Monument Valley Tours

Old Jan 12th, 2009, 07:33 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Monument Valley Tours

Plan to be in Monument Valley in May. Do not want to self-drive but wish to take a tour. Would like any advice on tours and tour operators. Thanks.
petsitter is offline  
Old Jan 12th, 2009, 08:47 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 7,443
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We did a tour with Gouldings, it was just OK. You will get to see more arches, etc and you can't leave the main areas unless you are with a navajo guide. It was nothing special.

You might head up north a little bit from Monument Valley and see
Valley of the Gods
Moki Dugway
Muley Point
Goosenecks of the San Juan

These sites are all within 5 miles of each other

On up the road north another 30 miles is Natural Bridges National Monuement.

We probably enjoyed the site listed above as much or more than Monument Valley. We stayed 1 night @ Monument Valley and 1 night in Valley of the Gods B&B.

http://www.photoworks.com/members/spirobulldog

click on view all then Mesa Verde for Picture of the area.



spirobulldog is offline  
Old Jan 12th, 2009, 12:50 PM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 670
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I agree with all that Spiro wrote.

I can also recommend Simpsons Trailhandlers tours. They are Navajo. Promise is a 2.5 hour tour but turns into 3.5 hours. Totally private. Ask for Richard (the owner's brother).

The "Shake & Bake" group tour with Gouldings is not usually recommended on this board.
laurieb_nyny is offline  
Old Jan 12th, 2009, 01:27 PM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 339
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I agree with both of the above. We used Simpson's twice and had Richard both times. Once he sang to us in Navajo and the other time he played a flute. You will not find a better guide and the tour is just for your family. The Gouldings tour is a group tour.

Also, even though the four sites mentioned above are within 5 miles of each other, it will take at least half a day to see them.

Have a great trip. This is one of our favorite areas in the country.
richbutnot is offline  
Old Jan 12th, 2009, 06:08 PM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Take the escarpment tour. Should include lunch (freshly baked Navaho bread).

*********************************
travelagent73 is offline  
Old Jan 13th, 2009, 03:53 PM
  #6  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks for the suggestions. We were going to leave Monument Valley and drive the Mongolian Rim and back to Phoenix. I have never heard of Valley of the Gods and the other places you mentioned. I am going to research them and see if we can fit these in timewise. Such a problem - too much to see and too little time.
petsitter is offline  
Old Jan 14th, 2009, 03:43 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 7,443
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
these are all just north of Monument Valley. Valley of the Gods is a mini-monument valley. Goosenecks of the San Juan are very very impressive. Moki Dugway is an unusual road. Muley Point is an overlook at the top of Moki from a huge cliff. Goosenecks are at the bottom.
spirobulldog is offline  
Old Jan 14th, 2009, 03:44 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 7,443
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
just north of Monument Valley meaning about 45 minute to an hour north. Goosenecks the river travels 5 miles in a single mile. it is so crooked
spirobulldog is offline  
Old Jan 14th, 2009, 04:50 PM
  #9  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I've googled all of those suggestions. Wow! Such amazing views. I saw a YouTube video driving down Muki Dugway. Not sure if we will be able to do all of these. No sure I can handle Muki Dugway since I am afraid of heights and not sure if I want to travel a gravel road. But thinking of trying to fit in the Goosenecks. They look absolutely amazing.
petsitter is offline  
Old Jan 14th, 2009, 05:20 PM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 720
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Just want to add my vote for Simpson tours.

My husband and I went with them in May 2006 and it was wonderful. It was just the 2 of us and our Navajo guide. Unlike the Gouldings tours, we were able to customize our tour to our interest.

Our guide knew we were really into photography so he went out of his way to take us places or tell us to stand in a certain spot, or climb up on this or that rock to get an unusual or otherwise special shot. He also let us stay in each spot as long as we liked. He became an active participant in helping us find the photo ops we wanted.

And, as others have mentioned, he played his flute and sang Navajo songs for us. Our tour also ran long. We had an afternoon, sunset, photo combo which lasted so long that they had locked the gate to the park and we had to take the "locals only" way out.

We hope to return to M. V. one day and participate in one of their more remote tours.

It's a gorgeous place. Have a great time.
Floridafran is offline  
Old Jan 14th, 2009, 05:47 PM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
My husband and I have travelled to the Southwest for the last 12 years and always we find something new that we had not discovered prior -

We were disappointed in Monument Valley - maybe we had watched too many John Wayne Movies. Guildings Lodge is really the only lodging in the area - however - we loved Valley of the Gods - and stayed at a wonderful bed and breakfast and great hosts in Mexican Hat - which is ideally located at 4 Corners -
website for the B&B is http://www.zippitydoodah.com -

