Book of Mormon Tours
15-Day Land of Nephi to
East Wilderness Tour
Hosted by Andrew Thorn
December 28, 2025 – January 11, 2026
With option to El Mirador by Helicopter
$4,399 per person double occupancy
Cash price. Additional fee for credit
card payments.
Does not include El Mirador Helicopter
option
Does not include international airfare
(United States to Guatemala City and Belize
City to the United States)
On this unique, deluxe tour you will cover the
Book of Mormon history throughout the land of Nephi, including the city of
Nephi, the land of Ishmael, the waters of Mormon, the land of Helam, the land
of Middoni, and the East Wilderness. This all-inclusive deluxe tour is a
fantastic mix of archaeology, museums, exciting places of interest, and is
filled throughout with the history of the Book of Mormon. You will see the LDS
Temples in Guatemala City and Quetzaltenango, twelve archaeological sites and
museums, six other places of interest, and ten locations associated with the
Book of Mormon. Call today to book your space on this premium Book of Mormon
experience. 1.801.226.5200 or email us at BookOfMormonTours@gmail.com.
Tour Includes: fourteen nights deluxe
hotel accommodations, two or more meals daily except on the first and last
days, 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, special New Year’s Eve party at Beautiful Lake
Atitlan, and escorted by professional tour director Blake Joseph Allen (50+ years’
experience and more than 150 tours).
Physical Exercise: An area for
preparation for travel to Mesoamerica is to develop a physical exercise
program. Although there is not an excessive amount of walking, the decision to
climb the pyramids may be determined by your own physical condition. You will
have the opportunity to climb several major pyramids during the course of the
trip. The most difficult day is Tikal. The tour covers about 3 miles of walking
in approximately 4 hours. Most of the
terrain is foot paths along jungle trails with slopes and steps.
A
SPECIAL OPTION IS AVAILABLE ON THIS TOUR:
El Mirador by Helicopter
Spend an exciting day
flying by helicopter from Flores International Airport to the magnificent ruins
of El Mirador. Visit the lost city of Guatemala's El Mirador – a chance to see
one of the most impressive gems of Maya culture. The unparalleled vistas
nestled deep in the Petén jungle in Guatemala provide a glimpse back in time.
Taking a helicopter to El Mirador provides a breathtaking vantage point from
which to see this Mayan ruin. El Mirador flourished as a trading center from
around 200 BC to AD 150 during the Maya Pre-Classic Period. With a population
as high as 80,000, it was one of the first large cities in North America. Add
this amazing experience for only $600 per person. (Prices subject to change)
Tour
Deposit
A tour deposit of $1,000 per person is due in
order to reserve your space on the tour. Full payment is due two months prior
to departure (October 28, 2025). 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. Prices and
itineraries are subject to change.
Trip
Cancelation Insurance:
You are encouraged to purchase trip cancellation
insurance to protect your deposit and to protect yourself in case of unforeseen
personal circumstances. Typical reasons for trip insurance include injury or
illness of insured, hurricane or natural disaster, and terrorism or mandatory
evacuation at destination. Please visit our website at
www.BookOfMormonTours.com for more details.
