As a result, it is almost always FULL of people. Once there, your tours may last up to two hours when you figure in parking, the journey there and actual time spent in the canyons. Antelope Canyon is found on the lands of the Navajo County, Arizona. Interesting comparison Donna, thanks. It took a lot of help from the tour guide to get me out of there, but he had a good sense of humor about it, and I considered it part of the adventure! Taadidiin Tours is the only tour operator that provides tours here. Discovering Uzbekistan: At the centre of the Silk Hotel Review: The Cavendish London, Piccadilly, London. I could spend hours here just taking in the natural creations. It depends on a few things, such as your time constraints (if any), tolerance (or lack thereof) for crowds and fitness level. Back at the truck, our guide passed out some snacks and water before driving us to their private overlook of Horseshoe Bend for the second half of our tour. Overland Canyon Tours is the only outfitter licensed to visit this particular canyon. Answer 1 of 4: My husband and I will travel to Page in May of this year. Ever since I first saw photos of the sandstone slot canyons in Arizona, specifically Antelope Canyon, I wanted to visit. Consequently, making tour reservations well in advance is highly recommended. It's a slot canyon, meaning it formed from water carving it out over millions of years. It was so packed with people vying for the perfect photo spot that I worried about accidentally getting bumped over the edge. As great as Sedona is, unless you can add 3 days to your trip plan, I'd save it for another vacation and plan a week here. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Ticket prices include the cost of an $8 permit required to enter the Navajo lands. If you are doing this during the summer, Id double the amount of water you think you will need. The colors keep changing because of different angles, so dont worry. In addition to Waterhole Canyon, Arizona has a ton of bucket list destinations that you need to see. Or a handstand, may I add I really truly hope that Horseshoe Bend Tours will keep their mission to keep the Secret Canyon as secret and private as it gets. In fact, the most expensive photo in the world was taken in Upper Antelope Canyon, and it sold for $6.5 million. Your email address will not be published. The terrain of the Upper Canyon is more accessible for most tourists and is, therefore, busier. The permit to hike water holes canyon is only $12 per person which is half the price of the cheapest Antelope Canyon Tour. The total driving travel time between Las Vegas and Antelope Canyon is about 4 and a half hours, traffic permitting. *Infants & children under age 6 are not permitted. In fact, it has become so popular, you have to book your tour a few days ahead (you cant do it alone, as the land is owned by Navajo tribe) especially if you are on a road trip and cant afford to lose time. Learn more about coverage options for frequent travelers and those with multiple upcoming trips. Secret Canyon tours are limited to 15 persons for each 2 hour excursion. Upper Antelope Canyon is only 100 yards long and the trail through it is flat, so it's an easy walk for most people. HB is a longer, more continuous slot than AC, but is beautiful in its own way. Either one is perfectly stunning and photogenic, so its up to the visitor to decide what theyre wanting out of their experience. Over millions of years, rainwater and flooding widens and deepens the opening and the result is a narrow, tall passage through the rocks of the plateau, that can be miles long. Upper Antelope Canyon is most famous for its "beam of light" phenomenon. The further we walked, the narrower the slot became, and soon the scenery was just like Id seen in those slot canyon pictures that inspired me to visit Page. (866) 275-5816 | (602) 364-3700, Copyright 2023 VisitArizona.com | Privacy Policy, Don't forget to look up! If you want to take great pictures then I recommend the Secret Canyon tour as it is much easier to get the time and space to do that without people constantly wandering into the view of your lens. Required fields are marked *. It was a chilly morning in early January, so we were given warm blankets to cover up with during the drive in a partially open-air 44 truck. See and be seen at these stunning natural wonders. I recommend both - because they are very different experiences. The Best Westerns however boasted a beautiful view of Lake Powell and with Best Western of Lake Powell having a better view and Best Western Plus having more posh interiors. I really enjoyed this article because I love finding cool hidden sites that arent as crowded and popular as the famous ones (Water Holes Canyon vs Antelope Canyon)! Not any longer. Hi Tonya, it is definitely a smart thing to do the overlook is on the way to the Secret Canyon and if you have your own car there is no point in paying extra. It seems we could do the overlook on our own and save the extra $30. I will have to drive back up there again soon. This canyon is shaped more like the letter A. Upper Antelope Canyon is about 660 feet long (or 200 m) with the Lower Antelope Canyon being about 