A Cultural Journey to Senegal for $1,395
Senegal's pretty beaches and oceanfront resorts are popular with European tourists, but for many African-Americans a trip to the Senegalese capital of Dakar is more of a pilgrimage than a holiday. Its strategic position at the westernmost edge of the African continent once made it the very heart of the slave trade. A visit to nearby Gorée Island--from which an estimated 20 million slaves were shipped to the New World between the early 16th century and the mid-18th century--is at the top of every itinerary. "A trip to Dakar can also be a homecoming celebration," says Kenneth Hieber, president of 2Afrika. In addition to city tours, he arranges language courses, art classes, and even renaming ceremonies. "Many clients have told me that they've come back to the U.S. with a fuller knowledge of just who they are." 2Afrika's eight-day package includes flights from New York to Dakar (via Madrid) on Spanish airline Iberia, transfers, five nights at the three-star Hôtel Ganalé, breakfast daily, and a half-day city tour. When Until Oct. 31 and Dec. 15--31 ($1,595); Nov. 1--Dec. 14 and Jan. 1--March 31, 2006 ($1,395). Other Gateways Boston (add $50), Chicago (add $95), Miami (add $100). Details Extra nights $55. Single supplement $135. Add two days in The Gambia for $375, including transfers and a night at the four-star Atlantic Resort. Contact 2Afrika, 866/462-2374, 2afrika.com.

Southern Africa Camping Safari for $2,491
South African Airways flights from Atlanta, D.C., or New York to Cape Town (via Johannesburg) and a 22-day camping safari in South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana, including a visit to Victoria Falls. The nearly all-inclusive price covers 16 nights' accommodation (two in hotels, the rest camping), most meals, all transfers and local transportation, game drives and activities, and a guide throughout. When Oct. 1--Nov. 30. Other Gateways Miami (add $140); Chicago, Philadelphia (add $180); Dallas, L.A. (add $280). Details Call for extra nights. No rate for singles. Contact South African Airways Holidays, 888/777-1138, saaholidays.net.

Asia

Bali for $805
Singapore Airlines flights from L.A. or San Francisco (via Singapore), transfers, and five nights at the Grand Balisani Suites in Kuta or the Yulia Village Inn in Ubud, breakfast daily, and a half-day island tour. When Until Dec. 5. Other Gateways Boston, Chicago, D.C., New York, Philadelphia (add $150); Denver, Seattle (add $175); Dallas, Miami (add $300). Details Extra nights from $25. Single supplement from $150. Free stopovers available in Singapore. Contact Sayang Holidays, 888/472-9264, sayangholidays.com.

Beijing & Shanghai Tour for $699
Air China flights from San Francisco to Beijing, transfers, five nights in Beijing at the Capital Hotel, onward flight to Shanghai, three nights at the Holiday Inn Downtown, breakfast daily, and an English-speaking guide throughout. When Nov. 8, Dec. 29 ($799); Nov. 22, Dec. 1 ($699). Other Gateways New York (add $100). Details No extra nights. Single supplement from $199. Contact SmarTours, 800/337-7773, smartours.com.

China Tour for $999
Air China flights from San Francisco to Beijing, all local transportation, nine nights in three- or four-star hotels, one overnight train ride, most meals, and an English-speaking guide throughout. Includes stops in Beijing, Jinan, Tai'an, Qufu, Suzhou, and Shanghai. When Select departures Oct. 1--31 and Dec. 1--31 ($1,199), Nov. 1--30 ($999). Other Gateways L.A. (add $100); Las Vegas, Portland, San Diego, Seattle (add $120); many cities in the South, East, and Midwest (add $280). Details Extra-night costs vary. Single supplement from $220. The same package with direct flights from New York to Beijing costs $1,199 in November. Contact China Focus, 800/868-7244, chinafocustravel.com.

South India Tour for $2,095
Singapore Airlines flights from L.A. or San Francisco to Madras (with an overnight in Singapore), all transfers and local transportation, 15 nights' lodging in India, breakfast daily, farewell dinner with the group, and guided sightseeing throughout. The comprehensive 18-day itinerary includes stops in Madras, Mahavalipuram, Bangalore, Mysore, Coonoor, Cochin, Alleppey, and Kovalam. When Oct. 24 ($2,095), Dec. 21 ($2,448). Other Gateways Boston, Chicago, D.C., New York, Philadelphia (add $150); Denver, Seattle (add $175); Dallas, Miami (add $300). Details Single supplement from $495. Free stopovers in Singapore are available. Contact Sayang Holidays, 888/472-9264, sayangholidays.com.

