What to Expect on a Monument Valley Sunrise Tour

Watching the sunrise in Monument Valley is spectacular on its own, but a sunrise photography tour takes you beyond the classic viewpoints and into parts of the park that you can only visit with a Navajo guide.

On our first trip to Monument Valley, Tim and I booked a sunrise photography tour with Phillips Photography Tours. We started well before sunrise, drove into the Monument Valley backcountry, and photographed the Totem Pole, sand dunes, arches, and other locations that aren’t accessible on the public Valley Drive.

Was the sunrise tour worth it? For us, absolutely. We love photography, and getting into the backcountry during the best morning light was one of the highlights of our visit. You don’t need to take a tour simply to watch the sunrise in Monument Valley, but if photography is important to you or you want to see more than the standard viewpoints, this is a fantastic experience.

In this guide, we cover what to expect on a Monument Valley sunrise photography tour, what to bring, where you may go, and whether it is worth the very early wake-up call.

The Essentials

LOCATION | Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park

HOW TO VISIT | With a Navajo guide for access to restricted backcountry areas

TOUR LENGTH | About 3 to 4 hours, depending on the tour and operator

START TIME | Before sunrise. Exact departure times vary throughout the year.

WHAT YOU MAY SEE | The Totem Pole, sand dunes, arches, and other backcountry photography locations

BEST FOR | Photographers and travelers who want to explore beyond the Valley Drive

TIME ZONE | Monument Valley is on Navajo Nation land and observes Daylight Saving Time, unlike most of Arizona. Double-check the local time before setting your alarm.

Table of Contents

What Is a Monument Valley Sunrise Tour Like?

A Monument Valley sunrise tour starts before dawn, with a Navajo guide driving you into areas of the park that are not accessible on the public Valley Drive. The goal is to reach one of the best photography locations before sunrise, then continue through the backcountry as the morning light changes.

On our tour, we left well before sunrise and headed first toward the Totem Pole, one of Monument Valley’s most recognizable rock formations. We arrived while it was still dark, set up our cameras, and watched the landscape slowly brighten as the sun came up.

From there, the tour continued deeper into the backcountry. We stopped at sand dunes, arches, and several other photography locations, with plenty of time to get out of the vehicle and take photos. The exact itinerary can vary depending on the guide, weather, road conditions, and the light that morning.

One of the biggest advantages of taking a sunrise tour is that you are not simply standing at one viewpoint waiting for the sun to come up. You get access to quieter parts of Monument Valley during some of the best light of the day, and a knowledgeable guide can help you get to the right places at the right time.

You do not need to book a tour just to watch sunrise in Monument Valley. You can get beautiful sunrise views from the area around The View Hotel and the Visitor Center. But to visit restricted backcountry locations such as the Totem Pole area, you need to go with a Navajo guide.

For us, that backcountry access is what made the tour worthwhile.

Our Monument Valley Sunrise Photography Tour

Here are some of the photos that we took during the sunrise photography tour.

Waiting for our first glimpse of the sun.

First rays of sunlight

Totem Pole and sand ripples

Ear of the Wind

Our tour group

Petroglyphs

Suns Eye

Moccasin Arch

What to Bring on a Monument Valley Sunrise Tour

Sunrise in Monument Valley can be surprisingly cold, especially when you are standing still waiting for the light to change. Even if the daytime forecast looks warm, bring more layers than you think you will need.

We hadn’t anticipated how chilly it would be. Tim and I took this tour in early May, and it was 32°F that morning. I bought a sweatshirt at the The View Hotel the day before our tour, knowing I’d need an extra layer to help keep me warm. Even in summer, don’t underestimate how cool the mornings in Monument Valley can be. I wish I had brought gloves…my hands were freezing!

Lens cloth or blower: Fine desert sand gets everywhere, so it is useful to have something for quickly cleaning your lens.
Camera and lenses: A wide-angle lens is useful for landscapes, while a moderate telephoto gives you more options for isolating formations such as the Totem Pole.
Tripod: Highly recommended for the low-light period before and around sunrise, especially if you want to use slower shutter speeds.
Extra batteries: Cold temperatures can drain batteries faster than usual, so bring at least one spare and keep extras somewhere warm.
Warm layers: A jacket, hat, and gloves can make a big difference before sunrise. Dress in layers so you can shed them as the morning warms up.
Sturdy shoes: You may be walking on sand, rock, and uneven terrain at photography stops.
Water and a snack: Tours last several hours and usually begin long before breakfast.
Headlamp or small flashlight: Helpful while setting up camera gear in the dark.

Photo Gear

Travel Photography Gear Guide: What’s In Our Camera Bag

Find out what’s in our camera bag.

Phillips Photography Tours: Our Experience

We used Phillips’ Photography Tours because they get stellar reviews on Trip Advisor.

Our guide was Ray. He was full of interesting stories and knew all of the best angles and locations to take the photos. If you need help, he can help you with camera settings and composing your shots.

On our tour there were only two other photographers, so we had a very small group. With only three of us taking photos, we were not in the way of each other like other groups were. We saw other tours with as many as ten people, all trying to get that same shot.

Is a Monument Valley Sunrise Tour Worth It?

For us, yes. The sunrise photography tour was one of the highlights of our visit to Monument Valley.

What made it special wasn’t simply watching the sunrise. You can do that without taking a tour. The real value was getting into the backcountry before and just after sunrise, when the light was at its best, and photographing places that we could not visit on our own.

On a photography tour, you have more time to compose your shots, wait for the light to change, and photograph locations such as the Totem Pole, sand dunes, and arches without feeling rushed. A Navajo guide also means you can reach places off-limits to independent visitors.

That said, we don’t think a sunrise tour is essential for everyone. If this is your first visit to Monument Valley and you only have a few hours, we would prioritize the Valley Drive, the viewpoints around The View Hotel, and Forrest Gump Point. You can still have an incredible Monument Valley experience without booking a sunrise tour.

We think the tour is most worthwhile if you:

love landscape photography,
have at least half a day to devote to the experience,
want to explore beyond the Valley Drive, or
have already seen the classic Monument Valley viewpoints and want something more immersive.

If photography is only a small part of your trip, you may be just as happy watching sunrise from The View and spending the rest of your time exploring Monument Valley on your own.

Our take: The sunrise itself is beautiful, but the backcountry access is what makes this tour special. For photographers and travelers who want a deeper Monument Valley experience, we think it is well worth the early wake-up call.

Plan Your Monument Valley & Southwest Trip

Want more ideas for Arizona? → Our Arizona Travel Guide brings together our road trip itineraries, national parks, hiking guides, and favorite places to visit throughout the state.
Looking for another unique Monument Valley experience? → Read about our Teardrop Arch tour, a guided hike into a quieter part of Monument Valley with a very different perspective from the Valley Drive.
Have extra time near Monument Valley? → Valley of the Gods is a scenic 17-mile drive through buttes and mesas just north of Monument Valley, with far fewer visitors.
Planning a bigger road trip? → Our 10-Day American Southwest Itinerary connects Monument Valley with the Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion, and several of our favorite places in the Southwest.
Heading to Page, Arizona? → Our Upper Antelope Canyon Guide covers what the tour is like, the best time to visit, photography tips, and what we learned from our experience inside the canyon.

Explore More of the American Southwest

Are you planning a trip to the United States? Read all of our articles about the USA in our United States Travel Guide.

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Monument Valley Sunrise Photography Tour, the Totem Pole.