ITINERARY
Day
1: Sunday, Dec 28, Guatemala City
Our
flights take us to Guatemala City, the city of Eternal Spring. Upon
arrival we will transfer and check into our deluxe hotel. (No meals included)
Day
2: Monday, Dec 29, Guatemala City
Today
we begin our adventure by exploring the archaeological zone of Kaminaljuyu,
a place considered by many to have been in the area settled by Nephi as the
city of Nephi in the 6th century BC (see 2 Nephi 5:5-10). We will then 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. We also
see the Guatemala City and Miraflores LDS temples prior to enjoying a
delicious Argentine steak dinner. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day
3: Tuesday, December 30, Lake Atitlan
This
morning, we will check out of our hotel and visit the National Museum of
Archaeology of Guatemala to learn about some of the artifacts discovered at
some of the archaeological sites in Guatemala. We will then continue on to Lake
Atitlan. En route, we will pass through the proposed land of Ishmael and by the
Cakchiquel Maya village of Patzicia, almost entirely destroyed by the 1976
earthquake. We will recount the courage and faith of the missionaries and
members of the Patzicia stake. We will continue on our trek to the village of
Panajachel and check into our hotel that is nestled on the shores of beautiful
Lake Atitlan. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day
4: Wednesday, Dec 31, Lake Atitlan
An early departure will take us along Alma’s
trail as he left the waters of Mormon to the land of Helam. We will visit
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
about 25 years (Mosiah chapters 23 & 24). Almolonga is called the “Vegetable
Basket of the Americas,” because its growing season is year-round, unlike
most of Mesoamerica, which has rainy (growing) and dry seasons. We will return
to Lake Atitlan where we will participate in a New Year’s Eve Celebration
Extravaganza. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 5: Thursday, January 1, Lake Atitlan
HAPPY
NEW YEAR! 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. Upon our return, you will have time to
relax or shop at the exciting street shops in Panajachel with typical native
souvenirs and other interesting items. A presentation on the historical
literature of the Book of Mormon will be presented by your tour director in the
evening. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 6: Friday, January 2, Antigua
After checking out of our hotel, we will bus to
Antigua, the old Spanish capital of Guatemala. Several buildings
date to the 16th and 17th centuries. We will visit the jade factory to
learn about the importance of jade to the Maya people and how it is found and carved
into beautiful jewelry and artifact replicas. We will spend the night in a
former convent that has been transformed into a grand, Colonial-style hotel
and museum with beautiful grounds and rustic, deluxe rooms. (Breakfast,
Lunch, Dinner)
Day
7: Saturday, Jan 3, Copan, Honduras
This
morning, we will leave our hotel early and continue our adventure as we journey
to the country of Honduras to visit the amazing size of Copan. Copan was
the capital city of a major Classic period kingdom from the 5th to 9th
centuries AD. It was occupied for more than two thousand years, from the Early
Preclassic period to the Post Classic. There is an inscription that refers to
the year 321 BC, but no text explains the significance of this date. Copan
was a powerful city ruling a vast kingdom within the southern Maya area. It
has been labeled a mini-Tikal and is a great precursor to our own visit to
Tikal. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day
8: Sunday, Jan 4, Rio Dulce, Guatemala
Today
we leave Honduras and return to the country of Guatemala. We will visit the
archaeological site of Quirigua. There is evidence that Quirigua was
occupied as early as the Late Preclassic period (400 BC–AD 200). It was in
relationship to Quirigua that the prophet Joseph Smith is reported to have
said, “It will not be a bad plan to compare Mr. Stephens' ruined cities with
those in the Book of Mormon.” Quirigua is home to the tallest stone
monumental sculpture ever erected in the New World. Stela D is approximately 20
feet tall. We will then continue on to the Rio Dulce area for the evening.
(Breakfast, Dinner)
Day
9: Monday, Jan 5, Petén, Guatemala
We
begin our day with a visit to the Spanish colonial fort at the entrance to Lake
Izabal in eastern Guatemala called the Castle of San Felipe. Lake Izabal
is connected with the Caribbean Sea via the Dulce River and El Golfete lake.
The fort was strategically situated at the narrowest point on the river. The
Castillo de San Felipe was used by the Spanish for several centuries, during
which time it was destroyed and looted several times by pirates. We will
then make our way to the Peten region of Guatemala where we will spend the next
three nights as we appreciate the natural and cultural mysteries of the Mayan
World at the Jungle Lodge resort, our hotel in the beautiful rain forest
surrounding Tikal. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day
10: Tuesday, Jan 6, Petén, Guatemala
Today
we visit 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 afternoon, we will return to our hotel for the evening.
(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).
