Private Wupatki and Sunset Crater Tour from Phoenix

Wupatki and Sunset Crater tour: volcanic sites, pueblo, and Northern Arizona Museum visit

A private tour from Phoenix to Wupatki National Monument and Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, with an expert guide, air-conditioned vehicle and small group sizes. Walk the ruins of the Sinagua pueblo at Wupatki, featuring over 100 rooms built from local sandstone, then explore the self-guided loop trail around Sunset Crater's unique cinder cone. The route also includes the Museum of Northern Arizona, founded in 1928 to preserve the region's natural and cultural heritage.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Wupatki National Monument2h · entry included
2. Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument1h 30m · entry included
3. Museum of Northern Arizona1h 30m · entry included

Explore Wupatki and Sunset Crater

• Visit Wupatki National Monument ruins
• Explore northernmost ballcourt
• Visit Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
• Walk self-guided loop trail
• Explore Sunset Crater visitor centre

The experience

Nine to ten hours gives you time to move through three distinct stops without rushing. The tour starts with Wupatki National Monument, where the Sinagua people built a pueblo called Wupatki, meaning "Tall House" in Hopi, with over 100 rooms and a community space constructed from Moenkopi sandstone and mortar. The walls are remarkably preserved, and the site includes the northernmost ballcourt in North America. Red-rock outcroppings frame the prairie landscape, and the guide walks you through the layout and daily life of the ancient inhabitants.

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument sits within the San Francisco Volcanic Field, a protected cinder cone with a self-guided loop trail around its base. The visitor centre provides context for the volcano's formation and the area's geology. A public outcry in the 1920s saved the monument from destruction, and it remains one of the few cinder cones accessible to visitors in this region. You walk the trail at your own pace while the guide explains the volcanic history and the landscape's role in Sinagua settlement patterns.

The Museum of Northern Arizona, founded in 1928, rounds out the cultural side of the day. It holds rotating exhibitions on the Colorado Plateau's natural and cultural heritage, with research collections and conservation work that document the region's history. The museum is an accredited member of the American Alliance of Museums. Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle connects all three stops, and bottled water is provided throughout the day. Your guide speaks English and tailors the pace to the group's interests.

What’s included

• Your tour includes private air-conditioned transportation from Phoenix.
• an expert guide speaking English.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• and all fees and taxes for entry to the monuments and museum.

Options for this experience

2 options

Group 1-3Up to 3 per booking · Guide in English · 12 departure times: the first at 04:30, the last at 10:00Group of 1-3 with pickup included

Private Wupatki and Sunset Crater Monument tour from PhoenixUp to 5 per booking · Guide in English · 12 departure times: the first at 04:30, the last at 10:00Includes pickup

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day12 departure times: the first at 04:30, the last at 10:00

Book up to4h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Audio guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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 yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by BARBIL TOURS

Is this one for you?Book the private option if you want to set your own pace at the ruins and ask your guide detailed questions about the Sinagua archaeology without waiting for a larger group to move on.

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Top questions

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 can I see at Wupatki pueblo that makes it different from other Sinagua ruins?

Wupatki pueblo contains over 100 rooms and a community space, making it one of the largest Sinagua settlements. The site also features the northernmost ballcourt in North America, a structure rarely found this far north, and the walls are built from local Moenkopi sandstone with mortar still visible after centuries.

Is there hiking involved in this tour, or can I stay on level ground?

Wupatki involves walking through the pueblo ruins on relatively level terrain. Sunset Crater offers a self-guided loop trail around the base of the volcano that you walk at your own pace. The guide accompanies the group but does not lead a strenuous hike. The Museum of Northern Arizona is indoors.

How far is this tour from Phoenix, and how much of the day is spent driving?

The monuments are located north of Phoenix in the San Francisco Volcanic Field, roughly 30 miles from the city. With nine to ten hours total, the itinerary balances driving time with time spent at each site. Your guide manages the route to maximize your time at the ruins and volcano.

What is the Museum of Northern Arizona, and why is it part of this tour?

The Museum of Northern Arizona, founded in 1928, preserves the natural and cultural heritage of the Colorado Plateau through research, collections, and rotating exhibitions. It provides historical context for the Sinagua people and the region's volcanic geology, deepening your understanding of the sites you visited earlier in the day.

Will I have time to explore on my own, or is the guide directing every stop?

The tour is personalized to small group sizes, so the guide adjusts the pace and time spent at each location based on your interests. Sunset Crater includes a self-guided loop trail you walk independently, and the Museum of Northern Arizona allows time to browse the exhibitions at your own speed.