LA: Las Vegas, Sedona, Monument, Antelope Canyon, 5-Day Tour

The big draw here is the sheer range of scenery packed into five days: Sedona’s red rocks, the Colorado River at Horseshoe Bend, Monument Valley’s towering sandstone buttes, and the glowing corridors of Antelope Canyon. I like that the tour adds a Navajo-led Jeep ride in Monument Valley, not just a roadside photo stop. I also like that four hotel nights and breakfast are included, which removes much of the daily planning.

The tradeoff is a demanding schedule with long road stretches and limited time at some stops. I especially like the chance to see Monument Valley with a Navajo guide, but you may wish for more time there rather than leaving for lunch in a nearby town. Check the departure details carefully, too, since the published meeting information refers to Las Vegas while the tour description also presents this as a Los Angeles to Las Vegas trip.

Key points to know before booking

• Monument Valley gets the special treatment: A three-hour Jeep tour led by Navajo guides takes you below the main viewpoints and into the valley.
• The route covers major Southwest icons: You’ll visit Hoover Dam, Sedona, Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, and Valley of Fire in one trip.
• The tour ends in Las Vegas: It is not a round trip to Los Angeles, and hotel pickup is not included.
• Expect a physical five days: You must be able to walk about 1.5 miles over uneven ground, with comfortable shoes strongly advised.
• Rooms are limited to three people: Book separate reservations for larger parties, and note that one room is assigned per reservation.
• Guide quality can shape the experience: Janet received especially strong praise for clear organization, while Pasquale was described as friendly but less polished.

A Southwest sampler with a lot on its plate

At $1,045 per person, this is best understood as a road trip package rather than a leisurely sightseeing holiday. You are paying for transportation, four hotel nights, four breakfasts, several admissions, professional guiding, and major excursions that would be difficult to arrange neatly on your own.

The value is strongest if you want to cover a large area without renting a car or sorting out separate hotel bookings. It is weaker if you prefer slow mornings, long hikes, or several hours at each major sight. The trip keeps moving, and the best days are full ones.

The vehicle depends on group size. You may ride in an air-conditioned coach or a smaller van, and a departure with fewer people may feel more personal. A full-size coach may offer Wi-Fi, although the service is intended for basic use rather than streaming. The maximum group size is 50, so ask what vehicle is expected for your departure if that matters to you.

The tour can operate in English, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Hebrew, Japanese, or Chinese if you request the language when booking. Multilingual guiding can be useful, but it may also mean that commentary takes longer and feels less detailed in any one language.

Day 1: Barstow outlets and the Las Vegas Strip

The first day heads east through the desert toward Las Vegas. The scheduled lunch stop is at the Outlets at Barstow near the Nevada state line, with about two hours available. The mall has familiar brands such as Levi’s, Nike, Reebok, and Timberland.

This stop makes practical sense on a long transfer day. You can eat, stretch your legs, and shop if you want to. If outlet shopping is not your idea of sightseeing, though, two hours may feel like a long pause. It is a functional break, not a major cultural stop.

The route is described as passing through the Death Valley area, but this is not a Death Valley visit. You should not book this tour expecting park viewpoints, trails, or a proper exploration of Death Valley.

In the evening, you get about an hour on the Las Vegas Strip. The drive-by sightseeing includes the themed hotels and casinos around Caesar’s Palace, Mirage, Luxor, Paris, Mandalay Bay, New York New York, and Treasure Island.

This is a quick introduction rather than a full Strip tour. You’ll see the extravagant architecture and desert-city spectacle, then have the chance to visit a casino. The hour will go quickly, so decide in advance whether you want photographs, a look inside a hotel, or simply a first taste of Las Vegas after dark.

Day 2: Hoover Dam and a free Las Vegas afternoon

After breakfast, the group visits Hoover Dam for about two hours. The stop focuses on how the dam was built and how it changed the surrounding area. It is an impressive piece of engineering, and the visit adds substance to a trip otherwise centered on natural scenery.

Two hours is enough for an introduction and photographs, but not for an unhurried exploration of every viewpoint or exhibit. Your guide’s explanation matters here. One clear account of the dam’s construction and purpose can turn a quick stop into a useful lesson; scattered facts can leave the visit feeling thin.

The afternoon is free in Las Vegas. This is one of the better design choices in the schedule because you can choose your own pace. You might see a show, visit another casino, explore a hotel, or simply rest before the long days ahead. Since the tour’s first and last meeting information is tied to the Luxor area, check exactly where you need to return after your free time.

