Our Recent Visit to Lower Antelope Canyon, Arizona

We recently ventured to Arizona and experienced all the tours of Antelope Canyon, including its two main sections: Upper Canyon and Lower Canyon. Here is our comprehensive review of Lower Antelope Canyon.

If you haven't heard of Antelope Canyon, it's a narrow passage in the desert with smooth, curved walls of orange and purple sandstone. This cavern has been shaped into a beautiful slot canyon over years of wind and rain erosion.

One important thing to note is that Antelope Canyon is located on Navajo reservation land. Therefore, unfortunately, the only way to visit Antelope Canyon is through a guided tour with a local Navajo guide. However, since this place has become a must-visit destination, tours are essentially required to control crowds.

In this Lower Antelope Canyon review, I'll share my travel experiences and photos, and then I'll explain the best times to visit and everything you need to know before you go!

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The Best Lower Antelope Canyon Tour
We booked our Lower Antelope Canyon tour through GetYourGuide and had a fantastic experience. The price included tickets, Navajo permit fees, and a local Navajo guide. All information was clearly communicated via email, and they have a refund policy if you need to cancel in advance.

They also offer tours to Upper Antelope Canyon, Antelope X, and some more special canyons in the same area with less tourist traffic than the main canyons.

We've used GetYourGuide to arrange many trips and activities worldwide and have had great experiences. Highly recommended!

Book Now: Lower Antelope Canyon Tour

Lower Antelope Canyon Review: What to Expect During the Tour
The Lower Antelope Canyon tour takes you through an underground slot canyon.

It involves a short walk across sandy terrain to reach the slot, where you'll then descend some metal stairs, walk through the slot at a leisurely pace in a single-file line, and climb back up some stairs to the starting point.

When we began the tour, we were first seated to watch a brief dance performance by the Navajo tribe, accompanied by music, as part of our experience. This was a bonus, and tips were optional. We weren't required to pay anything extra.

After watching the Navajo dance, we followed the guide on a 10-minute walk across the desert to the slot entrance. Although the walk is short, the weather can be extremely hot. The earlier you enter the slot, the better, as it's much cooler inside!

Ladders, Crowds

Before entering Antelope Canyon, it doesn't look like much from above, just a crack in the ground. But once inside, you're amazed by the perfectly smooth, wavy walls and colorful sandstone.

The place looks as good as it does in photos. Our Navajo guide pointed out various interesting shapes on the canyon walls, including a dragon, an eagle, and a tribe chief.

Taking photos inside the canyon isn't as difficult as you might think, and even smartphones take great photos here. A wide-angle lens is usually the best choice to capture the most detail.

Lower Antelope Canyon Tour Review Photos
Lower Antelope Canyon is as beautiful as it looks in photos.

For full disclosure, I must say that Lower Antelope Canyon tours are always crowded. Very crowded. Unless you visit during the off-season, there's no way to avoid it, and even then, there are no guarantees. More on that later.

Despite the crowds, we were still able to enjoy the scenery and everything we saw. We spent almost an hour inside the slot canyon and took many fantastic photos without other people in them, so it didn't ruin our experience.

We also visited Upper Antelope Canyon the same week, which was much more rushed and hectic, so we barely got any photos. Overall, Lower Antelope Canyon provided a better experience for us.

Lower Antelope Canyon Tour Review Photos
We really loved Lower Antelope Canyon.

Best Time to Visit Lower Antelope Canyon
The best time to visit Lower Antelope Canyon depends on your goals. If you want to avoid crowds and hot weather, the best time to visit is from November to March. However, the most spectacular lighting is undoubtedly during the summer.

Compared to the Upper Canyon, this canyon has a wider ceiling and more ambient light from the sun, meaning it's actually quite bright inside—perhaps too bright for ideal photos.

This means the best times to visit Lower Canyon are actually in the morning or evening, when the lighting and contrast inside the canyon aren't too extreme.

