Hi,
Want to do Antelope canyon tour but wondering if standard tour (1.5hrs) is good enough or would extended (photo) tour is better (2.5hrs). Hope to also get to monument valley and take sunset tour there later in the day. Any ideas out there?

Last May we did both Antelope Canyon and Monument Valley, though not on the same day.

For Antelope we did a split tour, which is actually parts of 2 tours. We went with Ekis and this is how it worked. We went to AC with the 9:30 tour but could not stay the whole time. We had to leave and go back to Page, then we went back with the 11:30 tour. (Worked out well because my husband forgot his tripod mount and was able to get it when we went back.)

What this did was give us time in AC to catch the early light, when the deeper colors are better, and at midday, when you get the sunbeams. I don't know what time of year you're going, but when we went (May 17th) the early tour wasn't as crowded as the later one. That's because the photography tour is there at the same time later.

Still, we found we were able to get tons of great photos. People are pretty good about waiting for you. But it does get a bit "touchy" with so many photographers there with their tripods, along with those who really just want to look, and plan to buy postcards of the great shots.

As for Monument Valley - we again kind of combined 2 tours. We did the 1/2 day which continued into the sunset tour. Spent maybe an additional half to three quarters of an hour. We went with Simpson's Trailhandlers Tours and they we fantastic. This was the one thing my husband wasn't really keen on when I planned our trip, but it's the thing he calls the highlight of our trip. And we had a lot of highlights! We did the private tour, just the 2 of us and our Navajo guide.

When we can get back out into that area we plan to go on some of their other tours.

Have a great time.

Fran

I plan on going on the 4th of July. Considering 10:30 tour Chief Tsosie. Do you feel seeing the beams of light is worth extra crowd or early tour just as good?

I would recommend seeing the beams of light.

If it's an either/or, I think I'm with Karens on this one. Both times of day are magical, but there is just something about seeing those light beams.

I went to their web site and it sounds like at 10:30 you will still get a taste of the earlier colors and some of the beams, as well.

Enjoy.

Fran

We did a sunset tour of MV last year with Simpson's and the 10:30 tour with Chief Tsosie the next day. Both were fantastic.

Keep in mind there is a 1 hour time difference between MV and Page. I think you will lose an hour going from Page to MV.

Here is my planned itinerary as of now:
It will be me, my two sisters and my mom

Sun, July 1 - Fly to Las Vegas, Rent a
SUV, stay at Excalibur

Mon, July 2 - Drive to Grand Canyon - South Rim. Stay at Bright Angel for 2 nights.

Wed, July 4 - Drive to Page, AZ for Antelope Canyon tour. Later Drive to Monument Valley. Take Sunset Tour. Staying at Red Rock Hill House (Gouldings)

Thu, July 5 - Drive to Moab. Staying at Cali Cochita B&B for 2 nights. Sign up for Fiery Furnace Hike. Go to Arches and Canyonland NP

Sat, July 7 - Drive to Capital Reef and stop at Orchards for some fruit picking on my way to Bryce Canyon. Staying at Bryce Canyon Lodge. Do Navajo-Queen loop.

Sun, July 8 - Morning drive to Zion for Canyon Overlook Hike and drive back to Las Vegas for evening flight back to Oakland.


I didn't even think about the lost hour because of time zone. Having to do lunch and driving from Page to MV will that be too much of a rush if I do the extended tour?

OMG...I didn't realize you had planned on being in Page, AZ on the 4th of July! (Can you say ZOO!) I would make reservations for anything you want to do that week! With the 4th being on Wednesday, it's hard to say which weekend will be the busier, but I would plan on big crowds everywhere on your whole trip!

Doing a hike and seeing both Arches and Canyonlands in one day is a lot.

It's 275 miles from Moab, Utah to Bryce Canyon via Capitol Reef and scenic Hwy 12. This is going to take at least 7 1/2 hours of just driving time. This is going to be a long day if you also plan on a 3 mile hike in Bryce.

Picking fruit at Capitol Reef is fun, but your time would be better spent stopping at the Petroglyphs on Hwy 24 and doing the Capitol Reef Scenic Drive.

While in Zion take the free shuttle bus ride into Zion Canyon...you can't see the best part of the park unless you do.

