Best Antelope Canyon Tours & Trips

Perhaps you have heard of the ethereal beauty of the Antelope Canyon for years from people who have been there. Or maybe you have seen an amazing photo on social medial and now want to check it out for yourself. If you’re wondering - Where is Antelope Canyon? What is the best way to get there? – keep reading to find out.

Antelope Canyon is a narrow sandstone slot canyon that is much smaller than the Grand Canyon. The location of both canyons is within the Grand Circle of parks and monuments that dominate the Southwestern United States. In fact, Antelope Canyon is one of several smaller canyons that encircle the majestic Grand Canyon. If you’re planning a visit to the Grand Canyon and want to tour Antelope Canyon on the same trip, you might be wondering how much time it will take. Please note, the scenic drive from Grand Canyon South Rim to Antelope Canyon to is roughly two hours long.

Antelope Canyon is located to the east of the town of Page, Arizona, in Navajo nation. Because it is located on a Navajo reservation, booking a guided tour is mandatory. Luckily, there is a wide variety of tour packages offered to visitors who want to view and experience what has been described as a photographer’s dream. The canyon is open to visitors year-round (confirm timings before planning your trip). Advance reservations are recommended as availability is limited and tours sell out quickly. You should plan to spend approximately 90-120 minutes exploring this amazing natural wonder.

Day trips to Antelope Canyon start in locations such as Las Vegas, Page, Sedona, and Flagstaff, AZ, among others. On these tours you spend the day sightseeing and exploring in groups. Transportation between tour locations is in style and comfort. Another famous place nearby is Horseshoe Bend. You can easily explore this marvelous viewpoint on an Antelope Canyon Horseshoe Bend combined tour.

Multi-day  Antelope Canyon packages allow you to enjoy pre-planned activities, learn about the canyon’s history, and gain a unique perspective from knowledgeable guides. Overnight stopovers are in beautifully appointed hotels. Tours such as the  4-day Antelope Canyon tour from Las Vegas are available at great prices and often include stops at other places of interest such as the Grand Canyon South Rim and Lake Powell.

There are also several multi-day tours from  Phoenix to Antelope Canyon that you can join. These include the 8-day bus tour that takes you to the Grand Canyon, Lake Powell, and Zion National Park among other beautiful destinations.

Adventurous Antelope Canyon tours generally include optional Jeep tours driven by a Navajo native guide who will give you interesting info about the area. There are also boat tours on Lake Powell that can take you to the region of the Antelope Canyon that joins the lake. For people who love to hike and spend time in the outdoors, there are a number of hiking trails with varying difficulty levels. 

Antelope Canyon Navajo tours are unique in that they provide visitors with interesting information about the canyon and surrounding lands from the perspective of the people who have occupied the land for centuries. The local Navajo name for the canyon is Tse' bighanilini which translates to - the place where water runs through rocks.

Antelope Canyon tours can take you to either of its two sections:

• Upper Antelope Canyon also known as The Crack – This is the more popular of the two Antelope Canyons and these are the photos you have most likely seen on social media. This part of the canyon is more accessible and there is no climbing involved. You can expect to see mesmerizing beams of light streaming from the roof onto the walls to create a supernatural appearance. Don’t forget your camera!

• Lower Antelope Canyon often called The Corkscrew – Lower Antelope Canyon tours are a favorite of photographers who want to capture the winding walls and sandstone sculptures, but these tours require some climbing over steep steps to enter and leave the lower canyon.

Visitors to Antelope Canyon, Arizona, arrive there with high expectations of a brilliant display of underground rock formations, light, shadows, and color, and they are never disappointed. The sheer beauty of this geological marvel leaves everyone awestruck.