Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend from Sedona: 11.5-hour day trip

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Travelers' pick

1/6

Duration11h 30m

GroupUp to 12

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

Red rock slot canyons and river views in one long day from Sedona

You get picked up from your Sedona hotel before dawn, drive through Oak Creek Canyon, hike to Horseshoe Bend's river overlook, walk through the narrow slot canyon at Upper Antelope with a guide, and stop at Cameron Trading Post for lunch on your own. The full day is 11.5 hours, with walking on uneven terrain throughout, and you're back at your hotel by early evening.

11h 30m

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend

Travel through Oak Creek Canyon
Stop at Cameron Trading Post
Hike to Horseshoe Bend viewpoint
Tour Upper Antelope Canyon
Enjoy scenic views along route

The Experience

Light cuts through narrow red walls 120 feet above, and you're standing in Upper Antelope Canyon watching it shift across the sandstone. The slot canyon is only a few feet wide in places, carved smooth by water over millennia, and the beams that filter down are why photographers camp here for hours. You'll walk the uneven canyon floor for about 90 minutes with a professional guide who knows where to stand and when, then head back out into the Arizona sun. The whole day moves fast — pickup from your Sedona hotel around 6am, and you don't stop moving until the drive back starts around 5:30pm.

Before Antelope Canyon, you pass through Oak Creek Canyon, a 16-mile gorge with red walls rising on both sides and the road cutting right through it. Then comes Horseshoe Bend, a three-quarter mile hike just outside Page that ends at a viewpoint overlooking the Colorado River looping back on itself 1,200 feet below. It's the kind of view that makes you understand why people drive hours to stand there. You'll have time to walk it, take photos, and catch your breath before moving on. The Cameron Trading Post is a break stop on the way back — a historic spot where you can grab lunch on your own and stretch your legs.

This tour requires real walking on uneven, unpaved terrain, and the pace doesn't slow down for lingering. You need to be comfortable on your feet for the full 11.5 hours, and layers matter because the canyon stays cool even when the desert outside is hot. Bring water (bottled water is included), good sneakers, and a camera — the light in Antelope Canyon is the whole reason people book this. Kids as young as six can go, but they need to keep up with the group, and anyone with back problems or cardiovascular concerns should skip it. The tour runs Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday only.

What’s included

Hotel pickup and drop-off from Sedona (city limits only), professional guide, entry to Upper Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend hike, Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell views, Cameron Trading Post stop, and bottled water. Lunch is not included but time is provided to eat on your own.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Great Venture Tours

Is this one for you?Right for travelers based in Sedona who want both slot canyon and river views in one day without renting a car or navigating the drive themselves. Plan for a full 11.5 hours on your feet with 90 minutes of walking on uneven canyon terrain — that's what fits three major stops into a single day.