GO GO GO!!!! After watching, I was really questioning my decision to make the two hour+ drive, but decided to go anyway. Just returned from lower - used Dixie’s Lower Antelope Canyon. It was the most amazing experience. It cost $70 pp with tax and fees and we tipped the guide as well. Opted not to do the upper. Breathtakingly beautiful.
@@hbwproductions lower is ran by better people. kens tours are enjoyable. the other people are mostly assholes. and the price is affordable. $70 per person is reasonable.
Supply and demand $$. The canyons are on Navajo land and is a huge attraction for many around the world. The tour companies take great care of the canyons. I could only imagine the amount of vandalism from climbing the walls or carving into the sandstone would happen to the canyon if people were just left to “enjoy God’s creation” as you say. The tours are worth it!
I agree, and figured this out before watching your video, thank you for that, and your honest imput. Sorry some people can't appreciate that. Not sure why they have to even comment, it's all about upbringing.
We did Upper last April and LOVED it! We honestly picked a company based on availability and went with Antelope Canyon Slot Tours. We had an 11:00 tour and our company seemed to be the only one with an enclosed van. Our tour guide was incredible and had some great stories. He had us wait a bit so we weren't on top of the group in front of us and we didn't feel like it was too crowded. We were lucky enough to see quite a few light beams some double beams as well.
We were just there last Thursday with our family and grand children. It was incredible. The money was worth the time and the excellent guide. Tory knows everything . It was certainly less expensive than a night in the Balagio or MandalayBay in Las Vegas.We also say Horseshoe Bend, the Grand Canyon South Rim and Zion National Park. Worth every penny.
@@christophk2206 Upper . It was a beautiful tour. People told us we would be jammed in a large mass of people but that was not true. We were able to take lots of pictures and video. The kids loved it !
where did you stay in Zion?? planning our fall of 2025 trip right now. thinking of doing 2 nights at the Zion lodge. but also considering staying just outside the park in springdale.
I did Antelope X and for hikers or average travelers, I agree with Cheryl. It's very expensive, the facilities are . . . austere. We didn't find the workers to be very friendly - it was very much a "run 'em through" environment, for the most part. Frankly, I found that to be the case at a few of the reservation-run tourist locations. That said, for a photographer, this is a bucket list place to shoot photos. So unique and so scenic . . . it's just something you do so you can say you did it.
It is absolutely a must go! I don’t like the tour structure or the time limit or the crowds. But they are there for a reason. If you have issues with crowd, plan if possible. We went the day after thanksgiving and nada, no one there. A private tour.
Appreciate your honesty. On the other hand, remember that the National Parks have lots of federal funding for maintenance and running of the parks, whereas the Navajo only have what they earn to run their operations. It is their land and they have a right to charge. They have to earn a living and maintain the canyons, pay for vehicle maintenance and gas. The canyons are clean, safe, well-kept and graffiti-free. So I am 100% ok with the charges. They are earning an honest living from this enterprise. The guides (most of them) also give a lot of value that you would not get on your own, like background info and history; and they are so generous with their time taking excellent pictures for every group. If you prefer free, there are many other free slot canyons around.
I appreciate your honest review! I also had mixed feelings after our visit last year (June 2021). We had a good tour guide, but the cramped environment and waiting for pictures was not really my style. After visiting the Grand Canyon days prior I didn't feel this experience lived up to the high bar that was set in many other reviews. I am not as upset about the price though, and I am glad this land is native-owned. How many other natural wonders have been taken away from them for profit? I am glad this profit is going to the native-owned businesses, as many resources in the southwest are not. If an unpaved parking lot is a deal breaker for you, that's fine. It all comes down to your personal style for travel and experiences. I definitely agree that these tours will not be for everyone. I'm glad we went, but many of our other experiences in Page (the New Wave hike was incredible!) outshined this one.
The Lower Antelope canyon tour was the best tour I have ever taken. It is out of this world experience, even if it is indeed crowded, short and expensive for this matter. The beauty of that canyon is magnificent!
Yes, we did the tour in 2017 and it was brilliant! Even though there were so many people because we in small units, we never felt crowded. Talking about being a large family, in my experience in the States, I don't tend to come across "family" tickets. I am in the process of booking this year's US holiday and not one tour I have booked had "family" tickets, which as a Brit I find very odd!
Thanks Cheryl! I read your newsletter on this video. I am planning a surprise trip looping from Durango, around and finishing at Grand Canyon & Sedona with a stay at El Tovar Presidential Suite before finishing in Sedona. We have been to these places before but I was planning on squeezing in Monument Valley (quick drive through) and Antelope Canyons on the way to El Tovar from Mesa Verde. It was already going to be a long day, but now I can skip Antelope. I know it is completely a personal opinion, but in this particular instance, I believe I would have to agree with you. I think I can save the dollars & time, and skip a handful of pics. I appreciate your honesty! I LOVE you & Matt. Your videos are INVALUABLE, to me for making plans of attack for vacations. From bear spray, to what to pack. It’s no secret that my own movie of Yellowstone on RUclips could not have been done without you. I do not mention this as a shameless way to promote Moose Anderson Productions, as I do not make a dime off my movie. It is a tribute to you guys for making things possible. If you guys never traveled out East, it would be fine by me. There is plenty to do in your area from Arizona to Montana, and your expertise in these locations is in depth from your experiences and invaluable to us wannabe “We’re in the Rockies” RUclipsrs. Moose Anderson will stick with documenting my vacations for friends and family (as well as anyone else that may want to watch), while you guys lay out all the details for us. I promote your videos in Facebook groups, in hopes of educating future, or return, visitors to these wonderful destinations in an effort to help them make informed decisions and plans for, what could be, their once in a lifetime, family vacation. What you have done with your videos on RUclips are amazing. I can’t say thank you enough for all you have done for us, for free, out of the kindness of your hearts. I did purchase both audio guides from you, for Grand Tetons & Yellowstone, from your website, but I want people to know that although you do make money, everything was born out of your hearts and just wanting to help others for free. Making videos are not easy, and nobody ever promised you that you would make a dime when this all got started back in the beginning. Please people, if you are reading this, like their videos, an SUBSCRIBE to their channel, We’re in the Rockies, as their videos are dead on…even if it means wearing a cowboy hat to look the part. Matt! Thanks guys! From my heart, Moose Anderson!🥰
We’re going to upper canyon and doing a tour. Thanks for your video & Info. Since this will probably be our last long long 8 week road trip (in our mid-70’s). Your videos are great. We’re heading to grand canyon & Yellowstone as our primary stops with many parks in between.
I enjoyed your video because I used to live there and my friends & I used to go to all before social media made them into world sensations. We were always the only ones there and we would 4X4 through the deep sand, rain or snow to get to the entrances & that was fun too. We'd go anytime day or night and walk or run through. Btw, we never bothered to take pictures but just totally recreated without destroying. Later they started charging fees and using "cattle cars" & I was offered a free ticket and refused because I preferred to remember it the way I used to enjoy it. The fees have really increased, omg! 🥺. Unfortunately many tours & places worldwide have become like that with lines of people waiting to take pictures & being herded in & out of places 😧. Thanks for your honest review and, like you, it's hard for me to give bad reviews too knowing it may impact the owners & employees, but just stating your personal opinion with pictures gives customers more insight to make their own choices. Thx. I would like to add that just before there started to be tours enacted there was starting to be graffiti and trash left at the entrance and we used to bag it up and take it out and put it in garbage bins - so on that note, I can say it's now being saved from that. I'm glad the native Americans are getting the money too.
If you go, go to lower Antelope canyon. We were lucky to have an excellent guide that allowed us to take our time. Is was $70 pp at the time and we’ll worth it for us. Upper antílope is above ground and much more crowded. My 82 year old mother took the tour with us and she needed minor help from us but she is in fairly good health and active.
We went to Upper Antelope Canyon and loved it. It was so beautiful and a unique experience. I highly recommend this tour to everyone. I thought the $90 fee was high but worth the experience. We didn’t care for the sand dune buggy ride. In fact one elderly gentleman got sick. It totally ruined the whole experience he had with his family and was a terrible way to end.
