec. 24–31 ($3,699). Other Gateways: Atlanta, Boston (add $50); Miami (add $100); L.A., San Francisco, Seattle (add $125). SS: $1,199. Information: Foreign Independent Tours, 800/248-3487, fittours.com.