Day 3: Sedona’s red rock country

Day 3 brings the most scenic change in the trip. After leaving the Las Vegas area, you reach Sedona and visit the Chapel of the Holy Cross. The chapel is a short, self-guided stop of about 30 minutes, with local shuttle service used for access.

The chapel is known for its setting above the red rock formations. From the area, you can see Bell Rock, Courthouse Butte, and Cathedral Rock. The views are the main event, and you should have your camera ready before the short stop begins.

Bell Rock and Cathedral Rock are listed as brief photo stops of roughly 10 minutes each. That is enough to understand the shape and color of the formations, but not enough for a trail walk or a quiet period of reflection. If Sedona is your main reason for booking, this limited time may be frustrating.

The physical demands also begin to matter here. The full trip requires the ability to walk 1.5 miles over uneven surfaces, and comfortable walking shoes are strongly advised. The schedule does not promise a long Sedona hike, but you still need to manage shuttle access, outdoor walking, and uneven ground.

You spend the night in Flagstaff, with hotel accommodation and breakfast included. Overnighting there breaks up the route and avoids making the next day even longer.

Day 4: Horseshoe Bend and Navajo-led Monument Valley

Horseshoe Bend comes first, with about an hour at the Colorado River. The trail leads to one of the Southwest’s most dramatic river views, where the water curves around a massive rock formation.

An hour gives you time to walk out, take photographs, and return, but you should keep an eye on the clock. The walk is exposed and the surface can be uneven, so shoes with a secure grip are a sensible choice. The admission is included.

From there, the tour continues to Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. This is the emotional center of the trip for many people, and the three-hour Jeep tour makes the stop far more worthwhile than a quick overlook. Navajo guides lead the ride into the valley, where sandstone formations rise hundreds of feet above the surrounding desert.

The Jeep route lets you see the buttes, mesas, shrubs, and trees from below. More important, it connects the scenery with Navajo culture and place. You are not just photographing famous rock formations from a parking area. You are entering a region within the Navajo Nation with guidance from people connected to the area.

Allow yourself to enjoy this part without trying to photograph every minute. Monument Valley can feel almost unreal in photographs, but the changing angles, open space, and scale are best appreciated in person.

The schedule is tight. You may be taken to a nearby town for lunch after the Jeep tour rather than having more time to eat or shop at Monument Valley itself. If your priority is the park, this can feel like an avoidable interruption. Still, the three-hour Jeep ride is a substantial visit and one of the strongest inclusions in the package.

Day 5: Antelope Canyon and the fiery return route

The final sightseeing day starts at Antelope Canyon. The tour lasts about 90 minutes and focuses on the smooth, flowing sandstone forms shaped by wind, water, and sand. The canyon’s narrow passages and changing colors make it one of the trip’s most memorable photographic stops.

The operator may use Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon depending on weather and crowd conditions. That distinction matters because the two sections have different access arrangements and shapes. Do not assume you will visit one specific section unless the operator confirms it shortly before departure.

The canyon requires walking on uneven surfaces, so practical shoes matter more than stylish ones. The visit is included, but the timing may be influenced by local conditions and crowd levels.

After lunch, the route turns back toward Las Vegas with a stop at Valley of Fire State Park. The park gets its name from red sandstone formations that can glow intensely in strong sunlight. The visit lasts about an hour and is timed, weather permitting, for the formations to reflect the sun’s rays.

This is a fine final stop because it gives you one more burst of red rock scenery before returning to the city. One hour is enough for a look and photographs, but not for a serious exploration of the park. You should expect an early evening arrival in Las Vegas, though traffic, weather, and road conditions can change the timing.

Hotels, meals, and room arrangements

Four nights of hotel accommodation, taxes, and continental breakfast are included. The overnight cities are Las Vegas, Flagstaff, and Page, with the exact hotels subject to availability and possible substitution by an equivalent category.

Breakfast is useful on a road trip like this. You can eat before departure without finding a restaurant each morning, and the early starts are easier when one meal is already arranged. Lunches and dinners are not included, so budget separately for meals during the route.

One hotel room is booked for each reservation, with a maximum of three people per room. If you book alone, you have your own room. If four or more people are traveling together, make separate bookings and note that you want to stay together.

Luggage is limited to one piece and one small carry-on per person. There are no stated size or weight restrictions, but you should still pack lightly. Moving bags between hotels for four nights is tiring, and a smaller case is easier in a van.

