The Antelope Canyons have fast risen to Top 5 status among the Page, Arizona areaβs βmust doβ activities. You are required to tour them with a Navajo Tribe-authorized guide service, and advance reservations are an absolute must!Β Why You Should Book In Advance…
So where does one start? To book a tour for Antelope Canyon, you must first decide whether you want to tour Lower or Upper Antelope Canyon, or both.Β
Upper Antelope Canyon is an above-ground slot canyon. Itβs an easy, flat 100 yard walk, following a 2-mile off-road ride from the Navajo Tribal Park Gate on US98 to the canyonβs entrance. Upper Antelope Canyon is also where you can catch those world-famous sunbeams between the spring and fall months, but only during peak time tours. If you are traveling with infants, young children, seniors, or anyone with mobility limitations, Upper Antelope Canyon would be the best choice for your slot canyon touring experience, however, only 3 of the 5 Upper Antelope Canyon tour operators allow children under 6 on their tours. Also, wheelchairs and strollers are not allowed due to the difficulty of maneuvering these devices through potentially deep sand and the newly installed network of walkways from the exit of the canyon back to the tour vehicle parking area.Β
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Lower Antelope Canyon is a longer slot canyon (~600 yards), situated below-ground. Touring it requires descending and ascending a series of ladders, and stepping over a few boulders. Access to the canyon is directly from the Tribal Park Gate on US98. If everyone in your traveling party is in reasonably good health and can handle moderate exercise, you should be fine in Lower Antelope Canyon. Although infants and younger children are allowed on Lower Antelope Canyon tours, parents should consider carefully whether this would be an appropriate or safe activity. Although backpack and chest child carriers are allowed, low rock ledges and other hazards could detract from the enjoyment of this experience for all concerned. Consider these facts carefully before booking a tour of Lower Antelope Canyon with your baby or toddler.
For more information on touring Antelope Canyon with young children, read βAntelope Canyon FAQ: Bringing Kids.β Also check out our Full Video Walk Through of Lower Antelope CanyonΒ Β
Upper Antelope Canyon in Page, Arizona, is the most famous slot canyon formation in all the world, and for good reason: Book a tour today and capture the magic. Find out why the American Southwest is considered the Canyon Capital of the World!
Book your party of up to six people and get your own Exclusive Tour vehical to yourself, a guide for your group and first access to the canyon. *Check for Limited availability after selecting Date and Time.
Maybe you are coming from Las Vegas the South Rim or Phoenix. Perhaps you are looking for things to see besides just Antelope Canyon. Here are a few of our recommendations
We know you didn’t come all this way just to see one part of such a magnificent Canyon. In the past it has been difficult to book more than one canyon run at a time due to the hassles of having to book through different vendors. Well no more! We have done all the hard work so you can Book your bundle today and enjoy the natural wonders that are the Upper & Lower Canyons as well as by boat! Find out why these canyons are some of the most photographed canyons in the world! The advantage of booking here on Antelopecanyon.az is that many times bundle deals are available when stand alone tours are not!Β
Benefits of a Bundle Deal…
#1 – All inclusive booking price. Don’t get caught with hidden fees!
#2 – Our service does all of the work finding any possible booking combination and times. Saving you valuable time.
#3 – Our bundle deals take into consideration how far you have to travel and how long you may have to wait to enter the Park or add time for lunches.
#4 – Many times bundle deals are available when stand alone Tours are not!
974 Responses
I am a photographer, and 2 of my clients would like to take their engagement photos at Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend. I have a few questions:
1. Do I need to book a specific “photography tour” in order to do their photo shoot at Antelope Canyon, or will any tour be fine?
2. Do other canyons like Canyon X, Secret Canyon, & Rattlesnake Canyon offer photography tours? Or if we wanted to do their photo shoot in these canyons could we just book a normal tour?
3. Do I need to book a “tour” to take their photos at Horseshoe Bend?
4. Do I need to purchase a wedding permit even though this is not a wedding?
5. If I do need to purchase a wedding permit, will that permit cover us for both Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend?
Hi Giana,
For an engagement photo shoot, a photography tour is recommended so your photo shoot is not bombarded with other visitors.
As to whether Canyon X, Horseshoe Bend Slot Canyon (formerly Secret Canyon) and Rattlesnake do photography tours, technically no, since group sizes are deliberately kept smaller.
If you wish to take photos at Horseshoe Bend, a special use permit from the National Park Service is usually required — which doesn’t cover Antelope Canyon — but you could also work with Horseshoe Bend Slot Canyon Tours on this area, too: they access the overlook via a private entrance on Navajo land.
