We lately went to Arizona and tried the entire Antelope Canyon excursions, together with the Upper Canyon, which is probably the most well-known part.
If you haven’t heard of Antelope Canyon, it’s a slender passage within the desert with easy, curving partitions of orange and purple sandstone. This chamber was carved by wind and water over the course of a few years, leaving the gorgeous slot canyon you’ll be able to see right now.
In spite of the hype and recognition across the Upper Canyon, which is legendary for its gentle beams, I need to say I got here away disillusioned. Don’t get me improper — the canyon itself was wonderful, however the tour was too rushed and costly.
In this assessment, I’ll share my expertise from the tour, after which I’ll advocate some alternate sections of Antelope Canyon which can be higher to go to for my part!
Why I Can’t Recommend Upper Antelope Canyon
1. It’s Hard To Get A Spot
First of all, for the reason that Upper Canyon is situated on the Navajo Nation, the one option to go to it’s with a tour and a neighborhood Navajo information.
In reality, guided excursions are required for all sections of Antelope Canyon, nevertheless it’s a lot more durable to get a spot for Upper Canyon than the opposite sections of Antelope.
It typically sells out quick, so you could have to e-book months upfront to get the date and time you need.
There are a couple of causes for this. Since the Upper Canyon is smaller than the Lower Canyon or Antelope X, it fills up simpler and so they aren’t in a position to run as many excursions per day.
The gentle beams at Upper Canyon have additionally made it widespread with photographers. Those are undoubtedly good, however they’re somewhat overrated for my part, and so they aren’t at all times seen anyway.
Upper Canyon was good, however too rushed.
2. It’s Too Expensive
The Upper Canyon is the costliest a part of Antelope Canyon.
Again, that’s due to its recognition and the small dimension of the canyon. Supply and demand.
In distinction to the Antelope Canyon X tour, which might be as little as $60 USD, costs for the Upper Canyon might be as excessive as $150 USD per particular person throughout the summer time season. It’s not value it.
I wouldn’t thoughts paying that a lot if I had an incredible expertise on the tour, however I didn’t! Read on to search out out why.
That slit within the rock is the doorway to the canyon
3. It’s Too Rushed
My important gripe with the Upper Canyon is how rushed the tour is.
I went with an organization referred to as ‘Antelope Canyon Navajo Tours,’ however I’m undecided it might’ve been a lot completely different with one other firm.
From the very starting, it felt like a race to get by way of the slot as quick as attainable so the subsequent group may come. A information from one other group behind us was even yelling at us like cattle and pressuring our group to go even quicker.
Although it’s usually marketed as a 1.5 hour tour, most of that point is spent in transit to and from the slot canyon.
Only about half-hour have been truly spent contained in the slot, and it felt even shorter than that as a result of you’ll be able to by no means pause or stand nonetheless for quite a lot of seconds.
These chambers have been stunning
When we entered the primary chamber, our information took turns letting every of us pose for photographs with the sunshine beam. My flip got here round, and I instructed the information I didn’t want a pic of myself, however I requested if I may simply take a photograph of the sunshine beam as an alternative.
The information both didn’t hear me, or didn’t need to wait, as a result of she proceeded to hurry us into the subsequent room with out even letting me take any image! I missed the easiest photograph alternative.
It was actually irritating, particularly since I was the one particular person within the group with an precise digital camera; everybody else was utilizing their telephones. Not that there’s something improper with that, however at the very least let me take an image of the very best room!
Two mini-beams
My Recommendation: Where To Go Instead
I had a completely completely different expertise at Lower Antelope and Canyon X. Those have been significantly better. Everyone in our group had time to take a whole lot of photographs!
You nonetheless can’t dawdle, and also you undoubtedly received’t be the one particular person within the slot, however the guides will at the very least provide you with time to pause and take loads of footage.
The surroundings in these canyons is at the very least pretty much as good because the Upper Canyon for my part. The solely factor lacking is the sunshine beams. And once more, these excursions are fairly a bit cheaper than the Upper Canyon.
If you need extra data, I wrote an entire assessment evaluating the entire Antelope Canyon excursions to one another (Upper, Lower, and X) by way of pictures, crowds, enjoyable, entry, costs, and availability. You can test it out within the hyperlink beneath!
