Naturally created by water erosion over hundreds of years, the slot canyons that resulted are incredibly smooth and are the result of the water running through sandstone.
The way the sunlight changes against the canyon walls throughout the year is absolutely beautiful, and is one of the reasons why it’s such a big tourist hotspot.
Horseshoe Bend is one of the most breathtaking places in the world, and if you’re going to be in Las Vegas it’s worth taking the trip.
If you’re looking to get away from the hustle and bustle from the city. We have the top Antelope Canyon Tours from Las Vegas right here, so keep on reading!
Be sure to see our reviews of Red Rock Canyon tours, Grand Canyon tours and Hoover Dam tours.
Best Tours of Antelope Canyon from Las Vegas
| Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend Tour with Pickup From Las Vegas | Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend Tour From Las Vegas | Grand Canyon & Antelope Canyon 2-Day Tour From Las Vegas | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Departure: | Hotel pickup and drop-off included | Hotel pickup and drop-off included | Hotel pickup and drop-off included |
| Start: | Early morning | Early morning | Early morning |
| Duration: | 14 to 15 hours | 16 hours | 2 days |
| Includes: | Entry fee to Antelope Canyon, transport, live tour commentary provided in English / certified Navajo tribal guide, lunch, snacks | Round-trip transportation by air-conditioned minibus, entrance fees, local guide, driver | Breakfast, National Park entrance fees, 1 night in a hotel, WiFi, drinks and snacks |
Quick Answer: The 7 Best Antelope Canyon Tours from Las Vegas
- Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend Tour with Pickup From Las Vegas
- Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend Tour From Las Vegas
- Grand Canyon & Antelope Canyon 2-Day Tour From Las Vegas
- Antelope & Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce & Monument Valley
- Lower Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend Tour
- Las Vegas: Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend
- Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend Tour From Las Vegas
Antelope Canyon Tour Reviews
1. Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend Tour with Pickup From Las Vegas
- Duration: 14 to 15 hours
- Departure: Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Departure Time: Early morning
- Includes: Entry fee to Antelope Canyon, transport by comfortable, air-conditioned minivan, live tour commentary provided in English / certified Navajo tribal guide, driver-guide, lunch, snacks
Let’s start things off on the right foot with the Las Vegas: Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend Tour with pickup tour. Lasting 14 to 15 hours (depending on traffic), it’s the perfect way to see this area in-depth in less than a day. If you are looking for a fascinating trip into Mother Nature, this one never fails to impress!
The tour starts off with you being picked up from your Vegas hotel by a comfy van that is fully air-conditioned. Get all settled in and meet with your guides and the rest of your group while you venture out towards either the famous lower Antelope Canyon or the more secluded Antelope Canyon X.
Your Navajo tribal guide will lead the way, who knows all about the history and traditions of this area. They’ll take you to all of the best places – some of which are “off the beaten path” and are places that most visitors don’t get the chance to see!
Thanks to the small group sizes on this tour, you’ll be able to see more and ask more questions. Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, the Colorado River, and much more are what you can expect to see.
Once you get to Horseshoe Bend, be prepared for a bit of hiking, and to make your way up to an incredible lookout over the river as the sun sets! Lunch, snacks, and plenty of fruit and bottled water will be provided throughout the tour, too!
Tour Information & Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
Other Experiences You May Enjoy:
2. Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend Tour From Las Vegas
- Duration: 16 hours
- Departure: Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Departure Time: Early morning
- Includes: Round-trip transportation by air-conditioned minibus, entrance fees, local guide, driver
If you’re looking for another full-day tour option, check out the Las Vegas: Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend Tour! This is a 16-hour tour that will take you through the gorgeous landscape of Antelope Canyon, various lookout points, and more.
With a Navajo guide, you’ll have a local who truly knows the area’s history, and the best spots to explore. There’s no need to fret about scheduling and booking transportation, or even driving out there yourself.
Round-trip transportation is included, and you’ll start the tour by being picked up from your hotel by an air-conditioned minibus. These minibuses are very comfy, with large windows perfect for admiring the beautiful desert scenery outside!
Take a stop for some delicious breakfast in St. George, Utah, which holds the oldest continuously-operating Mormon temple on the planet!
After you’ve refueled, you’ll head back out toward the Colorado River and on to Horseshoe Bend. The river bends around the rocks here, creating a “horseshoe” which is where the area got its name from.
Your guides will tell you all about how these places came to be, and historical events that happened here. Next, you’ll get to explore lower Antelope Canyon and these magnificent, smooth rocks created by the elements working together.
