Celebrating Aufgang Travel’s 60th Anniversary we are proud to present a very special 10-day deluxe tour to Israel …

“Nabucco” at Masada & Jessye Norman concert! (Both performances will take place at the foot of historical Masada.) plus an exclusive private piano recital by Issak Tavior at his mountain-top villa overlooking the Galilee. and special lectures by Iain Scott May 30th – June 10th, 2010 with an optional extension to Petra June 10th – 13th, 2010

Emile & Barbara Aufgang are looking forward to joining you on this tour.

Aufgang Travel is one of Canada’s leading agencies specializing in tourism to Israel. Founded in 1949 by Isaac Aufgang, it has a proud history of providing expert service to the discriminating traveler to Israel. This sixty-year tradition of excellence continues at Aufgang Travel to this day.

Iain & Barbara Scott have led many successful high-end opera tours. Please visit his website: www.opera-is.com. Iain is one of Canada's best-known and most popular opera educators. For 25 years, he was a regular guest on CBC radio's “Saturday Afternoon at the Opera”. For 8 years, he was a guest panelist on the “Texaco Opera Quiz” from the Metropolitan Opera.

Sunday May 30th             Departure from Toronto. [If traveling independently, please advise on booking form] Please note that check-in is at least 3 hours prior to departure.

Monday May 31st            Arrival in Tel Aviv and transfer to Jerusalem Arrival at Ben Gurion Airport - where the group will be met by our representative. Transfer (if with group arrival) to the sumptuous David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem. Welcome cocktails with local wines and canapés.

Tuesday June 1st           Walking tour of the “Old City” Guided visit to the Roman Cardo, the Herodian Quarter and the Western Wall. Descend into the Western Wall Tunnels, an incredible labyrinth of tunnels, arches, and passageways which have remained untouched for centuries. Walk along the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Lunch included.

Wednesday June 2nd    Coach tour of the “New City” Drive to the Hadassah Medical Center in Ein Kerem to see the Chagall stained glass windows. Continue to Yad Vashem, the memorial to the Holocaust and then to the Israel Museum. Visit the Shrine of the Book where the Dead Sea Scrolls are housed and see the Knesset, Israel's Parliament. Also see the Supreme Court and the Hebrew University. Lunch included.

Thursday June 3rd        Day trip to historical sites near Jerusalem Drive south to Bethlehem. Visit Rachel's Tomb (the burial place of the biblical matriarch Rachel) and the Church of the Nativity, (the birthplace of Jesus). After a light lunch, visit the famous Soreq Cave, a stalactite and stalagmite underground world of beauty near Beit Shemesh. Head back towards Jerusalem via Ein Kerem, a delightful secluded village suburb on the outskirts of West Jerusalem.

Friday June 4th              Travel to Masada and the Dead Sea Drive through the Judean Desert to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth, almost 1300 feet (400 meters) below sea level. Stop at Qumran to visit the site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Drive along the shores of the Dead Sea to Masada. Ascend by cable car and tour the ancient fortress where the Zealots made their last stand against the Romans before committing mass suicide in 73 A.D. After dinner at the hotel, return to the foot of Masada to enjoy the legendary soprano JESSYE NORMAN in a recital featuring opera arias, lieder, folk songs and spirituals, with the Opera Orchestra conducted by Rachel Worby. Note - performance commences at 10:00 pm

Saturday June 5th        Day at leisure - A day of leisure to enjoy the spa facilities at your hotel and the therapeutic waters of the Dead Sea. Following dinner at the hotel, return to the foot of Masada to enjoy the spectacular performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s Opera “NABUCCO” conducted by Daniel Oren and starring the great Renato Bruson as Nabucco, with Dimitra Theodossiou as Abigaille and Paata Burchuladze as the High Priest, Zaccaria.                                                                                                                                                                                    Note - performance commences at 9:00 pm

Sunday June 6th           Drive through the Jordan Valley to the Galilee. Drive north along the Jordan Valley road to Beit She’an, an ancient city from the time of King Saul which has extensive Roman ruins. Continue past the spectacular site of the Crusader Fortress of Belvoir, along the coast of the Sea of Galilee, to the small mountain-top city of Safed, which was a centre of Jewish mysticism and philosophy and is now known for its artists' colony. Dinner at our spa hotel.

Monday June 7th         Day trip to the sights of the Galilee. Drive to view the ruins at Capernaum, an ancient fishing village on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee. Head north along serpentine roads into the Golan Heights. Nestled among the Kibbutzim and Moshavim is the town of Katzrin, the administrative center of Golan Heights from the 4th to the 7th century. Visit the Golan Heights Winery for a tasting of their award-winning wines. In the afternoon head west to Hemdat Yamim, and the home of concert soloist ISSAK TAVIOR for a private piano recital. Enjoy the breathtaking view of the Galilee from his mountain-top villa. Dinner at our spa hotel.

