Upper vs. Lower Antelope Canyon: Which Antelope Canyon Tour is Better?
Both Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon are stunning in their own way, but in this post, I break down their main differences to hopefully help you decide which tour is best for you.
Additionally, if one of your reservations gets rejected, that simply means that your selected date and/ or time was already reserved. Simply choose one of the other options, as Antelope Canyon is a very popular tour!
My Print - Upper Antelope Canyon
Antelope Canyon Photography Tour [Cancelled]
Unfortunately, some of the photos that you see in this article are a thing of the past.
What I mean by this is that from 2020 and on, Antelope Canyon photo tours are no more.
Personally, I’ve been fortunate enough to experience both tours, but to me, the change seemed very unfortunate for photographers or anyone else wanting a less-crowded Antelope Canyon experience.
Is the Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon Better?
Lower Antelope Canyon
Here’s what you can expect:
In the Lower Antelope Canyon, expect a much narrower slot canyon and not as big rooms inside as opposed to the Upper Antelope Canyon. However, the Lower Canyon is where you will find multiple sets of ladders that can be good for photos if you are quick!
Upper Antelope Canyon
In the Upper Antelope Canyon, there is much more space to move around, which is where all the famous shots of light beams shinning into the canyon come from.
Book midday if you want the opportunity to see this incredible phenomenon!
Upper vs. Lower
In both Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon, you can expect to walk the entire length of the canyons in a moderately sized group of people, but the main difference seemed to be your personal belongings.
A small bag is allowed in the Lower Canyon, but no bags are permitted in the Upper Canyon.
So, which Antelope Canyon Tour is Better?
The real answer is neither; they’re both amazing in their own way, and I feel that it’s truly a personal preference based on how I broke down each canyon individually above.
That being said, you can do both Antelope Canyon tours in one day, which is the half-day combination tour linked below. This is truly the best way to enjoy all of Antelope Canyon!
Booking Your Antelope Canyon Tour
Since all of the tours in Antelope Canyon pass through the exact same two canyons, there’s not much variability between the tours listed below.
However, one of my favorite things about booking through Viator is the reserve-now-and-pay-later option. As long as you’re booking more than three days in advance, you have the option to book ahead and cancel in the future if you change your mind.
Lower Antelope Canyon
Upper Antelope Canyon
Upper & Lower Antelope Canyon: Combination Tour
My Print - Upper Antelope Canyon
How to Get Amazing Photos in Antelope Canyon?
Be aggressive!
Without the photography tour, there are really no options to slow down and take a photo, like the one above this section.
That’s not to say that great photos can’t be taken, but you just need to be aggressive. I hate to say it that way, but as an example, take the photo on the ladder from above. I was hanging out at the end of the tour to get this photo by letting the people in front of me go ahead, while holding up about five people behind me to get that shot.
Therefore, if you want photos like the ones in this article, you’re going to need to shoot as you walk and be aggressive.
How to See the Light Rays in Antelope Canyon?
To have the best chance at seeing the light rays, schedule an Upper Antelope Canyon tour between 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
On the discontinued photography tour, the tour companies used to schedule photo tours when they knew it was best for the light beams in the canyon. However, those timeframes have been replaced with regular tours.
Therefore, while I would say it’s never a guarantee to see the light rays, the times listed above are when the photography tours used to be scheduled.
Furthermore, I learned from a guide that the Lower Antelope Canyon is better earlier in the morning to midday, and the Upper Antelope Canyon is the best late morning into the early afternoon.
Clearly, this does not cover every time of the year, but this is what I’ve been able to gather from personal experience, as well as speaking with the guides.
When I visited, I did the Lower Antelope Canyon in late May, and the Upper Antelope Canyon in the middle of June.
All said, if you have a camera with interchangeable lenses, NEVER change lenses inside of Antelope Canyon. You need to make your decision prior to the tour, as the fine dust found throughout both canyons and in the air will ruin your sensor if you do!
I recommend a wide angle to capture the best of both canyons, such as a 16-35mm.
Alternative Antelope Canyon Tour Options
Alternatively, there are other options very similar to Antelope Canyon, and some even provide transportation from as far away as Sedona, Flagstaff, and Las Vegas if you are visiting without a vehicle.
Combined Antelope Canyon and Canyon X Tours
Furthermore, Canyon X tours are relatively 'new' compared to the traditional Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon tours.
These tours below give you the opportunity to see the alternative Canyon X, and if you’d like to upgrade to a photography tour, which is no longer available in the other canyons, I highly recommend booking the tour below.
Antelope Canyon Tours with Transportation
Book these tours to eliminate the hassle of renting a car, with roundtrip transportation available from as far away as Las Vegas, Sedona, and Flagstaff!
Safety
The heat in Page, Arizona, during the summer is nothing to take lightly. Be sure to wear sunscreen and/ or a sun shirt and keep hydrated! This is especially true prior to the Upper Antelope Canyon tour because they don’t allow bags or any personal belongings inside the canyon.
With that in mind, it is generally much cooler once you’re in the canyon.