Read More: Antelope Canyon Comparison (Upper vs Lower vs X)
Read my comparability of Antelope Canyons — Upper vs Lower vs X
How To Book An Antelope Canyon Tour
We booked the remainder of our Antelope Canyon excursions with GetYourGuide and had an incredible expertise.
They have excursions for Upper, Lower, or X, plus a few of the extra specialised canyons in the identical space that get much less customer visitors than the primary canyons.
We’ve used this firm for plenty of excursions and actions around the globe, and so they’re nice. Highly beneficial!
Book Now: Upper / Lower Antelope Canyon / Antelope Canyon X Tour
Frequently Asked Questions: Upper Antelope Canyon
- Why the title? Why is it referred to as Upper Antelope Canyon?
The Upper Canyon is above floor, whereas the Lower Canyon is beneath floor. Even although the title ‘Upper’ may give the impression that it’s superior to the opposite canyons indirectly, that’s not essentially the case. We truly appreciated the Lower Canyon greater than Upper!
- How far is that this from the Lower Antelope Canyon?
Upper and Lower Canyon are very shut to one another. In reality, the places of work are proper throughout the freeway from one another, though to achieve the Upper Canyon it’s a must to go off-road in an organization truck for about 3 miles (5 km).Combo excursions can be found that go to each canyons in a day, however they’re a bit expensive since they embody resort pickup/drop-off and different actions within the Page space. You can e-book that right here.
- What is the very best time of day to see Upper Antelope Canyon?
The finest time to go to Antelope Canyon is mostly from the tip of March to the start of October. This is particularly true for the Upper Antelope Canyon, that approach you’ll be able to see the well-known gentle beams. These are finest seen between 10:30 AM and 1:30 PM, on a cloudless summer time day when the solar is excessive within the sky.
A really good overhead view
- How lengthy does the tour take?
The tour lasts 1.5 hours in whole. In my expertise, solely half-hour was spent within the precise canyon, whereas the remainder of the time was spent driving to and from the canyon, getting directions on the entrance, and looping again to the parking zone after the tour.
- How arduous is the tour?
It’s not a tough tour, and virtually anybody can do it. The whole strolling distance is about 1 mile (1.6 km), and most of it’s flat and shaded. After strolling by way of the slot and exiting the opposite aspect, you loop again round to the parking zone by strolling over a brief slope. This is the one barely difficult a part of the tour, nevertheless it’s actually not troublesome.
- Is the tour okay for teenagers?
Yes, the tour is child pleasant and loads of youngsters do it every single day. Even infants are welcome. Of course, you’ll need to double test this together with your firm after reserving.
- Is the tour protected for pregnant girls?
The tour corporations discourage pregnant girls from going to any of the Antelope Canyons, in all probability for legal responsibility causes, nevertheless it’s nonetheless allowed and loads of folks have executed it.I’m not a physician, however I assume the most important considerations for pregnant girls right here can be warmth and bumpy roads. There are not any stairs or ladders contained in the Upper Canyon. The bumpy drive on sand takes about quarter-hour, and should you allow them to know you’re pregnant they’ll allow you to sit within the cab of the truck with the driving force.
The stroll within the solar and warmth may be very brief. You’re within the cool slot more often than not, and after exiting the slot you stroll over a brief slope to get again to the parking zone. The stroll within the solar takes 10 or quarter-hour. Overall, every part was fairly tame in my expertise, however you’ll need to make your personal determination based mostly in your private well being and health, your physician’s recommendation, and so forth.
- Can you go to Upper Antelope Canyon with no tour?
No, sadly you’ll be able to’t go to Upper Antelope Canyon with no tour and a neighborhood Navajo information. They have this similar rule for the entire slot canyons situated on Navajo land.
Thanks for studying this assessment of Upper Antelope Canyon!
More Slot Canyon Guides
Thanks for trying! I hope you loved my assessment of the Upper Antelope Canyon in Page, Arizona. Even although the tour was disappointing, this space has different slots which can be effectively value your time.
Don’t overlook to take a look at my full listing of the finest slot canyons in Arizona, Utah, and Nevada to see in your highway journey!