If all this sounds like a bit of a pain, frankly, it is, which is why we recommend working with an experienced wedding and event planner in the local area who can take care of all those logistics for you. For more information, visit Monumental Arizona Weddings or call 480-980-8121.
Good luck and congratulations to your clients on their engagement and nuptials!
Alley π
Hi,
I am planning to drive from Phoenix, AZ to Page on 08/31 morning, and return on 09/02 afternoon.
Can you please advise me a travel plan to visit all attractions in Page.
Hi Dhruva!
First of all, you won’t hit “all” the attractions in Page, AZ. In order to do that, you’d need 3-5 days, but the timeframe you have is perfectly fine and you can still accomplish a lot and have a wonderful time.
Since Page, AZ, is a small town, the order in which you visit the attractions here depends largely on availability of tours, or in this case, lack thereof. The weekend you’re planning on visiting is Labor Day weekend, so don’t be surprised to find slots on many area tours to be sold out!
The drive from Phoenix, AZ, to Page, AZ, “in theory” takes about 4.5 hours, but that’s wheels turning, no stops. That rarely happens since the drive is very scenic and you’ll no doubt be stopping to take pictures. 6-6.5 hours tends to be a more realistic figure when you factor in bathroom breaks, meal stops (the Cameron Trading Post is a great place for lunch), and the inevitable “oh wow, look at that!” moment. Still, if you get an early start on the trip, you could do your Antelope Canyon tour that afternoon. This element of your trip (Antelope Canyon tours) should be the first priority for booking, so check availability for that first anyway. If you find that tours of the main branches of Antelope Canyon are sold out, look to alternate slot canyons in the Page, AZ, area that are just as beautiful, but far less crowded. If you wish to pair your Antelope Slot Canyon tour with a short boat tour of Lake Powell, consider “bundling” these activities for ease of convenience in the reservation process.
If you wished to do a longer water-based activity, such as the Glen Canyon Half-Day Float Trip or the Lake Powell Rainbow Bridge Boat Tour, you’d want to set aside your full day in town for that. If you take us up on that suggestion, take the early morning departure of these trips to avoid the peak heat of the afternoon. Then, if you have energy to spare afterwards, you might visit the Glen Canyon Conservancy museum, take a short hike to the “New” Wave or the Hanging Gardens (carry plenty of water if you do this), do a tour of the Glen Canyon Dam, or visit the Glen Canyon Conservancy Museum.
Visit Horseshoe Bend just after sunrise on your way back to Phoenix; here again, this will enable you to enjoy cooler temperatures and thinner crowds.
For more suggestions on how to get the most out of your time in Page, AZ, check out our “Ultimate 2-Day Itinerary in Page, AZ!”
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley π
Hi,
I would like to book the triple crown tour, which includes upper,lower canyon and boat tour. But i can not find a customer service number. Can you please send me the number i can contact those guys? I have enormous amount of questions to ask about this tour and there is no information.
Hi Valeria,
You’ll have to contact three different tour companies, but if you are OK with that, their contact information is as follows:
For Upper Antelope Canyon: Chief Tsosie’s Antelope Slot Canyon Tours 928-645-5494
For Lower Antelope Canyon: Ken’s Lower Antelope Canyon Tours (928) 606-2168
For Antelope Canyon waterside boat tour: Antelope Point Marina 928-645-5900
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley π
My husband and I are planning a trip out to Arizona in February of 2020. I like to do my planning/reservations well in advance. Many of the sites to book tours to visit do not have availability posted yet for February. Do you know when these dates may be opened up for reservations? Should I call the company instead of inquire online?
Thanks in advance!!
Hi Kaleigh,
Antelope Canyon tour companies will open up seat inventory for 2020 later this year, probably around October or November. Check back then, and if 2020 reservations aren’t possible to make by December, that would be the time to reach out by phone and see what’s going on.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley π
Question please. My wife and I are driving around the Utah Arizona area and we do not have a specific time where we are going to be at any one place. Is there a phone number we can call to see if there are any tours available the day before we drive to the Antelope Canyon area? Thank you
Hi Gary,
Honestly, I wouldn’t recommend doing that. Northern Arizona and Southern Utah are extremely popular vacation spots, and Antelope Canyon is a world-famous attraction. Tours (which are required) sell out weeks, sometimes months in advance, and those who “wing it” may find themselves out of luck! Naturally, there are alternate slot canyons in Page, AZ, which might save the day should you find yourself coming up against sold-out tours in the main branches of Antelope Canyon, but even those are selling out ahead of time.