So much to do in the area and if you are into photography you will not be disappointed - Monument Valley you are restricted to driving on one road - but have to have a Navajo guide to go beyond that road - views are nice but in a distance - so if your eyesight is like mine - you would prefer something more up close and personal.
Just my opinion.
Luv2TravelRU is offline  
Old Jan 14th, 2009, 05:59 PM
  #12  
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 532
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We did a horseback riding tour with Sacred Monument Tours. It was the highlight of our AZ-Utah road trip. It was really nice to be off in the valley floor away from the cars and tours on horseback. It wasn't something we had pre booked we just arranged it when we got to the tribal park and I am in still in awe over the ride. i hadn't been on a horse in many many years but after the first 5 minutes i was fine. Another plus was it was just myself and my husband with our navajo guide, so we weren't with a whole group.

joyce
joeyi is offline  
Old Jan 15th, 2009, 09:27 AM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 7,443
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The Moki Dugway drive isn't as bad as it looks. It is a very good dirt road for about 2 or 3 miles. The dirt road at Valley of the Gods was in great condition when we drove it. The owner of the B&B says it can get very bad after a flash flood.

Have you been anywhere in the 4 corners before? have you been to Arches or Moab? Sipapu Bridge at Natural Bridges is a very impressive span. It is the 5th largest in the world. I have seen the largest span (Landscape Arch) at Arches. I must say that Sipapu is equally impressive if you hike down under it. It is a short but slightly strenuous hike. Nothing really scary or anything. If you like arches like we do, it is one not to be missed. There are several cool Arches in Monument Valley. My favorite was ear arch. There is a secret arch right near the campground in Monument Valley. It is a short 5 minute walk, but you have to find it, just ask someone. Ear Arch is a pretty cool arch in Monument Valley as well.
spirobulldog is offline  
Old Jan 15th, 2009, 10:38 AM
  #14  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks everyone for the tips. As mentioned Valley of the Gods has a dirt road which can get rough if the weather has been bad. The thing I like about Monument Valley is not having to use the rental car and taking the tour. Are tours available at Valley of the Gods? Also, how far are the Goosenecks from Monument Valley?
petsitter is offline  
Old Jan 15th, 2009, 04:51 PM
  #15  
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 7,443
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We took our rental car. Really it was no big deal. You can always turn around if you don't like it. We were the only car on the road the day we did it. The only thing at Valley of the Gods is a 4 room Bed and Breakfast, no tours. The road is only about 10 miles long at Valley of Gods. A lot of the stuff at Monument Valley is on Dirt Roads.

Goosenecks State Park is about 45 minutes North of Monument Valley. Just past it 2 or 3 miles is Moki Dugway. At the top of Moki Dugway is Muley Point. Another 5 miles or so. Around the corner 3 or 4 miles from Goosenecks is Valley of the Gods. Honestly, Valley of the Gods is not that big of a deal if you have seen Monument Valley. In one of John Wayne Movies, he tosses a rock or bottle or something off the cliff at The Goosenecks. The Goosenecks are quite a sight. Moki Dugway is not that hard of a drive at all. I wouldn't think twice about taking a rental car up it. You might want to skip Valley of the Gods, unless you have an extra hour.
spirobulldog is offline  
Old Jan 16th, 2009, 03:42 PM
  #16  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks Spirobulldog for all your thoughts. Because of time I think we will be able to fit in the Goosenecks. They really look awesome. We have plans over the next couple of years to see all the Southern Utah parks Arches, Canyonlands, Bryce and Zion and all the other fabulous places.
petsitter is offline  
Old Jan 17th, 2009, 01:25 PM
  #17  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 8,351
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We went to Monument valley last May, did the self drive tour, in a hire car (we had a Nissan Rogue, so it was a 4x4) and were happy with that. Plenty of folks were doing it in ordinary hire cars too. We also went to Goosenecks, the Moki Dugway and Muley Point - which has to have one of the best views in the area imho, also Natural Bridges NP and Valley of the Gods. We liked the Valley of the Gods just because it was so quite, and beautiful. Like Monument Valley once was. Gooseneckes and Muley point were highlights of the trip for me - just us and the scenery.
You can see some of my photos from that trip here: http://tinyurl.com/9xj363 - I was told to select 20 photos by the OH. When you've taken over 1500 that is tough. I got it down to 22, but it was tough!
hetismij is offline  
Old Jan 17th, 2009, 06:00 PM
  #18  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hetismij - Totally enjoyed your pictures. Thanks for sharing. You are a great photographer.
petsitter is offline  
Old Jan 18th, 2009, 06:20 AM
  #19  
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 722
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Here's another recommendation for Valley of the Gods. We've previously stayed at Gouldings in Monument Valley and the Holiday Inn at Kayenta. Next time we're going to try to stay at Valley of the Gods B&B.
luvtravl is offline  
Old Jan 19th, 2009, 05:09 PM
  #20  
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 10,965
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

If you take a tour in an open vehicle, take something to protect your eyes from blowing sand.

HTTY

happytrailstoyou is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -