Canyon de Chelly: Culture and Heritage of the Navajo Nation (4 Days / 3 Nights)
$ 2,199.00 per person based on 2 people sharing. For single supplement rate, please request when inquiring.
Hiking Grade: 5 (Moderate)
Guests should be prepared to hike 5 to 9 miles (8 to 14 km) per day, with elevation changes of up to 800 ft (244 m). Three days feature hikes that descend into and climb back out of the canyon, involving steady ascents and descents on dirt, sand, and slickrock trails. Expect some long sandy stretches, steep steps, and some exposed sections that add to the challenge. Participants should be confident in their footing and able to compete the daily distances at a steady pace.
Description:
The landscapes of Canyon de Chelly invite a journey into both natural beauty and cultural heritage. Towering sandstone walls rise dramatically above lush canyon floors, where ancient cliff dwellings tell the stories of generations past. Explore trails that wind through sweeping vistas and descend into the canyon itself, offering close-up views of sacred sites like White House Ruin and Spider Rock. Along the way, our expert guides share the Navajo history and traditions that make this place so meaningful, weaving together geology, culture, and living heritage. After a day of exploration, relax in comfortable accommodations nearby, where the quiet desert night sky sets the perfect backdrop for reflection.
Departure Dates:
2026:
28th April - 1st May
5th May - 8th May
6th Oct - 9th Oct
20th Oct - 23rd Oct
*Please inquire directly through our site together with your preferred date and number of people and one of our team will respond with your total price and availability.
Rate Type (Per Person, USD): From $2199.00 per person based on 2 people sharing - Inquire for single supplements
Meal Inclusions:
- 3 Dinners
- 4 picnic Lunches
- 3 Breakfasts
Trip Highlights:
- Enjoy a 4-day hiking adventure in remote Canyon de Chelly National Monument
- Discover well-preserved rock art and ruin sites including iconic White House Ruins
- Learn about native culture, history and folklore from our Navajo guide
- Hike in Petrified Forest National Park and visit its painted desert
Day 1: Phoenix Arrival
Our trip begins in Phoenix, Arizona. We rendezvous at the meeting location before setting out to remote Canyon de Chelly National Monument. As we travel across Arizona to the Navajo Nation, we stop along the way to explore Petrified Forest National Park and get up close and personal with the giant logs and their amazing rainbow colors. Traveling further in the park, we view the Painted Desert with its multicolored banded hills on display before us. Arriving at Canyon de Chelly in the late afternoon, we marvel at the famous Spider Rock, which rises over 800 feet from the canyon floor; the sight is not only spectacular but also the core of many Navajo legends. We enjoy our first dinner together at the Thunderbird Cafeteria and look forward to the days to come.
Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Thunderbird Lodge, Chinle or similar
Drive time: 6 Hours
Hiking: 0.5 mi / 0.8 km, Elevation difference: minimal
Day 2: Descend to the canyon floor
We meet with our Navajo guide, who leads us along a dramatic descent down the Bat Rock Trail into Canyon de Chelly. The winding path brings us to the canyon floor, where towering sandstone cliffs rise on either side. At the base, we pause to admire Spider Rock, the iconic 800-foot sandstone spire that dominates the junction of Canyon de Chelly and Monument Canyon. According to Navajo legend, Spider Rock is the home of Spider Woman, a powerful figure who taught the Navajo people the art of weaving. Her presence infuses the canyon with a sense of protection, creativity, and spiritual significance, making this natural wonder as culturally meaningful as it is geologically striking. After taking in the view, we explore the surrounding canyon floor, navigating the sandy terrain and appreciating the intricate rock formations, scattered ruins, and ancient traces of human history. Every step connects us to the natural and cultural legacy embedded in these cliffs. As the afternoon light softens, we ascend back to the canyon rim, where our comfortable hotel awaits. From this elevated vantage point, we reflect on the day’s adventure, marveling at the dramatic vistas and the layered beauty of a landscape shaped by both geology and legend.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Thunderbird Lodge, Chinle or similar
Hiking: Approx. 6–8 mi / 9.7–12.9 km, Elevation difference: +/- 800 ft / 244 m
Day 3: White Sands Trail
We explore the White Sands trail today and step back in time to experience life as it must have been centuries ago. Hiking into the canyon, we pass original Navajo hogans and half-wild livestock, stopping to admire the Sliding House Ruins, an extraordinary Ancestral Puebloan settlement perched on a sloping ledge. Its structures, carefully stabilized with retaining walls, seem to defy gravity, offering a glimpse into the ingenuity and resilience of its builders. Our Navajo guide shares stories of the canyon’s name, the bee plants that sustained its early inhabitants, and the clever log “ladders” used to evade invaders. Stunning views and incredible tales deepen our connection to this sacred land, leaving us with a lasting sense of wonder as the desert light softens on the canyon walls. Tonight, we head to the Junction Restaurant and have the opportunity to try some authentic Navajo dishes.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Thunderbird Lodge, Chinle or similar
Hiking: Approx. 7–9 mi / 11.3–14.5 km, Elevation difference: +/- 800 ft / 244 m
Day 4: White House Ruins
Rising with the morning light, we descend into Canyon de Chelly one more time, making our way to the White House Ruins, an awe-inspiring cliff dwelling perched in a sunlit alcove. Along the trail, we pass remnants of ancient life, original hogans, log ladders, and rock-carved steps that speak to the ingenuity of the Ancestral Puebloans and Navajo who once inhabited these canyons. After exploring the ruins and taking in the dramatic vistas, we ascend back to the rim, reflecting on the history, stories, and sacred beauty we’ve experienced throughout our journey. By lunchtime, we leave the canyon behind and head to Winslow, Arizona, where we enjoy a late lunch in this iconic town made famous by the Eagles’ song, savoring a final taste of the Southwest before concluding our adventure. We plan to arrive back in Phoenix between 6:30–7:30 pm this evening.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Drive time: 6 Hours
Hiking: Approx. 5.5 mi / 8.9 km, Elevation difference: +/- 600 ft / 183 m
Inclusions:
- 3 breakfasts, 4 picnic lunches, 3 dinners
- 3 nights accommodation
- Private transport
- Guide services
- National park entry fees & sightseeing as specified
Exclusions:
- Alcoholic beverages are not allowed on the Navajo Reservation
- Meals not indicated in the itinerary
- Flights, airport taxes, and airport transfers
- Travel Insurance (compulsory)
- Visas
- Medical treatment
- Personal expenses
- Optional excursions
- Tour leader tip (10 - 15% of tour price)
About Your Leader
All of our tour leaders are certified in First Aid and CPR and registered as official guides with the national parks. Most are bilingual and many of our departures are conducted in English as well as one other language (typically German or Spanish). Your tour leader is from the USA and may have grown up here or may have moved here from another country - As many Americans do!