Navajo-Guided Monument Valley Tours Expand Backcountry and Air Experiences

Ear of the Wind, Anasazi ruins, and Sun's Eye Arch sit beyond the reach of any rental car. Those restricted backcountry areas of Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park are accessible only with an authorized Navajo guide, and Adventurous Monument Valley Tours expanded its capacity to put visitors there ahead of the spring high season.

The company, based at Indian Rte 42 in Oljato-Monument Valley and part of The Adventurous Group, a Navajo-owned collection of travel operators across the Four Corners region, announced the expansion on April 1. The move adds backcountry 4×4 slots and coordinates them with aerial tours through Antelope Air, a sister company operating out of Page, AZ.

The backcountry itineraries push well past John Ford's Point, the panoramic overlook most visitors already know, and into terrain that requires private Navajo land access. Stops include Ear of the Wind arch, Big Hogan, Totem Pole, and Anasazi petroglyphs and ruins. The photography focus is deliberate: itineraries are built around dedicated stops timed for composition rather than quick drive-bys, and the company specifically positions the expanded product toward photographers and small groups.

Paired with the ground tours, Antelope Air's Monument Valley flight departs from Page Airport and covers a significantly wider footprint, sweeping over Mitchell Butte, Cathedral Canyon, Rainbow Bridge, and the San Juan River in a single run. The combination turns what most visitors experience as a single-dimensional landscape into a layered one, with the aerial leg covering geographic ground that no 4×4 route can match for sheer scale.

"As Navajo guides, we share the stories, traditions, and meaning behind these sacred lands," the company said in the announcement. "Our goal is to create a connection that stays with them long after their visit."

The Adventurous Group operates as a Navajo-owned enterprise, and the expansion is framed around strengthening local guide economies while capturing higher-spend visitors who have historically needed to coordinate multi-operator logistics on their own. Multi-modal pairings, combining a backcountry 4×4 tour with an aerial flight, are now available as coordinated bookings rather than separate reservations cobbled together across companies.

A few operational details matter before booking. Drone flights are restricted on Navajo Nation lands, and pets may be prohibited in some areas. Certain backcountry roads legally require a certified Navajo guide, which is precisely what gives these tours access to terrain no self-guided route can legally reach. Permit requirements and cultural protocols should be confirmed at the time of booking.

Adventurous Monument Valley Tours can be reached at 928-418-5665. Antelope Air's Page office, which handles the aerial Monument Valley flights, is at 238 10th Avenue in Page at 928-660-1007.