See Antelope Canyon And Horseshoe Bend

The adventure

Inside Antelope Canyon the world narrows to a crack in the rock. Walls of orange and red sandstone curve over your head like frozen waves, smoothed by thousands of years of flash floods, and the light bouncing down from the gap above turns everything from gold to purple as you walk.

Horseshoe Bend is the opposite: wide open and dizzying. A short walk across the desert brings you to the rim, and about 300 metres below the green Colorado River swings in an almost complete loop around a sandstone tower. There's a railing at the main viewpoint now, but much of the edge is open, and lying on your stomach for the photo is very much the done thing.

Why it’s epic

Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon, on Navajo Nation land.
Light beams in Upper Antelope around the middle of the day in summer.
Horseshoe Bend, about 300 metres above the Colorado River.

What it is

Two of the American Southwest's most photographed sights, a few minutes apart near Page: Antelope Canyon, a slot canyon of swirling sandstone on Navajo land, and Horseshoe Bend, where the Colorado River loops around a sandstone outcrop.

How to do it

Antelope Canyon can only be visited on a guided tour run by Navajo operators, so book ahead. Horseshoe Bend is a short walk from a car park.

Top tip

Upper Antelope has the famous light beams around midday in summer; Lower Antelope is quieter and involves ladders.

Need to know

Antelope Canyon is guided-only and closes when flash floods threaten.
Arizona doesn't use daylight saving, but the Navajo Nation does, so check tour times.
Horseshoe Bend has a parking fee and little shade.

Plan this trip

Rough cost: £750 to £2,000 per person, including flights from the UK
Time needed: A day
Best time to go: March to October; midday in summer for light beams
Fly into: LAS airport

Canyon tours are the main cost; Horseshoe Bend is just parking.

Do it yourself

My experience

Ticked off, but the full story is still to be written up.