We visited last year and had tickets for Upper and Lower. We had mixed feelings after Upper and decided Lower was too much energy for us to expend for an experience that felt like we were rushed from photo station to photo station (we are in our 70's). And, for the most part, unless you shot your photos up the canyon walls, you had the group in front or back in the picture. Very disappointing for us. But, we met a young couple at our campground and gave them our tickets to Lower, and they emailed us a picture with a warm thank you. We were happy that they were young enough to appreciate it. We love your program and your advise.
We went to lower canyon last year, it was amazing, leaned about the history, the Navajo nation and how they discover and preserve the area. It’s absolutely a must go. As for the photos, you do need the “warm” filter.
@@TrixyCA It was great, not too hot. If you go in the summertime will be very hot. Although the canyon is kind of cool, but there is an area before you enter if there’s a lot of people, it will be lined ups under the sun.
Live in the UK and very unlikely to visit the area, but loved this review. Your honest opinions, descriptions and photographs of the actual canyons were excellent, as was your summing up. Nothing nasty, but informative., and honest (again). Wish more RUclipsr reviews were like this one. Will be looking up more of your reviews. Keep up the good work
Which Pink Jeep tour did you do? We are staying in Sedona in spring 2025. I have been looking at their tours, but can't decide which one to go on. Thanks in advance!
We don’t have any regrets doing upper. It was an amazing experience and we left with lifetime memories. I wouldn’t go in expecting an adventure hike though. I think people should definitely do one of the slot canyons if they’re in the area. I don’t know if one is better than the others or a better value. We went in December, BTW and we’re told they were running 1/2 capacity. I’m sure that made the experience better. Plus not 100+ degrees.
We just went there and we had a great time going through lower antelope canyon and our tour guide was awesome he took amazing photos of us little pricey but still well worth it!
Sounds like the tours have changed. Our family of 5 did upper 7 years ago. I remember being around $250. Our guide was fantastic. He pointed out the many figures and helped with picture settings. One of our favs was an area where the light shined on the wall in the shape of a dove, great for group photos. In addition, he played a Navajo musical instrument (flute-like) and the acoustics in the canyon was incredible. Very memorable to this day. Our group was able to slowly go through, and then we walked back through to the truck (before the outside walkway). Sad to hear it is not so breathtaking anymore. Thanks for the comparison.
I think my hubby and I had the same guide as you. I enjoyed the flute playing, the culture, and just the sense of humor the guy had. I think his name was Leonard. I’ve been to a lot of places, and I consider this to be #1. You can see lots of photos of this place, but actually being there is magical.
I have always found you both to be positive and understanding about situations and personal experiences. For you to advise against this really says a lot. Thank you for sharing, as always
I've done both canyons, not in the same year. I paid extra for a private tour on Lower tour (Ken's). It was same as group tour but just 4 people with one guide...but it was worth it, as more relaxed, personable and less crowded, did this in 2019 (we followed in a distance behind large group). I LOVED BOTH CANYONS & RECCOMEND BOTH!! NAVAJO LAND WAS STOLEN BY our ancestors, CITIZENS OF THE USA. Yes, these are Pricey but the tribes are sharing their precious land with the world. Hiking in other areas requires planning, prep, resources of equipment & so on... Getting lost out in the hot sun or having car trouble is also a concern, that's one reason I say it's worth it. The Upper Canyon was most crowded but so much easier walk & guide was Fantastic!! It does offer photo tours for people wanting to do more serious photography
Am on my way to Antelope Canyon for the first time, and so have no opinion about the tours per se, but agree with your take on the attitude of this video. I am an old white guy. When I think about what people who look like me have done, and what the resulting life is like for the Navajo today, in part because of what people who look like me have done, I cannot begrudge the Navajo people for making a little money from people who look like me.
Thanks for the honest review. I felt exactly the same last September as I mentioned in your Monument Valley video. Great slot canyon but not a must do. I noticed you shot your video at Wahweap overlook. For a next time I highly recommend the New Wave hike that is almost across the street, 4 miles towards the Glenn Canyon dam from Wahweap overlook. You will find a campsite and across the dirt road of the campsite, you will find a small parking lot. New wave hike is a great place small hike of about 1-1,5 hour (to see the new wave, leave the path a bit and climb over the slick rock). Although I am sure the Wave is much more beautiful (I did not even attempt to participate in the lottery hahaha), this little hike is great too.
We did the canyon x tour and enjoyed it. It was at 3 p.m. on a weekday, mid October. We were lucky enough to be the only people on our tour. Judging by the pictures, it looks a lot like upper antelope canyon. I agree that I wouldn't pay for a family of 6 to visit either! But for a couple, it was nice.
Went on this tour and it was a blessing of a lifetime! The tour guide Irene was precious and amazing. The Navajo could have kept this all to themselves. Indeed when the tribe chose to open it up to the public, the elderly women of the tribe cried and cried. It was taking a sacred space and commercializing it. So if they hadn’t done this, us white folk would have never been able to see it. Pay the money and go on the tour!
We're so glad you had a great time. We enjoyed it too. Many people love Antelope Canyon but we want to help those who haven't been there know what they will be getting. Thanks for watching and for your comment.
Bless The Both of You . . . I live in Hurricane, Utah near Zion NP, Snow Canyon, Kanarraville Falls & Bryce. Really enjoyed your review of Antelope, Canypn. If you're in the neighborhood, come on by, will put you up for a shoe string, as a Thank you for your honest & fair review . . . Bill👍👍
Agree with your assessment 💯 %! My husband & I experienced the Upper Canyon 3 yrs ago. We would say, we weren’t impressed with the process! Masses of ppl being funneled through a sieve. We now have a picture book of photos that my husband took. And to be totally honest, looking at a collection of pictures of it-is ALL YOU NEED! Save your $$ & time!!!🙆🏼♀️
Much more different experience when we kayaked into Lower Antelope Canyon with no tour guide. Much less people are willing to kayak on Lake Powell into the canyon then are willing to just take the tour. Kayaking along those tall walls after the mouth of the canyon was amazing. When you land the kayak to begin your hike, you aren't only going a short distance like the tours. We felt like we walked a decent clip with zero congestion of people. You hike until you get to a point where the only way to continue would be to use ropes, but I believe that is actually where the Ken's tour ends from the other direction. Often we didn't have anyone near us. While the beauty might not be quite as good as Upper Antelope Canyon, the kayak rental at the marina was only $45 for each for the entire day. Cheaper, more secluded, longer distant hike, plus a cool kayak ride made this our best choice. Instead of a 1 hour adventure, kayaking into the canyon made it more of a 1/2 day adventure.
@@tomcharters7051 The hike from the mouth of lake Powell ends where the tour from the other direction ends. This is a common hike completed by thousands each year. Additionally there is no signage suggesting otherwise and the marina where you rent the kayak provides you guidance on the location of the canyons mouth. Perhaps the natives own the land but not the waterway portion? Yet still no signage like you'd find near the trouble company entrances to the canyon.
Thank you for your transparency about both places. I love to hike and Antelope is on my bucket list. I will be out at the wave in March and considered including Antelope if there was time. I love the photography aspect of hiking. That’s what inspires me to go places. So I appreciate your review. Thankfully I won’t have to pay anything near 1,000! So maybe it will be worth it. But I would definitely get frustrated at not being able to move at my own pace and having to stop & wait. Happy hiking & God bless!
I did the lower at 10am on a clear, sunny day. It was really nice. Plenty of light. I did that today, Oct. 24, when it was in the high 60s. Debating if I want to do the upper tomorrow. Thanks for the comprehensive video!
This is what makes your channel special, an honest review with pros and cons but in the end - your personal opinion is not swayed but just an honest take on your experience. It may be a once in a lifetime experience for me but I can easily pass on stuff that just don't make sense for me. There's so much more out there to experience rather than the super expensive popular spots. If I ever make it there, I'll assess at the time but I doubt their price will change much nor their services.
Ive done both Upper and Lower twice...once in 2018 and 2021. I went with Adventurous Antelope Canyon for the Upper and Dixie Ellis. The first time was in late Sept and the second time in July. I had a great experience with both. Of course after Covid things were a little different. If you want the best lighting (and light beams) mid-day go in the Summer months. Yes, it's hot...but worth it! The lighting in the canyons was still pretty good in late Sept...just make sure to get there earlier around 10 or so.. For Lower use Dixe Ellis! lol
You guys seem kind of down on the tours. We had an amazing experience. One of the top things I've ever done. Go near noon to upper canyon during the summer. You'll be stunned and amazed! Your individual guide probably makes a difference. Ours was great and helped ensure we all got great shots! I tell everyone, Do Not pass this up!
