Dion and Nelson were our light-hearted and hardworking tour guides on our recent 2-hour sunset…read morehorseback tour. We enjoyed tremendous views of Monument Valley as well as interesting and thoughtful stories and explanations of how this area holds deep meaning to the Navajo. Our group was small, and our leaders were patient, funny, and helpful for those of us with next to no horseback riding experience. My husband, who can be difficult to impress, was awestruck by the views and the perspective that comes only with being on a trail, not in a vehicle. If you go, bring a full water bottle and cash for tipping, plus remember to wear your sunscreen and a hat. Special thanks also to Mack and Sideburns, our trusty steeds! We had a little trouble locating the starting point at the stables -- we thought we were supposed to park in the Navajo Visitor Center parking lot and check in at the tour booth at the far end of the parking lot. Turns out that tour booth is for vehicle tours. The folks there advised us to drive down a short gravel road next to the visitor center and park next to the stables that we could see in the distance. Easy enough, but this could have been clearer in the directions; a simple map or drawing would have been very helpful. We also didn't realize we'd have to pay a $10 per person entry fee to the Visitor Center parking lot before even getting to the stables. Maybe that was mentioned in the instructions and I just missed it? Either way, not a deal-breaker for us.

We booked a 1-hour horseback riding tour for 1:00 PM. Before it was our turn, another group arrived…read more(most likely booked for the 11:00 AM tour), so the same horses had already been out riding for 2 hours before it was our turn. The horses were given no break - not even a water break, before we were put on the same horses and started our 1-hour tour. The horses we rode walked slowly and appeared tired and dehydrated. We did not see any water in the horses' enclosure. We also noticed that the horses had no shelter from the sun or rain inside the fence area where they were kept. Otherwise, the horses seemed OK, they were fed and our guide was OK. I would have given Sacred Monument Tours better rating if I had observed that the horses had access to water and were given a break between rides before a new group of people went out.

For you Arizonans and visitors alike who may not know, Monument Valley is temporarily closed due to…read moreCOVID-19. Therefore, it is not possible to tour the sacred site itself. Last June, this information was not as known as it is now, and given our long-standing plans to see Monument Valley, my fiancé booked a horseback tour hosted by Roy Black's Awesome Horse Tours. What has since ensued has been a fascinating exhibition of dishonesty that would be laughable if it wasn't such a waste of time. Read on: | 7/4/20 tour booked on 6/26/20 | It should have piqued our suspicions that Roy Black's website does not provide any means to cancel tours. It does, however, provide ample contact information -- phone numbers and email addresses -- which we deemed sufficient if a cancellation was necessary. On 6/26/20, two one-hour tours were booked for $155.40. | 7/4/20 tour cancelled on 6/27/20 | With more evidence supporting Monument Valley's apparent closure, we decided on 6/27/20 to cancel the tour that was booked on 6/26/20. My fiancé called Mr. Black and left a voicemail. She also left two emails on 6/27, explicitly declaring our intent to cancel the tour, but she did not receive replies for either. How curious. The next action was to contact the bank on the same day; a dispute was filed, and a temporary credit was issued. | 9/1/20: Surely you're joking, Mr. Black! | Per the bank, the temporary credit was reversed! While Mr. Black is a difficult gentleman to reach, the bank had no problem getting in touch with him. He explained that the $155.40 paid on 6/26/20 was nonrefundable given his 72-hour cancellation policy. I'll give you, dear reader, a moment to reflect upon this fatuous remark. For whomever would inconceivably need this to be explained, Mr. Black's claim would only be true if we cancelled on 7/1/20, 72 hours in advance of the 7/4/20 tour we booked. However, we did not do that because -- brace yourselves -- we read the cancellation policy. We cancelled a week in advance of the tour, honoring the policy and cordially informing a strangely-unavailable Mr. Black. | Verdict | So, what happens now? The photos attached to this review will be sent to the bank, another investigation will be launched, and, of course, we will be refunded. Mr. Black's dishonest report to the bank has only served to delay the correct outcome. "Awesome Horse Tours", indeed. Would you like to know what's even more awesome? Honest business, a forthright website (e.g. "Monument Valley is closed, but we'll be glad to book tours when it reopens!"), and the literacy of one's own cancellation policy. As Roy Black has failed to deliver on all of these, I unequivocally do not recommend Roy Black's Guided Tours. Monument Valley will reopen, my friends, hopefully sooner rather than later. When they do, I trust you will join me in booking a tour with an actually legitimate service. Until then, godspeed.

