Antelope Canyon in Page Arizona was our next destination. Antelope Canyon is a slot canyon in the American Southwest. It includes two separate, scenic slot canyon sections, referred to as Upper Antelope Canyon, and Lower Antelope Canyon.
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The drive from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon was beautiful. Rolling sandy hills and red rock formations lined each side of the road. I loved the feeling of the windows rolled down and no traffic in site. It was great to just enjoy driving again and go at a pace that was good for us.
After a couple more hours of driving, we made it to Page Arizona just in time. Not familiar with the roads and the area, we weren’t keen on driving in the dark.
Just before the sun set behind the horizon, we found our hotel. It was best that we checked-in first, drop our things and wash up. We found a good Mexican Restaurant in town and ordered one of everything. Just kidding, but we ate way too much! After dinner it was back to the hotel to get ready for the next day.
The next morning, we were up bright and early for our excursion to the lower Antelope Canyon. It was only 15 minutes or so from our Super 8 in Lake Powell. I suggest staying in an AirBnb or hotel near Antelope if possible.
Viator Lower Antelope Tours
We’ve been told that one of the best times of the day to visit the lower canyon was early in the morning. For instance, the light at this time of morning is said to be magical. The sun will just start peaking through the crevices of the canyon.
If you plan on going to Antelope Canyon, you must book months in advanced. We booked our tour very late and were lucky to get in through Viator. The cost was a little steep at $105.60 for just the two of us at our preferred time slot. The ticket includes the Navajo permit and tax that you must pay to go on the land the canyon resides on.
Overall, I thought the tour was well organized but a little touristy. You can only visit the canyons with a guide. I would’ve really liked to explore the canyon on our own and take our own photos. The guides already know all the best spots for photos, but I would’ve appreciated some time to myself to spark my own creativity.
Note: While hiking boots are not necessary and you can get by with gym shoes, the sand can get messy and everywhere you dont want it to be. I would recommend boots like these here.
Before we headed down into the canyon via a series of ladders and stairs, we were told we couldn’t have any DSLR or GoPro cameras. So, we grabbed our iPhone’s and headed in. I strongly suggest a cheap wide-angle lens kit from Amazon to enhance your photos, like this one here. The wide angle lens takes great pictures in tight places.
We made our way to the sandy canyon floor where the river flows during rainy season. Flash floods fill the canyon walls and carve out the beautiful formations that you see in the picture below.
Our guide knew his script well as he gave us inside information on the history of the lower antelope canyon. In conclusion, the tour was about an hour long. Enjoy some more pictures below!
I tried to keep this post short and sweet so you will not find the play-by-play details here because I want you to experience it for yourself. I’ll keep my Antelope Tour Guide for another blog post. There is something to be said for the unknown. In other words, keep the expectations low and then you will not be disappointed. If you know me, know this, this place is worth the admission cost and that’s saying a lot.
“A must-see-bucket-list item.”
One day it’s very possible I will come back to visit again, Perhaps, the Upper Antelope Canyon. Time will tell!
Have you been to the lower or upper antelope canyon? Share your tips, tricks and experiences in the comments below!
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