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 Upper, Lower, and Antelope Canyon X to help you plan your itinerary.
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.
Tours start at: 7:15am
Last tour starts at: 5pm
Tour frequency: Tours run multiple times a day, and their frequency varies depending on the tour operator. Some tours start every 30 minutes, while some tour operators have start times every hour or 2 hours apart.
Tours start at: 9am
Last tour starts at: 3:30pm
Tour frequency: Tours run multiple times a day, starting every 30 to 40 minutes.
Antelope Canyon is 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.
Antelope Canyon can get quite crowded on weekends, especially from 10am to 1pm because that’s when the light beams are on display at their brightest. If you want a more private tour, you should opt for weekdays and start with the Lower Canyon early in the morning.
The peak season at Antelope Canyon lasts from May to September. It’s quite hot during these months, with temperatures reaching 100°F or 37°C, so make sure you wear breathable clothing on your visit. Book your experience at least a few weeks in advance so that you can get your desired time slot. From March to early May and late September towards the end of October, the Antelope Canyon has fewer visitors. It’s not too hot and there are fewer crowds so you can visit in a more relaxed environment.
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, 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.
Each canyon tour can take between 1.5 to 2 hours to complete, so if you want to visit Upper, Lower, and Antelope Canyon X on the same day, you’ll need at least 6 hours.
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.