Monument Valley Backcountry Guided Tour
Travel Monument Valley’s restricted backcountry with Navajo guides in a rugged safari vehicle
Duration
2.5 hours
Includes
Backcountry access, scenic stops
Highlights
Explore Monument Valley’s backcountry on a 28-mile route accessible only with an approved tour company and Navajo tour guides. Ride in a safari vehicle made for rough terrain while your guide shares a musical performance.
The Navajo Hogan visit and rug weaving demonstration are not included. Routes may change due to road or weather conditions.
- See West and East Mitten Buttes, Three Sisters, and John Ford Point
- Discover Sleeping Dragon, Moccasin Arch, Sun's Eye, Totem Pole, and North Window
- Ride through restricted backcountry in a safari vehicle built for rough terrain
- Hear a musical performance from your guide
What's Included
- Safari vehicle ride
- Musical performance from your guide
Important details
- Arrive 15 minutes early at The View Hotel loading area
- If staying overnight at KOA Campground, arrive 30 minutes early in front of the KOA office
- KOA Campground meeting is available to KOA customers only
- A $10 per-person Tribal Park pass is required and not included in the listed price; bring your pass receipt
- Car seats are required for children ages 2 and under; bring a car seat
Cancellation Policy
Full refund with 72 hours' notice. Full refund if the operator cancels due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances. No-shows are charged in full.
Product ID: TGN26G
FAQs
Arrive 15 minutes early at The View Hotel (outside in front of the lobby at the tour guide loading area). If you depart from KOA Campground, meet 30 minutes early in front of the KOA office.
No. The KOA Campground pickup is for KOA customers only.
The Navajo Nation observes daylight savings time. From March 8 to November 1, 2026, plan to leave one hour earlier if you are traveling from Arizona.
Meeting details
The View Hotel
More about Monument Valley
Monument Valley rises from the high desert floor like a gallery of ancient sculptures, its towering sandstone buttes glowing crimson against the wide Arizona-Utah sky. This sacred landscape sits within the Navajo Nation, and its iconic silhouettes have shaped the imagination of generations through countless Western films and photographs. A backcountry tour reveals a side of Monument Valley that most visitors never see, taking you beyond the standard scenic drive and into hidden corners reachable only with a Navajo guide. The land here is more than scenery, it is a living cultural landscape where every spire and arch carries a story.
The journey through Monument Valley unfolds slowly, with stops at sweeping viewpoints, narrow canyons, and ancient petroglyph panels etched into the rock by ancestral hands. You will stand beneath natural arches, hear traditional Navajo songs echo off canyon walls, and feel the cool shade of alcoves where the sandstone curves overhead like a cathedral ceiling. Your guide shares stories passed down through generations, pointing out formations tied to Navajo legend and explaining how the People have lived in harmony with this land for centuries. The contrast between the open desert vistas and the intimate, tucked-away sites is what makes a backcountry experience in Monument Valley so memorable, each turn brings a new perspective on a place you thought you already knew.
This tour is perfect for travelers who want a deeper, more personal connection to the American Southwest, photographers chasing light and shadow on the red rock, and anyone curious about Navajo culture and history. Families, couples, and solo adventurers will all find something to love in Monument Valley, especially those willing to trade a quick photo stop for a richer, slower encounter. Come ready to listen, look closely, and let the quiet immensity of Monument Valley leave its mark on you.