Our aim is to help our watchers make an informed decision, many people LOVE Antelope Canyon and would pay any amount. We're happy you are one of them and that you had an unforgetable experience! We want to help people know what they're getting with a tour ticket. Thanks for watching!
I 100% agree with making people understand this is not a hike in any way, shape or form. However, to discourage people from going is also 100% clickbait.
Took my family of 5 on the Upper Antelope Canyon tour July 2022 during the early morning session. We absolutely loved this experience and would do it again! We have the most amazing pictures from this experience. Don't miss this!!!!
This is SO helpful! I’ve seen the photos and seen the hype online but HOW to get to these spots I had no clue about! Your videos are the BEST! 🎉 thank you!!
Haha - family of 7 here, almost everything we do is expensive so I can relate. Lol 😅 I’d probably opt to do this type of trip with just my husband and I and find a spot (like the Black Hills/Custer State Park, thanks to your videos!!) to explore with the kids.
Excellent review, thank you, I searched it a lot and then decided not to go, instead, me and my dad did the Antelope X, it was good, we did a photograph tour so it was expensive, we both like photography but I more wanted it so we don't end up in a big group. The guides are a draw of luck as you stated unfortunately, we had two in the same day and I was so close to writing a horrible review for the first and not tipping a penny, but the second guide totally reversed the experience, and we left happy. At the end, they even drove us to our car cause they noticed that my dad was getting tired walking up. A good day all in all. Would love to try the secret canyon next time or lesser-known ones. Crowds are my turn off
The best part of the video is that they explained about the authorized tours are listed in the Navajo nation website. Great help for planning the visit!
Thanks for this video, I love your content! We visited Upper Antelope Canyon in November, 2021, it was not crowded and we had a great time. We then drove down the road and did Canyon X, it was great! We had a tour from a Navajo Chief and he was amazing, likely 75 or older and only 6 people on the tour. This was a great deal vs. Upper Antelope, and doing both was fun!
Ya I did lower canyon a week ago and was awestruck by it. We had a great guide and he was very informative. We went at noon with the sun right over our heads and it was mesmerizing walking the sunlight dance across the walls. Worth every penny.
I'm glad I was able to go years ago. We just drove down the dirt road to the upper canyon. On the way, you just stopped and handed $5 to one of the tribal members. Then you could continue and explore at your own leisure.
I can remember just walking out in the desert and finding the entrance - spending an hour or two explorings, Before it was discovered, and no tickets, no lines, and no other people. It is still a fabulous place to visit. About 10 years ago my friend and I re-visited the lower Canyon - bought a ticket and our guide - a Navajo man named Walking Buffalo spent an hour with us in the canyon telling stories and we were the only people in the Canyon. Hope you can visit some day and enjoy the beauty of the Navajo Land.
Thank you for great assessments. This is what I would have loved to hear before any vacation because the experience we want is about hiking and observing. It sounds like these tours give the vacationers the pictures of a lifetime to show people back home but they leave out the awe and mystic with the herding aspect in such a short hike. Great details from you guys! I've got knee troubles so the stairs will have to be considered when booking the best time for us. Thank you again!
Thank you so much for being so transparent...I am planning to go there, now I know what not to do. And you're totally right about paying too much for something that God created ❤ Thanks
Refreshing review and thank you. Saved me some money and time to travel elsewhere. I'll Google it and experience endless professional photographers images!!
Thanks for sharing your opinion. 👍 We've never tried it because of the insane amount of people we've always heard about. We'll be sticking to Wire Pass, Wills Creek, and Little Wild Horse slot canyons. 😀
We accessed the Lower Canyon by kayak (not on a group tour) just a couple of weeks ago, in early July (over 100°). Once the creek dried out we left the kayaks behind (in the mud) and walked another 45 minutes, until we hit a fork in the crevasse. We could have continued another 2 hours to reach the more famous Upper Canyon from the top end, but we were running out of daylight. To me, the canyon walls were just as picturesque as the more famous Upper Canyon… and it wasn't crowded at all. We're like you in that we were more interested in the hike itself rather than taking photos every 100 ft. Great experience!
And to add to this, it is why I have been to Grand Canyon three times in the last three years. I wanted to go to the West end of the GC, but when I realized their steep 'pay wall' I decided not to
Thanks for your honest review and thanks for pointing out the stairs and tight quarters especially for the lower canyon. I’m in my 60s, no mobility issues but an hour moving slowly in those tight quarters would make me very claustrophobic.
Thank you for your honest review of the canyon. I totally appreciate it when people expressed how they really feel about a tour. Your review has been very helpful to me
thank you for all the great info. this is still on my bucket list and at 72 I'm working on it. Next year is France and Australia and New Zeeland . then back to AZ. in area I recommend the Wave! based on your comments I know you will enjoy it. easier to photograph, smaller crowds , but a longer hike from the trail head to the site. I would love to see you do a review!
Do go and visit the Navajo Nation. We toured Antelope Canyon several years ago. It was amazing. We were in the first or second group and not many people were in front of us. We also toured Mystical Canyon and highly recommend it. We were the only ones in the canyon at the time of our tour and it is worth every penny. Also, there are many other slot canyons one can visit. Wire Pass Canyon is very beautiful and a small day fee. Crowds are a bummer in any nature visit. Frankly people spend more money on things that are so wasteful. Yes, folks, go visit the Navajo Nation. GO! I could care less about a Vatican tour. It isn’t nature.
Thanks for posting this excellent video. I followed your channel this year when we visited Grand teton and Glacier on vacation from Scotland. We have booked airbnb's next September in sedona and duck creek village to visit zion and bryce, and had been looking forward to Antelope canyon, but i think we'll give it a miss, and go to escalate instead. Seems like a rip off. 🏴🇺🇲
We did a Utah/Lake Powell/North Rim trip back in 2021. The Navajo lands were still closed so we were unable to to visit any of the commercial slot canyons in and around Page. We ended up going to Willis Slot Canyon in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and enjoyed it immensely. We were one of maybe 2 or 3 other families there and it ended up being around a 3 mile hike in the canyon.
You guys do such great reviews. Thanks. I am so looking forward to my Lower Antelope trip. I will also go to Navajo National Monument JUST because I found it through your videos only. Such a great looking place. Thanks. Tour on!
I went during covid. Upper and lower were closed due to the Navajo being overly cautious. We booked kayaks on lake Powell and hiked all the way to lower canyon. It was amazing. No crowds aside from the 8 people in our kayak group.
I think your kids will have a great time in Peek-a-Boo and Spooky Gulch. Both are beautiful and have lot's of fun scrambling. As a bonus, the Upper Dry Fork just to the west of Peek-a-Boo is also beautiful. To avoid getting all scratched up, remember to bring long pants and a long sleave shirt because Spooky is quite narrow. Here's another tip that's pretty far out there if you have a 4x4 vehicle and want an extremely remote and secluded experience in a canyon that's even prettier than Antelope. Most people do High Spur as a canyoneering objective, but it is possible to simply hike down the canyon and through the most beautiful sections, and then turn around and hike back the way you came. Not only will you have the canyon to yourselves, but you might ever be the only people in the entire High Spur area. That was the case when we went. Here's a short video of our experience. ruclips.net/video/qPzwz01AcgY/видео.html
Antelope Canyon offered separate tours for serious photographers up to a few years ago. From what I've read, they were significantly more expensive than the regular tour (something like $200 a person plus gratuity; the regular tour probably cost half of what it does now). The photography tours were restricted to 4 people and a tripod was required. I think they took a couple of hours and participants could take their time and compose their own shots. If there were light beams, the tour guide would toss sand into them for photos. Now Antelope Canyon doesn't allow tripods, because when you use a tripod you take a little time to set up a shot and take up a little more space. That isn't going to work when they're trying to push a bunch of people through like a herd of animals. From a strictly financial point of view, it's understandable that the photography tours make no sense for the operator when they can push busloads of people through for $70-$90 a head.
I took one of the photo tours a few years back. I came away with some amazing photographs of both Antelope and Rattlesnake canyons, but my favorite shots came from Rattlesnake canyon. My Antelope shots were all the cliche ones.
