Skiing the Alps; Seeing a Rare Passion Play

It’s time to think about waxing up those skis and getting into the Alpine spirit. Arizona-based Carlucci’s Tours is taking guests to the Italian Alps for winter skiing. Two trips include a two-night stay in Venice in the package. The first is to Cortina d’Ampezzo from Jan. 12 to 22. Participants have 683 miles of ski runs and 464 lifts to choose from. The second trip is Jan. 19 to 29 and takes skiers to Moena in the Dolomites.

Cost: $1,699 per person, double occupancy, for Cortina and $1,669 for Moena, including round-trip air fare from Los Angeles, ground transportation, hotels, six-day ski pass, daily breakfast and dinner and taxes.

Contact: Carlucci’s Tours; telephone (520) 854-3081.

Europe: Passion Play

The quaint Bavarian village of Oberammergau, Germany, will stage its Passion Play next year. The play, performed only one year per decade, is included on a 16-day tour of Europe that starts in London. Available departures are May 20, July 8, July 29 and Sept. 16, 2000.

From England, participants will cross the English Channel and go to Germany’s Rhineland. In Bavaria, a full day is devoted to the Passion Play. The trip continues to Italy for stops in Venice, Assisi, Rome, Florence and Pisa, and then visits Nice, Lyons and Paris in France. The tour ends back in London.

Cost: $1,519 per person, double occupancy, including hotel accommodations, admissions to attractions, airport transfers, baggage handling, some meals and guide services. Air fare is extra.

Contact: Ricardo’s Travel Center, 7248 Painter Ave., Whittier, CA 90602; tel. (888) 561-5816.

London: Theater

The University of Colorado’s Theatreworks department is offering an 11-day theater tour to London. The tour leaves Jan. 6 and features six shows, city tours, an excursion into the countryside, lectures with theater professionals and lots of free time. Professors Murray Ross and Drew Martorella will lead the tour.

Cost: $2,765 per person, double occupancy, including round-trip air fare from Los Angeles, first-class hotel accommodations, daily breakfast, sightseeing fees, lectures and theater performances. Group size is limited to 30.

Contact: Drew Martorella at the University of Colorado; tel. (719) 262-3275.

Asia: Indochina

Scenic landscapes, archeological sites, historic cities and golden temples are highlights of a trip to Indochina with travel photographer Michele Burgess Feb. 18 to March 11.

Highlights include Phnom Penh and the temples of Angkor in Cambodia; Vientiane, Luang Prabang, the mysterious Plain of Jars, and the old royal capital at Champassak in Laos; and Hanoi, Saigon, Halong Bay, Hue and historic Hoi An in Vietnam.

Cost: $5,095 per person, double occupancy, including round-trip air fare from Los Angeles, accommodations, most meals and sightseeing fees.

Contact: In Focus With Michele Burgess, 20741 Catamaran Lane, Huntington Beach, CA 92646; tel. (714) 536-6104, Internet https://www.infocustravel.com.

Australia: Coastline

ATS Tours, which specializes in the South Pacific, is offering a “Great Barrier Reef” tour that includes a seven-night cruise, two nights in Sydney and two nights in Cairns. Departures include Nov. 15, Dec. 6, March 17, April 4, May 27, June 27 and July 4.

Guests will spend two nights (with breakfast) at the Oasis Resort in Cairns and take a day tour to Kuranda for an aboriginal dance performance and lunch. In Sydney, they will stay at the Mercure Hotel and receive a Sydney Explorer Pass to see the city.

Cost: from $2,800 per person, double occupancy, including hotels, some meals, cruise and airport transfers. Air fare is extra.

Contact: ATS Tours, 2381 Rosecrans Ave., Suite 325, El Segundo, CA 90245; tel. (800) 571-1102.

Turkey: Dervishes

Far Horizons has designed a 13-day trip for 12 participants that will give a view of the culture, archeology and history of Turkey, Dec. 9 to 21. Visitors will view ancient cities and watch the dervishes, known in the West as the Whirling Dervishes.

The itinerary traverses Central Anatolia and includes several days exploring the sunny Mediterranean coast. Participants will walk the trails through the lunar-like landscape of Cappadocia and explore Crusaders’ castles and Greco-Roman ruins.

Cost: $3,995 per person, double occupancy, including round-trip air fare from New York, land and air transportation within Turkey, hotels and most meals.

Contact: Far Horizons, P.O. Box 91900, Albuquerque, NM 87199; tel. (800) 552-4575.

France: Shopping

A weeklong pre-holiday cultural and shopping tour to Paris is available Nov. 13 to 20. Fashion, food and music are themes for the activities for this small-group tour. Guests will stay in the heart of the city near the Seine River. Each day participants will visit a different Paris neighborhood, including the Left Bank for antiques, the Ile St. Louis’ boutiques, discount haute couture clothing stores, gourmet food emporiums and a flea market. After shopping, members will attend a candlelight chamber music concert in one of Paris’ oldest churches and eat in bistros.

Cost: $2,975 per person, double occupancy, including round-trip air fare from Los Angeles, airport transfers, hotel, daily breakfast and two dinners, museum pass, fashion show and sightseeing. The group is limited to 12.

Contact: Take My Mother Please Tours; tel. (323) 737-2200.

South Africa: Golf Safari

Ambassadors Golf International has designed a South African golf trip that visits the best courses in the country, with the opportunity to explore the wilder side of South Africa. The tour begins on Feb. 28 in Cape Town and concludes March 12 after a visit to Sun City.

Guests also visit the Mala Mala Game Reserve, Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and Johannesburg. Included are six rounds of golf and a tour of a winery.

Cost: $5,585 per person, double occupancy, including deluxe hotels, intra-Africa air fare, services of local guides, daily breakfast and some other meals, gratuities and sightseeing fees.

Contact: Ambassadors Golf International, 1071 Camelback St., Newport Beach, CA 92660; tel. (949) 717-3370.

Yellowstone: Winter

Visit Yellowstone National Park in winter when the crowds are gone and most of the roads are closed. Two dates are available: Feb. 28 to March 3 or March 6 to 11. Guests will stay in Jackson and at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge. Touring throughout the park is aboard heated, track-driven snow coaches.

Cost: $975 for five days ($1,075 for six) per person, double occupancy, including round-trip air fare to Salt Lake City, ground connections to the park, hotels and some meals.

Contact: Main Street Tours, 1751 W. Torrance Blvd., Suite M, Torrance, CA 90501; tel. (800) 300-6246.

Sri Lanka: History

A meditation group in North Hollywood is planning a trip to Sri Lanka Jan. 5 to 19. The trip will be led by a Sri Lankan Buddhist monk and is limited to 15. Guests will travel by air-conditioned buses and vans to numerous places, including Anuradhapura (an ancient Sri Lankan kingdom), Kandy (the Buddha’s Tooth Temple), Kataragama (Hindu-Buddhist temple) and Hikkaduwa. Guests will also visit forest meditation centers, waterfalls, lakes, beaches and tea gardens.

Cost: $2,345 per person, double occupancy, including round-trip air fare on Singapore Air Lines from LAX to Colombo international airport, transportation to all sights of interest, first-class hotel accommodations and full breakfast.

Contact: Adore Travel; tel. (310) 859-8740, ask for Puni.

The Times is not responsible for changes in prices, dates or itineraries. These should be confirmed with travel agents or tour operators.