To do your schedule, you are going to have to get up and leave at daylight and use every minute of daylight you have.

Utahtea

If it seemed too busy can I get some advice out there for a couple options.
1)Fiery Furnce Hike
or
take Tagalong Jetboat/4x4 tour of Canyonlands (Read both good and bad reviews from this forum)

2)Take more direct route from Moab to Bryce and forget Capital Reef to give more time at Bryce
or
Keep Capital Reef and forget Zion

Hi,

Your schedule is extremely rushed!

Arches, it takes all day to see Arches without even doing any long/time consuming hikes. The Firey Furnace hike takes over 3 hours and requires some easy rock climbing, jumping across gaps and squeezing through narrow spots. Don't know the ages of your group, so just be aware. Take your lunch with you. Too far to drive back to Moab for lunch.

You won't have time to see Canyonlands or Dead Horse Point, let alone a raft trip.

Day 7 really isn't doable, unless as Utahtea said, sunrise to sundown. I agree about picking fruit, no time!

Hard to cut out any of your destinations. They are all great, but all deserve more time.

Hope you enjoy!

In case I arrive at Bryce too late, which would you recomment doing the Navajo/Queen loop at Bryce or Canyon Overlook Hike at Zion?

Queen Garden/Navajo

But you cannot miss the Zion scenic drive on the shuttle bus, or you will not have "seen" anything of Zion.

In all honesty, I'd cut out Moab and Capitol Reef. Moab area is worth 3 to 5 days all by itself. You are trying to do to way to much in such a short time. The reason I would cut Moab and Capitol Reef is the driving distances. If you leave them in, you are going to spend the majority of your time in a vehicle instead of enjoying the scenic parks.

Monday drive to Grand Canyon

Tuesday - Grand Canyon

Wednesday - Take time to enjoy the scenic overlooks as you exit the Grand Canyon and drive to Monument Valley and do a tour and then make it to Page, AZ to spend the night.

Thursday - You should have enough time to do the morning Colorado River float trip, do the afternoon Slots tour and still drive the 155 miles to Bryce.

Friday - Hike the Navajo - Queens Garden hike and do the scenic drive in Bryce. Walk along the rim near Sunset Point in the evening.

Saturday - Drive to Zion and do the Canyon overlook trail. Ride the free shuttle buses and do the easy Riverside Walk and maybe even Weeping Rock.

Sunday - Spend the morning in Zion and walk the Pa'rus trail then drive back to Las Vegas.

Utahtea

I have to agree with Dayle and Utahtea (and these 2 really know the area).

We hit all of those same areas last May (except Zion, we were there in '03 so we did a hike to the Wave, instead). We had 2 full weeks and although we got to see and do a lot of what we wanted, we could have easily used more time, especially for Capitol Reef and the Moab area.

I know it's hard to give up anything because you want to see and do it all, but with only a week, I think you'll have to. Although my husband and I like to "get a taste" of lots of areas to decide where we want to return for longer stays, I worry that this is going to be so hectic you won't even really get much of a taste for anyplace.

Just MHO.

Fran

Thanks for all your valuable input. Maybe if I just do Arches while in Moab and forget about Capital Reef. Would taking the route from Moab to Bryce that doesn't pass Capital Reef save me much time (I-70 tu US89)?

Mile wise it's about the same, but driving time from Moab to Bryce via Capitol Reef and Hwy 12 is a little over 7 hours. Moab to Bryce via I-70 & hwy 89 is about 5 hours.

Utahtea

So to arrive at Bryce with some reasonable time on the 7th day, would you say I would have to leave Moab/Arches region at ~10AM while if I go via more scenic way past Capital Reef I would have to leave ~8AM. I totally understand why you don't recommend this itinary because of the amount of driving time but this seemed to be the only way that I could reserve lodging in Grand Canyon NP, Bryce NP, and at Monument Valley as opposed to staying outside the parks. My other rationale being that since it is so hot during this time of year the best time to spend would be in the mornings and afternoons anyways.

The nice thing about traveling in July is the long days. You're going to have about 14 hours of daylight to work with.

Utahtea

I wonder if I could change the subject a little and ask if anyone has any good recommendations for some good eats in Utah. Nothing fancy but where to eat in Moab and when travelling from Moab to Bryce.