Comprehensive Review & Stunning Photos of Lower Antelope Canyon Tour

We recently went to Arizona and tried all of the Antelope Canyon tours, including the two main sections: Upper Canyon and Lower Canyon. This is our complete review from the Lower Antelope Canyon.

If you haven’t heard of Antelope Canyon, it’s a narrow passage in the desert with smooth, curving walls of orange and purple sandstone. This chamber was carved by wind and water over the course of many years, leaving the beautiful slot canyon you can see today.

One important thing to note is that Antelope Canyon is located on the Navajo reservation, so unfortunately the only way to visit it is with a tour and a local Navajo guide. Moreover, since this place has become such a popular bucket list item nowadays, the tour system is basically needed for crowd control.

In this review of the Lower Antelope Canyon, I’ll share my experiences and photos from our tour, and then I’ll explain the best time to visit, and everything else you need to know before you go!

Best Lower Antelope Canyon Tours

We booked our Lower Antelope Canyon tour with GetYourGuide and had a great experience. The price includes your entry tickets, Navajo permit fee, and a local Navajo guide. Everything was communicated clearly by email, and they have a refund policy if you need to cancel in advance.

They also offer tours for Upper Antelope Canyon and Antelope X, and some of the more specialized canyons that receive less visitor traffic than the main canyons.

We’ve used GetYourGuide for lots of tours and activities around the world, and they’re great. Highly recommended!

Lower Antelope Canyon Review: What To Expect On The Tour

The Lower Antelope Canyon tour takes you through a slot canyon that is below ground.

This involves a short, sandy walk to get to the slot, and then you climb down some metal stairs, go through the slot in single file at a relaxed pace, and then climb up some stairs to return to the starting point.

When we started the tour, they first had us sit and watch a short Navajo tribal dance with music that was included for free as part of our experience. This was an added bonus, and tips are optional. They didn’t ask us to pay anything.

After watching the Navajo dance, we followed our guide and walked about 10 minutes through the desert to get to the slot entrance. It’s a short walk, but the heat can be intense. The sooner you get inside the slot, the better, because the temperatures are much cooler!

Before you enter Antelope Canyon, it hardly looks like anything from above, just a crack in the ground. However, as soon as you step inside, you’ll be blown away by the perfectly smooth, wavy walls and the colorful sandstone.

This place looks just as good as it does in the pictures. Our Navajo guide pointed out various fun shapes in the walls of the canyon, including a dragon, an eagle, and a tribal chief.

Taking photos inside the canyon isn’t as hard as you might think, and even phones perform well here. A wide-angle lens is typically best to capture the most details.

Now, in the interest of full disclosure, I must say the Lower Antelope Canyon tours can be quite crowded. Very crowded. There’s no way to escape this unless you go in the off-season, and even then, there are no guarantees. More on that later.

In spite of the crowds, we were still able to enjoy the scenery. We spent almost 1 hour inside the slot canyon and took lots of great pictures. Consequently, the experience remained enjoyable.

In the same week, we also visited the Upper Antelope Canyon, and it was much more rushed than the Lower Canyon, so we barely got to take any photos. Overall, the Lower Canyon was a far better experience for us.

Best Time To Visit Lower Antelope Canyon

The best time to visit Lower Antelope Canyon really depends on your preferences. If you want to avoid crowds and heat, the best time is from November to March. However, the most spectacular lighting occurs in the summer months.

Compared to the Upper Canyon, the Lower Canyon has a wider ceiling and receives a lot more ambient light, meaning it can be very bright inside — potentially too bright for ideal photos.

This implies that the best time of day to visit Lower Canyon is in the morning or late afternoon when there’s not too much light and contrast inside the canyon.

However, we went to Lower Antelope in the middle of the day, and I must say most parts of the canyon were still very nice then. Therefore, if you’re not a professional photographer, you may not really notice the difference.

Is The Tour Worth It?

Yes, the Lower Canyon is definitely worth it for the sights and scenery, even though the crowds can dampen the experience. This is undoubtedly one of the most unique and beautiful slot canyons in the United States.

While the price for the tour is not exactly cheap, it’s still more affordable than the Upper Antelope Canyon tour, which can be as high as $150 USD per person during peak season. The Lower Canyon tour also provides better value since it isn’t as rushed.

Lower vs Upper Antelope Canyon: Which Is Best?

So which Antelope Canyon is the best — Upper or Lower? That’s a valid question.

We tried all of the Antelope Canyon tours over the course of a week, and I must admit we liked the Upper Canyon the least, though it was still amazing to see.

Upper Antelope Canyon is primarily known for its dramatic light beams, visible in the summer months when the sun is high in the sky. If you’re not interested in the sunbeams, then the Lower Canyon is better in most other aspects.

