Two Cities That Sing Verdi, Verdi Well

Opera stars Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti and Mirella Freni are among the singers showcased on a two-city opera tour from Nov. 7 to 15.

Guests begin their opera tour in Washington, D.C., at the Washington Opera in the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. They will hear two works by Verdi.

After a leisurely drive through the Pennsylvania Amish country, the group will go into New York City and attend performances at the Metropolitan Opera House. Mozart, Puccini and Verdi are on the roster. Half-day city tours are provided, as well as leisure time for individual sightseeing or shopping. Backstage tours of both opera houses are also included.

Cost: $2,425 per person, double occupancy, including accommodations, orchestra seats to all performances, half-day city sightseeing tours and some meals. Not included: air fare.

Contact: Gilded Age Opera Tours, 2443 Fair Oaks Blvd., No. 287, Sacramento, CA 95825; telephone (800) 737-9854.

Nursery Rhymes

“Nursery Rhymes and Legends,” June 28 to July 6, is a tour to Britain designed for adults and children over 10. Guests visit the Llancaiach Fawr Manor in Wales, where they step back into the 17th century--the time of the English Civil War and “Humpty Dumpty” and “Goosey, Goosey Gander.” In Cardiff, Wales, there is a visit to St. Fagans, a folk museum.

The itinerary begins in London, continues to Salisbury, Bath, Wales, the Cotswolds and Sudeley Castle, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick Castle and Richmond. Two nights are spent in London, two nights each in Bath and Leamington Spa (near Stratford) and one night in Richmond.

Among the nursery rhyme associations in London are “Pop Goes the Weasel,” “Pussycat, Pussycat” and, of course, “London Bridge.” Near Bath, the tour visits Mells Manor, the Somerset Manor House of the Horner family. At Wendover, the group will hear the origin of the tale of “Jack Jumped Over the Candlestick.”

Cost: $2,055 per person, double occupancy, including eight nights’ accommodation in three- and four-star hotels, most meals, motor-coach transportation, entry fees, hotel service charges and taxes, and the services of a tour director. Air fare is additional.

Contact: It’s About Time Tours, 24 Murray St. Norwalk, CT 06851; tel. (800) 846-8980.

British Theater

The 15th annual British Theater Backstage tour will leave Los Angeles for London on Dec. 27 for a 10-day trip. It offers seven London theater performances plus backstage visits and meetings with leading British theater artists and critics.

This year’s tour includes visits to Windsor Castle, a lunchtime BBC concert, the Tate Gallery’s John Singer Sargent exhibition and the Theatre Museum in Covent Garden. An out-of-town excursion to seaside Brighton features a visit to the Royal Pavilion, city tour and lunch at the Grand Hotel. Arts writer and lecturer Barbara Isenberg will accompany the tour and host meetings with a prominent playwright, actor and theater critic. A festive dinner follows a theater performance on New Year’s Eve.

Cost: $4,293 per person, double occupancy, including round-trip air fare, room at the Washington Hotel in Mayfair, full English breakfast daily, all performances and museums, celebrity tea, many meals, all excursions and group transfers.

Contact: Susan Holden, Gilner International Travels, 437 S. Robertson Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90211; tel. (310) 273-6161.

Cruising the South

An American heritage cruise of the Old South, hosted by Historic Tours of America, is available on various dates on the American Queen steamboat. The one-week cruise begins and ends in New Orleans, traveling to Baton Rouge and St. Francisville, La.; and Natchez, Miss. Land excursions will visit Civil War sites, rose gardens and historic antebellum plantations.

Cost: from $1,753 per person, double occupancy, including air fare from Los Angeles, cruise, hotel and port charges.

Contact: Don Eslinger, Historic Tours of America, 16142 Woodstock Lane, Huntington Beach, CA 92647; tel. (714) 846-9595.

Yoga in Italy

Combine yoga practice with a trip to Italy on a two-week tour that begins July 11. Each day will begin with a yoga class. The rest of the day is free to explore Roman ruins, ancient parishes, castles and mansions. Guests will visit the Tuscany area north of Florence.

The second week will be spent in Trento north of Lake Garda. Bicycling, horseback riding, nature walks and golf are available. Yoga beginners are welcome.

Cost: $1,400 per person, including hotel rooms and two meals per day, some ground transportation. Air fare is extra.

Contact: Victoria Nichols, tour leader and yoga instructor; tel. (818) 710-9057.

Cruising Sweden

Cruise on Lake Malaren and the Stockholm Archipelago. Special Expeditions has a nine-day, eight-night journey with four full days aboard the 49-passenger Swedish Islander. Departures are June 14, July 9, Aug. 8 and 23. The excursion starts at Mariefred and ends at Stockholm. Nights are spent ashore; two of the eight nights are spent in a 1609 country inn and two in an 1810 mansion.

Cost: $2,890 per person, double occupancy, including eight nights’ lodging, eight breakfasts, seven lunches and six dinners. Air fare to Stockholm is extra.

Contact: Special Expeditions; tel. (800) 397-3348.

Prague Up Close

An 11-day, nine-night tour of the Czech Republic capital of Prague is scheduled for Sept. 4 to 14. “Insider’s Prague” features city walks and visits to Sternberk and Krumlov castles, the Kutna Hora heritage mining town, Prague’s Old Town and Jewish Quarter, Radio Prague’s studios, the Royal Gardens, two national art galleries and other sites. There is also a Vltava River boat ride and three evening musical performances.

Cost: $2,950 per person, double occupancy, including four-star lodging, nine breakfasts, five lunches and four dinners. Air fare is extra.

Contact: Bohemian Express at (800) 962-9255.

California Islands

Beginning in June and continuing through early October, Adventure Outfitters will be offering six-day sailing adventures to the Channel Islands National Park on Santa Cruz aboard the 130-foot schooner American Pride.

Departing from Long Beach, guests will have the opportunity to take part in the sailing of this classic tall ship, including sail handling, steering and navigation. Or they can choose to just relax and enjoy the ride. Island activities include hiking, fishing, diving and surfing. Also included is a guided kayak excursion to see the sea caves on Santa Cruz Island. Kayaking experience is not required.

Cost: $780 per person, including a cabin on the ship, all meals and kayak trip.

Contact: Adventure Outfitters, 2137 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90815; tel. (800) 430-2544.

Running in Peru

A wilderness running adventure through the Andean Highlands, guided by a Peruvian-American, is being offered July 10 to July 24 and Sept. 4 to 18. Participants will run the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu and continue with a spectacular run on a high mountain circuit in the Vilcanota Mountains in the southern Peruvian Andes.

Guests will interact with Quechua herders of llamas and alpacas in remote mountain communities. Trip includes visits to Cuzco, native villages, markets and the lost city of Machu Picchu.

Cost: $2,575 per person, double occupancy, including round-trip air fare from Los Angeles, all transportation and flights in Peru, sightseeing tours, hotels, all meals, van support and camping.

Contact: Andes Adventures; tel. (310) 395-5265.

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