Travel Itinerary
Last year, during the Thanksgiving holiday, I took a road trip to Monument Valley. I briefly considered flying, but ultimately decided to drive. The farthest I had driven before was to San Francisco, so I was a bit worried about the long drive, but in the end, it turned out to be a very enjoyable trip. According to the map, it takes about 9 and a half hours from LA to Monument Valley, but with gas stops and breaks, it took us about 10 hours to arrive.
To avoid traffic, we left late in the evening, which allowed us to drive straight through without any congested areas. One thing to keep in mind is that when crossing from California to Arizona, the time increases by one hour, so if you have other travel plans, you need to calculate your time carefully.
Monument Valley Tour
Perhaps because it was the Thanksgiving holiday, the entrance to Monument Valley had a sign saying “Park closed, Guide tour only.” I inquired again at The View Hotel, but they confirmed that only guided tours were available. I had heard that the roads could be bad and that tires might get flat, so I was considering a guided tour, but I hadn’t made a reservation, which was a bit concerning.
Fortunately, there was a tour company right in front of the hotel, so I inquired immediately. The tour lasts about 2 to 2 and a half hours and costs $120, but they offered a $25 discount if we left right away. Since it seemed like it would take time to find another place, we decided to go with this tour. The weather was colder than expected, so we changed into warm clothes and headed out for the tour.
Tour cost (for 2 people) + Tax = $205
During the tour, I also saw a van-type tour vehicle, but the tour we took was a jeep tour. I had heard that jeep tours can be very dusty, which made me a bit worried, but it wasn’t too bad except when other vehicles passed by. Since the jeep was open on all sides, it was cold, and the bumpy floor made my butt hurt, but I thought there was no better way to fully enjoy the backdrop and atmosphere of Monument Valley than with a jeep tour.
I found a chair where I could see the Three Sisters and John Ford’s Point, and I sat down for a moment. The scenery in front of me was so beautiful that it was beyond words, and I couldn’t help but admire the stunning view. It was a moment where I was completely immersed in the grandeur of nature.
During the tour, the guide explained various things, and I was able to see rocks in different shapes, just like in the photos above. I think if we had wandered around by ourselves, we might have missed them. (From the left, the Indian face profile / seashell / owl)
I was worried that during the tour, I wouldn’t be able to listen to detailed explanations and would just rush through, but the guide was very good at explaining things, took photos for us, and was extremely kind. I especially appreciated that they gave us enough time to take pictures and enjoy each point. (The third photo is of the dragon’s head)
This place is called Big Hogan, and on the way there, I saw a sign that said “Guide tour only,” which indicated that you can only go there with a guide. It looked like a cave, and although the photo doesn’t capture it all, it was much larger and more majestic in person.
And here, I was able to listen to the guide’s special performance, and perhaps because the sound echoed inside the cave, it felt louder and more beautiful.
Just like the name “Sun’s Eye,” I could see a shape resembling an eye. And there was a drawing of an animal here, which has not yet been identified, but according to the guide’s guess, it seems to be close to a goat.
Ear of the Wind. I climbed up the sand dune to take a photo, but my shoes got filled with sand. It looked like a low hill, but perhaps because it was sand, it was surprisingly hard to climb.
The animals I encountered during the tour had their fur turned orange due to the sand color. It seemed that they were raising dogs freely here, as I saw many dogs wandering around as I passed by.
After finishing the tour, we returned to The View Hotel. The actual tour time was 4 hours. Contrary to what was said before departure, that it would take about 2 to 2.5 hours, we ended up touring for much longer. I didn’t realize how much time had passed because I was having so much fun taking pictures and sightseeing. Since it was the Thanksgiving holiday and there were fewer people, it seemed like they gave us more time and provided more explanations. Although it was a tour chosen at the last minute, it was satisfying enough that I didn’t feel it was a waste of money.
The View Hotel
If you are going to Monument Valley, The View Hotel is a must-stay hotel. As the name suggests, it is famous for the stunning views from the rooms.
Just in case there were no rooms available, I had made a reservation two months in advance for the King Suite Top Floor with Premium View.
King Suite Top Floor with Premium View ($318.06) + Amenity fee ($19.99) + Tax + $339.25
It was extremely cold that day, and my body was frozen, but the heater in the room was already turned on, making me feel like my frozen body was melting away. In fact, this hotel is more about the view than the room itself, so I didn’t have high expectations for the room. However, it was spacious and clean, which made me satisfied. I especially liked that the hot water came out very well when I showered.
And the most important view from the hotel room. The above photo was taken from the hotel room balcony, and the emotion I felt while looking at this place was so beautiful that it was beyond words. The scenery was majestic enough to capture my heart, and it was an unforgettable moment.
It was so nice to sit at the table, enjoy the food and fruit I brought, and sip coffee while leisurely taking in the view. The view alone was worth booking this hotel.
Lastly, there is a Gift Shop next to the hotel with a variety of things to browse, making it a nice little stop to find souvenirs from your trip, so it would be good not to miss it.
The View Hotel
Although not covered in this post, after my trip to Monument Valley, I returned to LA and also visited Sedona. It seems like a good route to travel to both Monument Valley and Sedona together. For those planning the Grand Circle route, Monument Valley is definitely worth considering. Enjoy the beauty of the American West through your trip to Monument Valley.
