Antelope Canyon - questions!

I%26#39;m having a little trouble figuring out just what%26#39;s what for Antelope Canyon! Help :-)

Is there any difference in tour operators? I%26#39;m looking for one that consistently uses more comfortable vehicles. Is the road a true (rough) 4x4 road, or just dirt/gravel? Are people allowed to drive into where the canyon is and then take the tour?

How many people usually go on a tour in the spring?

Once in the canyon, can a decent amateur get shots anywhere near the quality of the ones I find on the tour ad sites, or is it too dark?

I have figured out we%26#39;d only be interested in the Upper Canyon, no climbing ladders.

Antelope Canyon - questions!

Not sure about the different tour operators. But we just drove into the area, up to the little hut, and paid for our tour right there. From there, you are driven maybe a mile to the canyon, you get out of the back of the truck and walk through the canyon. So I wouldn%26#39;t bother booking a tour that originates in Page. the tour guides are native Americans and are very knoledgeable, both about the canyon and about taking pictures inside.

the ';road'; isn%26#39;t really a road -- it is along a dry river bed.

I%26#39;m not sure how many people would be on the tour, but there are groups going in all day. We happened to get there at the same time as a tour bus full of people, so there were quite a few.

As far as the quality of pictures, check out my album of pictures from Last April (I am very much an amateur, with only a point and shoot digital camera.

share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome…

Antelope Canyon - questions!

Oh, thank you! That is just the kind of information I needed :-)

I had wondered if we could drive the 4x4 pickup up near the canyon. What about ';wait times';, since one needs a guide?

Point and shoot - no tripod?

We only had to wait maybe 15 minutes. they try to get groups up there on the hour.

No, I didn%26#39;t use a tripod at all. It can get kind of tricky taking pictures because of all the curving surfaces. Lots of pictures are not very well focused because of that. So make sure you take lots of pictures. You also can%26#39;t use a flash because the light will just bounce all around. But the guides are really very good about helping you set up shots.

Great, thanks again!

We had to wait 45 minutes at the hut and that was sept. 25 last year. We arrived 11 am. Some people even waited longer. Much confusion. 12 people per truck. Guides were very knowledgeable and friendly though and a great help with the photos. In the canyon it was a mess. People stumbling over each other, photographers lying on the canyonfloor taking pictures and other people fell over them. There should be a restriction on tripods but there is none. They are all over the place and I don%26#39;t think you%26#39;ll need one.

Next time (if there is one) we would take a guided tour from Page and avoid waiting time. You can be picked up from your hotel by Ray Tsosie, www.AntelopeSlotCanyonTours.com or from the corner of Dam Plaza next to the Pizza Hut by Carolene Ekis www.antelopecanyon.com

Hope there will be a day that photoshooting is prohibited for some hours and really enjoy this great place. We already went to Antelope some 15 years ago. Big difference re crowds.

But maybe you are lucky H-B and maybe waitingtime will be shorter as Mike said.

Tet

Tet, thanks for additional input :-)

I have fairly severe arthritis in my back, so part of the reason for the transportation questions is that rough bumping bothers me a lot. If we drive ourselves, we can go slowly if necessary to make it smoother.

All the websites I read say a ';tripod is a must';, so there%26#39;s your answer! I do carry one always, but I hate to clog up narrow walkways, so was hoping to get away without using it. Sounds as if I can. I had considered a ';photo shoot'; tour, but I%26#39;m not a pro (yet!) and like to do and see other things too.

So will just see what happens and go with it!

The drive from Page to the parkinglot is a smooth drive. The only bumpy (not that bad) part for both the tours from Page as from the hut is from the parkinglot to the entrance of the canyon.

Have fun H-B and a tripreport is appreciated.

Tet