Private Tour
3 hour Private Canyon Tour
Overview
Available languages
3 hours
Mobile ticket
Canyon de Chelly National Monument has over 2,700 archaeologcal sites located in the heart of the Navajo Nation. Guests will see prehistoric ruins, rock art such as petroglyphs and pictographs. Rock formations, fauna and floral provides a perfect backdrop to your tour.
At each site you will hear the symbolic interpretations of petroglyphs and rock art, occupation dates, archaeology and associated prehistoric and historic events of the canyon and its inhabitants including associated oral histories.
All guides are Navajo and have strong ties to the canyon and will provide you with an experience that will last a lifetime.
Additional Info
Service animals allowed
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Canyon de Chelly National Monument
Along the route, you may see such sites as: Kokopelli Cave featuring varous pictographs. Newspaper Rock featuring various petroglyph panels. Petroglyph Rock featuring various petroglyph panels. First Ruin featuring a prehistoric Puebloan ruin. Junction Ruin featuring a prehistoric Puebloan ruin. *White House Ruin featuring the iconic ruin. *Ledge Ruin in Canyon del Muerto featuring Puebloan ruins and rock art. *Tour time largely depends on canyon conditions. If guests linger longer than recommended at each site along the tour route, including browsing arts and crafts with vendors in the canyon, the guide will have to skip sites to stay on time. **NOTE: extended tour times may be available for an additional fee. Contact for pricing and availability.
What‘s Included
Sanitation fee
Lunch
Bottled water
Gratuities
Backcountry permit fee paid in Cash to the Navajo Parks and Rec.
Pickup points
Best Western Canyon De Chelly Inn
100 Main St, Chinle United States
Holiday Inn Canyon De Chelly by IHG
Bia Route 7-Garcia Trading Post Chinle United States
Options
3 hour Private Canyon Tour
Pickup included
Reviews
285 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Exceptional!
Andrea P,Mar 29, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Our g Delvonnia really brought out the interwoven fabric of the people and the land. She communicated exceptionally well, shared her knowledge of geology, and shared stories of her cultural experiences. We are grateful.
Great Trip
Tom C,Mar 23, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Great overview of the canyon and its history. Our guide Chanz was great. Was glad we took the trip. Would recommend
Well worth the cost of a private tour
davemB7061YQ,Mar 15, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I had a great tour. I booked the private tour and my guide, Percy, was great. He is my age - 67 - so I understood the broader context for the stories he told about growing up. His grandmother, who lived to be 103, was very important in his life and he did a wonderful job channeling her experiences and perspectives about the changes she saw over her lifetime. It felt like I was sitting at her feet at times. There is an enourmous amount to see in the Canyon, but at the end of the day the thing I will take with me from the tour was the extended conversation I had with Percy.
Tourism with beauty and meaning.
F8305UHtonya,Mar 13, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Outstanding on every level. Guide was awesome. Education on culture and relation to the land was as important as the scenery. Can't go wrong with Irene and this operation.
Beautiful historical area that could not been seen or told about unless taking this your. Remote & private land/area. Petroglyph
jkX4997TW,Feb 12, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Excellent guide knew much about the historical area. I felt secure & confident in the hands of our guide & 4-wheel drive vehicle- a MUST! The surroundings & topography was spiritual, invigorating, & beautiful. I thoroughly enjoyed my tour.
Canyon floor
GrandTour508098,Jan 20, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Percy was great, knowledgeable, good story teller, a fun time. Had so much history to share
Fantastic tour of the canyon floor with a wonderful guide
thechronictraveller,Jan 16, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00To me, touring the canyon floor is a must. It's a completely different scenery than just driving along the rim. We were fortunate enough to get paired with Irene as our guide. She made the entire tour so incredibly memorable--I'd highly recommend asking for her. As we drove through different sites, she regaled us with stories of growing up in the canyon, giving a very unique perspective. Because it was just a group of 3 of us in the Jeep, she also customised our routing based on what we were most interested in seeing. That involved a lot of petroglyphs and old cliff dwellings. Note that the Jeep is raised, so people with mobility issues might be challenged getting in. I have a bad back, and certainly the driving on the canyon floor made that worse. But that is part of the adventure. As for walking, you can do as little or as much as you want, just let the guide know. The price is set by the hour, with a 3-hour minimum. It's high for one person, but when you split among 3 (just right for one Jeep) it's reasonable.
Stunning tour of scenery and history
Jessica C,Jan 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Endless gratitude to Jason our guide for all his knowledge and generosity with his time and personal history. We are extremely inquisitive and he welcomed every question with good humor. It was surreal to be in the canyon all alone for hours without seeing a single other tour - truly a magical time to be here in the quiet season with such beautiful, chilly, sunny weather. Jason's deep family ties to the canyon and his wealth of wisdom about the archaeology, as well as Diné language and culture, made our visit incredibly special. I've dreamed of coming to the region for my whole life and seeing it through his eyes was a true privilege.
THIS IS A DON’T MISS TOUR!
TikiTom1,Dec 12, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This is a truly unforgettable tour. All the other 5 star ratings are spot on. Our guide Percy grew up around the canyon and some close relatives lived in the Canyon. He brought the canyon to life with his family stories and history. He knew every inch of the canyon. Things you could easily miss, he brought to our attention, usually with a closeup using our camera. Some of the roads are rather rough at times, so I would go easy on breakfast!
off season visit
D2177FVandrewm,Dec 9, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00In December the canyon was almost empty, allowing photgraphy without waiting for the masses to dissipate. Our guide, Jason, was really knowledgeable, taught us a lot, and was patient with our dumb questions. This canyon is sacred to the Navajo, and you can feel and see why. Oh, and we saw a heard of wild horses up close
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Operated by Canyon de Chelly Tours