We lately traveled to Arizona and tried all of the Antelope Canyon tours, together with the 2 essential sections: Higher Canyon and Decrease Canyon. That is our full evaluate from the Decrease Antelope Canyon.
If you happen to haven’t heard of Antelope Canyon, it’s a slim passage within the desert with clean, flowing curves of orange and purple sandstone. This chamber was carved by wind and water over the course of a few years, leaving the attractive slot canyon you’ll be able to see at this time.
One vital factor to notice is that Antelope Canyon is situated on the Navajo Nation, so sadly the one solution to go to it’s with a tour and an area Navajo information. Nonetheless, since this place has turn into such a well-liked bucket record merchandise these days, the tour system is principally wanted anyway for crowd management.
On this evaluate of the Decrease Antelope Canyon, I’ll share my experiences and images from our tour, after which I’ll clarify the most effective time to go to, and all the things else you’ll want to know earlier than you go!
Greatest Decrease Antelope Canyon Excursions
We booked our Lower Antelope Canyon tour with GetYourGuide and had an ideal expertise. The value consists of your entry tickets and a Navajo native information. Every thing was communicated clearly by e mail, they usually have a refund coverage if you’ll want to cancel prematurely.
Additionally they have excursions for Upper Antelope Canyon, Antelope X, and a few of the specialised canyons in the identical space that get much less customer visitors than the primary canyons.
We’ve used GetYourGuide for many excursions and actions world wide, they usually’re nice. Extremely really helpful!
E book Now: Lower Antelope Canyon Tour
Decrease Antelope Canyon Evaluation: What To Anticipate On The Tour
The Decrease Antelope Canyon tour takes you thru a slot canyon that’s beneath floor.
This entails a brief, sandy stroll to get to the slot, a climb down some steel stairs, a single file tour via the slot at a relaxed tempo, after which a climb up some stairs to return to the start line.
Once we began the tour, they first had us sit and watch a brief Navajo tribal dance that was included without spending a dime as a part of our expertise. This was an added bonus and ideas are optionally available. They didn’t ask us to pay something.
After watching the Navajo dance, we adopted our information and walked about 10 minutes via the desert to get to the slot entrance. It’s a brief stroll, however the warmth will be intense. The earlier you get contained in the slot the higher, as a result of the temps are a lot cooler!
Earlier than you enter the canyon it hardly appears to be like like something from above, only a crack within the floor, however as quickly as you get inside you’re blown away by the superbly clean, wavy partitions and the colourful sandstone.
It appears to be like simply nearly as good as the images. Our Navajo information identified a bunch of various rock formations with distinctive shapes, together with a dragon, an eagle, and a tribal chief.
Decrease Antelope Canyon is simply as great because it appears to be like within the images
Now, within the curiosity of full disclosure, I’ve to say the Decrease Antelope Canyon excursions are all the time crowded. Very crowded. There’s no solution to escape it until you go within the off season, and even then there aren’t any ensures. Extra on that later.
Regardless of the crowds, we had been nonetheless in a position to benefit from the surroundings. We spent virtually 1 hour contained in the slot canyon and took a lot of nice footage with nobody else in them, so it didn’t damage the expertise for us.
In the identical week we additionally visited the Higher Antelope Canyon, and it was a lot extra rushed and hectic than the Decrease Canyon, so we barely acquired to take any images. Total, the Decrease Canyon was a much better expertise for us.
We actually loved Decrease Antelope Canyon
Greatest Time To Go to Decrease Antelope Canyon
One of the best time to go to Decrease Antelope Canyon actually will depend on what you’re searching for. If you wish to keep away from the crowds and warmth, the most effective time to go is from November to March. Nonetheless, essentially the most spectacular lighting is arguably in the summertime.
In comparison with the Higher Canyon, this one has a wider ceiling and it will get much more ambient gentle from the solar, so the most effective time of day to go to it’s really within the morning or late afternoon, when there’s not an excessive amount of gentle.
Nonetheless, we went to Decrease Canyon in the course of the day and I’ve to say most elements of the canyon had been nonetheless very good even at the moment, so don’t write off a noon go to utterly. If you happen to’re not a professional photographer, you would possibly not likely discover the distinction.