As with every rule, however, there is an exception, and that holds true in this case: if you are traveling during the winter months (December-February), that timeframe tends to be a little quieter due to the colder weather, so then, you might find less competition for seats on tours, hotel rooms, etc.
All that said, there unfortunately isn’t one single number to use to check for availability on Antelope Canyon tours. There are four companies who oversee Upper Antelope Canyon and two who manage Lower Antelope Canyon. You must call these companies individually to inquire about booking seats.
Lower Antelope:
Kenβs Lower Antelope Canyon Tours (928) 606-2168 http://lowerantelope.com/ and
Dixie Ellisβ Antelope Lower Canyon Tours (928) 640-1761 http://antelopelowercanyon.com
Upper Antelope:
Tsosieβs Slot Canyon Tours, antelopeslotcanyon.com, 928.645.5594
Antelope Canyon Navajo Tours, 928-698-3384 https://navajotours.com
Ekisβ Antelope Canyon Tours, antelopecanyon.com, 928.645.9102
Adventurous Antelope Canyon Tours, navajoantelopecanyon.com, 928.380.187
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley π
Hi Alley, would you be able to share more information about engagement photoshoots at Antelope Canyon? Is there a special permit that is required? Does the photographer have to be an Arizona native? What is the price to shoot at AC? How much time is allotted for the shoot? Is there any restrictions such as just shooting in the Upper Canyon or Lower Canyon? At what time is it best to shoot at these places? Is there a particular day that is best to shoot engagement pictures? Are there any other locations that you suggest to do engagement shoots? Any and all information you can share is GREATLY appreciated.
Hi Jennifer,
Naturally, you have a lot of questions about doing an engagement photo shoot in Antelope Canyon. Unfortunately, answers can be all over the place depending on what you have in mind, how many people will be in your group, how much $$ you want to spend, and other considerations. The good news is there’s a local company that specializes in coordinating engagement, elopement, and wedding photo shoots at Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Tower Butte, and other beautiful locations around Page, AZ. I strongly recommend working with them, as they’ll make life a lot easier for you and your party! For more information, visit AntelopeCanyonWeddings.com , phone 480-980-8121, or e-mail monumentalarizonaweddings@gmail.com
Good luck, safe travels, and congratulations from all of us at AntelopeCanyon.AZ!
Alley π
Hi, I’m planning to go in mid-October to upper and lower antelope canyon (bundle tour). In this low season, do we have to still be there 1.5 hours before the tour start time? If we book the bundle deal through the website, is our spot guaranteed for both upper and lower antelope canyon? How is the weather in mid-October – is the best time to view the canyon still mid day in this season? Thanks!
Hi Sabrina,
Sorry to be the bearer of potentially bad news, but October is no longer considered “low season.” It now falls within peak travel season in Northern Arizona, especially in light of the nearly perfect weather that tends to prevail. A potential plus, however, is that tourists tend to be mostly adults since kids are back in school.
Long story short, if the tour companies instruct you to be at the meeting place 1.5 hours prior to tour start time, that’s indeed when you should be there.
Mid-day is still regarded is the best time for touring the slot canyons, but the light beams are mostly gone, or at least won’t penetrate all the way down to the canyon floor.
Hope that helps. Good luck and safe travels,
Alley π
Hi Alley! Trying to book a Lower Canyon tour in late July in the afternoon and saw the disclaimer that tours in July and August often get canceled after 11am each day due to heat. Does this happen nearly every day? Is it worth even trying to book a late afternoon (around 4pm) tour?
Thanks!!
Hi Meghan,
It doesn’t happen every day, but another but why risk it? Book your tour for earlier in the morning and enjoy cooler temperatures in Antelope Canyon!
Alley π
I am trying to book the package tour for lower and upper antelope canyon and the boat tour, but the website is not working, How can I get this booked for two people in September? Thanks.
Dear Matt,
Sorry for the trouble, please try this link.
Alley π
I am planning a trip with my friend to the area around Labor Day this Aug/Sept.
Here is our current plan for the trip. Was curious what you think about ordering/what you might change?
Just for some background: We are both 23 and very athletic. I have been to all 5 national parks in Utah before. Wanted to go back to Zion because felt like I didnβt get to do everything I wanted to. The main things I would like to do in this trip: Narrows and Angelβs Landing in Zion, sunrise at Horseshoe Bend, Upper/Lower Antelope Canyon, see the Grand Canyon.
