OLJATO-MONUMENT VALLEY PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR FIELD GUIDE
Overnight on Hunts Mesa: Sunrise, Cedar-Fire Meals and 1,600 Feet of Monument Valley
An exclusive 18‑hour overnight that carries photographers and adventurers up 1,600 feet to Hunts Mesa for sunset and sunrise vantage points, Anasazi ruins, back‑road arches and a Navajo‑cooked camp meal — this guide lays out what to expect and how to prepare.
Overnight on Hunts Mesa: Sunrise, Cedar-Fire Meals and 1,600 Feet of Monument Valley.
Set atop Hunts Mesa, 1,600 feet above the valley floor, this overnight tour delivers cinematic perspectives on Monument Valley’s sandstone monuments, mesas and canyon labyrinths. The operator leads an off‑road route that includes perched overlooks, tucked‑away arches and Anasazi ruins, with a basecamp on the mesa where dinner and breakfast are cooked over a cedar fire.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Sunset and sunrise from 1,600 feet up
The tour places you on Hunts Mesa for both sunset and sunrise viewpoints, offering wide panoramas of Monument Valley’s sandstone monuments and mesas from elevated, photographer‑friendly perches.
Anasazi ruins and remote arches
Traverse back roads to discover Anasazi ruins on the mesa and again on the descent, and visit secluded sandstone arches and canyon passages that sit off the beaten track.
Cedar‑fire meals and a set camp on the mesa
Basecamp is set up on Hunts Mesa for an overnight stay; dinner and breakfast are prepared over a cedar fire by your Navajo guide, and meals are included in the tour.
What the day feels like
What the night feels like
The tour is an extended, off‑road day that culminates in an overnight on Hunts Mesa: a remote camp, an evening shoot toward the valley’s monuments, a night under desert skies and an early morning ascent to an east sunrise location on the mesa. Along the way you pass outlooks such as Cain Valley and Halfway Point, examine El Capitan volcanic rock, visit Spider Arch and explore Anasazi sites, all while the operator provides camp setup and meals.
THE VANTAGE
Sunset and sunrise from 1,600 feet up
The tour places you on Hunts Mesa for both sunset and sunrise viewpoints, offering wide panoramas of Monument Valley’s sandstone monuments and mesas from elevated, photographer‑friendly perches.
THE HERITAGE
Anasazi ruins and remote arches
Traverse back roads to discover Anasazi ruins on the mesa and again on the descent, and visit secluded sandstone arches and canyon passages that sit off the beaten track.
THE CAMP
Cedar‑fire meals and a set camp on the mesa
Basecamp is set up on Hunts Mesa for an overnight stay; dinner and breakfast are prepared over a cedar fire by your Navajo guide, and meals are included in the tour.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this trip suits — and who should think twice.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
The official tour duration is 18 hours (the operator notes the tour can range from 18–20 hours).
Bring water, hiking shoes, appropriate clothing and sun protection.
Meet your guide in the lobby of The View Hotel (Indian Route 42, Oljato‑Monument Valley, AZ); the meetup point is next to the bronze statue of a cowboy riding a horse.
Adult (18+) $650; Youth (17 & younger) $400; Child (1–7) free. Note there is a two‑person booking minimum.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the Hunts Mesa Overnight Tour?
The tour is an 18‑hour overnight experience (the operator indicates the tour can range from 18–20 hours).
Where do I meet the guide?
Meet your guide in the lobby of The View Hotel on Indian Route 42 in Oljato‑Monument Valley; the meeting spot is next to the bronze cowboy‑on‑horse statue.
Are meals included?
Yes — meals are included; dinner and breakfast are cooked over a cedar fire by your Navajo guide at basecamp on Hunts Mesa.
What should I bring on the tour?
Bring water, hiking shoes, appropriate clothing for the desert and sun protection.
What are the rates and booking minimums?
Adults (18+) are $650, youth (17 & younger) $400, and children ages 1–7 are free. There is a two‑person booking minimum.
Will I see Anasazi ruins and arches?
Yes — the itinerary includes visits to Anasazi ruins on Hunts Mesa and on descent, as well as remote arches such as Spider Arch.