We climbed down the ladder into the narrow canyon. Isaac, enthusiastically led us to the entrance where he provided the number of participants in our group to the counter. The tour of Lower Antelope Canyon lasts about an hour and covers a distance of one mile. He responded, “I only know a few words, but it’s easy after you hear it enough.”Īpparently, “STOP…Go back to your guide” translated into Chinese is common in Lower Antelope Canyon! In dismay, I exclaimed, “I can’t believe you know Chinese.” Unfortunately, for our small group of five in the off-season, a Chinese contingent followed who completely disregarded their guide and the rules! I was shocked when our guide Isaac, a recent high-school graduate who loved rocks, shouted at those who invaded our space in Chinese.

Moreover, they know exactly the best places to snap a photo in the canyon. The Tourįortunately, the tour guides are generally good at keeping the groups contained and provide a decent opportunity to capture images. I selected what I thought was the last tour of the day, but it was with Dixie Ellis, so another group still followed us. Dixie Ellis operates the first tour of the day, and Ken’s operates the last tour of the day. Selecting the first or last tour of the day in order to enjoy a portion of the canyon empty is the only reason to be picky about the tour company. The tour may also be taken as a day trip from Las Vegas. The tours operate every 15 minutes from morning to evening. Owned by the same family, the tour companies each charge $48 which includes the permit fee. Having said that, Ken’s operates the same tour and has been in business longer. The tours and permit may be purchased online or in person, though advanced reservations are recommended during high season.ĭuring low season, I made “day of” reservations with Dixie Ellis because I liked their website better. Two sister companies operate the tours of Lower Antelope Canyon. The Upper Antelope Canyon costs much more to tour than the Lower Antelope Canyon. Tour Companiesīoth Upper and Lower Antelope Canyons require a guided tour and Indian Reservation permit. In addition, in certain winter months, like November, the famous light rays don’t make it into Upper Antelope Canyon, making Lower Antelope Canyon an excellent alternative. Though not as popular as Upper Antelope Canyon, known for the light rays that filter in the canyon, Lower Antelope Canyon is still a special place to visit. The V shaped canyon, meaning it is wider at the top than the bottom, is famous for its rock shapes. Lower Antelope Canyon is a popular attraction about 5 miles outside of Page, Arizona.

Ken's tour of lower antelope canyon