Thailand Tour for $1,395
Northwest/KLM flights from L.A. to Bangkok (via Tokyo), transfers and transportation (bus, boat, train, one local flight), 10 nights' lodging (four in a Bangkok hotel, two in a floating bungalow on the River Kwai, one at a guesthouse in Ayutthaya, two in huts near Chiang Mai, and one on the overnight train from Chiang Mai to Bangkok), some meals, and an English-speaking guide throughout. The 12-day itinerary also includes visits to Nakhom Pathom, Dmanoen Saduak, and Sukhothai, and a two-day trek near Chiang Mai. When Oct. 5, Nov. 16 ($1,395); Dec. 21 ($1,640). Other Gateways New York ($1,495/$1,740), Chicago ($1,710/$1,955), Miami ($1,740/$1,985). Details Add $225 a week for expenses. Single supplement $95. Contact Djoser, 877/356-7376, djoserusa.com.

Tokyo & Kyoto for $1,459
Continental flights from New York to Tokyo, transfers, six nights' hotel split between Tokyo (Shinagawa Prince Hotel New Tower) and Kyoto (New Miyako Hotel), half-day tour of each city, and seven-day rail pass, good for the bullet train between cities. When Wednesday and Thursday departures Oct. 1--31 ($1,559), Nov. 1--Dec. 14 ($1,459). Other Gateways For the same price, depart from Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, D.C., Hartford, Houston, Indianapolis, Miami, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, or Richmond, among other East Coast Continental gateways. Details Add $60 to travel on weekends. Extra nights from $90. Single supplement $420. You can choose to spend just four nights in Tokyo starting at $899. Contact NTA America, 800/682-7872, japanvacation.net.

South Pacific

Fly South for the Holidays for $799
Sunspots International has secured block space for holiday flights from L.A. to the South Pacific. (Block space is exactly what it sounds like: A tour operator buys a number of seats on a specific flight directly from the airline, at a discount, and then sells the seats to its customers, also at a discount.) Sunspots is offering extraordinary deals on flights to Papeete, Tahiti (on Air Tahiti Nui); Nadi, Fiji (on Air Pacific); Rarotonga, Cook Islands (on Air New Zealand); and New Zealand (Auckland or Christchurch, on Air New Zealand). Buy the airfare and make your own arrangements, or let Sunspots book accommodations, tours, transfers, and car rentals. When Select departures and returns Dec. 16--Jan. 8; call for exact dates. Tahiti ($799 adults or kids), Fiji ($969 adults, kids ages 2--11 $729), Cook Islands ($1,089/$799), Auckland ($1,949/ $1,388), Christchurch ($1,949/$1,388). Other Gateways San Francisco to Auckland ($1,949/$1,388). Details Space is very limited. These are cash-discount prices; add $60 for credit card payments. Contact Sunspots International, 800/266-6073, sunspotsintl.com. 

Bora-Bora for $2,395
Air Tahiti Nui flights from New York to Papeete (on their new nonstop service), transfers and inter-island flights, welcome and farewell leis, one night in an ocean-view room at the Radisson Plaza Resort Tahiti on Lafayette Beach in Arue, and five nights in a garden bungalow at the Lagoon Resort and Spa on Bora-Bora. When Monday and Thursday departures until Dec. 12 ($2,395), Dec. 13--16 ($2,620), Dec. 17--24 ($2,940). Other Gateways The regular L.A. departures on Air Tahiti Nui are $200 less. Details Add $85 for Saturday departures. Call for the extra-night price. Single supplement $1,065. Contact Swain Tours, 800/227-9246, swaintours.com/nytahiti.

Australia

Sydney Combo for $1,799
Qantas flights from L.A. to Sydney, round-trip flights within Australia, and eight nights split between Sydney (at the Hotel Ibis Darling Harbour, downtown near the convention center) and either Brisbane (at the Ibis, near the shops on Queen Street and the South Bank Parklands) or Melbourne (at the Mercure Welcome Hotel, in the shopping and theater district). When Until Dec. 4 ($1,799), Dec. 5--9 ($2,039). Other Gateways New York (add from $375). Details Call for the extra-night price. Single supplement from $390. Among the other options is an eight-day Sydney/Cairns combo starting at $100 more (single supplement from $440). Contact Qantas Airways/Tourism Australia, 800/369-6863, australia.com.

New Zealand

New Zealand for $1,053
Air New Zealand flights from L.A. to Auckland, transfers, and an eight-day Eclipse 2 camper-van rental with unlimited miles. When Until Oct. 31 ($1,053), Nov. 1--Dec. 9 ($1,196). Other Gateways None. Details These are cash-discount prices; add $35 for credit card payments. Extra days from $41 (stay up to a month; long-rental discounts apply). Single supplement $164. Contact Sunspots International, 800/334-5623, sunspotsintl.com.