Majestic colours and lighting
Is The Tour Price It?
Sure, the Decrease Canyon is unquestionably price it for the surroundings regardless that the crowds dampen the expertise a bit. That is undoubtedly one of the crucial distinctive and delightful slot canyons in the USA.
The value for the tour isn’t precisely low cost, but it surely’s nonetheless fairly a bit extra reasonably priced than the Higher Antelope Canyon, which will be as excessive as $150 USD per particular person throughout the summer time season. It’s additionally a greater worth general for the reason that tour isn’t as rushed.
We had been in a position to take a lot of images within the Decrease Antelope Canyon
Decrease vs Higher Antelope Canyon: Which Is Greatest?
So which Antelope Canyon is finest — Higher or Decrease? That’s a very good query.
We tried all of the Antelope Canyon tours over the course of per week, and I’ve to confess we preferred the Higher Canyon the least, though it was nonetheless wonderful to see.
Higher Antelope Canyon is especially identified for its dramatic gentle beams, which will be seen in the summertime months when the solar is excessive within the sky. If you happen to aren’t within the sunbeams, then the Decrease Canyon is healthier in most methods.
In comparison with Higher Antelope, the Decrease Canyon tour is longer, extra relaxed, and extra enjoyable, in my view. It’s additionally cheaper and simpler to get a spot within the Decrease Canyon since they run extra excursions daily. The surroundings is fairly comparable between the 2.
If you wish to escape the crowds, nonetheless, the easiest place to go is Antelope Canyon X. This can be a new part of the canyon that’s solely been open to the general public for only a few years, so it’s a lot much less crowded and touristy in comparison with the primary canyons.
If you happen to’re , I wrote a whole evaluate evaluating all the Antelope Canyon excursions to one another (Higher, Decrease, and X) when it comes to images, crowds, enjoyable, entry, costs, and availability. You may test it out within the hyperlink beneath!
Learn Extra: Antelope Canyon Comparison (Upper vs Lower vs X)
What To Do On The Tour (And What NOT To Do)
- What To Convey: A driver’s license or different ID, comparable to a passport, for test in. It’s extremely really helpful to put on a hat and sunscreen too. In the course of the tour, you’ll be able to convey a water bottle, and a digicam or cellphone for taking footage.
- What NOT To Convey: You may’t convey pets, luggage, backpacks, strollers, drones, canes, umbrellas, climbing sticks, selfie sticks, or tripods. They don’t enable luggage of any form within the canyon. Not even a small digicam bag or fanny pack. You’ll have to go away these in your automobile on the car parking zone. These are the identical guidelines they’ve for all the Navajo Nation slot canyons.
- What NOT To Do: They don’t enable smoking, climbing, writing, flash images, or video recording on the Decrease Antelope Canyon excursions. Non-flash images are nice, and you may take as many as you need, though they don’t help you take footage on the steps.
Reaching the slot canyon requires about 10 minutes of flat strolling within the desert
Different Suggestions For The Decrease Antelope Canyon Tour
- Bogs: There are bogs on the workplace earlier than you begin the tour, however no bogs throughout the tour, so that you’ll need to maintain enterprise earlier than you begin.
- When To E book: Normally, getting a spot in Decrease Antelope isn’t fairly as arduous because the Higher Canyon, but it surely’s nonetheless a good suggestion to make a reservation at the least 2 to 4 weeks prematurely, particularly throughout the spring and summer time months.
- Time Zones: There are a number of time zones used on this a part of Arizona, which might get complicated, and it typically causes individuals to point out up on the improper time for his or her tour of Antelope Canyon. It’s because the Navajo Nation observes Daylight Saving Time, however the remainder of Arizona doesn’t. Your cellphone may additionally change time zones mechanically whereas driving round within the state. Nonetheless, the vital factor to recollect is that the Antelope Canyon tour firms all function in the identical time zone as Web page, Arizona. You’ll need to set your clocks to Web page, AZ native time, and ensure that’s while you present up.
- How Early To Arrive: We had been instructed to reach 45 minutes early for test in, however it is best to double test this after reserving your tour. The Navajos are normally fairly strict about tardiness, and also you wouldn’t need to miss your tour.