Tuesday June 8th        Travel by coach to the Mediterranean coast and Tel Aviv. Head east to the ancient port city of Acre - one of the oldest continuously-inhabited cities in the world - where we will walk through labyrinthine alleys and streets and explore the remnants of Crusader, Muslim and Ottoman conquerors. Continue to Haifa, Israel's major port and marvel at the beautiful terraced and sculptured gardens of the famed Baha’i Shrine. After a pleasant lunch, continue south along the Mediterranean coast to the ancient city of Caesarea – without doubt one of the greatest archeological treasures of the entire Mediterranean. Then on to Tel Aviv.

Wednesday June 9th  Visit the sights of Tel Aviv. In the afternoon, our visit will include the new port, the ancient port city of Old Jaffa and the vibrant Neve Tzedek district. Following our Farewell Dinner, transfer to Ben Gurion airport.

Thursday June 10th   Shortly after midnight, depart Tel Aviv. Early morning arrival in Toronto.

Land Price per person: $4,995 US based on double occupancy

Based on a minimum of 34 participants

$1,510 US Single supplement

Your tour cost includes:

Special VIP TICKETS for the JESSYE NORMAN and NABUCCO performances. PRIVATE CONCERT in Hemdat Yamim, at the home of soloist ISSAK TAVIOR. TWO EXCLUSIVE LECTURES by Iain Scott on “Jessye Norman” and on “Nabucco”, to take place in Toronto prior to departure.

10 night’s accommodation at the following deluxe hotels:

4 nights – David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem deluxe ‘old city view’ rooms.

2 nights – Crowne Plaza Hotel, Dead Sea club rooms.

2 nights – Mitzpe Hayamim Resort & Spa, Galilee regular rooms

2 nights – David Intercontinental Hotel, Tel Aviv regular rooms

Upgraded rooms - on request, depending on availability, at additional cost.

Licensed English speaking guide for touring and transfers as per the program. Air conditioned coach transportation as per the program. Entrance fees and activities as per the program. Meeting, assistance and porterage at Ben Gurion airport on arrival and departure - if flights booked with Aufgang Travel on group blocked space.

Meals: Full Israeli breakfast daily. Welcome cocktails with local wines and canapés on May 31, 2010.

4 Lunches: June 1, 2, 3, 8

5 Dinners: June 4, 5, 6, 7, 9

Service charges at the restaurants.

Not Included: International flights (for group air information, please contact Aufgang Travel) Airport transfers if not with group block Medical, Cancellation & Interruption Insurance (strongly recommended). Gratuities for guides and drivers. Meals not mentioned above Beverages not included with meals. Items of a personal nature Possible increase in local VAT

Deposits, Cancellations, Insurance, etc

A deposit of US $2,000 per person is required to register for this tour. Full payment due March 1st, 2010. The deposit is refundable less $250 per-person administrative fee until October 16th, 2009. Cancellations between October 17th, 2009 & March 1, 2010 - $500 pp administrative fee. Cancellations penalty between March 1st and day of departure is 100%. Cancellation will not be effective until received in writing in the offices of Aufgang Travel. In the event of a travel advisory to Israel by the Department of Foreign Affairs of Canada, a full refund, less the above mentioned administrative fees, will apply.

Medical Insurance and Cancellation & Interruption Insurance are strongly recommended.

This itinerary is subject to change - at the discretion of the guide and/or the Tour Operator.

Please make sure your passports are valid - for at least 6 months after your return to Canada.

Wednesday June 9th        in Tel Aviv

After the Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant in Tel Aviv, return to the David Intercontinental Hotel.

Thursday June 10th          fly to EILAT

Morning transfer to Sde Dov airport for your flight down to Eilat. On arrival, transfer to the Royal Beach Hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure.

Friday June 11th              day trip to PETRA

Depart early morning and head to the Rabin Border Crossing between Eilat and Jordan. Petra was often described as the eighth wonder of the ancient world. This is a vast, unique city, carved into the sheer rock-face by the Nabataeans. These industrious people, who settled here more than 2000 years ago, turned Petra into an important junction for the silk, spice and other trade routes linking China, India and southern Arabia with Egypt, Syria, Greece and Rome. Lunch included.

Saturday June 12th         day at leisure

Day at leisure. Late afternoon / early evening flight to Tel Aviv. Transfer to Ben Gurion Airport

Sunday June 13th            fly home

Shortly after midnight - depart Tel Aviv and arrive in Toronto early the same day.

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Price per person, based on double occupancy $1,295 US based on a minimum of 12 participants

$ 299 US Single supplement

1 night - David Intercontinental Hotel, Tel Aviv regular rooms

2 nights - Royal Beach Hotel, Eilat regular rooms

Full Israeli breakfast daily. 1 lunch in Petra. Full day guided tour to Petra, Jordan. Transfers as per program. Roundtrip airfare between Tel Aviv and Eilat. 50012754 Assistance and porterage at the Eilat Airport.

Not included: Visa fees to Jordan and border-crossing fees.

7/15/2009