8 Day Land of Nephi Tour
February 7 – 14, 2009
$1,995 per person double occupancy
Does not include international airfair
(United States to Guatemala and Guatemala to the United States)
Includes two internal air flights, seven nights hotel accommodations, two or more meals daily, first class bus transportation, entrance fees and guide service to places listed on the itinerary, taxes and tips on group items, literature and maps pertaining to your tour, and escorted by professional tour director Todd Allen.
A tour deposit of $500 per person is due in order to reserve your space. The total payment is due by December 7, 2008. The deposit is non-refundable; however, it may be transferred to another tour if taken within 12 months of the original scheduled tour departure. See terms and conditions for details.
With over 35 years of experience, Book of Mormon Tours pioneered the first tour to the Book of Mormon lands and continues to be the world’s leader in providing the highest quality, most comprehensive Book of Mormon tours. Our tours are based on the most recent research as we adhere to the statement that the Book of Mormon is the most correct book on the face of the earth. This tour will bring to life the scriptures, histories and places of the Book of Mormon. You will visit the LDS temple in Guatemala City, four archaeological sites and museums, and eight locations associated with the Book of Mormon. Call today to book your space on this deluxe Book of Mormon experience.
Itinerary
Day 1: Saturday, February 7, Guatemala City
Today we will fly to Guatemala City, capitol of the country of Guatemala. Guatemala has been nicknamed “The land of eternal spring: due to the comfortable, year round spring temperatures. Upon arrival we will transfer and check into our deluxe hotel. Meals are not included today.
Day 2: Sunday, February 8, Guatemala City
This morning we will have the opportunity to attend church services with the local members, after which we will visit the National Museum of Archaeology of Guatemala where we will analyze Kaminaljuyu’s stela 10, an altar that dates to 147 BC and may suggest a transfer of kingship from King Noah to Limhi (see Mosiah 18 & 19). We will then explore the archaeological zone of Kaminaljuyu, a place considered by many to have been settled by Nephi in the 6th century BC (see 2 Nephi 5:5-10) and visit the large relief map of Guatemala in order to orient ourselves with the geographical overview of the country in relation to the Book of Mormon. Meals include breakfast and dinner.
Day 3: Monday, February 9, Guatemala City
Our air flight will take us to the Peten Region of Guatemala where a short bus ride will take us to the awe-inspiring, Maya archaeological zone of Tikal, occupied from 600 BC to AD 750. This dense rain forest is considered by many to be the East Wilderness where the Nephites, under the direction of the military leader Moroni, built many fortified cities during the 1st century BC (see Alma 50:7-15). New evidence shows a strong relationship between Teotihuacan and Tikal at the close of the Book of Mormon history which resulted in the downfall of the Nephite nation. In the early evening we will take a return flight to Guatemala City. Breakfast and lunch are included today.
Day 4: Tuesday, February 10, Lake Atitlan
Following breakfast, we will follow the trail of Alma as he fled from the City of Nephi to the Waters of Mormon. As we make our way through the majestic mountains of Guatemala we will stop in the Cakchiquel Maya village of Patzicia, an area that has been proposed as the land of Ishmael mentioned in the book of Mosiah. Patzicia was almost entirely destroyed by the 1976 earthquake. We will recount the courage and faith of the missionaries and members of the Patzicia stake. Today’s journey concludes as we arrive on the shores of breathtaking Lake Atitlan, the leading candidate for the Waters of Mormon. Breakfast and dinner are included today.
Day 5: Wednesday, February 11, Lake Atitlan
Flanked by three dramatic volcanoes, Lake Atitlan has been a scenic retreat for over 2000 years. It has been proposed by many LDS scholars as a site for the Waters of Mormon where Alma organized the church of Christ in the first century BC (see Mosiah chapters 18 and 19). The day will consist of a cruise on the lake to see the area where an ancient city was covered by water. This city may have been Jerusalem mentioned in Alma 21:1 or it may have been one of the other cities mentioned in 3 Nephi 9:7. Following a visit to the village of Santiago Atitlan, the remainder of the day will be free to relax at our lake front hotel, visit the local museum, or shop at the large market lining the streets of Panajachel. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included today. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included today.
Day 6: Thursday, February 12, Antigua
Following breakfast, we will once again pick up Alma’s trail as we travel to the village of Almolonga, renowned for its pure water and lush vegetable gardens, a place that may have been occupied by Alma and his followers for over 25 years (Mosiah chapters 23 & 24). The name Almolonga means “pure water”, a requirement for Helam which was described as a “beautiful, pleasant land, a land of pure water.” Following a visit to the vegetable market of Almolonga, we will stop in Quetzaltenango for lunch, the second largest city in Guatemala and the location of the newly announced second temple in Guatemala. Commonly referred to by its Mayan name Xela, Quetzaltenango is located in a large valley that meets the qualifications for the valley of Alma. Leaving Quetzaltenango, we will now pick up the trail of the sons of Mosiah as they traveled on their missionary journeys. We will arrive at Antigua, the old Spanish capital of Guatemala. We stay in this charming city tonight. Meals include breakfast and dinner.
Day 7: Friday, February 13, Antigua
This morning we will have a city tour of Antigua including the cathedral, museum, and jade factory. We will discuss the events that occurred in the land of Middoni, possibly located in the valley of Antigua. The afternoon will be free to continue to enjoy our stay in this colonial city. Some of the options include further exploration of several buildings dating to the 16th and 17th centuries, relaxing at our hotel that once served as a Spanish convent, or shopping at the spacious artisan’s market or visiting the charming town square. In the evening we will have a farewell dinner. Meals include breakfast and dinner.
Day 8: Saturday, February 14, Flights Home
We will transfer to the Guatemala City airport for our return flights home. Our journey to the Book of Mormon lands has come to an end, but we will take with us memories that will last a lifetime.
Prices and itineraries are subject to change.
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