Phoenix to Antelope: Breathtaking Slot Canyon Journey

Short Verdict - 5/5 stars About Us - We are a couple from Illinois visiting the Arizona/Utah area for the first time. If you are debating whether to book this tour because of the price tag—just do it. We had the same hesitation, but by the end of the excursion we felt it was money well spent. Experience - This tour hits the absolute unique highlights of the Southwest (barring the Grand Canyon) in a single day, Horseshoe Bend: Standing at the edge looking down at the Colorado River is a core memory now. The sheer scale of the drop and the contrast of the emerald green water against the massive red rock walls is breathtaking. Antelope Canyon: Walking through the narrow sandstone walls was surreal. The way the light filters down, revealing the wave-like textures and shifting colors of the rock, is magical. It requires some squeezing and climbing, but it makes you feel like an explorer. It is not difficult but also not walking on a flat surface, so do bring your walking shoes! Navajo Culture: One of the most meaningful parts was interacting with the local Native Americans. We stopped at a spot where we could buy authentic souvenirs directly from the locals. Logistics - The ticket via Detours was all-inclusive. It covered our pickup/drop-off, breakfast, lunch, unlimited water, and all entry fees. Timing: It is a long day (approx. 5 AM to 7 PM), but the van was comfortable (we were a small group of 9). Crowds: Going right after Thanksgiving worked out for the better for us. Crowd was minimal and we had ample time for good photographs! Staff - Mark Lane was our guide/chief for the day. He set the gold standard for what a tour guide should be. He managed the group perfectly, reading the room and accommodating everyone’s needs. For the ladies: My wife specifically appreciated that Mark prioritized stops with very clean, hygienic restrooms—a huge plus on a long road trip! The Vibe: He kept the mood light with great jokes, fun facts, and fascinating stories about the geology and history of the area. Note to Detours Management: Give Mark a raise! He is an absolute asset to your team. Tip - Bring some cash for souvenirs to support the local Native American artists My take - If you are contemplating about whether to book the tour or not, go ahead and do it. We did the same and we do not regret it at all. You will visit some of the most stunning places on earth and also have a well planned schedule to manage your day. Sit back, relax and let Detours handle all the planning and execution! You are in good hands!

Our day started bright and early, and the team was right on time for pickup — always a great start! Once everyone was on board, we made a quick stop for breakfast, which was a nice touch before heading out on the road. Our guide, Mike, was absolutely fantastic. He was so knowledgeable about the different types of rocks, the history of Arizona, and the Native cultures of the region. I learned so much and enjoyed every moment of it. Both Lower Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend were breathtaking. Mike went above and beyond to make the experience special, especially at Horseshoe Bend — he took the best photos of our group and somehow managed to capture the entire bend perfectly with us in the shot!We stopped at the Bird House for lunch, and it did not disappoint — some of the best chicken I’ve had in a long time. All in all, the day was perfectly organized, filled with beautiful sights, great food, and amazing company. I’ll definitely be back to join them for the Grand Canyon tour next time!

Worth the time! Hahn with Detours took great care with our entire experience from pick up at 520 am to drop off at 8 pm. There are plentiful bathroom breaks, water, breakfast and lunch are provided. And Antelope Canyon is truly awe inspiring. Take clothes that can be layered and a hat if possible. It helps to be very mobile. Horseshoe bend and lower Antelope canyon involve a good amount of slow walking. And it is helpful to be sure footed for safety. I hate lots of time in cars on vacation but the huge sprinter van was SO COMFORTABLE. And Hahn was so professional and helpful with keeping us on schedule. I highly recommend this epic experience.

Thank you Detours American West for the one-day Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon trip! The pick up was smooth, the van was comfortable (in the future, please make sure that each SB ports under the passenger seats works! Some of us need to charge our phones after constantly taking mesmerizing pictures), and our guide Hyun was attentive, fun, and caring. I love how informative and entertaining the guide at the Antelope Canyon (Archie) too. Detours' choice of restaurant for lunch was also excellent!

Long drive but worth it. The guide is very knowledgeable and informative. The meal arrangements are good.

