Upper Antelope Canyon: Why I don't recommend this tour (and where better to go)
We were recently in Arizona and visited all the tour options of the Antelope Canyon, including the most famous - Upper Antelope Canyon.
In short, the canyon itself is truly impressive. It is a narrow passageway in the desert with smooth, swirling walls of orange and purple sandstone, carved by wind and water over hundreds of years.
But touring the Upper Canyon left me with mixed feelings - the magnificence of nature is here, but I can not recommend organization and value for money.
Why I don't recommend Upper Antelope Canyon
1) Getting hard
Upper is located in the Navajo Nation, and you can only get there as part of an official tour with a local Navajo guide – however, this rule applies to all parts of the Antilopean Canyon. But the demand for Upper is huge: the site is smaller than Lower Canyon or Antelope X, so it fills up faster and tours are spent less per day. Due to the popularity (especially among photographers who want to catch the famous “rays of light”) places are sold out for a long time – often you need to book in months.
2) It's expensive.
Upper is the most expensive section of the canyon. Prices in the summer go up to $150 per person, while tours on Antelope Canyon X can be found from about $60. I would have paid more for a really memorable and leisurely experience, but the feeling of "overpayment" arose.
(3) Too hasty
The main complaint is pace. From the start, it was like a conveyor: rushing, busy schedules, constantly adjusting to make way for the next group. Although the site often has a specified time of 1.5 hours, the real duration in the crevice itself is about 20-30 minutes, and in this short period you can not stop for a long time or calmly shoot.
When it came to the main thing – the light beam – our guide was already pulling the group further, and I was not even allowed to take a shot of the beam without myself in the frame (I was the only one with a normal camera; most people filmed on phones). It was annoying that no simple compromise was offered to photographers.
What I recommend instead of Upper Antelope Canyon
Antelope Canyon X and Lower Antelope Canyon. These areas are usually less crowded, tickets are easier to get, and tours often take place at a calmer pace - it is easier to enjoy the forms of sandstone and take photos.
Consider a private or small-group tour with a Navajo guide: it is more expensive, but often gives time to stay with the best shots and tells local stories - with a local guide, the impression will be much richer.
If you decide to go to Upper: book in advance (especially in summer), choose early morning slots (light rays are more often visible at certain hours) and check with the organizer the rules for photo equipment and the ability to pause for shooting.
Short practical advice
All precincts require a Navajo guide to accompany them, which is both a requirement and a chance to hear local stories.
Compare companies by group size and reviews - one thing is a mass flight, another is an attentive guide.
If the photo is important, ask in advance about the rules and the option of a private session.
Upper Antelope Canyon is a place worthwhile and beautiful, but due to the high popularity, cost and format of mass tours, I cannot definitely recommend it. For a more relaxed and rich experience, choose Antelope X or Lower Canyon, or look for a private tour with a local Navajo guide – then you will see the canyon and hear its history for real.
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Text and photo:https://www.personalguide.ru/
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