Leapin' lemurs! If you want to see these cute and unusual primates, Madagascar is the place to go. The island nation is home to more than 100 varieties of lemur, and Natural Habitat Adventures offers a 13-day/12-night tour that promises lemurs galore in this biologically diverse destination. Four national parks and a private nature reserve are on the itinerary, and the lemur population ranges from ring-tails to indri — the largest lemur — and tiny mouse lemurs that may be seen on guided night walks. To maximize the experience, these tours are limited to 10 or 11 people, and three of the departure dates are designated as special photo tours. Private chartered flights are used for getting about the large island with a minimum of time spent traveling, and accommodations are in boutique ecolodges. Getting up close with the unique flora and fauna isn't cheap, though, with pricing starting at $9,995 per person, double occupancy. The internal flights will add another $2,000, and international air is additional. Info: 800-543-8917, http://tinyurl.com/yak99fbt
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ALASKA FLIES HIGH
For the third year in a row, Alaska Airlines has earned the top spot in the annual ranking of Best U.S. Airlines by Airfarewatchdog.com. The rankings are based on the airlines' performance in canceled flights, customer satisfaction, denied boardings, mishandled baggage and on-time arrivals. Following Alaska were Delta, Southwest, JetBlue, United, American, Virgin America, Frontier and Spirit. In the individual categories, United was best in fewest canceled flights, and Delta had the best record for on-time flights. Check out all of the ratings at http://tinyurl.com/yaaq5pvs.
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ATHENS IN APRIL
There are lots of tours to the Holy Land that are tied to sites important to Christianity and to Easter observances. Peter Sommer Travels takes a different tack with a Greece tour that begins April 2 and visits sites and celebrations in Athens that are relevant to Orthodox Easter Holy Week. The weeklong itinerary is led by archaeologists and Athens experts Heinrich Hall and Dr. Maria Girtzi. The Acropolis, the Agora and the old town of Plaka are among iconic Greek sites that will be explored, but there will also be events such as Holy Thursday observances at the monastery of Daou (Moni Penteli), where people can see a re-enactment of the crucifixion. On Holy Friday, participants will visit the church of Agios Georgios Karitzi in Athens for choral singing, and on Holy Saturday it's possible to view the Easter celebrations of the city's Ethiopian and Armenian communities. The trip is priced at about $3,600 per person, double occupancy, which includes seven nights' lodging in a five-star hotel and most meals. International air is extra. Info: 855-443-3027, http://tinyurl.com/yczf6bho
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(Phil Marty is a freelance reporter.)
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