What a wonderful tour we had with our guide, Jim. He made it so interesting with his experiences…read moreliving in the Monument Valley area. Made it very personal, as well as great driving skills! Highly recommend Jim with Roy Black Guided Tours!

WOW! Horseback trail rides takes you back into the old wild west, clean air, if you really want to…read moreexperience the true outdoors, rugged southwest, camping under the stars, relaxation, only you and mother earth, totally clears your mind of stress, guides are outstanding, totally recommend the ride. vLocated approximately 15 miles north of Monument Valley, the most north of the Navajo reservation. Definitely recommend this ride whether it be couple hours, half a day, all day or weekly rides, overnight camp, views, views, views.

What a great experience! After one year of dying to ride a…read morehorse for the first time, D/D MTA Horse Tours (across the street from Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park) fulfilled my dream. After some google searches on horse tours in the area, we chose this slightly more affordable option for a 90 minute tour that featured the same incredible views as the alternatives. We booked online, and I was a little nervous at first given some sketchy google reviews and the dated website. All time slots showed availability, so I went ahead and called the morning of to confirm our reservation. For booking the night before, we definitely got our money's worth. The tour guide was kind, and gave us a lot of info on the buttes and mesas. He also gave us a few photo ops, making sure we captured the moment and liked them before moving on. 90 minutes is a long time, but I loved every second of it and so did my boyfriend. My horse, Charlie, was a little older and slower, but they were well trained and easy to handle. Worth every penny.

From the owner: At D/D MTA Horse Tours, we invite you to experience the beauty and tranquility of nature from the…read moreunique perspective of horseback. Whether you're an experienced rider or a complete beginner, our guided horse tours offer an unforgettable adventure that connects you with the great outdoors.

This might be the best thing I have done on vacation in a decade. Our guide, Jarvin, was…read moreeverything that we hoped for on this tour. He was completely professional, knew the history of the canyon and the peoples who resided there through the ages. He was approachable, personable and positive. Taking a private tour for the three of us was a splurge and we all would do it again in a heartbeat. Don't hesitate to book with this company.

We were guided by Chance on the Bare Trail and he insured we had the hike of a lifetime. The…read moreastonishing scenery was complimented by his extensive knowledge of the area and sharing of the Navajo history and traditions practiced here. Only someone so intimately familiar with the canyon could have navigated us down/up the canyon walls--there is no visible trail. For those leery of exposure this trail would not be for you. There is no wrong way to experience this sacred canyon!

Andrea, Red, and Flash were incredible! I wasn't entirely sure what to expect from horse therapy,…read morebut I had heard so many great things that I trusted the process--and I'm so glad I did. My family of six all came away happy and grateful for the experience. For a while, it felt like the world slowed down, and we were fully present together with Red and Flash. Andrea is a highly skilled and experienced facilitator who guided us with care, building trust and intuitively adapting to our family's needs throughout the session. Everyone took away something meaningful, and there were smiles all around. I would highly recommend this experience to anyone looking to slow down, be present, and open themselves up to something new.

Andrea and her horses, Flash and Red, create a healing and peaceful experience. From the heartfelt…read moremeditation at the start to the deep connection I felt with the horses, everything was grounding, relaxing, and so nourishing. Andrea is warm and intuitive, which made me feel entirely supported. I left feeling lighter and deeply grounded. I'm very grateful for the experience. I highly recommend Horse Heart Connection!

