Our Camera Club from Albuquerque New Mexico organized a 37-person trip to Monument Valley and engaged Phillips' Photography Tours to plan, arrange and execute five tours for our large group of photographers over two days. Carl Phillips came to our Orientation Dinner and laid out the plan for everyone. He had his vehicles and subcontracted others to accommodate our large group, who are also mostly retirees with significant backpacks full of camera gear. Phillips Tours pulled this off without a hitch and pleased all of these folks and also contractually and logistically was more than easy to deal with. It was a pleasure working with them to plan and set the tours up and then attend the great tours as well. The Enchanted Lens Camera Club highly recommends Carl Phillps and Phillips Tours! read more

Phillips' Photography Tours - MV from Hunt's Mesa - Architectural Tours Near Me

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We did the full-day photography tour with Carl. We began the morning in Mystery Valley, and the afternoon was spent in the back country portion of the Navajo Tribal Park. Both areas are inaccessible without a Navajo guide, and Carl was very adept at taking us to some of the best views for photos. We were able to take the time we needed. Seeing pottery shards, petroglyphs, and visiting a weaver in her hogan were special highlights of a tour that offered wonderful photo opportunities all along the way. We also really appreciated the information Carl provided, about what we were seeing and its meaning to him and his fellow Navajo. read more

Review of Hunt's Mesa Overnight Tour My friend and I are hobby photographers. This Hunt's Mesa Overnight Photography Tour was awful and a great disappointment- such a missed opportunity!!! The website: Tour starts at 2:30 pm and ends 11:30 am next day. Reality: Started at 3:30 pm ended at 9:30 am - 3 hours less time to photograph. Also truck repairs on trip up to the mesa shaved another 1/2 hour off photo opportunities. The website: "Guiding serious photographers is one of our specialties. We have worked with many professional photographers and know the changing light of Monument Valley like no one else. A custom guided photographic tour with our photo guides is the best way to realize the full photographic potential of this spectacular and legendary landscape." Reality: NO PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDES or location advise was offered. The only staff member was Carlos who drove us up to the mesa and then immediately started to prepare dinner. Once at Hunt's Mesa, WE had to scout for the viewpoints ON OUR OWN and not given ANY assistance in finding them. Website: "Next morning we go to a different location to photograph the sunrise." Reality: Did not go to second location for morning shoot. Stayed at campsite. Website: "After breakfast we head back down the mesa" Reality: No breakfast or coffee was offered in the morning. read more

We had 18 members attend our overnight field trip to Monument Valley. We hired Carl Phillips(www.monumentvalley.com/928-429-0040 and his crew went above and beyond for all of us on this trip. We booked a Sunrise/Sunset tour as well as a Hunts Mesa overnight camping trip. Carl and his crew not only showed us the best places to photograph while we were there but they also knew how to advise on camera settings, and placement to get the shots we were seeking. They shared native heritage and language at our request and sang native songs around the fire on our camping adventure. They discussed native traditions and beliefs and shared the history of their families as well. Hunt's Mesa was a 4x4 adventure not for the faint of heart. It was a 2 hour ride up a 1000 feet of rocky incline to get to the top. The photos I took really don't do it justice and although the ride might have some intensity to it the crew felt it was incredibly worth it and loved every minute of it. They cooked dinner and breakfast for us while we shot sunset and sunrise pictures on top of the mesa. You are not able to go where the club went on this trip without a guide so if anyone is wanting to go I highly recommend paying for a guide to take you to the very best spots. There were smiles, and laughter from all and the joy could be felt across the entire group read more

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Went on a tour in June 2025, just my partner and myself. Wonderful, personal experience! Worth the money! Learned a lot about the culture and area. Went at sunset and the views were spectacular!! read more

For the last 4 years we have used Carl & Carlos Phillips @ Phillips Photography Tours to provide photographic tours of Monument Valley, Teardrop Arch, Mystery Valley and other locations. Our group of 2 to 6 semi-pro photographers had an outstanding time with every tour and took "once in a lifetime" images. We shot everything from landscapes to astrophotography. Carl and Carlos got us to the right locations at the right time to capture amazing images. They were consummate professionals. Showing up early and always making sure that we were taking great shots. Absolutely first class which is why we keep coming back. We highly recommend them. read more

So disappointed we had really been looking forward to exploring the backcountry areas and this company was highly recommended by friends of ours who toured with them a few years ago, but Carl messed up the booking. We had reserved a 2.5 hour tour after speaking to Carl. The tour was supposed to be in an enclosed vehicle, instead they farmed the tour out to another company that showed up with an open air vehicle so we opted to not take the tour. We didn't want to deal with the dust and heat for a 2.5 hour tour that was to begin at noon on a day when temps were forecasted to go into the 90s. The onsite coordinator, Sharleen, tried really hard to find us another option but there were no other enclosed cars available. As she was speaking to the other tour companies and mentioned Carl, I saw a few eyes roll, maybe this is a pattern or has happened before? Regardless, we were frustrated and disappointed and felt like our time was wasted with having to wait for a tour that never happened. read more

I wish to express my extreme dissatisfaction with the Hunt's Mesa Overnight Photography Tour. My husband and I were on the August 4-5 tour and from the beginning it was not what I expected nor what I had read about. Having never been to Monument Valley I was expecting this to be an informational and inspiring tour along with the opportunity to take amazing photos, unfortunately it was filled with frustration and devoid of information or historical background of Monument Valley. You also specify on your website that your guides are knowledgeable about the light and landscape of the valley, of which your guide, Tully, taught nothing. The tour did not begin well, since your guide was late picking us up and offered no explanation as to why. Because of the high cost of this tour I was expecting top notch service, which was not delivered. Once in the truck he did not tell us where we were going, how we were going to get there, or anything about the monument; and we sat in awkward silence not knowing where we were going. One thing that is not specified on the website about this tour is that you leave Monument Valley to get to the top of Hunt's Mesa. For someone who has never visited, that would have been good information to know beforehand. As we continued travelling on the "rough road" as you put it on the website, our vehicle got stuck three separate times, costing us valuable daylight. Instead of the 2.5 hours as advertised, it took us 4.5 hours to get to the top. I understand that the weather cannot be controlled nor can the condition of the road, but you can control the quality of your vehicle and the equipment carried. We were in a Tahoe that was not equipped to be out on the trail. There was no tread on any of the tires, the check engine light was on, and the front two wheels were not engaging when four-wheel drive was selected. Tully was also ill-prepared to get us extricated due to the lack of recovery devices to help the tires gain traction. My husband helped dig out and push the Tahoe out of our predicament while attempting to talk to Tully so he could describe the upcoming trail. This was to no avail as each time we became stuck, Tully did not communicate with us what the situation was or our options going forward. He made several phone calls but did not relay any information to us. It was not until the evening he stated that it was suggested to him that we turn around and head back. But Tully told his boss that we were in a rush and had come far to do this tour, which was not true in any way. He neither discussed the conversation, or his intent, nor was he honest about how difficult the trail was, and he certainly did not give us any options about what we wanted to do. I understand he felt like he needed to get us there, but we were not in a rush and had many open days in our itinerary and would have been happy to turn around and conduct a different tour into Monument Valley. Instead he kept insisting we were okay and there was only one more difficult part, when in fact there were several more each time. Around 8pm we sat down for dinner, and it was not quite what we were expecting. While we were not expecting a five course, five-star meal, we were expecting a little more than what was offered. For example, he told us how much he liked butter and sour cream with his potato, but did not bring any, and simply opening the steak from the store is not in keeping with this tour's cost. We then sat in forced conversation and silence for most of dinner. During this dinner I was hoping to learn about Monument Valley and the significance of it to the Navajo people, why its called Hunt's Mesa, and more. Because this is labeled as a tour, it is not out of the question to expect historical information or stories told. Instead it was an awkward dinner and all Tully talked about was previous visitors that had tipped him well. I also believe that if I had not asked what the plans for the next day were, he would never have told us. We were also underwhelmed with breakfast as it was simply packet-oatmeal and some yogurt. Heading out was easier than coming in, but the tires were still an issue and overall made it unsafe to traverse the trails that we did. While Tully was driving on some of the technical parts he was texting and talking on the phone, making me feel unsafe. He should have stopped the vehicle and took the call or text to keep everyone's safety a priority. When we made it back to the Visitors Center, he was once again on the phone while we unloaded our luggage. Tully's attitude towards us the entire trip was indifferent and seemed like he didn't want to be there nor cared about what he was showing us. I expected to learn about Navajo traditions and culture from someone who is passionate about sharing their culture's history. Instead we spent around 15 hours in awkward silence, learned nothing about Navajo culture or photography tips for Monument Valley. Do not go on this tour! read more