Your guide will show you all the best little nooks and crannies, seeing the light shine through the small spaces in the canyon walls. After ample climbing around and exploring, you’ll take a break for lunch and then head to Glenn Canyon viewpoint for some insane panoramas!
Tour Information & Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
3. Grand Canyon & Antelope Canyon 2-Day Tour From Las Vegas
- Duration: 2 days
- Departure: Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Departure Time: Early morning
- Includes: Breakfast, National Park entrance fees, 1 night in a hotel, WiFi, drinks and snacks
Perhaps you’re on the hunt for a tour that really allows you an in-depth experience and exploration of this area. While the full-day tours are comprehensive, there are people who would like to see more. If that’s the case for you, then take a good look at the Las Vegas: Grand Canyon & Antelope Canyon 2-Day Tour.
As the title suggests, this tour lasts for 2 days where you’ll not only get to experience Antelope Canyon, but the world-famous Grand Canyon, as well! Just like with the other tours we’ve covered so far, your tour will start with a pickup at selected Las Vegas hotels.
The transportation is very comfortable, and roomy enough that you won’t be sitting in there cramped. You’ll start first-thing in the morning to make the most of your day.
Of course, no tour in this area would be complete if you didn’t make a stop for some photos at the legendary “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign! Then, enjoy a mouthwatering continental breakfast as you’re driven to Hoover Dam.
Hoover Dam alone is an incredible place, both in appearance and in history. As one of the tallest concrete dams in the world, you can imagine the kinds of views from here.
Constructed during the Great Depression, it is a perfect example of how resilient and hardworking the American people were to create this. You’ll also learn of how crucial it was to the beginning and success of Las Vegas!
Continue on through Arizona’s picturesque desert landscape as you stop on the historic Route 66. You’ll take 3 different stops on the route for photo ops and plenty of history lessons. Here, you’ll also grab some lunch and then head out to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.
Once here, your guides will show you 3 of the best lookout points: Yavapai, Grandview, and Lipan point. Depending on the season, you’ll be able to watch the brilliant citrus sunset over the canyon, then head to your 3-star hotel.
On the second day, you’ll be picked up at your Arizona hotel and then head over to Horseshoe Bend. Be sure to lace up your hiking shoes, because you’ll be hiking about 2km to experience the best views. After that, you’ll get to rest for a bit in the vehicle as you and your group are driven out to Antelope Canyon!
Here, you’ll join up with a local Navajo guide where they’ll take you through the magnificently smooth rock formations. Afterward, get some lunch in at a local restaurant and it’s time to get some sleep on your drive back to Vegas!
Tour Information & Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
4. Antelope & Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce & Monument Valley
- Duration: 3 days
- Departure: The Mirage Hotel and Casino at 3400 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109
- Departure Time: 7:15 am
- Includes: Live commentary in English, downloadable app with tour commentary in French, German, Spanish, and Italian, transportation in modern tour bus/SUV, meals, accommodation camping or lodging, park admission to Zion, Bryce, Grand Canyon, and Monument Valley, all camping equipment is provided including sleeping bags (if camping option selected)
If you’re an adventurous spirit and really want to see as much as possible, then this next tour is the one for you. The Antelope & Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce & Monument Valley tour lasts 3 days!
Taking you by 4×4 through some of the most picturesque natural wonders in the United States, you’re guaranteed to fall in love with this excursion.
You’ll be picked up at one of the hotels in Las Vegas, where you’ll hop aboard a minibus. These buses are quite comfortable, air-conditioned, and the drivers/guides are great and place safety at the forefront.
You’ll start out by heading to Zion and Bryce. Zion Canyon is a great start to the journey. Cut by the Virgin River, it’s renowned for its seamless blend white, pink, and red sandstone.
Oh, and that’s not all!
Petrified sand dunes standing over a whopping 2,000 feet over the canyon floor only add to this stunning landscape! Even if you aren’t into photography, we guarantee you’re going to have to take out your phone and snap some pics.
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Zion National Park is perfect for strolling around or taking some hikes – there’s something for every fitness level here. The Emerald Pools trail is a crowd favorite, with the Temple of Sinawava, the Great White Throne, and more. Oh, make sure to visit the Human History museum and listen to the rangers outside!
Next up is Bryce Canyon, complete with an enormous natural amphitheater which was also made by erosion. This canyon is unique in appearance due to the abundance of “hoodoos”. These are rocks shaped like pillars or columns, and are most highly concentrated in Bryce Canyon than anywhere else in the world!
After, you’ll enjoy a delicious BBQ and hang out around the campfire with everyone. You can choose to lodge in the Bryce Valley Inn or at the campsite!