We visited Monument Valley as a last-minute stop on our recent vacation. After driving the scenic…read moreloop, we decided we wanted to try horseback riding the next morning. We called around, and Wild West answered the phone--they were incredibly kind and able to fit us in first thing in the morning. We had three kids, and my husband and I--four out of the five of us had never ridden horses before. When we arrived, we were warmly greeted and given a quick, easy-to-understand tutorial on safety and riding. Each of us rode our own horse and held our own reins. The staff was incredibly patient and kind with our young children. Once we set out on the trail, the views were absolutely breathtaking every single minute of the ride. I'm not sure you can get a better horseback riding experience in Monument Valley. Our guide was wonderful--so kind and happy to answer all of our questions. It was such a memorable experience for first-time riders, and I'm not sure we'll ever be able to top it.

Wild West Trailride - aka Hubert "Joe" Atene - 435-459-2626 - joeatene@yahoo.com (assisted by…read moreguides such as Larry and Elias) SUMMARY: UNFORGETTABLE HORSE RIDE - THE BEST EVER - PERFECT TRAIL AMONG THE MESAS AND BUTTES. RIDER ASSUMES ALL RISKS. We rode on the 1.5 hour (45 minutes out, and 45 minutes back) 5:00pm trail ride on Monday 10/21/2024. Our guides were Larry (lead) and Elias (trailing). Let me tell you why this ride was fantastic, and also about the little mishap that reduced it from 5 stars to just four. HINT: If they try to put you on Little Warrior, ask for another horse. PRELIMINARY: You'll need GPS coordinates to find the meeting location, which is an easy-to-miss locked gate on Hwy 163. Once let in you'll follow a guide in his truck some distance down a rough dirt road to a corral of horses and a locked wooden shed with the tackle and other gear. Need a restroom? You'll be told to "go behind the shed" and just take care of business in the open desert. WHY THIS RIDE IS GREAT: The views cannot be surpassed. WHY CAUTION IS IN ORDER: This is a business and as such its sole purpose is to make money. There is no love lost between Navajo and non-Navajo. It is solely your money that makes you "welcome". Thus, all risks are assumed by you, and you sign a waiver putting this in writing. If you have a riding helmet that fits you, bring it. There were only four helmets observed hanging on the wall of the ramshackle shed; sizes undetermined. None of the six paying riders opted for a helmet; made to initial our refusal in writing. My wife and I refused helmets so as to look better in photographs. And in what some might call irony, I was later thrown onto my head by my mount Little Warrior. Read more on that later. WHY MEH: There was very little commentary by our two guides, Larry and Elias. Perhaps this is a good thing, since nobody wants a jabber mouth cracking the quiet wilderness silence. These are Navajo, quiet and respectful people. Larry did manage to say a few very interesting things at two or three points along the ride, including identifying the buttes and mesas. He also mentioned the high number of tribes in North America, and they all have their own different language and different religion. Fascinating! He also told us how to say "Hello", "Goodbye" and "Thank you" in the Navajo language (Yá'át'ééh, Hágoónee', and Ahéhee', respectively) WHY ONLY FOUR STARS: We always have to take these online reviews with a grain of salt... does the reviewer have an axe to grind? Well, please notice that I am emphasizing the "fantastic ride" aspect, and am quick to point out that 5 out of 6 riders were not thrown to the ground onto their face. Five out of six is pretty good! Read on... LITTLE WARRIOR GOES DOWN: I've ridden horses 6 or 7 times now in my life, always on a paid tour, so I am not exactly a beginner, but simply an average horse riding tourist. Having a horse stumble a bit or take a misstep is fairly common. On this ride my wife's horse Silver stumbled, but didn't go down. However, about 4/5ths of the way back on our return trip, my horse Little Warrior suddenly stumbled with both front feet and went all the way to the ground. In less than one second I was thrust forward, landing on my face and forehead, left shoulder, and right hand. Thankfully the point of impact was dirt and not rock, so I was able to stand up after a few stunned seconds and pick up my eyeglasses. I was able to take a moment to slowly bend the left temple from their bent 45-degree angle to almost straight again. Forehead was bleeding a bit, my right hand even more, but I was able to get back up and ride back. CONCERN BY GUIDES: Larry returned to see me (I was last of the 6, just before very quiet Elias). He expressed his concern with "what happened? Did the horse stumble?" Elias, the trailing guide, did offer "did you want to get back up, or do you want to walk back". Thus ended their words of concern. SUMMARY: Book this ride! The trail around Brighams Tomb is fantastic. Just don't let them put you on Little Warrior (if he did it once he'll do it again) PS: Oh, if you were wondering about the concern expressed by business owner Hubert "Joe" Atene: if you have a good calculator, you can total up the sum of his concern as: ZERO. Joe was very responsive to both emails and text messages before we'd paid our balance via Venmo. After the ride, however, thinking he'd like to be informed of the spill, I reached out to him, but there was absolutely no response. No response to my text. No response to a followup email. That's okay; I signed the waiver, and was only providing feedback, but it's a nice reminder that as a person, you are NOT welcome on the land of the Navajo Nation. As a Venmo account holder, you are "welcome" up until the time you have paid for your tour. And hopefully you don't get hurt, as you probably won't. 5 out of 6 un-hurt ain't bad. PPS. Dogs