Thank you for your thoughts. We are travelling from the UK this Fall (2024) and are planning a trip to Page and Antelope Canyon. Oddly perhaps, I would be interested to know your location for the video, would not want to miss that view!! Thank you for your reply. Debbie & Trevor
Not odd at all! It’s Wahweap Overlook. So many incredible sites around this area. FYI, I’m compiling them all in our North Grand Canyon guide, which will be live on our website next week. I have Wahweap and lots of other hidden gems in there. If you’re needing help, check it out to see if it’s for you. Thanks for watching, and welcome to the US! We are going to France and Netherlands this year. Next Europe trip: UK.
@@WereintheRockies Thank you. I will look out for the video. We are only passing through Page from Monument Valley on the way to Bryce! We are looking forward to the very different landscapes. Enjoy France and the Netherlands!
I went to both tours in one day, it was just me and my camera and I had fabulous time and also went to horseshoe bend all in a day, man I had the best time. They treated me fantastic at both places I still have great from the experience...
Thank you for explaining why I hardly ever take a tour, many are overcrowded or you have to take a shuttle bus like the South Rim Grand Canyon and just takes the fun out of it I would rather stumble along on my own and be surprised what I unexpectedly run in to, like the largest and rarest birds in the world just hanging out with the folks on Navajo Bridge, California Condors
Excellent, great honest review!, we are from Long Island, NY leaving in about 2 weeks(February) to AZ and were planning to drive from Monument Valley to Page and visit Antelope Canyon and horseshoe bend. I will see your video from Monument Valley. Thank you guys.
I totally agree with your conclusions. We toured that area and passed by Page but did not take any of the Antelope Canyon tours. I found that the price was outrageous and the canyon was crowded. A lot of people just don't mind paying the money as you can see from many of the comments but a lot more people do mind the cost/benefit ratios. Nothing can compare with the National Parks.
I just went to the upper canyon with my husband back in October 2022. My husband is a photographer and I purposely booked this tour and we drove pretty far out of way from Zion/Bryce so he could get some good shots. We were so rushed that he didn’t even have time to get shots he wanted. The tour guide just took our iPhones and took the pictures for us 😂. We do have some cool photos but I would agree it’s not worth the cost- they actually ask you to tip your tour guide after paying all that money too! As they said - plenty of other beautiful sites to see for free or at least much cheaper.
Great review. I really appreciated all the details good and bad. As this is something I was looking at to take my family and now I have a better idea to weigh our decision.
just went to the upper one in 2023 summer, it was 120/adult at noon time. Won't say it is expensive or worthy at all... (because of the peak season maybe?) The truth told in the video is totally true!!! (the tour guide asked for group photo always and it was rush, stopping and waitting again) I would say the scene do be unique and the photos taken from the guide are super amazing, but same conclusion as yours in the video. For travellers who are considered 'rich' and have lots of time, definitely visit! For hikers and people seeking deep-dive of the nature, not recommended.
Like the video information. We’re older & I am slightly disabled. We are serious amateur photographers & going on 8 week road trip to Grand Canyon & Yellowstone & many National Parks on way from Florida.We want to do Antelope Canyon & weren’t sure about upper or lower. Think upper will be our choice. I have a service dog but guess I’ll have to leave her in our cabin in Moab.
I was on a group tour and one of our stops was antelope canyon so the cost was part of what I paid for my entire trip. I loved it. It was the one thing that I really wanted to do and whatever the cost it was worth it. It is beautiful, magical. Trip was in September so perhaps we didn't run into the crowds that maybe you did during your time. But I completely disagree with most of what you said in this video
Thank you for an honest review and I totally agree that they are charging literally a dollar per yard! 😂 Been to the upper canyon and what you see in pictures is so not what you see in person. We’re going back with kids because we think it is worth seeing once but now we’re turned off by the money they charge. Navajo Nation needs to work towards the money they earn, and put in some facilities for tourist.. after all, they earn their bread n butter from this
Thank you so much for your video. I am traveling to Page next month with my two kids. Your video really helped me make some decisions. You are both really great for posting these to help others, I really enjoyed your journey with your family!
Because of this video we chose Canyon X instead. Thank you for your honest review! I hate being pushed through a crowded haunted house line and it seems the same 😮
Just been there in Lower Canyon last week, crowdy, yes, expensive, yes, worth it ? TOTALLY YES !!! don't miss the opportunity to have You own opinion. Grand Canyon and all the Navajo Área are a must.
We visited Page,AZ during Thanksgiving weekend 2022. After looking through several reviews (and videos like yours), we decided to do the Secret Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend tour due to the reported crowds. We were glad we did as the experience was terrific. We only had 12 people in our group the entire time and had PLENTY of time to explore the canyon and get great photos. Our tour guide also was very personable and had great stories to tell about his family's land. The 20 minute ride out was fun as well in the back of the truck! The only downside was the higher cost, but was expected with a private tour. Would highly recommend over the crowded mainstream tours! Love your videos and keep up the great work!
GO GO GO!!!! After watching, I was really questioning my decision to make the two hour+ drive, but decided to go anyway. Just returned from lower - used Dixie’s Lower Antelope Canyon. It was the most amazing experience. It cost $70 pp with tax and fees and we tipped the guide as well. Opted not to do the upper. Breathtakingly beautiful.
Why did you choose lower vs upper.
@@hbwproductions lower is ran by better people. kens tours are enjoyable. the other people are mostly assholes. and the price is affordable. $70 per person is reasonable.
You've no idea how much I appreciate your honest review. Thank you!
So many Slot Canyon’s around that region that are FREE … just need to live their to know where to go. 👍
Supply and demand $$. The canyons are on Navajo land and is a huge attraction for many around the world. The tour companies take great care of the canyons. I could only imagine the amount of vandalism from climbing the walls or carving into the sandstone would happen to the canyon if people were just left to “enjoy God’s creation” as you say. The tours are worth it!
Yes, I am sure they would be in worse shape if they were public. Many people love the tours and Antelope Canyon but we wanted to give our opinion.
I agree, and figured this out before watching your video, thank you for that, and your honest imput. Sorry some people can't appreciate that. Not sure why they have to even comment, it's all about upbringing.
Rip off! Greedy Injuns😮
We refused the rip-off
💰>Wait for appointment >Bus >'timed guided tour'
We did Upper last April and LOVED it! We honestly picked a company based on availability and went with Antelope Canyon Slot Tours. We had an 11:00 tour and our company seemed to be the only one with an enclosed van. Our tour guide was incredible and had some great stories. He had us wait a bit so we weren't on top of the group in front of us and we didn't feel like it was too crowded. We were lucky enough to see quite a few light beams some double beams as well.
Thanks for sharing!
We were just there last Thursday with our family and grand children. It was incredible. The money was worth the time and the excellent guide. Tory knows everything . It was certainly less expensive than a night in the Balagio or MandalayBay in Las Vegas.We also say Horseshoe Bend, the Grand Canyon South Rim and Zion National Park. Worth every penny.
Great to hear!
At the lower or at the upper Antelope Canyon??
@@christophk2206 Upper . It was a beautiful tour. People told us we would be jammed in a large mass of people but that was not true. We were able to take lots of pictures and video. The kids loved it !
@@darrylkenes7424 which tour group did you go with?
where did you stay in Zion?? planning our fall of 2025 trip right now. thinking of doing 2 nights at the Zion lodge. but also considering staying just outside the park in springdale.
I did Antelope X and for hikers or average travelers, I agree with Cheryl. It's very expensive, the facilities are . . . austere. We didn't find the workers to be very friendly - it was very much a "run 'em through" environment, for the most part. Frankly, I found that to be the case at a few of the reservation-run tourist locations.
That said, for a photographer, this is a bucket list place to shoot photos. So unique and so scenic . . . it's just something you do so you can say you did it.
Thanks for sharing.
Cattle tour
Upper and lower canyons were one of the highlights of my life!
Many people LOVE them, and that's wonderful! We aim to let people know what they will get when buying a tour.
Can confirm entering from the water is AWESOME. Not crowded, and you can spend hours swimming and hanging out on the rocks on the way back out
It is absolutely a must go! I don’t like the tour structure or the time limit or the crowds. But they are there for a reason. If you have issues with crowd, plan if possible. We went the day after thanksgiving and nada, no one there. A private tour.
Thanks for sharing. 😊
Appreciate your honesty. On the other hand, remember that the National Parks have lots of federal funding for maintenance and running of the parks, whereas the Navajo only have what they earn to run their operations. It is their land and they have a right to charge. They have to earn a living and maintain the canyons, pay for vehicle maintenance and gas. The canyons are clean, safe, well-kept and graffiti-free. So I am 100% ok with the charges. They are earning an honest living from this enterprise. The guides (most of them) also give a lot of value that you would not get on your own, like background info and history; and they are so generous with their time taking excellent pictures for every group. If you prefer free, there are many other free slot canyons around.
Thanks for sharing!
100% agree! Went to both Upper and Lower: worth every penny!
Thank you so much for your honest opinion! So happy there are people out there who still give honest opinions.
I appreciate your honest review! I also had mixed feelings after our visit last year (June 2021). We had a good tour guide, but the cramped environment and waiting for pictures was not really my style. After visiting the Grand Canyon days prior I didn't feel this experience lived up to the high bar that was set in many other reviews. I am not as upset about the price though, and I am glad this land is native-owned. How many other natural wonders have been taken away from them for profit? I am glad this profit is going to the native-owned businesses, as many resources in the southwest are not. If an unpaved parking lot is a deal breaker for you, that's fine. It all comes down to your personal style for travel and experiences. I definitely agree that these tours will not be for everyone. I'm glad we went, but many of our other experiences in Page (the New Wave hike was incredible!) outshined this one.
Thanks for sharing 😊
It is a must do if you are a photographer!
The Lower Antelope canyon tour was the best tour I have ever taken. It is out of this world experience, even if it is indeed crowded, short and expensive for this matter. The beauty of that canyon is magnificent!
Thank you for sharing!
Yes, we did the tour in 2017 and it was brilliant! Even though there were so many people because we in small units, we never felt crowded. Talking about being a large family, in my experience in the States, I don't tend to come across "family" tickets. I am in the process of booking this year's US holiday and not one tour I have booked had "family" tickets, which as a Brit I find very odd!
Thank you for your opinion too.
Were you able to take photos
What our?
Thanks Cheryl! I read your newsletter on this video. I am planning a surprise trip looping from Durango, around and finishing at Grand Canyon & Sedona with a stay at El Tovar Presidential Suite before finishing in Sedona. We have been to these places before but I was planning on squeezing in Monument Valley (quick drive through) and Antelope Canyons on the way to El Tovar from Mesa Verde. It was already going to be a long day, but now I can skip Antelope. I know it is completely a personal opinion, but in this particular instance, I believe I would have to agree with you. I think I can save the dollars & time, and skip a handful of pics. I appreciate your honesty! I LOVE you & Matt. Your videos are INVALUABLE, to me for making plans of attack for vacations. From bear spray, to what to pack. It’s no secret that my own movie of Yellowstone on RUclips could not have been done without you. I do not mention this as a shameless way to promote Moose Anderson Productions, as I do not make a dime off my movie. It is a tribute to you guys for making things possible. If you guys never traveled out East, it would be fine by me. There is plenty to do in your area from Arizona to Montana, and your expertise in these locations is in depth from your experiences and invaluable to us wannabe “We’re in the Rockies” RUclipsrs. Moose Anderson will stick with documenting my vacations for friends and family (as well as anyone else that may want to watch), while you guys lay out all the details for us. I promote your videos in Facebook groups, in hopes of educating future, or return, visitors to these wonderful destinations in an effort to help them make informed decisions and plans for, what could be, their once in a lifetime, family vacation. What you have done with your videos on RUclips are amazing. I can’t say thank you enough for all you have done for us, for free, out of the kindness of your hearts. I did purchase both audio guides from you, for Grand Tetons & Yellowstone, from your website, but I want people to know that although you do make money, everything was born out of your hearts and just wanting to help others for free. Making videos are not easy, and nobody ever promised you that you would make a dime when this all got started back in the beginning. Please people, if you are reading this, like their videos, an SUBSCRIBE to their channel, We’re in the Rockies, as their videos are dead on…even if it means wearing a cowboy hat to look the part. Matt! Thanks guys! From my heart, Moose Anderson!🥰
Thanks for sharing Moose! You’re going to have a great trip. Appreciate all the kind words!
@@WereintheRockies You earned them!
We’re going to upper canyon and doing a tour. Thanks for your video & Info. Since this will probably be our last long long 8 week road trip (in our mid-70’s). Your videos are great. We’re heading to grand canyon & Yellowstone as our primary stops with many parks in between.
Have a great time Rob!
Just did the Upper Antelope. I totally agree with you. It is amazing but super expensive and short.
I enjoyed your video because I used to live there and my friends & I used to go to all before social media made them into world sensations. We were always the only ones there and we would 4X4 through the deep sand, rain or snow to get to the entrances & that was fun too. We'd go anytime day or night and walk or run through. Btw, we never bothered to take pictures but just totally recreated without destroying. Later they started charging fees and using "cattle cars" & I was offered a free ticket and refused because I preferred to remember it the way I used to enjoy it. The fees have really increased, omg! 🥺.
Unfortunately many tours & places worldwide have become like that with lines of people waiting to take pictures & being herded in & out of places 😧.
Thanks for your honest review and, like you, it's hard for me to give bad reviews too knowing it may impact the owners & employees, but just stating your personal opinion with pictures gives customers more insight to make their own choices. Thx.
I would like to add that just before there started to be tours enacted there was starting to be graffiti and trash left at the entrance and we used to bag it up and take it out and put it in garbage bins - so on that note, I can say it's now being saved from that. I'm glad the native Americans are getting the money too.
Thanks for sharing. And thank you for helping clean it up!
This is exactly why I don’t post photos online of places I don’t want destroyed via the whole “bucket list dude bro!”
Awesome review! Thank you very much.
My pleasure!
If you go, go to lower Antelope canyon. We were lucky to have an excellent guide that allowed us to take our time. Is was $70 pp at the time and we’ll worth it for us. Upper antílope is above ground and much more crowded. My 82 year old mother took the tour with us and she needed minor help from us but she is in fairly good health and active.
What is the best time to go? Hows the weather in May?
We went to Upper Antelope Canyon and loved it. It was so beautiful and a unique experience. I highly recommend this tour to everyone. I thought the $90 fee was high but worth the experience. We didn’t care for the sand dune buggy ride. In fact one elderly gentleman got sick. It totally ruined the whole experience he had with his family and was a terrible way to end.
We went several years ago and loved it. I understand it has become “famous” since then so glad we went at that time. It is a magical place.
thanks to social media, it's highly monetized
We visited last year and had tickets for Upper and Lower. We had mixed feelings after Upper and decided Lower was too much energy for us to expend for an experience that felt like we were rushed from photo station to photo station (we are in our 70's). And, for the most part, unless you shot your photos up the canyon walls, you had the group in front or back in the picture. Very disappointing for us. But, we met a young couple at our campground and gave them our tickets to Lower, and they emailed us a picture with a warm thank you. We were happy that they were young enough to appreciate it. We love your program and your advise.
Wow, how nice of you. Thanks for sharing your experience and thanks for the support!
We went to lower canyon last year, it was amazing, leaned about the history, the Navajo nation and how they discover and preserve the area. It’s absolutely a must go. As for the photos, you do need the “warm” filter.
Thanks for sharing 😊
Hows the weather in May?
@@TrixyCA It was great, not too hot. If you go in the summertime will be very hot. Although the canyon is kind of cool, but there is an area before you enter if there’s a lot of people, it will be lined ups under the sun.
Live in the UK and very unlikely to visit the area, but loved this review. Your honest opinions, descriptions and photographs of the actual canyons were excellent, as was your summing up. Nothing nasty, but informative., and honest (again). Wish more RUclipsr reviews were like this one. Will be looking up more of your reviews. Keep up the good work
We did upper antelope canyon and we liked it. But we loved Sedona pink jeep tour more. Probably the best one in our Arizona trip
Which Pink Jeep tour did you do? We are staying in Sedona in spring 2025. I have been looking at their tours, but can't decide which one to go on. Thanks in advance!
We don’t have any regrets doing upper. It was an amazing experience and we left with lifetime memories. I wouldn’t go in expecting an adventure hike though. I think people should definitely do one of the slot canyons if they’re in the area. I don’t know if one is better than the others or a better value.
We went in December, BTW and we’re told they were running 1/2 capacity. I’m sure that made the experience better. Plus not 100+ degrees.
Thanks for sharing!!
We just went there and we had a great time going through lower antelope canyon and our tour guide was awesome he took amazing photos of us little pricey but still well worth it!
Thanks for sharing and thanks for watching.
Sounds like the tours have changed. Our family of 5 did upper 7 years ago. I remember being around $250. Our guide was fantastic. He pointed out the many figures and helped with picture settings. One of our favs was an area where the light shined on the wall in the shape of a dove, great for group photos. In addition, he played a Navajo musical instrument (flute-like) and the acoustics in the canyon was incredible. Very memorable to this day. Our group was able to slowly go through, and then we walked back through to the truck (before the outside walkway). Sad to hear it is not so breathtaking anymore. Thanks for the comparison.
Thanks for sharing.
I did it in 2014. It was 30$ in December. It was on my birthday when I did it. I remember how they mention the entrance was the exit.
I want to go in Oct. Pls tell me which tour company I should take. Thanks.
I think my hubby and I had the same guide as you. I enjoyed the flute playing, the culture, and just the sense of humor the guy had. I think his name was Leonard. I’ve been to a lot of places, and I consider this to be #1. You can see lots of photos of this place, but actually being there is magical.
It's still beautiful
Thank you for being so honest and kind. I personally ruled out the tour because of the cost. I can appreciate God's beauty without the cost. Thank you
I have always found you both to be positive and understanding about situations and personal experiences. For you to advise against this really says a lot. Thank you for sharing, as always
Thanks for watching. 😊
Tourist Trap and the massive irony is that there are other slot canyons so close by and NOT on their land
I've done both canyons, not in the same year. I paid extra for a private tour on Lower tour (Ken's). It was same as group tour but just 4 people with one guide...but it was worth it, as more relaxed, personable and less crowded, did this in 2019 (we followed in a distance behind large group). I LOVED BOTH CANYONS & RECCOMEND BOTH!! NAVAJO LAND WAS STOLEN BY our ancestors, CITIZENS OF THE USA. Yes, these are Pricey but the tribes are sharing their precious land with the world. Hiking in other areas requires planning, prep, resources of equipment & so on... Getting lost out in the hot sun or having car trouble is also a concern, that's one reason I say it's worth it. The Upper Canyon was most crowded but so much easier walk & guide was Fantastic!! It does offer photo tours for people wanting to do more serious photography
Thank you for sharing 😊
Am on my way to Antelope Canyon for the first time, and so have no opinion about the tours per se, but agree with your take on the attitude of this video. I am an old white guy. When I think about what people who look like me have done, and what the resulting life is like for the Navajo today, in part because of what people who look like me have done, I cannot begrudge the Navajo people for making a little money from people who look like me.
Thanks for the honest review. I felt exactly the same last September as I mentioned in your Monument Valley video. Great slot canyon but not a must do.
I noticed you shot your video at Wahweap overlook. For a next time I highly recommend the New Wave hike that is almost across the street, 4 miles towards the Glenn Canyon dam from Wahweap overlook. You will find a campsite and across the dirt road of the campsite, you will find a small parking lot. New wave hike is a great place small hike of about 1-1,5 hour (to see the new wave, leave the path a bit and climb over the slick rock). Although I am sure the Wave is much more beautiful (I did not even attempt to participate in the lottery hahaha), this little hike is great too.
I really wanted to do the new wave but just didn’t have the time. Next time!
We did the canyon x tour and enjoyed it. It was at 3 p.m. on a weekday, mid October. We were lucky enough to be the only people on our tour. Judging by the pictures, it looks a lot like upper antelope canyon. I agree that I wouldn't pay for a family of 6 to visit either! But for a couple, it was nice.
Im visiting canyon X today, Lot of
My friends mentioned canyon X is not that beautiful compared to lower or
Upper ones. What do you recommend?
@@nithinrao7191 I thought it was beautiful. I think you'll be happy
Went on this tour and it was a blessing of a lifetime! The tour guide Irene was precious and amazing. The Navajo could have kept this all to themselves. Indeed when the tribe chose to open it up to the public, the elderly women of the tribe cried and cried. It was taking a sacred space and commercializing it. So if they hadn’t done this, us white folk would have never been able to see it. Pay the money and go on the tour!
We're so glad you had a great time. We enjoyed it too. Many people love Antelope Canyon but we want to help those who haven't been there know what they will be getting. Thanks for watching and for your comment.
Bless The Both of You . . . I live in Hurricane, Utah near Zion NP, Snow Canyon, Kanarraville Falls & Bryce. Really enjoyed your review of Antelope, Canypn. If you're in the neighborhood, come on by, will put you up for a shoe string, as a Thank you for your honest & fair review . . . Bill👍👍
You're welcome! Thanks for watching.
Agree with your assessment 💯 %! My husband & I experienced the Upper Canyon 3 yrs ago.
We would say, we weren’t impressed with the process!
Masses of ppl being funneled through a sieve.
We now have a picture book of photos that my husband took.
And to be totally honest, looking at a collection of pictures of it-is ALL YOU NEED!
Save your $$ & time!!!🙆🏼♀️
Much more different experience when we kayaked into Lower Antelope Canyon with no tour guide. Much less people are willing to kayak on Lake Powell into the canyon then are willing to just take the tour. Kayaking along those tall walls after the mouth of the canyon was amazing. When you land the kayak to begin your hike, you aren't only going a short distance like the tours. We felt like we walked a decent clip with zero congestion of people. You hike until you get to a point where the only way to continue would be to use ropes, but I believe that is actually where the Ken's tour ends from the other direction. Often we didn't have anyone near us. While the beauty might not be quite as good as Upper Antelope Canyon, the kayak rental at the marina was only $45 for each for the entire day. Cheaper, more secluded, longer distant hike, plus a cool kayak ride made this our best choice. Instead of a 1 hour adventure, kayaking into the canyon made it more of a 1/2 day adventure.
This is awesome and something we might try in the future!
Technically, you're not allowed to hike up as this is reservation land, that's why they have the tours by the locals.
@@tomcharters7051 The hike from the mouth of lake Powell ends where the tour from the other direction ends. This is a common hike completed by thousands each year. Additionally there is no signage suggesting otherwise and the marina where you rent the kayak provides you guidance on the location of the canyons mouth. Perhaps the natives own the land but not the waterway portion? Yet still no signage like you'd find near the trouble company entrances to the canyon.
Was the kayaking part of a tour or was it self-guided? Any recommendation on where to rent the kayaks as well as what kayaking route to take…thanks
Thank you for your transparency about both places. I love to hike and Antelope is on my bucket list. I will be out at the wave in March and considered including Antelope if there was time. I love the photography aspect of hiking. That’s what inspires me to go places. So I appreciate your review. Thankfully I won’t have to pay anything near 1,000! So maybe it will be worth it. But I would definitely get frustrated at not being able to move at my own pace and having to stop & wait. Happy hiking & God bless!
You're welcome. Have fun hiking the Wave and possibly Antelope Canyon!
Near the Wave is Buckskin Gulch, a very cool natural slot canyon.
I did the lower at 10am on a clear, sunny day. It was really nice. Plenty of light. I did that today, Oct. 24, when it was in the high 60s. Debating if I want to do the upper tomorrow. Thanks for the comprehensive video!
Oh good! Glad you enjoyed the video AND the canyon!
This is what makes your channel special, an honest review with pros and cons but in the end - your personal opinion is not swayed but just an honest take on your experience. It may be a once in a lifetime experience for me but I can easily pass on stuff that just don't make sense for me. There's so much more out there to experience rather than the super expensive popular spots. If I ever make it there, I'll assess at the time but I doubt their price will change much nor their services.
Don, thank you and thanks for watching.
Ive done both Upper and Lower twice...once in 2018 and 2021. I went with Adventurous Antelope Canyon for the Upper and Dixie Ellis. The first time was in late Sept and the second time in July.
I had a great experience with both. Of course after Covid things were a little different. If you want the best lighting (and light beams) mid-day go in the Summer months. Yes, it's hot...but worth it! The lighting in the canyons was still pretty good in late Sept...just make sure to get there earlier around 10 or so.. For Lower use Dixe Ellis! lol
We're glad you have had great experiences. Thanks for sharing!
You guys seem kind of down on the tours. We had an amazing experience. One of the top things I've ever done. Go near noon to upper canyon during the summer. You'll be stunned and amazed! Your individual guide probably makes a difference. Ours was great and helped ensure we all got great shots! I tell everyone, Do Not pass this up!
