Antelope Canyon is not near Las Vegas. It sits on Navajo land outside Page, Arizona, and doing it as a day trip makes for a long day. Most people searching for a tour are really asking one question: Upper or Lower? There is also a third option, Antelope Canyon X, that many visitors have not heard of.
Here is how the three compare, without the marketing.
Upper vs Lower Antelope Canyon
All three are slot canyons carved into sandstone, and you can only enter with a Navajo guide. The difference is in how they feel to walk.
Upper Antelope Canyon is the easier of the two. The path is gentle, the walls rise high above you, and the guided walk takes about an hour. It is the better pick if anyone in your group has trouble with stairs.
Lower Antelope Canyon is narrower and more twisting. You go down into it and climb through on steep ladders, so it asks more of your legs. In return it feels more like an adventure and less like a corridor walk.
What about Antelope Canyon X?
Antelope Canyon X is a separate slot canyon near Page. It gets less attention than Upper and Lower. Like the others, it involves climbing moderately steep stairs, and you walk it with a Navajo guide. We run it two ways: as a bus tour, and as a small-group tour capped at 13 guests, where there is more time for photos.
The Antelope Canyon tours from Las Vegas
Every tour below also stops at Horseshoe Bend, and every one includes hotel pickup.
| Tour | Canyon | Format | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antelope Canyon X & Horseshoe Bend Boxed lunch, guide in EN and 中文 | Antelope X | Bus, 13 hours | $189 |
| Lower Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend Deli lunch, guide in EN and 中文 | Lower | Bus, 13 hours | $219 |
| Upper Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend Boxed lunch, guide in EN and 中文 | Upper | Bus, 13 hours | $249 |
| Antelope Canyon X Small-Group Max 13 guests, free door-to-door pickup | Antelope X | Small group, full day | $320 |
What the bus day looks like
On the Upper and Antelope X tours, hotel pickup on the Strip starts around 5:00 AM. You reach the canyon around 10:25 AM, then Horseshoe Bend for about an hour, and get back to Las Vegas around 5:30 PM. The Lower tour leaves a little later, at 6:00 AM. Times are approximate and depend on your hotel and traffic. It is a long day, which is the cost of seeing northern Arizona from Las Vegas.
Why the small-group tour costs more
Same destination, different day. The van takes up to 13 guests, collects you at your own hotel door, and leaves more time for photos than a coach does. If you dislike moving at the pace of a full bus, that is what the extra money buys.
Before you book
- Bags are restricted. On the Upper and Antelope X bus tours, no backpacks, camera bags or fanny packs are allowed in the canyon. On the small-group tour, leave backpacks, large bags and tripods behind.
- Professional cameras and video are not allowed inside the canyon on the bus tours. They are fine at Horseshoe Bend.
- Expect stairs or ladders. All three canyons involve climbing, and Lower has steep ladders. Ask us before booking if mobility is a concern.
- Horseshoe Bend is a walk. It is about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) round trip.
- Bring a photo ID. You do not need a passport, since the tour stays in the United States.
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure, with instant confirmation. Tours run with weather contingencies, and we will contact you to reschedule or refund if conditions are unsafe.
Not sure which canyon?
Compare every Antelope Canyon day tour side by side.
Common questions
Which is better, Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon?
Upper is wider and easier to walk, with a gentle path. Lower is narrower and more dramatic, but you climb steep ladders and stairs. Neither is objectively better; it comes down to mobility and how much of an adventure you want.
Can you visit Antelope Canyon from Las Vegas in one day?
Yes. Our bus tours run about 13 hours door to door and pair the canyon with Horseshoe Bend. Hotel pickup starts around 5:00 AM.
What is Antelope Canyon X?
A third slot canyon near Page, Arizona, that gets less attention than Upper and Lower. We run it as a 13-hour bus tour and as a small-group tour of up to 13 guests.
Do I need a passport?
No. The tour stays within the United States, so a valid photo ID is enough.
Can I cancel an Antelope Canyon tour?
Yes. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure, with instant confirmation at booking.