A tour of the Antelope Canyon was probably the 2nd most anticipated part of our Arizona trip, Grand Canyon being on top of the list, of course! After our visit to Horseshoe Bend, we headed to Antelope Canyon to see the beautiful rock formations.
5 Things to Keep in Mind
You need a Tour Guide
You cannot enter Antelope Canyon without a native Navajo guide – exploring on your own is not an option…
Book your tour in advance online
Tours can get full quite easily especially during high season, so book online in advance for peace of mind.
Mind the time zone
This was super confusing, but the Navajo territory where the Antelope Canyon is, follows Daylight Saving Time (DST) during summer, while most areas in Arizona do not. Be mindful of this when booking your tour to avoid disappointment.
Visiting Antelope Canyon during flash floods is dangerous
When it’s raining upstream, tours can be canceled without prior notice.
There’s no access to water or food onsite
It is wise to bring your own water and eat before you head into the Antelope – remember in Arizona it’s hot & dry so you need to keep hydrated!
Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon?
One of the first questions that come up when doing some research on Antelope Canyon is “should I visit the Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon, and what’s the difference?”.
If your budget and time allow it, I would visit both! The common understanding is that Lower Antelope is cheaper and less crowded although you need to navigate some ladders and narrow passages.
We ended up going for a third alternative though, which is Antelope Canyon X. Canyon X is located in the same drainage and south from Upper & Lower Antelope Canyon (5-10min drive) and is operated by a tour company called Taadidiin Tours.
Our Experience with Antelope Canyon X By Taadidiin Tours
Taadidiin Tours is proudly run by a Navajo family and has been in business for the past 3 years. The staff was friendly, welcoming and you could tell they genuinely cared about people enjoying their visit.
They limit the number of daily visitors to provide the most intimate and memorable experience – and this makes a huge difference! It allowed us to enjoy the canyon without being elbow to elbow with other people, plus it was totally easy to get pictures with nobody in the background.
Inside the canyon, there was a person playing the guitar and hearing the sound resonate through the canyon really added to the magical atmosphere (my husband thought it was a bit cliche, but I liked it)
Another touch that we loved was that the guides inside the canyon were so helpful in taking our pictures and suggesting angles that I wouldn’t have thought of otherwise. They even advise on the best camera settings!
Antelope Canyon X by Taadidiin Tours
Hiking Tour Fee: $40 USD (this is what we went for)
Duration: 1 to 1.5 hours
No tripods or large bags allowed
Open hours in summer: 8am – 4pm (MST)
Related articles:
- The Ultimate Guide to Horseshoe Bend
- Arizona Road Trip – one week itinerary
- Hiking Grand Canyon’s Bright Angel Trail
Where to Stay in Page
We stayed at Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham Page Lake Powell and we loved it! The room was spacious and comfortable. Amenities included: free breakfast, free WIFI inside the room, coffee/tea maker, iron board, free toiletries, fridge, in-room safe. Read reviews and book here.
Other great alternatives below $100 USD/night:
Rodeway Inn at Lake Powell | Swimming pool and breakfast included. Rooms start at $39 USD/night. Read reviews and book here
Best Western View of Lake Powell Hotel | Stunning views of Rim. Breakfast included. Rooms start at $55 USD/night. Read reviews and book here
La Quinta Inn & Suites Page at Lake Powell | Swimming pool & free breakfast available. Rooms start at $65 USD/night. Read reviews and book here
SHOP THE LOOK FOR LESS ON AMAZON
Traveling in the USA? Check out these articles to help you plan your next adventure:
ARIZONA TRAVEL GUIDES
- The Complete Guide to Horseshoe Bend in Arizona
- Arizona Road Trip – one-week itinerary
- 3 Stunning Hikes in Sedona
- The Best Hike in Grand Canyon National Park
CALIFORNIA TRAVEL GUIDES
- Top 5 things to do in Yellowstone National Park
- How to spend a weekend in Sequoia National Park
- How to spend a weekend in Yosemite National Park
- Big Sur in One Day
- San Francisco: Mission District Street Art Tour
- A perfect day in Sonoma Valley (California)
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Does the tour handle transportation from the hotel to the antelope? thanks for your tips
Hi Karla, thanks for your question. Unfortunately that’s not included in the tour but I would still send them an email and ask if they can help 🙂
Hi! My friends and family are wanting to go to Antelope Canyon. I was wondering if you could tell me how many they have in a tour group?
Hi Betsy, thanks for reaching out! I’m not really sure, but in our case we got in with a group of around 10 people.
Hi ! We will visit Sedona and Flag Staff next week.How many days can we arrange to travel there ? Thanks for your tips…
Hi there! Thanks for your message. I would stay in Sedona at least 3 days to enjoy the hikes and viewpoints. I haven’t been to Flagstaff so I’m not sure about it. Hope it helps and I wish you a wonderful trip!
Hi what time of year did you go? My boyfriend wants to go during july because he thinks the monsoon season is a site to see. I noticed your in fall clothing so just wondering!
Hi Nicole, we visited in April:)
What brand are your brown hiking boots?