Taking my wife to Monument Valley in mid-April as she has always wanted to go there. Wants to take a sunrise or sunset tour, so started researching tour guide companies.
Checking the official MV website there are at least 25 tour operators listed. Before researching all of them, thought it might be better to ask here if someone has personal experience with a guide they used and would recommend.
I visited MV last year and stayed at The View Hotel. The best part is that you can shoot sunrise and sunset right from the viewing platform. Also, when I checked in, they gave me a paper which listed all the tour guides we could hire. I believe only approved tribal guides are allowed. Hope this helps.
I've been with Phillips' Tours[url=https://monumentvalley.com/tours/] a couple of times - back when Tom Phillips was alive, then later when Carl was leading tours. They are photographers, unlike some of the other companies who are guides, but don't necessarily know where to be when the best light is.
I will second the recommendation for Phillips' Tours. I did several tours with them, over the course of a few days, including sunrise, Hunt's Mesa overnight, areas surrounding Monument Valley (which are definitely worth viewing), and additional areas not accessible without a guide. An absolutely superb experience, especially the Hunt's Mesa overnight tour. This offers a perspective of Monument Valley that few can enjoy with beautiful sunset and sunrise vistas. This was definitely the highlight my trip. The tour service will also take you to areas within Monument Valley that you would never see unless you had access with a licensed guide.
I also stayed at The View Hotel which is the ideal location for a Monument Valley experience. I agree that the viewing platform at the hotel is nice for sunrise and sunsets but the guided tours within Monument Valley at these times of the day offer a better perspective.
Enjoy your travels.
keepclicking wrote:
I visited MV last year and stayed at The View Hotel. The best part is that you can shoot sunrise and sunset right from the viewing platform. Also, when I checked in, they gave me a paper which listed all the tour guides we could hire. I believe only approved tribal guides are allowed. Hope this helps.
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Monika C wrote:
I've been with Phillips' Tours[url=https://monumentvalley.com/tours/] a couple of times - back when Tom Phillips was alive, then later when Carl was leading tours. They are photographers, unlike some of the other companies who are guides, but don't necessarily know where to be when the best light is.
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aryaah wrote:
I will second the recommendation for Phillips' Tours. I did several tours with them, over the course of a few days, including sunrise, Hunt's Mesa overnight, areas surrounding Monument Valley (which are definitely worth viewing), and additional areas not accessible without a guide. An absolutely superb experience, especially the Hunt's Mesa overnight tour. This offers a perspective of Monument Valley that few can enjoy with beautiful sunset and sunrise vistas. This was definitely the highlight my trip. The tour service will also take you to areas within Monument Valley that you would never see unless you had access with a licensed guide.
I also stayed at The View Hotel which is the ideal location for a Monument Valley experience. I agree that the viewing platform at the hotel is nice for sunrise and sunsets but the guided tours within Monument Valley at these times of the day offer a better perspective.
Enjoy your travels....Show more →
Thanks, all, for your comments - really appreciate it.
My pro photography friends have used Phillips Photo tours in the past.
A heads up. There is a local Phoenix PBS show called Trail Mix'd. They FINALLY got a host who is an outdoors person. Anyway. The first show in season 3 was about Monument Valley. There is a 4 mile round trip hike around the West Mitten that I didn't know about when I was there 7 years ago. We stayed at the View Hotel btw.
And if you stay at Gouldings across the street? There is a .75 mile hike to a 43 foot long 30 foot high arch and the views there are phenomenal.
The host's name is Kristen Keogh. I think you can get the show on Youtube.
AZHeaven wrote:
My pro photography friends have used Phillips Photo tours in the past.
A heads up. There is a local Phoenix PBS show called Trail Mix'd. They FINALLY got a host who is an outdoors person. Anyway. The first show in season 3 was about Monument Valley. There is a 4 mile round trip hike around the West Mitten that I didn't know about when I was there 7 years ago. We stayed at the View Hotel btw.
And if you stay at Gouldings across the street? There is a .75 mile hike to a 43 foot long 30 foot high arch and the views there are phenomenal.
The host's name is Kristen Keogh. I think you can get the show on Youtube....Show more →
