Tours start at: 7:30am
Last tour starts at: 4pm
Tour frequency: Tours run multiple times a day, and their frequency varies depending on the tour operator. The start times are usually 90 minutes or 2 hours apart.
Each canyon has specific hours for tours and different frequencies when it comes to the number of tours that take place in a day. Here's an overview of the tour timings for the sections within Antelope Canyon to help you plan your itinerary.
Antelope Canyon and its sections are open all year round, with tours starting from 7am to 5pm. However, tours might be limited or halted for a few days in case of bad weather or flash floods.
The amount of time you spend at Antelope Canyon depends on which section and the number of canyons you plan to visit.
A guided tour of Upper Canyon takes about 1 hour, but keep an additional 30 minutes to park, get acquainted with the tour guide, listen to the instructions, and prepare for the tour. A tour of the Lower Canyon lasts for around 90 minutes because of the extended route, narrow passageways, and navigating stairs. If you’re planning on visiting both Upper and Lower Canyons, plan to spend at least 4 hours on the trip, with time in between to rest and recuperate.
A tour of Antelope Canyon X takes approximately 90 minutes as well, with another 30 minutes added for your briefing and parking. Ligai Si Anii Canyon and Mystical Antelope Canyon tours both last for 2 hours each, and with added time for parking and briefing, you can set aside 2 and a half hours if you want to visit either one of them.
The drive from Upper and Lower Canyons to Antelope Canyon X takes 15 minutes, so if you are touring all three canyons within the same day, you need to keep at least a 45-minute to 1-hour-long break after you finish Upper and Lower Canyon tours to start your Antelope Canyon X tour. The distance between Upper and Lower Canyons and Ligai Si Anii Canyon is 10 miles or about a 15-minute drive, whereas the distance between Antelope Canyon X and Ligai Si Anii Canyon is about 18 miles, or a 20-minute drive. If you want to travel from Upper and Lower Canyons to Mystical Antelope Canyon, it takes about 10 minutes by car (7.4 miles), and if you want to travel from Antelope Canyon X, it's only a short 1.1-mile drive away, which will take you no more than 2 minutes. If you want to tour the Ligai Si Anii Canyon and Mystical Antelope Canyon, the travel time between the two is approximately 20 minutes by car (17.2 miles).
Overall, if you want to visit multiple canyons comfortably, you should plan on spending a minimum of 6 hours at Antelope Canyon, so it’s recommended you start early. Most tours start at 7am, giving you ample time to cover each canyon at your own pace.
Nearby landmarks like Horseshoe Bend, which is a 10 to 15-minute drive from Upper Antelope Canyon, and Glen Canyon Dam, a 20-minute drive, are a great way to end your day of adventure. Take a walk through the trails or drive down to catch the sunset overlooking the Colorado River for a picture-perfect view.
Antelope Canyon is open every day, but holidays usually have a higher number of visitors. So make sure you book your tour in advance so that you can get the date and time of your choosing.
Antelope Canyon tours can get canceled due to the chances of flash floods. This can occur during rainy months (July to September). If this happens, your tour provider will offer a full refund or allow you to reschedule.
March to October are the best months to capture the iconic light beams at Upper Canyon, between 10am and 1pm. However, it’s also peak season, so expect crowds. The crowd reduces in fall and winter, and the Canyon’s colors are more vibrant during this time, so you get a shot at clicking great photos then too!
Antelope Canyon is only closed on rainy days Exploring the passageways is dangerous then because it can lead to flash floods. On rare occasions, the Navajo people may have a blessing or cleansing ceremony at the Canyon, for which it will remain closed.
Antelope Canyon is in the Arizona time zone, which doesn’t practice daylight saving time. Arizona operates in the Mountain Time Zone (MST) year-round.
You should reach at least 30 minutes before the tour begins so that the guide can communicate all the safety instructions and information to you and you have ample time to get ready and prepare for the tour because Antelope Canyon has minimal facilities.
Antelope Canyon Tour with Navajo Guide
Lower Antelope Canyon Tour with Navajo Guide
Upper Antelope Canyon Tour with Navajo Guide
Antelope Canyon X Tour with Navajo Guide
Mystical Antelope Canyon Tour
Antelope Valley Canyon Ligai Si Anii Tour
From Las Vegas: Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend Tour
Horseshoe Bend Helicopter Tour
From Las Vegas: Antelope Canyon Airplane & Ground Tour
From Las Vegas: Upper Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend Tour with Lunch