1,335 feet long (or 407 m). Secret Canyon is just a few feet wide in some places and over 100 feet (30m) high and though this canyon is only a 450 feet (140m) long it contains interesting and colourful examples of the abstract beauty. The cuts are modern and even the white shirts protect you from the sun. Two companies lead excursions through Lower Antelope Canyon. Here's the essential information you need for a satisfying visit. It is still uncrowded and you can expect the tour to be almost private because very few people know about this canyon. What is the difference between the Upper and Lower. If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. View Larger Map Not to worry if you dont have a DSLR or a tripod, our iPhone 6+s captured stunning photos here too! Specifically, when booking your tour time, Upper's magic hour is the 10:30am tour slot. Canyon X is also on private land and it used to be much more difficult to visit than today. On the company's sightseer tours, you'll spend about an hour in the canyon, plus 40 minutes round-trip travel time to the Antelope Canyon Tours office in Page, Arizona. Hiking Antelope Canyon without a guide or tour was something I definitely looked into but realized was not possible. The Tour Experience - Opting for the morning tour, we set off at 8am and jumped into an open air 4WD safari-like vehicle for a 20minute drive toward the canyon. Thank you for sharing. Weve given you all the steps, its up to you what to do with them. Note: Some tour providers on this list may be running more limited operations due to COVID-19 or may impose testing or vaccine requirements. I simply adore the magenta and red colors and cant seem to find out at what time of day they come out best. These hikes, which travelers say are led by knowledgeable and professional guides, usually last 60 to 90 minutes and cover about a mile. It is quite expensive (90 USD per adult and 65 USD per child) which is almost twice the price you pay for Antelope Canyon), however you do get the experience that you probably cant get anywhere else. The only downside is that the tour is quite expensive, so its worth considering the type of experience you want to have. Tripods and photography gear other than hand-held cameras are forbidden, as are firearms, bags and pets. To recap: Decide which of the canyons youre wanting to visit and book tours accordingly. Theres no real sign and we actually missed it coming from Page. Experience the breathtaking beauty of Secret Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend Overlook on our exclusive tour. Slot canyons are always significantly deeper than they are wide. Children younger than 3 can take the tour for free, but strollers cannot be used in the Lower Canyon. So, I did my share of online digging and found the Secret Canyon an intimate version of the slot canyon, which was definitely the highlight of our South West USA road trip. Yes, during the summer you have more time on your hands, but youd also find yourself sweating buckets and elbowing others who had the bright idea of being in the beaming sun for hours on end for the best photo-op. The deep shadows and reflected light make shooting images difficult but with good equipment and technique capturing images of the natural beauty is possible. I've been to them all. Upper Antelope Canyon is shaped like an upside-down "V," narrow at the top and wide at the base. Antelope Canyon is located just east of Page, Arizona, in the northern area of the state. Compared to the Grand Canyon and other well-known national landmarks, Antelope Canyon is away from the crowds, making it easy to get to, visit, and photograph without other tourists interrupting you. I hope that Horseshoe Bend Tours keeps Secret Canyon a small-group experience because Ive seen too many places lose their magic because of over-tourism. You can find tours for this canyon typically every half hour, which is more frequent than tours of the Upper Antelope Canyon. From a more logistical standpoint, the quickest way to get there (if youre not near the Four Corners) is to make your way to Las Vegas, which is home to the closest airport. Shadows begin to peek in after that 12 pm timeslot, which may make that perfectly lit photograph difficult to achieve. We took our time hiking out of the slot canyon and explored the surrounding area. We explored a slot canyon like Antelope Canyon on our own without a guide and go at our own pace. While the Upper and Lower portions of Antelope Canyon receive tons of fanfare, Antelope Canyon X promises stunning views without the hefty crowds. Your email address will not be published. Though hardly remote by some Arizona standards, Antelope Canyon is still considered a lengthy drive and hike for many areas of the state. Horseshoe Bend (formerly known as "Secret" Canyon) Slot Canyon debate, it is true that the latter will have fewer people to contend with, but you'll pay more for more exclusive access. Just one correction the elevation there is closer to 4000 than 7000, about 4300 feet. Tours run multiple times daily starting at 7:50 a.m. Tickets start at $82 for participants 8 and older, $72 for youths 7 and younger. I definitely recommend you to