Monument Valley 4×4 Tour: Navajo Culture & Backcountry Sites

Step inside a Navajo Hogan to hear stories and songs shared by local guides

A 3.5-hour 4×4 tour of Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park led by a local Navajo guide who shares cultural stories and teachings at backcountry stops including John Ford's Point, Sun's Eye Arch, the Hogan Demonstration, and the Ear of the Wind arch. Bottled water and a professional guide are included. The tour departs from The View Hotel and operates in all weather. Park entrance fee is separate.

Step-by-step itinerary

Monument Valley Cultural 4x4 Tour

• Stop at John Ford’s Point
• Visit Sun’s Eye Arch and see petroglyphs
• Attend Hogan Demonstration
• Explore Big Hogan and take photos
• Visit Ear of the Wind arch
• See Totem Pole and Yei Bi Cheii Monuments
• Photograph North Window viewpoint
• Return to departure point

The experience

The tour starts at John Ford's Point, where John Wayne filmed his westerns, then heads into the backcountry where most of the stops lie. Your Navajo guide drives the 4×4 and stops at Sun's Eye Arch first. You'll stand at a specific angle to look up through the rock formation and understand why it's named that way. Petroglyphs are visible at the same location, and your guide shares stories rooted in personal experience, lore and Navajo teachings passed down through generations.

From there you move to the Big Hogan, a place your guide will suggest for family photos and where you can lie against the rocks and feel their warmth. The Ear of the Wind comes next (it's the largest arch in the park), and your guide will position you at a photogenic spot. You'll also visit the Totem Pole and Yei Bi Cheii Monuments, where you hear the cultural stories behind each one, and finish at the North Window for a different angle on the Mittens and Butte before heading back to The View Hotel.

Each guide tells uniquely different stories drawn from their own experience within Navajo culture, so the details you hear depend on who leads your group. Bottled water comes with the tour. You'll walk on uneven surfaces in the backcountry, and the tour runs in all weather, so dress for the conditions. Arrive at least 15 minutes early at the loading area (about 50 yards west of The View Hotel entrance): tours depart strictly on the hour.

What’s included

• A local Navajo guide who shares cultural stories and teachings at each stop.
• bottled water.
• hand sanitizers available upon request.
• a 4×4 vehicle for the backcountry drive.

Information

Lasts 3h 30m, runs every day at 09:00 and 12:00, from US$ 90 per person, with a live guide in English and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00 and 12:00

GroupUp to 36

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (10 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 9 years): free · Infant (under 3): free

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomeNot recommended with back problems

Operated by MV Dineh Bekeyah Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want a guide who actually knows the land and the culture: a local Navajo guide changes what you learn at each stop, since the stories come from their own experience and the teachings of their community, not a script.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (10 to 17 years); Child (3 to 9 years): free; Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Sun's Eye Arch and why does the tour stop there?

Sun's Eye Arch is a rock formation in the backcountry where you stand at a specific degree to look up through the arch opening and see why it's named for the sun. Petroglyphs are also visible at the same location, and your guide shares stories connected to the site.

Does the tour include entrance to Monument Valley Tribal Park?

The tour does not include the park entrance fee. That's paid separately when you arrive. The 3.5-hour 4×4 drive and guide are included, along with bottled water.

Where do I meet the guide and what time should I arrive?

Tours depart from the loading area in front of The View Hotel, approximately 50 yards west of the main entrance. Arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled departure time. The tour leaves strictly on the hour.

Will I hear Navajo cultural stories during the tour?

Yes, your Navajo guide shares stories and teachings at each stop. The stories come from personal experience, lore, legends and Navajo culture, and each guide tells uniquely different ones, so the details depend on who leads your group.

What should I wear and what if the weather is bad?

The tour operates in all weather conditions, so dress appropriately for rain, wind or sun. You'll walk on uneven surfaces in the backcountry, and the 4×4 handles the terrain.