From the moment our group booked this tour, we have had nothing but a seamless and smooth ride!…read moreThere were four of us on our trip and we chose the combo rim/broken arrow tour. Upon arrival we had to wait a few minutes longer than start time, but it was because agent ensured we were able to tour without any other group issues! We had John T as our driver and this was one of the best tours we have had in a very long time! We laughed so hard, we literally cried. He was knowledgeable and funny and accommodating, and we would recommend this tour and John T to anyone even thinking about it. In terms of difficulty, there were moments that were a little harrowing, but we were definitely at ease with our driver. The views and experience more than make up for it though! Please do yourself a favor and utilize this company and ask for John T. Because we booked more than one tour with them, they even accommodated a deal for us on our next tour! Such a great time had by all!!

Well organized, clean and pleasant from making the reservation check-in, waiting area and the tour…read moreitself. We had "Andrew" for our guide and he was informative, courteous and pleasant to be hosted by. Took various photos for us using our mobile phones which was nice. They have various tour options which I think will fit most anyone's interest and fun level.

There are places you've seen in a hundred movies, on countless postcards, and in more than a few…read moredaydreams--and then there's the moment you finally see them with your own eyes. Monument Valley absolutely lives up to the hype. Towering red sandstone buttes rise from the desert floor, creating one of the most iconic landscapes in the American Southwest. The vast open spaces, dramatic silhouettes, rich Navajo history, and ever-changing light make this a place that's impossible to capture fully in a photo--apparently the rocks know how to work a camera better than I do. It was easy to understand why this incredible landscape has been featured in so many classic Westerns, road trips, and sweeping desert scenes. Every turn looked like a postcard, every angle looked familiar, and every view somehow still felt larger than life. A truly unforgettable stop. Note: There's a fee to get in the park, and then another fee to do the scenic drive. The road was very rough in some places, but so worth the views

I don't even know where to begin, visiting the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park was absolutely…read morebreathtaking and deeply spiritual. The contrast of the rich red rock formations against the vivid blue sky is pure eye candy, almost surreal. But what made the experience even more meaningful was meeting members of the Navajo Nation. Learning about their culture and traditions added a powerful, educational layer to the trip. I couldn't leave without buying a unique piece of jewelry handcrafted by an elder. It features multiple stones representing protection, health, and prosperity, and knowing the meaning behind it makes it even more special. We will definitely be back. This place is simply stunning. Travel tips: * You will need an SUV, the roads are rough and not suited for regular cars * Bring sunscreen and lip balm, the dry desert climate is no joke * Go at sunrise or sunset for the most incredible colors and fewer crowds * Bring cash for local vendors (especially for authentic handmade Navajo jewelry) * Allow plenty of time, this isn't a quick stop, it's an experience to take in slowly Absolutely unforgettable.