Do I need photography experience to join the Night Photography Tour?

No prior experience is required; the tour is suitable for beginners and experienced photographers alike.

What time do the tours typically start?

You set your own tour time to match your preferences and ideal lighting conditions.

Is there an entrance fee for Monument Valley?

Yes, a $5 per person Navajo Tribal Park entrance fee is required.

Are there restrictions on the use of light painting?

Light painting is encouraged, but always use responsible techniques that do not disturb the environment.

How long does the Night Photography Tour last?

Tours generally last between 2 to 4 hours, depending on participant preference.

Where do tours begin?

All tours start from the Monument Valley Visitor's Center, located 4 miles east off Highway 163.

Monument Valley Night Photography with Phillips' Tours | Guided Tour

Monument Valley, straddling the Arizona-Utah border, commands attention with its colossal sandstone formations that punctuate the desert skyline. This iconic landscape, a Navajo Tribal Park rather than a federal National Park, offers more than just striking daytime vistas—under the cover of darkness, it transforms into a celestial playground. Phillips' Photography Tours specializes in revealing this night-time magic through their Night Photography Tour, an opportunity to capture Monument Valley’s legendary features—The Totem Pole and the Mittens—framed by the vast Milky Way.

These monolithic spires of red sandstone rise dramatically from the valley floor, shaped by millennia of erosion, presenting a stark contrast against the star-filled sky. The tour offers an immersive experience in nocturnal landscape photography, guiding participants through techniques to capture the Milky Way’s sweeping arc. Participants can try their hand at light painting, a creative way to add dynamic illumination to foreground subjects, making each photograph uniquely personal.

Flexibility is a cornerstone of the experience: tour times are set by the guests themselves, allowing alignment with optimal astronomical conditions or personal schedules. Starting at the Visitor’s Center, just four miles east of the Arizona-Utah state line on Highway 163, the tour places adventurers right in the heart of Navajo land, where cultural respect and sustainability are paramount.

Phillips’ Photography Tours connects visitors deeply with Monument Valley’s rugged beauty and its dark skies, a rare combination in the American Southwest. Whether seasoned photographers or curious travelers eager to elevate their night-shooting skills, the Night Photography Tour challenges participants to see the desert through a different lens—one where stars, rock, and light intersect in unforgettable ways.