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Mystery Valley Tour 3.5hr (3SNGT 3.5hr)

Recommended by 93% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Monument Valley, USA
  • 3 to 4 hours (approx.)
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Overview

Monument Valley is inside the Navajo Nation Reservation and has sections that are not always open to the public. On this small-group tour, explore Mystery Valley within Monument Valley with a Navajo guide who has intimate knowledge of the land. Visit ancient Anasazi ruins, petroglyph sites, natural arches, and short hiking trails, while learning about the Anasazi people and Navajo culture, history, and traditions.
  • A half-day Navajo culture tour of Mystery Valley inside Monument Valley
  • Travel with a Navajo guide: Learn about Anasazi and Navajo culture
  • Visit Anasazi dwellings, natural arches, and short hiking trails
  • Small group ensures personalized attention from your guide

What's Included

  • Navajo Guides
  • We have guides that live locally & also live in close surrounding areas of Monument Valley.
  • Mystery Valley is part of the Tribal Park, so it is permitted to pay park entrance fee.
  • I'm sorry but there are NO FACILITIES available while on tour in Mystery Valley.
  • Park Entrance fee is NOT included with tour price. It is separate from the tour price.
  • Gratuities
  • Gratuity is greatly appreciated for your guides, most guides make a living of doing tours.

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

  • Monument Valley
    Arizona, USA

    Monument Valley Visitor Center parking lot. On the West side of the paved parking lot, you will see a little turquoise booth/kiosk. Here is where you will meet your tour guide. If you need help please call or txt us at 602-327-2472. I can send you a pin of the exact location via txt message.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

1

Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park

30 minutesAdmission Ticket Not Included

2

Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park

15 minutesAdmission Ticket Not Included

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Not recommended for travelers with back problems
  • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
  • IMPORTANT INFORMATION!!! Please be advised that Monument Valley honors Daylight Savings Time. We use Mountain Daylight Saving Time. (MDT) When we are on daylight savings time we are 1hr ahead of Arizona time, when we are off daylight savings time we are the same time as Arizona time. If you are not sure about what time we are on, you can call or txt me. Please make sure you are using the correct time zone for your scheduled tours. If you show up an hour late for your tour, we cannot guarantee a rescheduling of your tour, so please be aware of the time differences.
  • Please put contact information on your reservation, preferably a phone number we can reach you at when you are traveling. A working phone number is very important, we may need to contact you about your reservation the day before or the day of your tour. If there is a way you can put your email in please do so. Having both forms of contact information included with your reservation helps with communicating with you. Communicating with us about your tour is appreciated. To help make contacting you easier you can send me your email via message on the Viator reservation website. Thank you for your understanding.
  • Navajo Nation Park Entrance fee is not included with the price of the tour. You can either purchase the park entrance fee separately online or you can purchase a ticket at the toll booth at the entrance of the park or at the Welcome Center. If you pre purchase a ticket it well help getting pass the toll booth faster.
  • The PickUp location is NOT at the Welcome Center that is by the round about. The Navajo Tribal Park Visitor Center is 3-4 miles East of the Welcome Center. If you need help locating the PickUp location or you are running late call or txt me so I can assist you. I can help with sending you a pin for the exact location of the turquoise tour booth.
  • Please be advised that we have a 2 person minimum occupancy for all tours. If you have any questions about the 2 person minimum occupancy call us. If you are a single traveler sometimes we have tours already scheduled to go out for a tour that we can schedule you in with, if we do not have a tour scheduled for the day or tour you are requesting, you may have to purchase a second ticket. We do our best to work with single travelers so please call before you make a reservation to see what tours we have available for you.
  • We are a pet friendly company, if you have questions for a pet friendly tour please go to our main website. All information and tours for pet friendly tours are only available on our website.
  • During the summer it does get hot here so when booking a tour keep that in mind. Check weather conditions and temperatures when booking your tour. Make sure to dress accordingly for the tour. Wearing sandals during the summer is not recommended, the sand and rocks do get hot.
  • Please be advised that during winter hours we do not have some evening tours available. Please double check tour times with sunset time. We do not want to take you out on a late tour. Winter time we have shorter days so Sunset times are around 5-6pm. If you reserve a tour that starts at 5pm, you well have a very short time of daylight and the rest of your tour well be in the dark.
  • Keep weather temperatures in mind when booking a tour. It does get hot here during the summer and it does get cold here during the winter. If you do not mind the heat we well do the tour, if you do not mind the cold we well do the tour but please be prepared and dress accordingly to the weather. Winter time we do have blankets available for open air trucks and we also have enclosed vehicles for some tours. When there is no enclosed available we well have you set in the front seat of the open with your guide.
  • If you want an enclosed vehicle please let us know ahead of time so we can do what we can to work with you.
  • During the summer it does get hot here so when booking a tour keep that in mind. Check weather conditions and temperatures when booking your tour. Make sure to dress accordingly for the tour. Wearing sandals during the summer is not recommended, the sand and rocks do get hot.
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