We will be renting a campervan (minivan with a double bed). I was curious about BLM land and places we can park our car for free and spend the nights under the stars during our trip. We will also have a tent if we need it.
My proposed plan:
Thursday, Aug 29 β land in Vegas around 2/3pm, pickup campervan, drive towards Zion
Friday, Aug 30 β wakeup early and spend day in Zion
Saturday, Aug 31 β spend day in Zion, head to Page, AZ
Sunday, Sept 1 β tour Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend @ sunset
Monday, Sept 2 β Horseshoe Bend @ sunrise, head to Grand Canyon β North or South rim?
Tuesday, Sept 3 β drive back to Las Vegas, 4/5pm flights
Hi Samantha,
Your itinerary looks more logical in this 2nd version π
However, there are a couple of minor “reality checks” I should offer before you set out.
Late August/early September in Page, AZ, is still pretty hot. Nighttime temperatures may not cool off sufficiently for car camping to be comfortable. You might want to spring for a hotel on this leg of your trip so you have access to air conditioning. Page, AZ, hotels
Also, The Narrows might not be an option since late August/early September usually coincide with the tail end of the monsoon season in the American Southwest. Flash flood danger is typically higher at this time of year, which can result in the Narrows being closed off for visitor safety. Should that put a damper on your plans, don’t fret too much about it, there are plenty of other wonderful hikes to be had in Zion!
On September 1st, where you propose to hit Horseshoe Bend after touring Antelope Canyon, I suggest reversing the order of these activities. Parking at Horseshoe Bend tends to be a big hot mess at sunset. Just after sunrise, however, the overlook is not as crowded, plus you can enjoy cooler temperatures at this time. Be sure to make advance reservations for your Antelope Canyon tour.
RE: which part of the Grand Canyon to visit, I suggest the South Rim. The North Rim is beautiful, don’t get me wrong on that, but the South Rim has more in the way of visitor services, and a lot more square mileage of the Grand Canyon that is accessible to vehicles.
On the subject of free camping, options are definitely out there on BLM and National Forest Land, as long as you abide by certain rules. Namely, you must be at least 1/4 mile from a main highway, and pack out all your trash, including … you know. The only disadvantage to going this route (or advantage, depending on your point of view) is that areas where camping is permitted are usually going to be some distance outside most National Parks, Monuments, and Federal Fee Areas. Some roads may require or strongly recommend that your vehicle be equipped with 4WD before traveling down them. Good sources of information on free camping all over the U.S. is FreeCampsites.net. You might also consult AllStays.com or Campendium.com For a first-hand account of a Grand Canyon family vacation using free campgrounds whenever possible, visit this blog entry.
Good luck and safe travels!
Alley π
Hello, my mom really wants to see Antelope Canyon and so I’m doing my research now to gather all of the information to plan a trip for 2020. After browsing through your articles, I would like to see Upper Antelope Canyon, Lower Antelope Canyon boat tour, and Horseshoe Bend. To book the bundle, would we have to have our own transportation between the tours or are there other options to get to Antelope Point Marina? Alternatively, are there tours that operate out of Phoenix or Las Vegas that would check off the places we would like to see?
Hi Carmen,
We commend you for making your Antelope Canyon tour plans well in advance! If you were to book one of the bundles (BTW, Horseshoe Bend is not included in any of them since you can visit on your own), you would need to have your own transportation between tour companies. That’s the way it is at the present time, anyway. By the time you visit, other provisions may be in place. We encourage you to keep apprised of any new developments concerning The Antelope Canyons on our Facebook page.
As for tours out of Las Vegas and Phoenix that go to Antelope Canyon, you’ll probably be hard-pressed to find one that covers all the things you want to do as they are limited on time. But, they are out there if that’s the way you want to go.
Antelope Canyon Tours from Phoenix & Las Vegas
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley π
We will have our own transportation from Page and we have no psychical restraints. Which is better (and which tour company is better), the upper or lower canyon if we are only choosing one?
Hi Heather,
If you’re up for the moderate physical challenges of Lower Antelope Canyon, I’d recommend doing it. As for which tour company is “better,” both tour companies (Ken’s and Dixie Ellis) offer virtually identical tours right down to the footsteps, and the penny. No need to quibble too much over who you go with. Just book a time that fits your schedule, and book it ASAP! Time and desire permitting, you might also consider bundling your Antelope Canyon tour with another experience, such as a boat tour on Lake Powell, or a tour of the Navajo Village Heritage Center!
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley π