Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend - A Travel Guide
Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend - A Travel Guide
My husband and I recently took off for a ten day adventure to explore Utah and Arizona. We flew into Vegas for convenience and affordability before renting a car and heading east. We had made our way through Bryce Canyon and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Our fourth stop was to visit Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend. We visited the Grand Canyon several years ago but the Page, Arizona area was a bit out of the way and we had to get to Vegas in time for a wedding.
The city of Page isn’t really a destination on it’s own but the surrounding area is worth a day trip. We got up early because it’s recommended to see Horseshoe Bend at sunrise and I would recommend going at that time of day. The colors are a beautiful red-orange with the sun hitting the canyon walls and there are less crowds at the time of the morning. There’s a $10 entry fee for a visit with no re-entry. The parking lot is right off the side of the road on Interstate 98 and it’s an easy little hike, about 15 minutes with some moderate elevation changes to the viewing area.
You can’t visit Antelope Canyon without a tour guide and there are multiple tour companies that offer this excursion. After a lot of research, we went with with Taadidiin Tours. They had great reviews and I had heard that they normally had less than 20 people to a tour group instead of 30-40. The guides were friendly and had a great sense of humor. They will take your picture in all of the best spots which I enjoyed since my husband and I don’t normally get any pictures of the two of us when we’re travelling. Antelope Canyon tours are expensive, they range from $40-60 per person based on the tour company and time of day that you visit. We splurged for the middle of the day tour because it’s supposed to have the best light. I would recommend making a reservation ahead of time to insure the tour you want to explore isn’t sold out and most companies only take cash for reservations not booked in advance. Our tour was 90 minutes and we had a group of 17 people. I normally like having a place to myself but everyone was polite and I was able to capture scenic photos without people in them. I would do it again. The canyons really are incredible and very beautiful.
What you should know before visiting Antelope Canyon:
You need to arrive 20 minutes before your tour starts.
No bags and no tripods allowed.
Cell phone service is slim to none. You may want to put your phone on Airplane mode when you arrive, to save your battery.
There are porta potties on site. No other amenities.
They do not have a water refill station.
If you are travelling from Utah, be aware that the tour is in a different time zone.
I would highly recommend exploring both of these areas, they are incredibly beautiful and very unique landscapes. If you need help planning your trip, contact me here:
Images by Personal Branding Maven Elise Kutt at Mod Bettie Portraits
My name is Anna VanAgtmael, and I am a certified yoga instructor with a passion for yoga, travel, and connecting with others.
I believe in trying everything once. My values lie in collecting memories over things. Though we desire adventure and authentic experiences, naturally our fear holds us back.
My ambition is to inspire and encourage you to unmask your fears and jump into the unknown.
Anna VanAgtmael | Yoga Enthusiast | Travel Designer