The next day, you’ll wake up early and head out to Lake Powell and Antelope Canyon (if you choose this option). Later, you can check out Monument Valley for a 4×4 Jeep adventure! At night, you’ll camp along the rim of Monument Valley or lodge in the Historic Gouldings Lodge.
The third day, you’ll make a brief stop at the Navajo Trading Post, where you can choose to take a helicopter tour for insane aerial views of the Grand Canyon!
If you prefer, you can also take a less adrenaline-filled stroll around the rim or hike into the canyon. The guides will tell you all about the geology and history of the area.
Tour Information & Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
5. Lower Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend Tour
- Duration: 1 day
- Departure: Paris Hotel North Door Tour Lobby
- Departure Time: 7 am
- Includes: Round-trip transportation by minibus with Wi-Fi, continental breakfast, entry fees, picnic lunch, bottled water, snacks
Check out some of the most breathtaking locations the Southwest United States has to offer on this tour. The Las Vegas: Lower Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend Tour is a 1-day excursion with a small group size perfect for exploring more places and getting a more personalized experience.
With a local Navajo guide, you’ll be able to see spots that are off the beaten path that most people won’t even know about!
You’ll meet up with the rest of your group at the Paris Hotel, departing right after 7 am. Start things off right with a continental breakfast as you’re all driven through the beautiful, ominous Nevada desert landscapes. Once you enter Arizona, you’ll head to the Virgin River Gorge.
This gorge is a favorite of photographers with the pink cliffs, smooth sand dunes, and picturesque desert flora and fauna.
You’ll make a stop in Kanab, which is renowned among filmmakers due to its prime location for filming. So much so, that it’s often referred to as “Little Hollywood” in the industry! After some photo ops, you’ll head to Page where you’ll get to see Lower Antelope Canyon.
Your guide will take you into the actual canyon at the perfect time for the light to pass through these wavy, colorful walls.
After you get to explore the canyon, you’ll all go to Horseshoe Bend where it’s time to enjoy a satisfying picnic lunch consisting of local, fresh sandwiches.
As you eat, take in the emerald waters below which bend around the layers of red rock walls to create the “Horseshoe” we refer to today. Then, head back to Page and see Lake Powell’s marvelous vistas!
Tour Information & Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
6. Las Vegas: Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend
- Duration: 17 hours
- Departure: Either Bellagio or Circus Circus hotels
- Departure Time: Morning
- Includes: Guide and driver, lunch, entrance fees for Antelope Canyon, Grand Canyon National Park, and Horseshoe Bend, pickup and drop off from the Bellagio or Circus Circus Hotels (to be selected at check out)
Lots of people like the full-day tours because you can stay at the same Las Vegas hotel as the night before, while still being able to get away from the city.
The Las Vegas: Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend tour is very well-organized and easily one of the most convenient ways to see all of these amazing sites. If you are into US history, geology, the outdoors, or simply beautiful places, this is a must-do!
Lasting 17 hours, this tour really does cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time! Roundtrip transportation is included, and you’ll meet at one of the Las Vegas Strip hotels. The transportation is very comfortable, smooth, and spacious and the drivers are attentive and place safety at the forefront.
You’ll first make a stop at Antelope Canyon, famous for its smooth waves of different-colored rock walls and interesting formations.
Follow your experienced Navajo guide through here, where they’ll tell you all about how this canyon came to be and why the walls look this way. It’s a great opportunity for taking some photos as well, as everywhere you turn there are jaw-dropping sights!
Next, you’ll head over to Horseshoe Bend, which gets its name from the horseshoe-shaped turn in the Colorado River. You’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the views here, with a 1.2km hike on a sandy trail! This is a pretty easy trail, so you don’t have to be in excellent physical shape by any means.
Last but certainly not least, you’ll stop at the Grand Canyon! Not only is it massive, it represents millions of years of geological history with its countless red rock bands!
Tour Information & Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
7. Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend Tour From Las Vegas
- Duration: 13 hours
- Departure: Hotel pickup and drop-off included
- Departure Time: Morning
- Includes: Admission to Antelope Canyon, granola bar, bottled water
Perhaps you’re on the other end of the spectrum and are looking for a shorter tour! That’s no problem either, with the Las Vegas: Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend Tour! Clocking in at 13 hours, this tour is just the right amount of time to get a taste of this gorgeous area without tiring yourself out and you’ll be back in time for dinner!
This one does include a hotel pickup and drop-off in Vegas, but you’ll agree upon a central hotel in advance where everyone can meet. Hop on board an air-conditioned, luxury coach with your guides and the rest of your group.
To be honest, if the guides hadn’t been so entertaining in their history lessons, we would’ve fallen asleep easily due to how smooth and comfortable this coach was!
