The Antelope Canyons have fast risen to Top 5 status among the Page, Arizona area’s “must do” activities. You are required to tour them with a Navajo Tribe-authorized guide service, and advance reservations are an absolute must! 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.
Upper Antelope Canyon is an above-ground slot canyon. It’s an easy, flat 100 yard walk, following a 2-mile off-road ride from the Navajo Tribal Park Gate on US98 to the canyon’s 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.
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 “Antelope Canyon FAQ: Bringing Kids.” Also check out our Full Video Walk Through of Lower Antelope Canyon
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!
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!
1,002 Responses
Hello couple of questions 1) what’s the difference between the express shuttle tour and the one with out it? 2) what are the best hours if I am wanting to do both tours on the same day? Thank you
Hi Jose!
The Lower Antelope Canyon + Express Shuttle Tour includes round-trip transportation from downtown Page, AZ. On the basic hiking tour, you would drive yourself down to the canyon site, which is ~10 minutes from Page, AZ.
If you wish to do both Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon Tours on the same day, mid-day is generally regarded as the best time for photography as that’s when the chambers of the canyons are best illuminated. Obviously, one can’t be in two canyons at once. Fortunately, there’s no such thing as a bad time to go. The more important point is to take care to choose tours that give you enough time to transition from one to the other. We recommend leaving at least one hour’s time from the conclusion of your first tour to the check-in time for your next tour. If, for example, you were to take the 8:15 am Upper Antelope Canyon Tour (check in at 7:30 AM), that would conclude at approximately 9.45-10:00 AM. Check-in for the 11.45 am Lower Antelope Canyon Hiking Tour (self-drive) would be required at 11.00 AM, which would leave one hour between tours to grab a snack or meal, freshen up, do some shopping, etc. Another example: you could do the 10.10 AM Lower Antelope Canyon + Express Shuttle, which would wrap up at around 1:00 PM. The next departure of Upper Antelope Canyon would take place at 2:30 PM, requiring check-in around 1.45 PM, which would be shaving it slightly close, but manageable if everything takes place on schedule (spoiler alert: they rarely do). If that’s too close for comfort for you, the next departure to Upper Antelope Canyon at 4:30 PM (check in 3.45 pm) would leave you plenty of time between tours to relax, have a bite to eat, take a dip in your hotel pool or Lake Powell, etc.
Hope that clarifies things! If you have any more questions, please feel free to contact us directly at reservations@antelopecanyon.az
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hello!
I want to do a reservation for both Upper and Lower, i was thinking on going to the Lower Antelope Canyon + Express Shuttle at 6:40-9:30 am. Should i be able to go into the 10:20 am Upper? or should i reserve a later tour?
hope you can recommend what would be the best
thank you!!
Hi Cristina!
That plan should work if all goes according to schedule.
The 6:40 am Lower Antelope Canyon + Express would return to downtown Page, AZ, at 9:30 am, if all goes according to schedule. You would then need to check in for the 10:20 AM Upper Antelope Canyon tour at 9:35 am. So again, having that first tour operate without delays would be crucial in order to make your check-in for Upper Antelope Canyon on time.
To be on the safe side, we would advise leaving a bit more time between tours. Chief Tsosie’s Antelope Slot Canyon tours also offers a 12:25 pm departure, which would leave ample time between tours to grab a meal or snack, take a rest, or do some shopping.
Hope that helps! Please contact us directly at reservations@AntelopeCanyon.AZ if you have further questions.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
I have read that if parking is full, there is additional parking 1.6 miles away, and that a shuttle will take you from this point to the parking at horseshoe bend for $5 per person. Shuttle runs every 15 mins.
Is this service no longer available?
Hi Glenda,
In the years before completion of the new expanded parking lot at Horseshoe Bend, this service was offered. Since the new parking lot opened, there has not been a need for it. Should visitation to Page, AZ, increase exponentially, it may resume running, but that has yet to happen.
That said, the best time to visit Horseshoe Bend in order to avoid parking hassles and enjoy cooler temperatures and fewer crowds is just after sunrise.
Hope that helps! Please contact us directly at reservations@AntelopeCanyon.AZ if you have further questions.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi, I’m getting confused with the time zone. Don’t want to miss my tour. Is there a number I can call to verify what time the tour is?
Hi Rochel,
Page, AZ, and the Antelope Canyons operate on Mountain STANDARD Time year-round. This means we are on the same time as California and Nevada, but one hour “behind” Utah, New Mexico, and Colorado.
You may call Dixie Ellis’ Lower Antelope Canyon Tours at 928-640-1761 to verify the current local time.
Thank you,
Alley 🙂
Hi to all,
I’m Alice and I would like to book a Upper Antelope Canyon tour at 12th of August 2023 at 12.25 but there is 1 ticket left. We are 2 Is it possible to add only one person? Pleaseeee We are I and my mom and we come from Italy
Hi Alice,
Sorry for the troubles you’re having with booking an Upper Antelope Canyon tour.