4.8
based on 44 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

"No outsiders here"—Unraveling Mystery Valley's Secrets Through Navajo Eyes

Sriram_C, Apr 2026
If you are visiting Monument Valley, do not miss the Mystery Valley tour with Three Sister Navajo Guided Tours. It is important to know that you cannot enter Mystery Valley on your own; you must be accompanied by a guide to access this area. This tour is a great way to visit these protected sites and truly experience the soul of the landscape. Taking a tour guided by a Navajo person and owned by Navajo entrepreneurs is also a great way to support people who live in the Park or nearby in very basic conditions in order to stay true to their land and ancestors. We took the 9 AM Mystery Valley tour (3.5–4 hours) and, it being the off-season, we were the only two people on the tour. Having Mystery Valley pretty much to ourselves—seeing only one other tour heading in as we were leaving—made the experience feel incredibly intimate. Our guide, Amory, was excellent. As a Navajo man whose family has lived on this land for generations, he provided a connection to the valley that made all the difference. Despite it being a tour of just two people, Amory showed absolutely no hurry or reduced interest. He took the time to sit with us and give detailed explanations after every stop, sharing profound insights into both ancient life and the current state of the Navajo people. He was also very diligent about safety, checking for things like rattlesnakes before we explored the sites. Beyond the history, Amory made sure we got great pictures, even sharing "photography tricks" at the most breathtaking sights to make the memories even more special. Seeing the pottery shards, storage areas, and especially the petroglyphs through his eyes was remarkable. The petroglyphs themselves are beautiful and mysterious; reaching us from ancient times, they clearly served both practical and deeply symbolic purposes for the people who once lived here. It was remarkable to stand there and imagine how the ancients' life in this magnificent, stark habitat might have been. A quick logistical note: The tour starts at the Monument Valley Visitor's Center parking lot. Even if your pickup directions on Viator indicate a spot within the Monument Valley Scenic Drive, meet your guide at the Visitor's Center parking lot. The highlight of the trip was Amory's closing words. He told us he was happy we were interested in his ancestors' way of life and that we were always welcome back because, as he put it, "there are no outsiders here—everyone is welcome". It felt less like a "tour" and more like a privileged look into a living culture. This was easily the most meaningful part of our trip. Take the Three Sister Mystery Valley tour and ask for Amory! Highly recommended!

Beauty and Mystery

Francine_B, Feb 2026
It was wonderful to have a private tour. Our guide was so interesting and informative and we really appreciated the sense of interconnection. The geology was amazing but our favorite part was seeing petroglyphs.

Soaked on highway

Timothy_H, Oct 2025
We booked the Mystery Valley Tour as part of three tours in Monument Valley, and this one turned out to be the most challenging—mainly because of the weather. On the way back, we got caught in a rainstorm. Unfortunately, the jeep had no rain protection, and at 30–40 mph on the highway, all four of us in the vehicle were soaked. This part was very uncomfortable and disappointing, especially since I had given advance notice about our booking and would have expected better preparation for possible weather conditions. That said, the driver was cordial and knowledgeable, and he did take us to some unique and fascinating sites that we wouldn’t have seen otherwise. The cultural and scenic aspects of the tour were worthwhile. Overall, it was a good experience with a major drawback due to the lack of rain protection. If this happens again, I would hope Viator and the operator consider offering a partial refund or at least a solution for guest comfort.

Back country scenery not available elsewhere

David_Y, Sep 2025
This was a personalized tour with just my wife and I. It was in an open air 4wd truck. Our guide was Vernon, a Navajo raised in Monument Valley and whose relatives live in Mystery Valley which he roamed as a child. Very historical perspective. The scenery and views were not something available on the public tours or self guided tours. Vernon was excellent!

Mystery in Monument

Lynda_J, Aug 2025
It was good, except our guide may of been a bit deaf and so words we couldn’t understand. He was a lovely old man!

Mystery Tour beautiful & wonderful!!!

Teresa_S, May 2025
It is worth the money, we had a wonderful adventure & saw many beautiful wonders that we would not have experienced any other way!!!!

Don’t miss this adventure!

Mark_C, Aug 2024
Had an amazing time! Being able to hike to the top of an arch was amazing. Our guide was able to lead the way and show me the best path! She also sang us a wonderful song about gratitude at our last stop. Unforgettable experience!

Lots of fun

eileenflynn2011, Mar 2024
I wasn’t sure what to expect but Bennie was a great guide. He helped me up a few places that I wasn’t sure I could get to by myself - it was a blast! He showed me some pretty cool sites and let me stop for lots of photos. Thanks Bennie!!

Mystery Valley is Fantastic!

Michael_R, Oct 2023
We had a fantastic tour of Mystery Valley. The valley was amazing with wonderful rock formations and the guide was knowledgeable and helpful. I would highly recommend this Viator tour. It was also great getting away from the crowded Monument Valley "traffic" and getting a personal tour. Highly recommended!

Awesome Experience

Faye_B, Sep 2022
Beautiful scenery, Indian ruins and drawings, a full 4 hr. Trip. Informative guide that Did a great job showing us the area and answering any questions.

A Magical Mystery Tour!!!!

Jaye_S, Sep 2022
Jim told us history and his story of growing up in this valley. We learned a lot and saw beautiful formations, horses, cows ( one even mooed for us which echoed in the canyon and made us laugh), hidden petroglyphs and more. We have already reccommended this tour and will again. Thank you so much!

Ein magisches Erlebnis

Peter_B, May 2024
Wir können diese Tour ins Mystery Valley sehr empfehlen. Das Tal ist einzigartig und ganz anders als das Monument Valley. Der Guide hat uns während der Tour auch einiges über die Kultur der Navajos erzählt. Es war ein wunderschöner Vormittag.

Wow

Rob_j, Nov 2023
Om te beginnen de tocht als geheel was onvergetelijk en overweldigend. De gids paste geheel in deze ervaring en zijn inspirerend enthousiasme over zijn land, cultuur en geschiedenis was de kers op de taart

From $120.00

per person

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

Book ahead!
On average, this is booked 39 days in advance.

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