protect the camera because it gets dusty but if you are careful, you should be fine . We left this water jug out in the sun all day and it was still cold the next day. EPIC DRIVE THROUGH MONUMENT VALLEY WITHOUT A GUIDE, ICONIC NAVAJO EXPERIENCE AT THE VIEW HOTEL, 18 Photos that Prove You Need to Book a Ticket to Thailand Right Now, 20 Fabulous Fall Photo Ideas for all the Fall Feels on Your Instagram, Budget Friendly Amazon Gift Ideas for the Homebody, Why Assateague Island Should Be on Your Bucket List, 5 Places to See Beautiful Fall Foliage in Washington DC 2022, 10 Secret Places to See Cherry Blossoms in Washington DC Like a Local without the Crowds, The Ultimate Arizona Road Trip Guide | Antelope Canyon, Monument Valley, Grand Canyon. The feisty fauna, such as spiders, scorpions, and snakes, will be keeping to themselves more than spending time out in the open. INSPIRATION & EXPERT ADVICE FOR INDEPENDENT TRAVELLERS. Canyon X is a private tour, only offered through Overland Canyon tours. The Travel Magazine is a travel portal with highly informative, upbeat and inspirational articles for people who love to travel. Adventurous Antelope Canyon Tours offers 80-minute excursions through Upper Antelope Canyon. I suspect only a few weeks or months as the summer rains will return and they would change the canyon yet again. Maximum group size is now 25 (it was 15 when we did our Secret Canyon tour) and only one tour group is in the canyon at a time. What a nice surprise and a lot less work. For the Lower Antelope, it is best to take the tour between 10 am to 1 pm. You will be joining a group of maximum 15 people which is a real bliss and gives you plenty of space to breathe and enjoy your time in the canyon. Its supposed to keep water cold for up to 24 hours and it works! This does not affect the quality or independence of our editorial content. At first I was worried if taking the morning tour was a good idea (I had read that you were supposed to visit slot canyon at noon for the perfect lightning) but that was no issue at all. You can do this hike in just a good pair of sneakers because it is flat but be prepared to get tons of sand in your shoes. We love to kayak and are looking to see all the. We decided rather last minute (the night before) to book a tour of Lower Antelope Canyon and were glad we did because it was stunning. The whole experience at Antelope was rushed and there is no option to go to Antelope Canyon without a guided tour. Did the Chief Tsosie Upper Antelope tour at 3pm crowds weren't much of an issue. It would be a shame for that to happen here. Cathedral Canyon is located just south of Page, Arizona and west of Coppermine Road and is entirely on Navajo . Also keep in mind that while most tour companies welcome small children, not all of them will. Adventurous Antelope Canyon Tours also runs outings to Upper Antelope Canyon combined with either Rattlesnake Canyon or both Rattlesnake and Owl canyons. You just need to buy a permit right before you go and put that permit on the dashboard of your car when you park. Pick the best time of year and the best time of day for what youre wanting (off-season for fewer crowds, mid-summer, and midday for the best light beams) if the summers seem like too much stress. Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment. You can go to Water Holes Canyon completely on your own without a guide or a tour group. Tickets (excluding the park entrance fee) start at around $50 for adults and $30 for children ages 4 to 12. Since going to Antelope Canyon requires a tour, you really cant spend that much time taking pictures. Once you get there just dont forget to breathe. It's a narrow canyon formed by the wear of water rushing through rock (of the sandstone and limestone varieties). The Grand Canyon is about 135 miles southwest. By the way if you want to book a hotel or room in Page (or anywhere else for that matter) you can use this link and we will both get 15 pocket money for our travel After confirming your reservation make sure that you arrive to the location around 15 minutes earlier (plenty of free parking space there) to check in, refill your bottles with water (although the agency kindly provides some complimentary bottles as well), visit the restrooms and grab a spot in the partly open 44 wheel drive. Visits are by smaller groups, each of which is the only group in the canyon at that time. What is the difference between the Upper and Lower canyon? Moyan Brenn/Flickr. Do NOT DEFACE their sacred grounds. PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS. This is so gorgeous here!! The smaller number of people really allow you to experience the unusual beauty of a slot canyon. Secret Canyon is not a slot canyon and is unlike Antelope or X Canyons in the Page area. Waterhole Canyon was definitely a hidden gem on our Arizona road trip. Companies serving the Lower Canyon are located within walking distance of the canyon's entrance; therefore, they do not provide transportation to or from Page. A couple of days later I visited the second secret slot canyon that most visitors never see. Along with standard tours to Upper Antelope Canyon, Antelope Slot Canyon Tours also offers tours of the nearby Cathedral Canyon. The sign reads Lake Powell. No matter which tour you pick, you're guaranteed to see incredible rock formations in a kaleidoscope of colors. The tours are given by hummer advetures in Page Az. Those 7 and younger are not permitted on the outings. 