Day
11: Wed, January 7, Petén, Guatemala
After
breakfast, we will return to the Tikal National Park area and visit the
archaeological site of Uaxactun. Uaxactun (pronounced waw-shock-TOON)
lies about 12 miles north of Tikal. It is an ancient sacred place of the Maya
civilization. Uaxactun was defeated by forces led by Fire is Born of
Tikal in AD 378, just seven years prior to the final Nephite/Lamanite battle at
Cumorah. Fire is Born might have come from Teotihuacán, been the general of the
Teotihuacan ruler Spearthrower Owl, and conquered Tikal earlier the same year.
(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
FOR
THOSE CHOOSING THE EL MIRADOR OPTION:
You will transfer to the Flores International Airport and board a helicopter
for a 30-minute flight to the El Mirador basin and archaeological site
in the remote part of the northern Petén jungle. On this thrilling
excursion, you will get to know the largest pyramid in the Americas, La
Danta. You will fly over the Mayan Biosphere, see the first roads of the
history of mankind and visit the largest city of the Pre-classic Mayan era.
Few people have had the opportunity to get to know this place in one of the
most remote places on the planet. El Mirador flourished from about the 6th
century BC to the 1st century AD, reaching its height from the 3rd century BC,
the Mosiah time period. Then it experienced a hiatus of construction and
perhaps abandonment for generations, followed by re-occupation and further
construction in the Late Classic era, and a final abandonment about the end of
the 9th century. Your guide will explain the fascinating history of this
pristine site. Lunch will be provided prior to your return to the airport and
hotel. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day
12: Thursday, January 8, Belize City
This
morning, we will check out of our hotel and travel to the pre-classic site of Yaxha.
Yaxha was the third largest city in the region behind El Mirador and
Tikal in size. It was first settled between 1000 and 350 BC and became the
largest city in the eastern Petén region between 350 BC and AD 250 and
therefore may have been involved in Book of Mormon events. It also shows
a strong relationship with Teotihuacan. Afterwards, we will cross the border
into Belize and travel to Belize City for the last three nights of the tour.
(Breakfast, Dinner)
Day
13: Friday, January 9, Belize City
This
morning, we will travel north to Orange Walk to the New River. Traveling up
the river by speed boat is an amazing experience as our guide introduces us
to some of the many species of tropical birds, the beautiful vegetation, and
possibly a crocodile or two. Arriving at Lamanai we will have a guided
tour of the remnants of this ancient Mayan city that may have been the land of Jershon
mentioned in the Book of Mormon. After enjoying a traditional Belizean
lunch, we will return by boat to Orange Walk and return to Belize City.
(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day
14: Saturday, January 10, Belize City
Today
will be a free day to do an activity of your choice such as visiting one
of the Caye islands off the coast of Belize, cave tubing, going on a
zipline, relax at the pool at the hotel, or other available activities in
Belize. We will gather for a final dinner together on our last night
of the tour. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day
15: Sunday, January 11, Flights Home
Transferring
to the Belize City airport, we will check in for our 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.
Included in the Tour:
·
Fourteen
nights of accommodations in deluxe hotels
·
Two
or more full meals daily with one beverage
·
First-class
bus transportation
·
Entrance
fees and guide service to places listed on the itinerary
·
Taxes
and tips on group items (guides, drivers, bell boys, etc.)
·
Literature
and maps pertaining to your tour including one copy per couple of Exploring
the Lands of the Book of Mormon by Joseph L. and Blake J. Allen
·
Escorted
by professional tour director, Blake Joseph Allen.
Not included in the
Tour:
· International
airfare
· El
Mirador helicopter tour option
· Third
meal when not included in the itinerary
· Additional
beverages for group meals
· All
personal expenses, travel, and health insurance
· Airport
and country departure taxes
· Anything
not mentioned in the above “Included” section
Additional
Information:
· $1,400
single supplement for hotels
· A
3% fee will be added to bookings paid with a credit card
· Provided
meals are noted at the end of each day.
· Time
will be given for optional third meals or snacks during the day.
· Prices
and itineraries are subject to change.