Our aim is to help our watchers make an informed decision, many people LOVE Antelope Canyon and would pay any amount. We're happy you are one of them and that you had an unforgetable experience! We want to help people know what they're getting with a tour ticket. Thanks for watching!
I think you have to do a photography based tour - probably expensive but the only way to not be rushed
Thanks for a great review. These tours are very expensive for a family. Free slot canyons in Escalante may be a better alternative.
I 100% agree with making people understand this is not a hike in any way, shape or form. However, to discourage people from going is also 100% clickbait.
Thank you for your brave honest thoughts, and thank God for the national park system.
Took my family of 5 on the Upper Antelope Canyon tour July 2022 during the early morning session. We absolutely loved this experience and would do it again! We have the most amazing pictures from this experience. Don't miss this!!!!
Thanks for adding your experience! This helps people a lot
This is SO helpful! I’ve seen the photos and seen the hype online but HOW to get to these spots I had no clue about! Your videos are the BEST! 🎉 thank you!!
Haha - family of 7 here, almost everything we do is expensive so I can relate. Lol 😅 I’d probably opt to do this type of trip with just my husband and I and find a spot (like the Black Hills/Custer State Park, thanks to your videos!!) to explore with the kids.
Glad it was helpful!
Excellent review, thank you, I searched it a lot and then decided not to go, instead, me and my dad did the Antelope X, it was good, we did a photograph tour so it was expensive, we both like photography but I more wanted it so we don't end up in a big group. The guides are a draw of luck as you stated unfortunately, we had two in the same day and I was so close to writing a horrible review for the first and not tipping a penny, but the second guide totally reversed the experience, and we left happy. At the end, they even drove us to our car cause they noticed that my dad was getting tired walking up. A good day all in all. Would love to try the secret canyon next time or lesser-known ones. Crowds are my turn off
Thanks for watching and for sharing your experience!
The best part of the video is that they explained about the authorized tours are listed in the Navajo nation website. Great help for planning the visit!
Thanks for this video, I love your content! We visited Upper Antelope Canyon in November, 2021, it was not crowded and we had a great time. We then drove down the road and did Canyon X, it was great! We had a tour from a Navajo Chief and he was amazing, likely 75 or older and only 6 people on the tour. This was a great deal vs. Upper Antelope, and doing both was fun!
Thanks for sharing. We love to hear about other people's experiences.
If you had to visit only one part of antelope canyon again, would you pick upper or X canyon?
Ya I did lower canyon a week ago and was awestruck by it. We had a great guide and he was very informative. We went at noon with the sun right over our heads and it was mesmerizing walking the sunlight dance across the walls. Worth every penny.
Thanks for sharing your experience.
What company did you use?
I'm glad I was able to go years ago. We just drove down the dirt road to the upper canyon. On the way, you just stopped and handed $5 to one of the tribal members. Then you could continue and explore at your own leisure.
I can remember just walking out in the desert and finding the entrance - spending an hour or two explorings, Before it was discovered, and no tickets, no lines, and no other people. It is still a fabulous place to visit. About 10 years ago my friend and I re-visited the lower Canyon - bought a ticket and our guide - a Navajo man named Walking Buffalo spent an hour with us in the canyon telling stories and we were the only people in the Canyon. Hope you can visit some day and enjoy the beauty of the Navajo Land.
What a great experience! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for great assessments. This is what I would have loved to hear before any vacation because the experience we want is about hiking and observing. It sounds like these tours give the vacationers the pictures of a lifetime to show people back home but they leave out the awe and mystic with the herding aspect in such a short hike. Great details from you guys! I've got knee troubles so the stairs will have to be considered when booking the best time for us. Thank you again!
You're welcome. We want people to make their own decisions but also want to show people what it is really like.
Thank you so much for being so transparent...I am planning to go there, now I know what not to do.
And you're totally right about paying too much for something that God created ❤
Thanks
Refreshing review and thank you. Saved me some money and time to travel elsewhere. I'll Google it and experience endless professional photographers images!!
Thanks for sharing your opinion. 👍 We've never tried it because of the insane amount of people we've always heard about. We'll be sticking to Wire Pass, Wills Creek, and Little Wild Horse slot canyons. 😀
You're welcome.
We accessed the Lower Canyon by kayak (not on a group tour) just a couple of weeks ago, in early July (over 100°). Once the creek dried out we left the kayaks behind (in the mud) and walked another 45 minutes, until we hit a fork in the crevasse. We could have continued another 2 hours to reach the more famous Upper Canyon from the top end, but we were running out of daylight. To me, the canyon walls were just as picturesque as the more famous Upper Canyon… and it wasn't crowded at all. We're like you in that we were more interested in the hike itself rather than taking photos every 100 ft. Great experience!
Awesome, glad you had a good time.
I like the honesty here... and it is good to include the kids opinions since often they are harder to please... and have a different perspective
And to add to this, it is why I have been to Grand Canyon three times in the last three years. I wanted to go to the West end of the GC, but when I realized their steep 'pay wall' I decided not to
Thanks for your honest review and thanks for pointing out the stairs and tight quarters especially for the lower canyon. I’m in my 60s, no mobility issues but an hour moving slowly in those tight quarters would make me very claustrophobic.
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you for your honest review of the canyon. I totally appreciate it when people expressed how they really feel about a tour. Your review has been very helpful to me
Our pleasure! Thanks for watching.
thank you for all the great info. this is still on my bucket list and at 72 I'm working on it. Next year is France and Australia and New Zeeland . then back to AZ. in area I recommend the Wave! based on your comments I know you will enjoy it. easier to photograph, smaller crowds , but a longer hike from the trail head to the site. I would love to see you do a review!
Have fun overseas! We've heard great things about the Wave.
Do go and visit the Navajo Nation.
We toured Antelope Canyon several years ago. It was amazing. We were in the first or second group and not many people were in front of us.
We also toured Mystical Canyon and highly recommend it. We were the only ones in the canyon at the time of our tour and it is worth every penny. Also, there are many other slot canyons one can visit. Wire Pass Canyon is very beautiful and a small day fee. Crowds are a bummer in any nature visit.
Frankly people spend more money on things that are so wasteful.
Yes, folks, go visit the Navajo Nation.
GO!
I could care less about a Vatican tour. It isn’t nature.
Thank you for sharing. Many people love Antelope Canyon and we're happy for them!
I did the Upper Canyon in May and found it to be breathtaking. It was worth every penny.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing.
I've been to the Grand Canyon and it was beautiful
Thank you for the great suggestions and information! We'll be there in June 2024!
I just went and it was so worth it. Upper Canyon was so amazing. Highly recommend going to check it out!
Glad you loved it! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for posting this excellent video. I followed your channel this year when we visited Grand teton and Glacier on vacation from Scotland. We have booked airbnb's next September in sedona and duck creek village to visit zion and bryce, and had been looking forward to Antelope canyon, but i think we'll give it a miss, and go to escalate instead. Seems like a rip off. 🏴🇺🇲
Thanks for watching. I'm glad we could help you visit Grand Teton and Glacier.
We did a Utah/Lake Powell/North Rim trip back in 2021. The Navajo lands were still closed so we were unable to to visit any of the commercial slot canyons in and around Page. We ended up going to Willis Slot Canyon in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and enjoyed it immensely. We were one of maybe 2 or 3 other families there and it ended up being around a 3 mile hike in the canyon.
We're glad you discovered those options! Thanks for sharing.
I enjoyed Willis wash too. At my own pace and few people.
You guys do such great reviews. Thanks. I am so looking forward to my Lower Antelope trip. I will also go to Navajo National Monument JUST because I found it through your videos only. Such a great looking place. Thanks. Tour on!
Have fun!
I went during covid. Upper and lower were closed due to the Navajo being overly cautious. We booked kayaks on lake Powell and hiked all the way to lower canyon. It was amazing. No crowds aside from the 8 people in our kayak group.
What a cool experience.