1110 W Washington St, #155 The smaller one is only 100 feet long but has wonderful formations. When visiting Lower Antelope, we suggest anywhere between 10am -1pm. After all, who takes a descent selfie in less than a minute? Learn how to take fantastic photos of Antelope Canyon from a trained guide during a tour of either Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon. Aceste dou locuri sunt, fr ndoial, dou dintre cele mai magnifice atracii din sud-vest. Did you book the overlook also? But that's just me. Companies that provide tours of Upper Antelope Canyon are all based in or near Page, Arizona, and provide transportation to the Upper Canyon. This canyon, called "Secret Antelope Canyon", is located approximately 4-5 miles from Upper and Lower Antelope Canyons. Difficulty:There are no stairs or ladders in the canyon, but it does require walking on sandy terrain. The journey to Canyon X begins MP 307.8 on Highway 98 near Page, AZ on the Navajo Nation Reservation. (Keep in mind if you can't book a child's ticket, it means there are no more car seats available.) But you'll find fewer people here. So turn your thoughts to spring, winter, or fall.the months outside of May through September. Canyon X is further away from Page (about 40 minutes) and access to it is a slightly more difficult - a steep, somewhat rocky path leads to the entrance of the canyon, but that part is relatively short. Both canyons are located on Navajo-owned lands, and in both cases, it's compulsory to visit the canyons with a Navajo guide. Would you believe me if I told you theres a slot canyon that looks just like the famous Upper and Lower Antelope Canyons that you can hike all on your own? What is Antelope Canyon? Enjoy! Antelope island vs. Antelope Canyon 13:39; Page Az to south Rim GC yesterday; Page, AZ, hotel pick-up for Lower Antelope Canyon tours 22 February 2023; visiting upper and lower antelope canyon and horseshoe bend. However, the actual tour experience was the complete opposite of what we enjoyed at Secret Canyon. Do: Wear closed-toe, sturdy shoes and layered clothing. At Horseshoe Bend Overlook, we'll avoid the congested public parking lot and take a private dirt road that leads to within 100 meters of the edge of the canyon. Hi Konstanze, thank you for your comment. And dont worry, you will have plenty of time to make awesome photos because in the group of 15 people everything can be arranged. Upper Antelope Canyon is located a few miles away on the opposite side of the road. I noticed there are two trips: one goes to the Island, and then there is one that sees the canyon. Holly Johnson and Erin EvansMarch 1, 2023, Holly Johnson and Erin EvansFeb. Typical to the tourist trap vacation spots and amusement parks, the best time to visit is during the off-season, which is to say, anything but the summer. Luckily, they are real and they can be found in Arizona, USA. If you're wanting something fairly quick and easy in a slot canyon tour, then Upper (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? For those reasons, I started to look for an alternative to Antelope Canyon, one where I could enjoy similar scenery, but have plenty of time for capturing photos and absorbing the atmosphere. Expect up to a 3/4 mile walk through flat,sandy terrain of a slot canyon and another 1/4 mile round trip walk over undulating sandstone at Horseshoe Bend Overlook. Lower is a little more flexible, as the canyon's top is wider, which in turn allows the sun to have a wider range to soak the canyon in light. While cameras are welcome, tripods and selfie sticks are not. The price generallybut not alwaysincludes taxes and the $8 Navajo . You do not need to purchase a permit to go to Waterhole Canyon beforehand. Beautiful!!! You will get an obscene amount of sand in your shoes though! Sign up for our newsletter to receive all the latest news, travel tips and special offers. That being said, some photographers and avid tourists feel that visiting between 10 am and 12 pm is the best time because youll be welcomed to beams of light peaking through cracks, washing the canyon with glimmering sunlight. Waterhole Canyon (also known as Water Holes Canyon) is located just outside of Page, Arizona about a 15-minute drive from the center of town. I wandered around marvelling at the way the water had carved the rock into so many different shapes and textures. (Getty Images). Page. Ive hiked at many different locations with just a downloaded Google Map and it was super useful. It feels like a whole other planet! The tour starts at $102 per person, but cost an additional $10 if you want to visit during peak sunlight hours. Person, but strollers can not be used in the Canyon make images... Make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission people... You need to purchase a permit right before you go and put that permit on the dashboard your... 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