However, we visited Lower Antelope Canyon at noon, and I must say that even then, most parts of the canyon were still very beautiful, so don't completely write off midday visits. If you're not a professional photographer, you might not really notice the difference.

Lower Antelope Canyon Tour Review Photos
Gorgeous Colors and Lighting

Is This Trip Worth It?
Yes, the scenery of Lower Canyon is definitely worth visiting, despite the crowds slightly affecting the experience. This is undoubtedly one of the most unique and beautiful slot canyons in the United States.

The price of this trip isn't cheap, but it's quite a bit less expensive than Upper Antelope Canyon, which can reach up to $150 per person during the summer. Lower Antelope Canyon is also more cost-effective overall because the tour isn't as rushed.

Lower Antelope Canyon Tour Review Photos
We took many photos in Lower Antelope Canyon.

Lower Antelope Canyon vs. Upper Antelope Canyon: Which is Better?
So, which Antelope Canyon is better—Upper or Lower? That's a good question.

We tried all the tours of Antelope Canyon over the course of a week and have to admit that Upper Canyon was our least favorite, although its scenery is still breathtaking.

Upper Antelope Canyon is famous for its spectacular light beams visible when the summer sun is high. If you're not interested in sunlight, Lower Canyon is superior in many ways.

Antelope Canyon Comparison Review: Which is Best? Upper, Lower, or X in Arizona
Antelope Canyon Review — Upper Antelope Canyon vs. Lower Antelope Canyon vs. X Antelope Canyon

In my opinion, compared to Upper Antelope Canyon, the Lower Canyon tour is longer, easier, and more enjoyable. Lower Canyon is also cheaper and easier to find spots because they organize more tours every day. I'd say the scenery is quite similar between the two.

However, if you want to avoid crowds, the best option is Antelope Canyon X. This is a newer section of the canyon that has only been open to the public for a few years, so it has less foot traffic and fewer tourists compared to the main canyons.

If you're interested, I wrote a full review comparing all Antelope Canyon tours (Upper, Lower, and X Antelope Canyon), comparing photography, crowds, fun, transportation, price, and availability. You can check it out at the link below!

Read More: Antelope Canyon Comparison (Upper vs. Lower vs. X)

What to Do (and Not Do) During the Tour
What to Bring: A driver's license or other identification, such as a passport, for check-in. It's strongly recommended to wear a hat and apply sunscreen. During the tour, you can carry a water bottle and a camera or smartphone for photos.
What Not to Bring: You cannot bring pets, bags, backpacks, strollers, drones, walking sticks, umbrellas, trekking poles, selfie sticks, or tripods. No bags of any kind are allowed inside the canyon. Even small camera bags or waist packs aren't allowed. You must leave these items in your car at the parking lot. These rules are the same for all slot canyons on Navajo land.
What's Not Allowed: During the Lower Antelope Canyon tour, smoking, climbing, writing, flash photography, or videography are prohibited. Taking photos without a flash is okay, and you can take as many as you like, but photos aren't allowed on the stairs.
Walking, Hiking, Trails, Desert
Reaching the slot canyon involves a flat 10-minute walk across the desert.

Other Tips for the Lower Antelope Canyon Tour
Bathrooms: There are toilets in the office before you start the tour, but there are no bathrooms during the tour, so you need to take care of business before you start.
When to Book: Generally, booking seats for Lower Antelope Canyon isn't as difficult as for Upper Canyon, but it's still best to book at least 2 to 4 weeks in advance, especially during spring and summer.
Time Zone: This part of Arizona uses multiple time zones, which can be confusing and sometimes causes people to arrive at Antelope Canyon at the wrong time. This is because the Navajo people observe Daylight Saving Time, but other parts of Arizona do not. While driving in the state, your phone may also automatically switch time zones. However, it's important to remember that Antelope Canyon tour companies all operate on the same time zone as Page, Arizona. You need to set your clock to Page, Arizona, local time and ensure that's the time you arrive.
How Early to Arrive: We were told to arrive 45 minutes early for check-in, but you should double-check this after booking your tour.