Guide quality and the importance of clear instructions

A good guide is especially important on this trip because the schedule involves many departures, hotel changes, languages, meal breaks, and timed admissions.

Janet was praised for being friendly, professional, and clear about departure times, restrooms, breakfasts, and other practical details. That sort of management is not glamorous, but it makes a five-day group tour much easier.

Pasquale was described as friendly, but less organized and less informative. Specific problems included unclear departure instructions, confusion over breakfast and Starbucks vouchers, poorly marked room-key envelopes, and no emergency phone number provided to the group. Another concern was limited explanation at Las Vegas and Hoover Dam, with too much personal commentary instead of useful destination information.

Guide assignments can vary, and Jacob, Amir, and Danny Boy were also praised for professionalism and strong information. Still, I would carry your confirmation, write down all departure times, and make sure you have a working emergency contact before leaving. If a guide gives instructions verbally in several languages, written details become even more valuable.

The absence of clear tour branding on a vehicle was also a concern at one early pickup. If you are meeting a van before sunrise, confirm the vehicle description and driver contact in advance. You should never have to guess if you have found the correct operator.

Departure details need careful checking

The supplied information contains an important inconsistency. The tour is described as a Los Angeles to Las Vegas journey, and the FAQ says it is one-way and ends in Las Vegas. Yet the stated meeting point is 3900 S Las Vegas Boulevard, at the Luxor Hotel, and the end point is listed at the same Las Vegas address.

The FAQ also says hotel pickup is not included and refers to pickup points in the departure information. Because these details do not line up neatly, contact Empire Vacations using the phone number on your ticket before the trip. Confirm the exact first-day meeting location, the final drop-off point, and how you should reach the starting point.

Parking is available at the listed departure locations, with rates that vary. You can also use a rideshare service or public transportation. Do not leave your car in Los Angeles unless you have independently confirmed that the tour returns there. The stated information says it does not.

Who will get the most from this tour

This trip suits you if you want a broad first look at the American Southwest and prefer someone else to handle the driving and hotel planning. It is particularly useful for international visitors, solo travelers who want an organized route, and anyone who wants Monument Valley, Antelope Canyon, and Sedona in one compact itinerary.

It is less suitable if you dislike early departures, long drives, group schedules, or limited time at scenic places. You should also think twice if you want strenuous hikes, since the schedule emphasizes viewpoints and guided visits rather than trail time.

The tour is offered in many languages, and group discounts may be available. Ask about the discount before booking if you are traveling with several people. Service animals are allowed, and the tour operates in all weather, so dress for changing desert conditions and bring layers.

Should you book it?

I would book this tour for efficient coverage, not relaxation. The included Monument Valley Jeep tour, Antelope Canyon entry, four hotel nights, breakfasts, and Hoover Dam visit give the $1,045 price reasonable value when compared with arranging transport and lodging separately.

My main advice is to confirm the pickup details and emergency contact before paying. If you can accept long road days and a brisk pace, this is a strong way to see the Southwest’s greatest hits in five days. If Monument Valley or Sedona deserves several days on its own, rent a car or choose a slower itinerary instead.

FAQ

Does the tour return to Los Angeles?

No. The tour is described as a one-way trip that visits Sedona and Monument Valley and ends in Las Vegas.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You must make your own way to the designated meeting location.

Where is the listed meeting point?

The stated start and end point is 3900 S Las Vegas Boulevard, Las Vegas, Nevada, at the Luxor Hotel. Because the wider tour description also refers to Los Angeles, confirm the exact departure point with the operator using your ticket details.

What type of vehicle is used?

You will travel in an air-conditioned bus or van. A van may be used for smaller groups.

Is Wi-Fi available?

Wi-Fi is available on full-size coaches only. The mobile Wi-Fi is not intended for streaming.

How much luggage can I bring?

You may bring one piece of luggage and one small carry-on per person. No size or weight restrictions are stated.

How many people can share a room?

A maximum of three people can be included on one reservation and assigned to one room. Larger parties should make separate bookings and note that they are traveling together.

Which Antelope Canyon will I visit?

The operator may use Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon depending on weather and crowd conditions.

How much walking is required?

You must be able to walk about 1.5 miles, or 2.5 kilometers, over uneven surfaces. Comfortable walking shoes are strongly recommended.

Are meals included?

Four continental breakfasts are included. Other meals are not included, although vegetarian and other dietary needs can be accommodated.

Can I choose another tour language?

Tours may be operated in English, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Hebrew, Japanese, or Chinese. You must request the preferred language when booking.