Lower Antelope Canyon

Verified Blogger

Mylène @unreveunvoyage

IF YOU MADE A RESERVATION - the meeting point is at the reception cabin of your agency, next to the parking lot. You must arrive 45 minutes to 1 hour in advance. Check-in is done 30 minutes before the departure time stated on your reservation (please note, a delay may result in cancellation without refund). Go to the counter to check in and wait to be called. - IF YOU DID NOT MAKE A RESERVATION - you need to go on-site, choose between the two companies that organize tours, pay for your tickets, and wait for your turn. After being called, a Navajo guide will take you for the canyon visit. Unlike the Upper Antelope Canyon, access to the canyon is on foot. A 5 to 10-minute walk in the sand and under the sun will lead you to the entrance of the slot. A very steep first staircase will take you into the depths of the canyon. You may find yourself waiting in front of the canyon entrance (under the sun) due to the very steep staircase. The route is one-way. Some areas are extremely narrow and others are equipped with ladders to facilitate progression. Note that the canyon is very tight in certain places, so if you are claustrophobic, the visit may be more complicated. The visit inside the canyon ends with a series of ladders. After exiting the canyon, a path will lead you back to the parking lot (allow 10-15 minutes of walking).

Verified Blogger

Mylène @unreveunvoyage

Visitors are prohibited from bringing large photography equipment (they organize special tours for that). It is also prohibited to bring: backpacks, bags (even small ones), GoPro, multiple lenses, tripods, telescopic selfie sticks... Only bring your camera or your phone (they are very strict about this, it is unfortunately non-negotiable).

Verified Blogger

Mylène @unreveunvoyage

You are required to go through an agency run by the Navajos to visit the Lower Antelope Canyon. There is no other way to do it. It is when the sun's rays are vertical (at midday) that the site is at its most beautiful because it greatly enhances the colors: moreover, the companies that manage the tours know this well and raise their prices at lunchtime. In the summer, the first departure is around 6:30 AM and the last around 5 PM (9 AM-3 PM in winter). Be sure to book your time slots in advance.

Verified Blogger

Mylène @unreveunvoyage

Lower Antelope Canyon is known for the beauty of its canyon but also because of the different types of passages with ladders. In recent years, it has gained popularity, making it more crowded. It is a canyon accessed from the top (unlike Upper Antelope Canyon) and is just over 400 meters long. It is divided into several sections, and the differences in levels are significant. Therefore, one must use stairs and ladders multiple times, which go up to a maximum height of 7.5 meters.

Verified Blogger

Mylène @unreveunvoyage

All displayed prices are increased by $8/person for those over 8 years old, which constitutes the park access fee (payable only in cash): the Navajo Nation Fee (be sure to keep the receipts) and $3-4 in taxes. If you pay for your tour by credit card, the price may increase by 3 to 5% depending on the agencies. Some agencies (Upper Antelope Canyon) charge children under 4 years old! Expect $50/person, $30 for ages 4 to 12, free for those under 4 years. Prices vary based on the guides and the chosen schedule.

Verified Blogger

Mylène @unreveunvoyage

It must be acknowledged that the visit to Lower and Upper Antelope Canyon is very strict and you have no choice in the timing of the visit. Everything is very well orchestrated by the Navajos. Depending on the guide, the visit can really seem unpleasant (which was not our case). This mass tourism takes away some of the magic of discovering the places. If this aspect of mass tourism puts you off, or if you find the prices prohibitive (they are), or if there are simply no more available slots, you can opt for the very nice Canyon X.