Full day tour from Scottsdale for sure! Good communications from the tour company called Detour Tours. Our driver was Mark. The shuttle bus was very roomy, newer and comfortable. We received our meeting location and needed to be there by 530am and did not return until about 8pm. We went in July, so very hot. I recommend dressing in light clothing, sunscreen, lightweight hiking shoes, and a hat, but also have a lightweight pullover to protect from sun or use on the bus if you get cold. Did this tour with my wife and 15yr old daughter. Bring snacks that won't melt and extra water. Even though the tour provided water, it was warmer. We stopped for breakfast and our first break at McDonalds, about an hour into our drive. It is nice that breakfast was included, but we would have preferred a local place/busines, as McDonalds is not our thing. It then took about another 2.5+ hours to reach horseshoe bend. Mark did extensive narration on the state, area, and scenary around us on the ride. He is very passionate and knowledgeable. They pay the entry into Horseshoe Bend which is per vehicle. We had 1 hour to explore on our own. It is about a ten minute walk to the bend along a dirt path. The walk is slightly downhill so allow for about fifteen minutes to walk back. The bend is really nice and allows for great photos. There is a railing area where most people congregate, and you can then walk along an adjacent area of large rocks to get away from everyone and take your own photos. There are no railings in these adjacent areas, so these areas are not for children or people who are afraid of heights. Our next spot stop was Lower Antelope Canyon, which is only about 10 minutes from Horseshoe Bend. Mark was able to move up our tour time in antelope, which was nice. The walk from the meeting area to the Canyon entry takes about ten minutes. Most of this walk is slightly downhill in sand and/or rocks covered in sand so it could be slippery. The descent into the canyon was 5-6 flights via metal stairs. One of these flights is a tight ladder style. The Canyon is beautiful and unique. You've likely never seen anything like it. Our local guide took 15 of us in. They moved w/ us throughout, pointing out the best photo areas, of which there are many. The floor of the canyon is all sand and rock. There are some very tight skinny areas to maneuver and more shorter flights of stairs throughout the ascent to the top. Some areas required single step movement as the terrain was only the width of a shoe. Some minimal bending and ducking to avoid rocks along the way. The point is you can be out of shape, but you should have good balance and mobility. It takes about 30ish minutes to move through the canyon with enough pace to keep moving, but to also enjoy the scenery and take photos. We had someone in our group who was out of shape and under hydrated so she needed more rest breaks, so it took us closer to an hour. After Antelope we went to lunch, which is in downtown Page and about 15 minutes away. The restaurant was a local and they have amazimg chicken. Downside is it is quite rundown, with one bathroom, and we had to sit outside. They had misters, which made it tolerable, but the flies, we're a bit extra. So, the the restaurant itself is not very comfortable. Mark gave us the option to eat on the bus but based on the meal, that wasn't a great option, since you will want to wash your hands after eating and use the bathroom bfore the long ride back. Recommendations next time for this company is to use the very nice looking local brewery across the street. After a long day driving and being outside, eating inside in the A/C would have been nice. From Page we made a quick stop at Glen Canyon damn which was cool to see. From here buckle up for the long 4 hour ride home. Mark did great. Played good music. Did some narrating where needed but mostly stayed quiet to let everyone rest. Be warned, there our minimal bathroom stops along the way. So if you need to go tell him right away as it could, then very easily be another 30-40+ minutes for the next place to stop. We got beat up by the sun on the right side of the bus, so the cover-up helped with that. There was an amazing sunset to the right and full moon to the left just before coming into Scottsdale, which was a great ending to a long day. I definitely i would recommend this tour, although, from Scottsdale, it is not for those who can't ride in a vehicle for long periods of time. I wouldn't recommend taking children under 10 or so.

Very tiring trip but it was worth it. The view at horseshoe bend and antelope canyon definitely worth sitting in the car for more than 10 hours.

This trip was a long day but seeing Antelope Canyon was worth it. You're definitely gonna be in the van for a good chunk of the day but there are plenty of stops for the restroom or food.

Our guide, Nathan, was very knowledgable about what we were seeing as we travelled to Page, AZ. He made enough stops so we had time to stretch our legs or use the facilities. The 12 passenger bus was clean and comfortable.

I had a wonderful experience with Detours. Not only was the itinerary great, the customer service was impeccable. Communication from the time of booking to tour start was on point. And our guide Hans really customized his approach to the group of us that were on the tour. He was relatable and funny and very engaging. I highly recommend this tour.