Tours & cruises

MARQUESAS ISLANDS

Where Gauguin escaped

Follow Paul Gauguin to Marquesas Islands' spectacular French Polynesian scenery aboard the Aranui III adventure cruise. Half cargo boat, half upscale passenger vessel, the family-owned ship has been sailing to these nine islands for more than 30 years. This means the multilingual Polynesian navigators who guide you during this 14-day voyage know where Gauguin is buried, how to find hidden jungle ruins, how best to see wild horses, and where the most impressive volcanoes, cliffs and waterfalls are.

Itinerary: Papeete to Fakarava, Ua Pou, Nuku Hiva, Hiva Oa, Fatu Hiva, Tahuata, Ua Huka, Ua Pou, Rangiroa and back to Papeete

Dates: Departures Nov. 28, Dec. 19, Jan. 12 and other dates in 2010

Price: Starting at $2,079 for shared dorm-style accommodations and $3,675 for standard double-occupancy accommodations (single supplement 50%), including daily meals with wine and most excursions, but not including taxes and optional excursions.

Contact: Compagnie Polynesienne de Transport Maritime, San Mateo, Calif.; (800) 972-7268, www.aranui.com

MALI

A little effort, then relax

Get 2010 off to a meaningful start by reserving the 17-day Give Back Kick Back mission to West Africa. You'll help pupils plant vegetables and fruit trees at their elementary school, the products of which they'll sell to buy school supplies. After that, you'll attend the annual Festival au Desert in the Sahara. Along the way, you'll see UNESCO World Heritage sites, take camel rides and dine with families.

Itinerary: Bamako to Segou, Sangha, Tireli, Douentza, Timbuktu, Essakane, Mopti, Djenne and back to Segou and Bamako

Dates: Dec. 30 to Jan. 15. Book by Nov. 15.

Price: $4,995, double occupancy (single supplement $495) including taxes, 11 nights in hotels, three nights camping, most meals, transportation in 4x4 vehicles, the services of a tour guide throughout, admission to the music festival and airport transfers. The rate does not include international airfare, gratuities or a Mali travel visa.

Contact: Give Back Kick Back, Boston; (877) 788-7625, www.givebackkickback.com

CHINA

A spree through the sights

Chase down China's highlights on China Spree's fast-paced, 10-day Golden Triangle Tour, which flies you into the capital city of Beijing, where you'll see the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace. A train trip to Xian enables a visit to the terra-cotta army, where more than 8,000 soldiers are memorialized with life-sized statues. Finally, a flight takes you into bustling Shanghai for shopping and dining.