Antelope Canyon X Tour Review 2025: Is It Worth It?

Are you, like your regular person, planning a trip to Arizona, and the remarkable Antelope Canyon is on your radar? Specifically, you’re looking at Antelope Canyon X, right? Well, that can be arranged. It’s arguably the less well-known cousin of the famous Upper and Lower Antelope Canyons. Is this the right choice, very, very, especially with the option to upgrade to the Photo Tour? That is a question with many variables, but this should make your planning a lot easier.

What’s the Deal with Antelope Canyon X?

Antelope Canyon X is basically located on Navajo land. The history has some dark elements to it, which should at least be thought of. Like your visit to a canyon, it begins with respecting the place. It’s important to take care as you step. The ‘X’ marks the spot. Formed over millennia by water cutting through sandstone, it gives us these twisty, turny slot canyons that people seem to enjoy. You know, unlike the other Antelope Canyon options, this part of the canyon is kind of remote. As a matter of fact, it tends to draw slightly fewer people. Some folks say the appeal is pretty strong with that in mind.

So, you get a calmer atmosphere. Instead of bumping elbows with dozens, even hundreds, of tourists, you get to, kind of, take it all in. Plus, the hike is pretty unique because you get two slot canyons. That is just a walk away from each other.

The Standard Hiking Tour: What to Anticipate

Now, that would not be a crazy place to start. Here is what happens on the standard Antelope Canyon X hike, right? Typically, it starts with meeting your Navajo guide. They do this whole drive down to the canyon entrance. That is roughly a fifteen-minute drive in a big vehicle. Actually, the guides are often pretty good. They have some neat info regarding the canyon’s history. And, of course, about the area’s geology. This area holds value for some Navajo people, so they tend to enjoy having tour groups there, as they teach the historical context surrounding its origins.

Basically, you would trek down into the canyon. That’s via a fairly steep, and possibly challenging descent. I mean, there are some stairs and the path is relatively maintained. Just do it, alright? This one would benefit from a fair degree of caution. Very specifically, that could impact people with mobility challenges. That, and little kids are going to face a higher climb that is less likely to cause a problem, and more likely to cause injury.

Inside the canyon, the views can be fairly epic. Actually, the slot canyons are really awesome with the way the sunlight filters through them. It’s often said that It lights up the sandstone walls in amazing colors. Very specifically, hues of orange, red, and purple light it up. You get an hour to actually walk around, with stops for taking images and getting that genuine experience. As I was saying, your guide points out some geological formations and shares stories. Make it fun, that kind of thing.

Upgrading to the Photo Tour: Worth the Extra Dough?

Okay, here comes one of the big questions that can usually be answered by thinking of all things photography related. Photo Tours can provide specific advantages. Specifically, here are some things that are taken care of with your tour guide. In this area, the difference will probably amount to how it fits your particular travel budget, and itinerary. That’s basically how this type of thing plays out, very often.

So, what do these offer, right? Here’s what most places do: fewer people are included in the photo tours. Usually, it provides more room to get clear shots of the locations. These are the best photos, the clearest photos, and, ultimately, are the highest-value additions you could expect. Specifically, that can often mean there are fewer tourists walking on your set. And, that can improve your ability to snap some really quality images.

In a way, some companies do special perks on these type of tours, but keep it quiet, too it’s almost part of the mystique. Anyway, they could let you use tripods, that kind of thing. Also, some companies work with photographers so they know some expert secrets. Actually, it all helps capture photos better. The thing is, it only helps so much if you don’t know basic picture-taking techniques, very much.

The Antelope Canyon X Experience: My Thoughts

From your pal who is also a frequent traveler, Antelope Canyon X is a pretty awesome alternative, very often. You know, if Upper and Lower Antelope Canyons have some kind of roadblock, then X might just become your go-to locale. Very often, the canyon offers awesome rock formations that do what you’d hope, so that alone may get your motor revving.

That can be the key element of why these canyons are popular, as the sunlight does all kinds of cool tricks inside the canyon. A little word of advice? Basically, try visiting during the off-season. Less human activity at that point, that tends to be a plus, that is. I was lucky enough to get there in late fall and it was a pretty big surprise.

For people interested in photography, the photo tour is generally a winner, with almost no exceptions. Very specifically, being able to utilize your tripod makes getting top images that can work for postcards pretty easy. That’s if the conditions work, and the canyon comes out as the main actor in the scene.

Getting There and Other Planning “Must-Knows”

You can take the following as pretty good life advice: Antelope Canyon X is pretty close to Page, Arizona, too it’s almost a blink of an eye. As a matter of fact, if you’re flying, then get yourself over to Flagstaff Pulliam Airport or the slightly larger Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, alright? Either way, the drive to Page may be enjoyable to some degree or another. And you will have to actually drive there, more or less. So be warned, okay?

Basically, when you get to Page, just cruise east on Highway 98. You might see signage that is kind of hard to notice from some angles, anyway. It’ll be on the south side of the road at the entrance to the canyon.

The canyon isn’t located inside a state park or some public type of land that would involve public administration, very generally. It is private land that must be respected. Be certain that all permits have been attained for the canyon so the Navajo Nation can retain sovereignty, so to speak. And the permits are used to take care of any impacts from tourism.

Consider booking your tour well beforehand. Those sell out very fast. Try checking availability on these things as they’re popular things, after all. Check weather, too, if rain shows up, you don’t want to walk right into the canyon at that point, do you?

Bring some water, the desert is very hot. Especially if it’s Arizona during summer. Okay? Very obviously.

Read our full review: Antelope Canyon X tour Full Review and Details
See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Antelope Canyon X)