- How To Get There: The handle the place you’ll begin and finish the tour is Indian Rte 222, Page, AZ 86040, USA (click on for map). It’s situated proper off of Arizona Freeway 98, only a 10 minute drive from the city of Web page. Once more, you’ll need to double test this after reserving your tour.
Don’t overlook to lookup!
Incessantly Requested Questions (Decrease Antelope Canyon Evaluation)
- What’s the Decrease Antelope Canyon?
Decrease Antelope Canyon is a slot canyon on Navajo tribal land close to Web page, Arizona. Along with the Higher Canyon (which is visited by a separate tour), it’s one of the crucial well-known elements of the Antelope canyon advanced.
- Why the title? Why is it known as Decrease Antelope Canyon?
The Higher Canyon is above floor, whereas the Decrease Canyon is beneath floor. Despite the fact that the title ‘Decrease’ would possibly give the impression that it’s inferior in a roundabout way, relaxation assured it’s not. We really preferred the Decrease Canyon greater than Higher!
- How far is that this from the Higher Antelope Canyon?
Decrease and Higher Canyon are very shut to one another. Actually, the places of work are proper throughout the freeway from one another, though to achieve the Higher Canyon you must 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 embrace resort pickup/drop-off and different actions. You may book that here.
- What’s the finest time of day to see Decrease Antelope Canyon?
Actually, any time of day is nice. One of the best lighting is within the morning or late afternoon, when there’s not an excessive amount of gentle, however we went in the course of the day and it was nonetheless very good. I say do no matter works for you.
- Are you able to see gentle beams?
Sadly, it’s not doable to see gentle beams within the Decrease Antelope Canyon. These can solely be seen at sure occasions within the Higher Canyon.
Thanks for studying this evaluate of Decrease Antelope Canyon!
- How lengthy does the tour take?
The tour lasts 1.5 hours in whole. In our expertise, about 1 hour was spent within the precise canyon, whereas the remainder of the time was spent getting directions and strolling to and from the workplace.
- How arduous is the tour?
It’s not a tough tour, and most of the people can do it. The full strolling distance is about 2/3rds of a mile (1 km), and most of it’s flat. Getting out and in of the slot requires climbing a barely steep steel staircase, but it surely’s not as unhealthy because it sounds. If you happen to can stroll up and down a standard staircase, you are able to do this tour. They don’t rush you thru the steps.
- Is the tour okay for youths?
Sure, the tour is child pleasant and loads of youngsters do it daily. Even when your youngsters are too younger to climb the stairway, they do help you use a child provider within the canyon, though you’ll need to double test this with them after reserving.
- Is the tour protected for pregnant ladies?
The tour firms discourage pregnant ladies from occurring any of the Antelope Canyons, in all probability for legal responsibility causes, however my spouse did it simply nice in her second trimester, and I do know of pregnant ladies who’ve gone even later and had no points.I’m not a physician, however I believe the most important issues for pregnant ladies right here can be warmth, bumpy roads, and the stairways within the canyon. The bumpy street is absolutely not a problem. After you flip off of the freeway, you’re on a bumpy street for lower than 2 minutes and you then arrive on the workplace.
The warmth is extra of a fear, however this can be a very brief stroll and when you get contained in the canyon it feels a lot cooler. Total, all the things was fairly tame in our expertise, however you’ll must make your personal choice primarily based in your private well being and health, your physician’s recommendation, and many others.
- Are you able to go to Decrease Antelope Canyon with out a tour?
No, sadly you’ll be able to’t go to Decrease Antelope Canyon with out a tour and an area Navajo information. They’ve this similar rule for all the slot canyons situated on Navajo land.
- How can I ebook a Decrease Antelope Canyon tour?
You may ebook a high-rated Lower Antelope Canyon tour on GetYourGuide. This is identical tour firm we used, and the value consists of your entry ticket and Navajo native information.
Extra Slot Canyon Guides
Thanks for trying! I hope you loved our evaluate of the Decrease Antelope Canyon excursions in Web page, Arizona. We actually loved seeing this well-known icon of the American Southwest.
Don’t overlook to take a look at my full record of the best slot canyons in Arizona, Utah, and Nevada to see in your street journey as properly!