You’ll first head to Page, where you’ll take in stunning views of the Virgin River Gorge and rock formations at the Escalante/Grand Staircase.
The rugged landscape here is quite special, as it covers 5 different life-zones, from the desert to coniferous forest! The sandstone walls here look like a real-life psytrance festival with its loops and holes in the walls and kaleidoscope-like colors!
Here, your local Navajo guide will provide valuable pieces of information and stories about the history, culture, and geology of the area. By this point, your stomach has probably started growling, so enjoy a granola bar and some water.
Once you’re refueled, continue on to Horseshoe Bend, with an overlook towering over a 1,000-foot drop! The Colorado River’s bend creates the “horseshoe”, and is always quite a sight to see. Here, you’ll hike for about 1.5 miles to reach this viewpoint so be prepared for a bit of a sweat.
Tour Information & Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
Antelope Canyon Tours from Las Vegas, and Whether the Long Day Is Worth It
The bus leaves the Strip while the casinos are still running last night’s crowd home.
Five hours later you’re standing in a slot canyon in the Navajo Nation, watching a shaft of light cut through orange sandstone that looks lit from inside.
Then you get back on the bus and do the whole drive again. That’s the trade, and you should know it going in.
Why This Trip Is Different From a Normal Vegas Day Tour
Most day trips out of Vegas are close. Red Rock is twenty minutes away.
Valley of Fire is under an hour.
Antelope Canyon is not close. It sits 275 miles from the Strip near Page, Arizona, which means 4.5 to 5 hours of driving each way.
A standard tour runs 13 to 17 hours door to door, depending on whether Horseshoe Bend and the Grand Canyon get added to the itinerary. Buses leave the Strip between 5:30 and 7 a.m. and roll back in after 9 p.m.
Some of the older operators still schedule 3 a.m. pickups to squeeze in every stop. A few newer companies have pushed departure back to 7 a.m. instead, which costs you nothing but a slightly later return and buys back real sleep.
Ask about departure time before you book, not after. It’s the single biggest quality of life difference between one Antelope Canyon tour and another.
This is worth it if the canyon itself is the reason you came to the Southwest. The light beams and the sandstone curves are genuinely as good as the photos, and I’ve had guides who made the drive itself part of the experience with stories about the land.
It is not worth it if you’re already exhausted from Vegas nightlife and looking for something mellow. A 15 hour day on a bus after three hours of sleep is rough on anyone.
If the long single day sounds brutal, look at a two day version instead. A few operators run overnight trips with a hotel stay in Page, which turns a 17 hour slog into two relaxed days and usually adds the Grand Canyon South Rim to the itinerary.
When to Go
The famous light beams only show up under specific conditions, so timing your trip matters more here than at most desert sites.
Beams appear in Upper Antelope Canyon roughly from late March through early October, between about 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Peak intensity hits in June, July, and August when the sun sits highest overhead.
Outside that window, from late fall through winter, you still get the canyon’s color and shape. You just don’t get the vertical shafts of light everyone’s seen in the postcard shot.
Book 30 to 60 days ahead if you want a midday slot in peak season, because both Antelope Canyon reservations and Vegas tour departures sell out. Weekdays, especially Tuesday through Thursday, run noticeably less crowded than weekends.
One detail nobody warns you about. Arizona does not observe Daylight Saving Time, but Nevada does, so depending on the time of year there can be a full hour of difference between Vegas time and canyon time.
Double check your tour’s departure time against the right clock.
What You’re Actually Choosing Between
Most operators offer a choice of Upper Antelope Canyon, Lower Antelope Canyon, or Antelope Canyon X, and they are genuinely different experiences, not just marketing names.
Upper Antelope Canyon
This is the one on every postcard. It’s flat, at ground level, and the easiest of the three to walk through, which is why it costs more and books out faster.
The light beam season lives here. If the beams are the whole reason you’re going, Upper is the one to book, and the 11:20 a.m. slot in summer commands the highest price of the day.
Lower Antelope Canyon
Narrower and more athletic, with metal stairs and ladders connecting different chambers of the slot canyon. Most Las Vegas day tours default to Lower Canyon specifically to keep the package price down.
It’s still spectacular, arguably more dramatic in its twists than Upper, but it asks more of your knees and isn’t the move if you have mobility concerns.
Antelope Canyon X
A newer, less crowded option that some Vegas operators now offer as an alternative to the two classic canyons. Smaller groups and a more relaxed pace, at the cost of being less iconic than Upper or Lower.
The Rules Are the Same in All Three
Every section of the canyon enforces the same restrictions, set by the Navajo Nation, not the tour company. No tripods, monopods, or selfie sticks.