I think your kids will have a great time in Peek-a-Boo and Spooky Gulch. Both are beautiful and have lot's of fun scrambling. As a bonus, the Upper Dry Fork just to the west of Peek-a-Boo is also beautiful. To avoid getting all scratched up, remember to bring long pants and a long sleave shirt because Spooky is quite narrow. Here's another tip that's pretty far out there if you have a 4x4 vehicle and want an extremely remote and secluded experience in a canyon that's even prettier than Antelope. Most people do High Spur as a canyoneering objective, but it is possible to simply hike down the canyon and through the most beautiful sections, and then turn around and hike back the way you came. Not only will you have the canyon to yourselves, but you might ever be the only people in the entire High Spur area. That was the case when we went. Here's a short video of our experience. ruclips.net/video/qPzwz01AcgY/видео.html
Thanks for sharing this with us! And more importantly, thanks for watching.
We did Spooky and Peek a Boo a few years ago and loved it! Just the drive to them is an adventure!
Antelope Canyon offered separate tours for serious photographers up to a few years ago. From what I've read, they were significantly more expensive than the regular tour (something like $200 a person plus gratuity; the regular tour probably cost half of what it does now). The photography tours were restricted to 4 people and a tripod was required. I think they took a couple of hours and participants could take their time and compose their own shots. If there were light beams, the tour guide would toss sand into them for photos. Now Antelope Canyon doesn't allow tripods, because when you use a tripod you take a little time to set up a shot and take up a little more space. That isn't going to work when they're trying to push a bunch of people through like a herd of animals. From a strictly financial point of view, it's understandable that the photography tours make no sense for the operator when they can push busloads of people through for $70-$90 a head.
I took one of the photo tours a few years back. I came away with some amazing photographs of both Antelope and Rattlesnake canyons, but my favorite shots came from Rattlesnake canyon. My Antelope shots were all the cliche ones.
from the financial side I get that, but its nature, and these locals make a thieving off the ridiculous prices they charge for a place made by nature.
There are no poor American Indians. They get money from the taxpayers given to them by the federal govt.
@@thefrugaljeeper4054 exactly. Sooo much money
There’s plenty of canyons out there waiting for you. Just don’t post photos online as they’ll become the new “bucket” list nightmare.
Thank you for your thoughts. We are travelling from the UK this Fall (2024) and are planning a trip to Page and Antelope Canyon. Oddly perhaps, I would be interested to know your location for the video, would not want to miss that view!! Thank you for your reply. Debbie & Trevor
Not odd at all! It’s Wahweap Overlook. So many incredible sites around this area. FYI, I’m compiling them all in our North Grand Canyon guide, which will be live on our website next week. I have Wahweap and lots of other hidden gems in there. If you’re needing help, check it out to see if it’s for you. Thanks for watching, and welcome to the US! We are going to France and Netherlands this year. Next Europe trip: UK.
@@WereintheRockies Thank you. I will look out for the video. We are only passing through Page from Monument Valley on the way to Bryce! We are looking forward to the very different landscapes. Enjoy France and the Netherlands!
I Truly Appreciate your Honesty and Real Life experience, I think this was a balanced review....
Thanks for watching.
I went to both tours in one day, it was just me and my camera and I had fabulous time and also went to horseshoe bend all in a day, man I had the best time. They treated me fantastic at both places I still have great from the experience...
That is awesome! We are so glad you had a great time! Thanks for sharing.
Best review ever! Thank you so much.
You're welcome.
Thought you did a thorough and good review
Thank you for explaining why I hardly ever take a tour, many are overcrowded or you have to take a shuttle bus like the South Rim Grand Canyon and just takes the fun out of it
I would rather stumble along on my own and be surprised what I unexpectedly run in to, like the largest and rarest birds in the world just hanging out with the folks on Navajo Bridge, California Condors
We will be there in July and thinking about going there. Thank you so much for this video.
If you decide to do it, have fun!
I went there. I loved it! Was silly expensive and I felt we were treated like cattle but I'm glad I did it.
Excellent, great honest review!, we are from Long Island, NY leaving in about 2 weeks(February) to AZ and were planning to drive from Monument Valley to Page and visit Antelope Canyon and horseshoe bend.
I will see your video from Monument Valley.
Thank you guys.
Have fun!
Couldn’t agree with you anymore, Thank you for honest review for anyone who is considering visiting by spending crazy money 💰
I totally agree with your conclusions. We toured that area and passed by Page but did not take any of the Antelope Canyon tours. I found that the price was outrageous and the canyon was crowded. A lot of people just don't mind paying the money as you can see from many of the comments but a lot more people do mind the cost/benefit ratios. Nothing can compare with the National Parks.
Yes, many people LOVE it and that's wonderful! We want everyone to make an informed decision. Thanks for watching.
I just went to the upper canyon with my husband back in October 2022. My husband is a photographer and I purposely booked this tour and we drove pretty far out of way from Zion/Bryce so he could get some good shots. We were so rushed that he didn’t even have time to get shots he wanted. The tour guide just took our iPhones and took the pictures for us 😂. We do have some cool photos but I would agree it’s not worth the cost- they actually ask you to tip your tour guide after paying all that money too! As they said - plenty of other beautiful sites to see for free or at least much cheaper.
Great review. I really appreciated all the details good and bad. As this is something I was looking at to take my family and now I have a better idea to weigh our decision.
Thank you, that was what we were trying to do. Many people love Antelope Canyon!
Thank you guys for being so honest about these canyons! It help in a big way to get an idea.
Our pleasure!
Great video and info! Looks like the park does a great job in the marketing dept. Thanks for the heads up.
just went to the upper one in 2023 summer, it was 120/adult at noon time. Won't say it is expensive or worthy at all... (because of the peak season maybe?)
The truth told in the video is totally true!!! (the tour guide asked for group photo always and it was rush, stopping and waitting again)
I would say the scene do be unique and the photos taken from the guide are super amazing, but same conclusion as yours in the video. For travellers who are considered 'rich' and have lots of time, definitely visit! For hikers and people seeking deep-dive of the nature, not recommended.
Thanks for sharing and for watching. ❤️
Like the video information. We’re older & I am slightly disabled. We are serious amateur photographers & going on 8 week road trip to Grand Canyon & Yellowstone & many National Parks on way from Florida.We want to do Antelope Canyon & weren’t sure about upper or lower. Think upper will be our choice. I have a service dog but guess I’ll have to leave her in our cabin in Moab.
Have a great time there!!
I'm glad you mentioned the price because I'm a Solo traveler and do overtime for my trips. Thank you for being so honest.
I was on a group tour and one of our stops was antelope canyon so the cost was part of what I paid for my entire trip. I loved it. It was the one thing that I really wanted to do and whatever the cost it was worth it. It is beautiful, magical. Trip was in September so perhaps we didn't run into the crowds that maybe you did during your time. But I completely disagree with most of what you said in this video
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and for watching.
Thanks I m omitting these 2 places from my list.
Thanks, I was wanting to go but now see it’s not worth it , love your info
Thank you for an honest review and I totally agree that they are charging literally a dollar per yard! 😂
Been to the upper canyon and what you see in pictures is so not what you see in person. We’re going back with kids because we think it is worth seeing once but now we’re turned off by the money they charge.
Navajo Nation needs to work towards the money they earn, and put in some facilities for tourist.. after all, they earn their bread n butter from this
Thank you so much for your video. I am traveling to Page next month with my two kids. Your video really helped me make some decisions. You are both really great for posting these to help others, I really enjoyed your journey with your family!
Glad it was helpful! Travel safe.
Because of this video we chose Canyon X instead. Thank you for your honest review! I hate being pushed through a crowded haunted house line and it seems the same 😮
Glad we could help! We hope you loved X.
I am from Norway,and i am planning to visit there this july for the first time! Made me think twice! Hmmmm !!!! thank you for the honest review!🙏
You're welcome 😊
Just been there in Lower Canyon last week, crowdy, yes, expensive, yes, worth it ? TOTALLY YES !!! don't miss the opportunity to have You own opinion. Grand Canyon and all the Navajo Área are a must.
We visited Page,AZ during Thanksgiving weekend 2022. After looking through several reviews (and videos like yours), we decided to do the Secret Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend tour due to the reported crowds. We were glad we did as the experience was terrific. We only had 12 people in our group the entire time and had PLENTY of time to explore the canyon and get great photos. Our tour guide also was very personable and had great stories to tell about his family's land. The 20 minute ride out was fun as well in the back of the truck! The only downside was the higher cost, but was expected with a private tour. Would highly recommend over the crowded mainstream tours! Love your videos and keep up the great work!
Thanks for sharing.
Which company did you book the tour?