When comparing Upper and Lower Antelope, the Lower Canyon tour is longer, more relaxed, and more fun. It’s also cheaper and easier to get a spot in the Lower Canyon since they run more tours every day. I’d argue the scenery is comparable between the two.

However, if you wish to escape the crowds, the best place to go is Antelope Canyon X. This is a new section of the canyon that’s open to the public and is much less crowded and touristy compared to the primary canyons.

What To Do On The Tour (And What NOT To Do)

• What To Bring: A driver’s license or other ID, such as a passport, for check-in. It’s highly recommended to wear a hat and sunscreen too. During the tour, you can bring a water bottle and a camera or phone for taking pictures.
• What NOT To Bring: You can’t bring pets, bags, backpacks, strollers, drones, canes, umbrellas, hiking sticks, selfie sticks, or tripods. They don’t allow any bags in the canyon, not even small camera bags or fanny packs. You’ll need to leave these in your car at the parking lot. These rules are common for all Navajo Nation slot canyons.
• What NOT To Do: They prohibit smoking, climbing, writing, flash photography, or video recording during the Lower Antelope Canyon tours. Non-flash photos are allowed, and you can take as many as you want, though they don’t permit pictures on the stairways.

Other Tips For The Lower Antelope Canyon Tour

• Bathrooms: There are toilets at the office before you start the tour, but there are no bathrooms during the tour, so you’ll want to take care of business beforehand.
• When To Book: Getting a spot in Lower Antelope isn’t as difficult as it is for the Upper Canyon, but it’s still advisable to make a reservation at least 2 to 4 weeks in advance, especially during spring and summer months.
• Time Zones: Multiple time zones operate in this part of Arizona, which can be confusing. The Navajo Nation observes Daylight Saving Time, while the rest of Arizona does not. Your phone may automatically switch time zones while driving. Importantly, the Antelope Canyon tour companies operate in the same time zone as Page, Arizona. Set your clocks to Page local time for your tour.
• How Early To Arrive: We were advised to arrive 45 minutes early for check-in, but it’s wise to double-check this after booking. The Navajos are strict about tardiness, and you wouldn’t want to miss your tour.
• How To Get There: The starting address for the tour is Indian Rte 222, Page, AZ 86040, USA (click for interactive map). It’s located right off Arizona Highway 98, just a 10 minute drive from the town of Page. Make sure to confirm this after booking your tour.

Frequently Asked Questions (Lower Antelope Canyon Review)

• What is the Lower Antelope Canyon?
  This slot canyon is located on Navajo tribal land near Page, Arizona. Together with the Upper Canyon, it’s one of the most renowned parts of the Antelope Canyon complex.

• Why the name? Why is it called Lower Antelope Canyon?
  The Upper Canyon is above ground, while the Lower Canyon is below ground. Hence, the name ‘Lower’ does not imply it is inferior. In fact, we preferred the Lower Canyon!

• How far is this from the Upper Antelope Canyon?
  Lower and Upper Canyon are very close to each other. The offices are directly across the highway, but to reach the Upper Canyon, you must go off-road in a company truck for about 3 miles.

• What is the best time of day to see Lower Antelope Canyon?
  Honestly, any time of the day is good. The best lighting is in the morning or late afternoon but visiting in the middle of the day can also be very nice.

• Can you see light beams?
  Unfortunately, it’s not possible to see light beams in the Lower Antelope Canyon due to its wide ceiling. Those can only be seen at specific times in the Upper Canyon.

• How long does the tour take?
  The tour lasts 1.5 hours in total, with about 1 hour in the canyon and the rest for instructions and walking to and from the office.

• How hard is the tour?
  It’s not a hard tour, and almost anyone can participate. The total distance is about 2/3rds of a mile, primarily flat terrain. Getting in and out requires climbing a slightly steep metal staircase, but it’s manageable.

• Is the tour okay for kids?
  Yes, the tour is kid-friendly, with many children participating daily. Even if your kids are too young to climb, a baby carrier is allowed.

• Is the tour safe for pregnant women?
  The tour companies discourage pregnant women from participating, likely for liability reasons; however, many have done so successfully. Evaluate based on your health and doctor’s advice.

• Can you visit Lower Antelope Canyon without a tour?
  No, visiting Lower Antelope Canyon without a tour and a local Navajo guide is not permitted.

• How can I book a Lower Antelope Canyon tour?
  You can book a highly rated Lower Antelope Canyon tour on GetYourGuide.

• Is there hotel pickup and drop-off?
  The normal tours do not include pickup services; you drive there yourself. However, GetYourGuide offers a combo trip that includes pickup and drop-off from Page, Arizona.

More Slot Canyon Guides

Thank you for exploring this review of the Lower Antelope Canyon tours in Page, Arizona. We thoroughly enjoyed visiting this iconic symbol of the American Southwest.

Additionally, check out the best slot canyons in Arizona, Utah, and Nevada to enhance your road trip!