No flash photography and no video recording in most sections.
Only a small clear bag is allowed inside, no backpacks or purses, and no food or drink besides a single water bottle. Plan your gear around a phone or a single camera body, not a full bag.
The Flight Alternative
If the idea of ten hours on a bus sounds unbearable, at least one operator runs a short flight direct from a Las Vegas area airport to Page. You skip the drive entirely and still get Horseshoe Bend and a canyon tour, on a much shorter overall day.
It costs more than the bus tours and isn’t wheelchair accessible, same as the ground version, but it’s worth asking about if time matters more than budget.
Where You’ll Actually Stop
Almost every Antelope Canyon tour bundles in a few other stops along the way, since you’ve already made the long drive.
- Horseshoe Bend. A mile and a half round trip hike to an overlook 1,000 feet above a horseshoe shaped bend in the Colorado River. Budget 45 minutes to an hour, including photos.
- Glen Canyon Dam or Wahweap Overlook. A quick photo stop on some itineraries, looking out over Lake Powell.
- Page, Arizona. The small town where most tours stop for lunch, usually a boxed sandwich included in the price.
- Grand Canyon South Rim. Added on the longest single day tours or built into the two day version, with a few hours at the rim itself.
What to Pack for a 15 Hour Day
You’re on a bus most of the day, then walking sandy trails in direct desert sun, so pack for both halves of the trip.
- Closed toe shoes with real tread. Sand and slickrock both get slippery.
- A light jacket even in summer, since the bus runs cold and desert mornings start chilly.
- Sunscreen and a hat. There’s very little shade at Horseshoe Bend or in the open sections of the canyon.
- A phone charger or battery pack. Not every operator has working USB ports, and you’ll be taking a lot of photos.
- Cash in small bills for guide tips, since most people forget and end up short at the end of the day.
- Motion sickness medication if winding desert highways bother you, taken before the bus leaves, not after.
What It Actually Costs
Standard day tours from Las Vegas covering Lower Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, transport, and lunch run 165 to 200 dollars per person.
Upper Antelope Canyon costs more everywhere, since the canyon itself is pricier to enter. Direct bookings through Navajo authorized operators run 105 to 120 dollars per person plus a 15 dollar Navajo Nation permit fee, and Vegas tours that include Upper Canyon build that premium into the package price.
Guides work off tips on top of the ticket price. Budget 10 to 20 dollars per person in cash, separate from whatever you paid online, and bring it in small bills.
Group size affects price more than most people expect. Large coach tours running 30 or more people tend to sit at the lower end of that range, while operators capping groups at 12 to 14 guests charge a premium for shorter boarding times and more guide attention.
If a Grand Canyon stop is part of your itinerary, know that a new National Park Service entrance fee of 100 dollars per person now applies to non-U.S. residents entering national parks, effective January 1, 2026. That’s on top of your tour price, and you’ll need a credit card on the day.
Two day versions with a hotel night in Page cost more up front but spread the driving out and usually add the Grand Canyon South Rim, Zion, or Route 66 to the itinerary. Worth pricing out if you have the extra day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Antelope Canyon worth a full day out of a short Vegas trip?
If you only have three or four days in Vegas, think hard before giving up 15 hours of one of them. It’s a genuinely special place, but it eats an entire day and leaves you wiped out for the next one.
Should I book Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon?
Book Upper if the light beams in the photos are the whole point and you’re traveling between late March and early October. Book Lower if budget matters more, or if you want the more dramatic, twisting slot canyon shape.
What can I actually bring into the canyon?
Only a small clear bag, no backpacks or large purses. Tripods, monopods, and selfie sticks aren’t allowed, and neither is food, so bring one reusable water bottle and leave the rest on the bus.
Is the drive from Las Vegas to Antelope Canyon safe to do myself?
You can drive it yourself in a rental car, but you still need to book canyon reservations and a Navajo guide in advance, same as everyone else. Most people find the guided bus tour less stressful than navigating 275 miles of desert highway on canyon reservation deadlines.
How old do kids need to be for an Antelope Canyon tour?
Most ground and flight combo tours set a minimum age around 8 years old, and the canyon itself isn’t stroller or wheelchair accessible because of the sandy, uneven floor.
Is there a faster way to see Antelope Canyon from Vegas?
Yes. A direct flight tour from the Las Vegas area to Page cuts the day down significantly compared to the 14 to 17 hour bus trips, though it costs more and still doesn’t work for anyone needing wheelchair access.
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The Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend Tour is our Editor's Choice for the best Antelope Canyon from Las Vegas.