2011 Fall Tour Group
Nephi’s Bountiful: 9 unforgettable days exploring in beautiful Oman
Personally escorted throughout by Warren Aston
Departing October 19, 2011
To register for the tour, please send email. Read the Frequently Asked Questions.
Tour $ 1520 pp includes hotels, meals, tours, transportation, transfers and entrance fees as per itinerary, bilingual local guide, domestic flights in Oman.
Not included: visa fees, other meals, drinks, personal expenses, insurance, tips. Multiple airfare options from East Coast US from $825 roundtrip incl. taxes (or $406 ex Jordan or Israel) More affordable than ever!
To keep costs as low as possible we offer you the option of flying to Muscat with the airline of your choice. This means you control the carrier, the travel dates and stopover options if you wish. We will advise you on this and can make the bookings for you. If you have them, you could even use frequent-flyer points!
No visas or health requirements apply. You need only your valid passport.
Reservations are made by emailing us at bountiful-tours@hotmail.com with names and mailing addresses. Space on the tour is then confirmed by payment of a non-refundable $250 deposit per person. The balance of the tour cost is due 60 days before departure. To further reduce costs, we do not accept creditcards but receive payment from your bank direct to our account. This is a simple and inexpensive alternative to credit card or PayPal surcharges. Please email us if you have any questions about this.
Tour Itinerary
In Salalah we stay at and recommend the locally-run Arabian Sea Villas.
Day 1 Wednesday / October 19
Departure from your home city. Overnight in-flight. (meals in-flight)
Day 2 Thursday / October 20
Evening arrival in Muscat and transfer to our hotel near the airport. (meals in-flight)
Day 3 Friday/ October 21
Attend LDS services before touring this beautiful capital and its harbor. (B)
Day 4 Saturday/October 22
Visit the magnificent Grand Mosque and then fly south to Salalah. Here we will transfer to our traditional seaside hotel with a buffet breakfast daily and opportunities to enjoy the beach at our doorstep. (B and in-flight meal)
Day 5 Sunday/October 23
The new Frankincense and Maritime Museum provides essential orientation before we begin exploring this friendly oasis town. Tour highlights include the ruins of the ancient capital, the blowholes at Mughsayl, the BYU excavation site, Job’s tomb and Bedouin encampments where we can meet local people living a traditional lifestyle. A chance to try camel’s milk! In the evening we will visit a unique souk where Frankincense, Myrrh, traditional incense burners, clothing and jewelry are sold. (B)
Day 6 Monday/October 24
A full day exploring a candidate for Nephi’s Bountiful, Khor Rori, with its excavated city port; the historical harbor of Mirbat, the plains above Salalah and magnificent panoramas from the Samhan mountains. We will enjoy a traditional local fish dinner in the evening. (B, D)
Day 7 Tuesday/October 25
An early departure west into the Qara mountains. We first explore Wadi Sayq (“River Valley”) and the coastal village of Dhalqut before traveling to Kharfot, the second Bountiful candidate. A picnic lunch will be served before a guided tour of the main features. We depart from the beach as Lehi’s family did – by sea, eventually returning to the comforts of our hotel in Salalah. (B, L)
Note – Expedition Option: Those joining the expedition team will camp at the site on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, returning to Salalah on Thursday and flying back to Muscat on Friday. See separate note for details of this option.
Day 8 Wednesday/October 26
This morning is free for relaxation, shopping or optional tours. Early afternoon we will meet together to review the experience before flying back to Muscat. Overnight at a hotel minutes from the airport. (B and in-flight meals)
Day 9 Thursday/October 27
Morning departure from Muscat, arriving back at our home cities the same evening. (B and in-flight meals)
We are happy to assist anyone wishing to extend their stay in Muscat or Salalah, pre or post tour or both. Just ask!
NEW! EXPEDITION OPTION
For those interested in a once-in-a-lifetime experience, the opportunity exists to extend your tour by 2 days and join our 2011 expedition. The team will be undertaking several projects at the site which participants can support according to their abilities. Participants need to be in reasonable health, be able to walk unaided, be positive and have an adventurous attitude!
It must be understood that the site is remote and uninhabited. This requires that we take additional care to ensure that accidents and sickness are prevented. We will have emergency evacuation procedures in place and carry a basic medical kit. Staying hydrated and unburned by the sun is the major challenge. Full moon is on October 12th so we should have ample light at night during the period of the visit; however you may wish to bring a small torch.
All meals and drinks will be provided at the site. We will bring supplies from Salalah for the 2 days. These will be augmented with fish and other local foods, as they are available, for those who wish to also experience “living off the land” a little. There is an abundance of fresh spring water available. All team members are expected to contribute to the preparation of the camp site and the preparation of meals etc.
Your luggage will be stored at the hotel in Salalah. You will need to bring a carry-on sized overnight bag or daypack with a change of clothing, hat, sweater, swimwear (optional) and insect repellant. When team numbers are finalized we will assess the situation regarding tents and mattresses. We are hoping to arrange lightweight tents without asking anyone to bring a tent with them; however this may be necessary.
By simply being willing to help carry items, hold a microphone, make a fire, or help with a simple meal you can make a real contribution to the ongoing work. You will experience the daily rhythm of this unique place and gain a deeper awareness into Lehi and Sariah and their family’s daily life as they built their ship.
Cost: approximately $360 per person, subject to change.
Please email Warren with any questions or concerns.
HOW TO BOOK
1. To hold your space on the tour, simply email us direct at bountiful-tours@hotmail.com. Initially we will need the following for each person:
- Full name as per passport
- Date of birth
- Nationality
We will help you arrange flights if joining from US, Canada, Australia, UK, Europe or other parts of the world.
2. We will email you back to confirm your space on the tour and flights (if applicable). We will give you simple instructions so your bank can wire your deposit directly to the tour account. Most banks allow you to do this online from home. Using a wire transfer is simple, fast and inexpensive. Many banks will charge a small fee ($20 to $30 is normal) for wire transfers. However, this fee is insignificant compared to accepting credit/debit cards that would result in several hundred dollars higher tour costs. We are unable to accept checks as they are subject to significant delays for currency conversion in paying our suppliers.
3. Your bank wires the deposit to our bank.
4. Upon receipt we will email your receipt and begin sending additional details to you.
Read the Frequently Asked Questions.
Operated in conjunction with Bountiful Travel and Tours [Australia], Qld License TAG1218