Upper Antelope Canyon Tours Compared: Operators, Times and Prices

Upper Antelope Canyon sits just outside Page, Arizona, on land belonging to the Navajo Nation. It is a slot canyon, a narrow, deep channel worn into Navajo sandstone over millions of years by rushing water, and part of the larger Antelope Canyon system, which also includes Lower Antelope Canyon and a handful of less-visited sections.

Upper is wide at the bottom and narrows toward the top, which funnels sunlight into the vertical beams the canyon is famous for. The floor is flat sand at ground level with no ladders inside, so you walk straight through. That pairing of scenery and easy footing is a large part of why Upper is the most popular slot canyon in the American Southwest.

The canyon is about 660 feet (200 m) from end to end. Tours spend roughly 50 to 75 minutes on foot, depending on the listing, and the current route leaves by a staircase of roughly 150 steps and returns about 0.8 miles over sandy ground.

If you have seen a photo of Upper Antelope Canyon, it probably showed a beam of light falling through the darkness to the canyon floor. Those beams are real, and they depend on the season and the hour.

The beams appear when the sun is high enough to shine straight down through the narrow opening at the top of the canyon. In practice that means:

• Season: mainly from about April to September, with the strongest beams from about May to September. They are less reliable at the edges of the season, especially early April and late September.
• Time of day: around midday, roughly 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., depending on the operator and your date, when the sun is closest to overhead.

In the summer months, midday tours are timed around the beams and are the most in demand. If the beams are your priority, book a summer visit and a tour that departs late in the morning. Outside those hours and months you won't see the vertical shafts, but the canyon is still spectacular: the reflected color glowing on the walls is beautiful in its own right, and the early and late slots are less crowded than midday.

The weather plays its part too. A cloudy day can mute the beams or hide them entirely, and no operator can guarantee them, so treat them as a bonus on the day. Our best time to visit guide goes month by month.

Prices vary by season, time of day and operator, but a few points hold across the board:

• Standard sightseeing tours are the most affordable option and what most visitors book. On GetYourGuide the listings above start from $95 to $115 per person.
• Midday and peak-season tours cost more than early-morning or off-season tours, because demand for the beams is highest.
• The Navajo permit is $15 per person, per day, set by Navajo Parks & Recreation and collected by your operator for the Navajo Nation. Some listings include it in the price; on others it is added on top at $16.05 with tax, so read the includes list before comparing prices.
• Photography-focused tours, where they still exist, tend to cost significantly more and have stricter equipment rules. Our photography tours guide covers what is still offered.

Because prices shift with season and demand, the reliable way to see current pricing is to check availability for your date. When you compare operators, compare the same tour type: a cheaper “tour” that turns out to be a different canyon or a different time slot is no saving. Our tickets, prices and permits guide adds up the full cost.

Upper Antelope Canyon has a few rules and quirks to prepare for.

Bring

• A phone or camera. Photography is welcome on standard tours.
• Closed-toe shoes. The floor is soft sand, and sandals fill up fast.
• Water, especially in summer, when Page gets hot.
• Sun protection for the time you spend outside the canyon.
• Cash for tipping your guide, if you would like to.

Leave behind, or expect restrictions on

• Tripods, monopods and selfie sticks are generally not allowed on standard tours.
• Large bags and backpacks are usually prohibited inside the narrow canyon.
• Food and drink other than water typically aren't permitted inside.

Rules vary slightly by operator and change over time, so read your confirmation details. When in doubt, travel light.

Almost everyone asks this, so here is the short version.

Choose Upper if you want

• The famous vertical light beams, which are an Upper feature.
• A flat, ground-level canyon floor with no ladders inside.
• The classic, wide “cathedral” canyon shape most photos show.

Choose Lower if you want

• A longer, more adventurous walk with ladders and narrower passages.
• Generally lower ticket prices.
• Fewer crowds at certain times, and more of an explorer's feel.

Neither is objectively better: they are different experiences of the same geology. Upper is the easier, more iconic visit and the one for the beams; Lower is more physical and more intimate. Visitors with the time and energy often do both in one day. The Lower Antelope Canyon Entry and Navajo Guided Tour is the most-reviewed Antelope Canyon listing on GetYourGuide, at 4.7★ from 9,664 reviews. If you can only pick one and the beams are on your list, choose Upper. Our Upper vs Lower comparison sets the two side by side.