Unfortunately, the tour companies are strictly limited by the Navajo Tribal Parks & Recreation Department as to how many people they can accommodate at certain times of the day, so adding another seat onto your desired time slot is not an option. I would suggest booking whatever departure time you can find sufficient space on, and check all companies that tour Upper Antelope Canyon for availability.
– Roger Ekis’ Antelope Canyon Tours, 928-645-9102, http://www.antelopecanyon.com
– Chief Tsosie’s Antelope Slot Canyon Tours, 928-645-5594, http://www.antelopeslotcanyon.com
– Antelope Canyon Navajo Tours, 928-698-3384 https://navajotours.com
– Adventurous Antelope Canyon Photo Tours, (928) 614-4919 or (928) 640-6808, https://www.navajoantelopecanyon.com/
– Tse Bighanilini Tours, (928) 310-9458, http://www.tsebighanilini.com
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
ARE DOGS (LABRADOODLE, 35 LBS) ALLOWED IN UPPER ANTELOPE CANYON?
Hi Victoria,
No pets of any kind are allowed in the Antelope Canyons. If you are traveling with a pet, you’ll need to arrange to have them boarded whilst you’re on tour. Dog boarding is available in Page, AZ, at Page Pampered Pets, who can be reached at 928-640-6898, or the Page Animal Hospital, who can be reached at 928-645-2816.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
I’ve seen contradictory rules about carrying fanny pack/backpacks; and some bring water in canyon or not?
Hi Stella,
Apologies for the conflicting information you are seeing.
The situation with bags, backpacks, etc., has always been somewhat fluid, and this tourist season is no exception.
Per our tour partners in both Lower and Upper Antelope Canyon, bags of any kind are no longer allowed. Items such as cash, credit cards, ID’s, chapstick, etc., must be carried in pockets. If there is a medical need, such as insulin or asthma inhalers, these may be carried in ziploc type bags as long as on-site personnel are notified upon check-in for your tour.
Water may be carried in any type of bottle, whether it’s a clear disposable type bottle or a refillable bottle such as a hydroflask. Canyon site personnel simply ask that you refrain from littering.
Hope that helps. If you have further questions, please contact us directly at reservations@antelopecanyon.az
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
We are a family of 4 (2 adults, 2 kids (2,5)) and want to see upper antelope canyon
Do you have may 28-29 or 30th available ?
And is a 2 year old and a 5 year old ok?
Hi Maria,
To check availability for a specific date, you’ll need to call or go online to the specific Upper Antelope Canyon tour providers.
FYI, there are 5 tour companies that go to Upper Antelope, but only 3 of them allow children under the age of 6:
– Roger Ekis’ Antelope Slot Canyon Tours, downtown Page, Arizona, http://www.antelopecanyon.com, 928-645-9102
– Antelope Canyon Navajo Tours, US98, between Mile Markers 299 & 300, http://www.navajotours.com, 928-698-3384
– Tse Bighanilini Tours, US98, between Mile Markers 299 & 300, https://www.tsebighanilini.com, 928-310-9458
For more information on touring Antelope Canyon with younger children safely, check out “Bringing Kids To Antelope Canyon”
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Three questions. Most importantly, have you reinstated the tour specifically for photographers, where, I assume, there are fewer people and they spend a bit longer time? And secondly, I’ve always admired pictures of shafts of light streaming into the canyon; what time is best to catch that shaft of light? Usually photographers most love sunrise and sunset. Does that apply to both upper and lower Antelope Canyon or, perhaps, not at all?
Hi Jim,
Three answers:
1. The photography tour for the Upper and Lower Antelope Canyons has not been reinstated, and is not likely to be reinstated due to the explosion in popularity of both segments of the canyon, and the lack of time (and space) available for photographers to properly set up their shots. However, photography tours are given in some of the alternate segments of the Antelope Canyons, such as Antelope Canyon X. Antelope X is a very pretty two-part slot canyon where light beams may be seen during the summer, albeit not as “dramatic” or numerous as those in Upper. For more information, click here
2. The light beams are seen to their fullest effect during the mid-day hours when the sun is directly overhead. These are known as “prime time” tours, so you might encounter higher prices on them.
3. Sunrise and sunset in the Antelope Canyons can be beautiful, but maybe not for the reasons you’d think. Because the sun will be at an angled perspective to the canyons during these hours, the colors of the canyon walls will be deeper, richer, and more vivid. For sunrise and/or sunset in Page, AZ, the place to be is Horseshoe Bend. At sunrise, the Colorado River is in shadow, but at this time you can enjoy cooler temperatures and smaller crowds. At sunset, the overlook is busy, but many photographers choose to bear with the crowds for a chance to catch the “starburst” phenomenon as the sun dips over the horizon.
Hope that helps! If you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us directly at reservations@antelopecanyon.az
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