Upper vs. Lower Antelope Canyon: Which Antelope Canyon Tour is Better?
Antelope Canyon, just outside the small town of Page in northern Arizona, is a world-renowned slot canyon in the Southwestern United States, known for its stunning sandstone formations, vibrant colors, and the light rays that visitors can experience by booking a tour at the right time of day!
That said, both Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon are incredible in their own way, but deciding between the two experiences is not always presented in an easy-to-understand manner. This is why I wanted to break down the main differences between them, as I have personally been fortunate to visit Page many times over many years, experiencing both Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon to understand how they have changed over time—especially considering the tourism boom across the Southwest in recent years.
All this to say, my hopes are that my experiences will help you decide which tour is best for you and your group, but if you have any questions or would like to hear more about a particular topic, please leave a comment below!
My Print - Upper Antelope Canyon
Upper vs. Lower Antelope Canyon
First and foremost, both canyons are beautiful and unique in their own way, and if you have the time to visit both in one day, I highly recommend it!
However, if you want to know the main differences between the two, read the breakdown below.
Lower Antelope Canyon
In Lower Antelope Canyon, visitors should expect a much narrower slot canyon and not as big rooms inside compared to Upper Antelope Canyon. However, the Lower Canyon is where you will find multiple sets of ladders that can be good for taking photos—if you are quick!
Upper Antelope Canyon
In 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.
That said, 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 each canyon in a moderately sized group of people, but the main differences are more related to personal belongings.
By this, I mean that some operators have a very strict no-bag policy, while others allow visitors to carry very small personal items, such as water. However, it’s best to plan on only taking a camera and possibly some water if you’re visiting during the hotter summer months.
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 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 experience 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.
Additionally, if one of your reservations is rejected, that simply means your selected date and/ or time has already been reserved. Simply choose one of the other available options, as Antelope Canyon is a very popular tour!
Lower Antelope Canyon
Upper Antelope Canyon
Upper & Lower Antelope Canyon: Combination Tour
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, starting in 2020, photo tours in both Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon were discontinued due to poor visitor experiences, both for those on the photography tours and for visitors who were negatively affected by them.
However, this statement applies only to Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon, meaning that photography tours can still be booked in Canyon X using the link below.
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 photos, like the one above.
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, the photo taken on the ladder above was captured by hanging out at the end of the tour to let the people in front of me go ahead.
Therefore, if you want good photos to come home with, 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, book an Upper Antelope Canyon tour on a clear sunny day between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. This is when the photography tours used to be scheduled, but those time slots have since been replaced with regular tours.
That said, it’s important to note that seeing the light rays in Antelope Canyon is never a guarantee, but the times mentioned above are when visitors have the best opportunity to see them.
To add to this, I learned from several guides that Lower Antelope Canyon is better earlier in the morning to midday, while Upper Antelope Canyon is better in the late morning and early afternoon hours.
Now, this clearly doesn’t cover every time of the year, but this is what I’ve been able to gather from both personal experiences, as well as speaking with the guides.
What is the Best Camera Lens to Use in Antelope Canyon?
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 sand found throughout both canyons and in the air will ruin your sensor if you do!
I recommend a wide angle, such as a 16-35mm, because anything more narrow will limit what fits in the frame—especially considering that both canyons are already very constrained environments.
Alternative Antelope Canyon Tour Options
Apart from both Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon, there are other similar options around Page, and some even provide transportation from as far away as Sedona, Flagstaff, and even 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, as they provide roundtrip transportation from as far away as Sedona, Flagstaff, and Las Vegas.
Arizona
Utah
