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Monument Valley Hogan: Authentic Navajo Overnight Experience

4.1

12 Ratings

Oljato-Monument Valley

Immerse yourself in the enchantment of Monument Valley with an authentic Navajo overnight experience. Explore the iconic landscape, enjoy traditional Navajo dinner and entertainment, and spend the night in a traditional Hogan.

Duration: 2 days

Cancellation: 1 day learn more

Highlights

Evening tour and Dreamcatcher Experience

Simpson’s Trailhandler Tours - During the 2.5 hour tour you will visit sites such as the amazing Big Hogan arch, the Sun’s Eye arch and ancient petroglyphs (rock art), the Ear of the Wind arch, the famous Totem Pole and Yei bi chei rock formations, John Fords Point and many more. You will also visit a traditional Navajo Hogan where you can witness the Navajo prepare their wool and demonstrate their craft of rug weaving!

As the sun begins to fade in the west and the stars begin to fill the Monument Valley skies, you will then visit the scenic setting of Rain God Mesa where our Navajo cooks will prepare traditional Navajo tacos with homemade frybread and grill steaks over a campfire.This night you will be able to enjoy your dinner in the greatest outdoor setting you can imagine!

The evening will continue with a special Navajo cultural entertainment program. A Navajo dancer dressed in full regalia, will perform various dances while a master of ceremonies drums and chants and tells stories near an open campfire, and under a sky full of Monument Valley stars!

Later in the evening, our guide will bring you to your traditional Hogan, where you will spend the night. The Hogan is made out of natural resources such as desert juniper trees, juniper barks, and dirt plastered over the dome-shape structure made out of juniper logs. It is a traditional Navajo Hogan, so it is important to know, that there is no electricity or running water. For the night we will provide you with a thin mat, a sleeping bag and a lantern. If you wish to have more comfort we would recommend you bring a pillow and maybe some extra padding such as a camping mat.

Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park - Participation in the traditional Hogan Overnight experience offers the perfect way to learn about the Navajo culture, experience all the beauty and magic of Monument Valley and spend a night in a traditional Navajo Hogan.

During the 2.5 hour tour you will visit sites such as the amazing Big Hogan arch, the Sun’s Eye arch and ancient petroglyphs (rock art), the Ear of the Wind arch, the famous Totem Pole and Yei bi chei rock formations, John Fords Point and many more. You will also visit a traditional Navajo Hogan where you can witness the Navajo prepare their wool and demonstrate their craft of rug weaving!

Monument Valley becomes the perfect setting for stargazing, since there is no artificial light to interfere. You will see more stars and constellations than you have ever seen in your life! It is a great place to stargaze and enjoy the view, prior to falling asleep for the night.

The next day early in the morning, before the sun rises, our guide will take you to a beautiful area to observe an amazing Monument Valley sunrise. Have your camera ready, because this event is breathtaking. After enjoying this beautiful sunrise, you will return to Rain God Mesa to enjoy a Continental style breakfast. After breakfast concludes, our guide will escort you back out of the valley to where your car is parked (approximately 8:00 am).

What's Included

Transportation in open-air vehicle or enclosed van tailored to weather conditions
Overnight stay in a genuine Navajo Hogan with sleeping essentials
Authentic live entertainment program
Traditional Navajo dinner and drinks
Knowledgeable local Navajo guide proficient in English
Continental breakfast
Exclusive evening and sunrise tours of the Valley

What's Not Included

Entrance fees to the Navajo Tribal Park
Gratuities

Additional Information

Savor the magic of Monument Valley, delve into Navajo culture, and experience a night in an authentic Navajo Hogan.

Our Traditional Hogan Overnight package is an expansive set of activities. It opens with a 2.5-hour evening journey through the iconic landscapes of Monument Valley, taking you through private routes and off-limit areas. A traditional Navajo dinner will be served to you in the heart of the valley near Rain God Mesa after the evening journey, accompanied by a unique entertainment show featuring customary dancing, singing, drumming and storytelling around the warmth of a bonfire. Your night will be spent in a genuine Navajo Hogan. The following morning, our Navajo guide will accompany you on another outing to marvel at the stunning sunrise over Monument Valley. The tour ends with a continental breakfast.

Children must be accompanied by an adult
A minimum of 2 people per booking
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately

Location

Navajo Welcome Center

Welcome Center

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings

4.1

(12 Ratings)

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1 star

Passenger23414259257

Sep 20, 2023

The highlight of our trip - We took our children (between 11-17 years old) on an evening jeep tour, overnight stay in a traditional hogan and morning tour with the Navajo in Monument Valley. This was the highlight of our 21 day trip in the western USA. The jeep tour takes you into Navajo country that is otherwise not accessible to tourists. Our wonderful guide Stanley told us about the rocks, the names they were given and what they mean to Navajo culture. We had plenty of time to get out and walk around. Stanley often gave us tips from which viewpoint to take beautiful pictures. We drove to a place where a traditional dinner was served under the trees beneath a cliff. A friendly lady gave us delicious tortilla with all meat and vegetables we could eat. After dinner, we listened to a fascinating explanation about the history of the Navajo in and around Monument Valley. We also got to see ritual dances by Navajo in traditional costumes. Then Stanley took us to the hogan for the overnight stay. This was very basic: sleeping on mats on the floor, sleeping bags were also provided. For us, it made the experience complete and it was just as expected. In the morning we were woken up very early to go to a beautiful place to watch a truly magical sunrise: the upcoming sun, the silence, and the magnificent landscape. We also had a basic but very tasty breakfast. A big thumbs up for the organization, who provided us with this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Highly recommended!

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Drjbenavidez

May 2, 2023

Magic in Navajo Nation - I cannot begin to exclaim how amazing this experience was! My father and I are of Navajo (Diné descent), so I wanted to take him to Navajo Nation for his 65th birthday and before I got too disabled to travel (I have Multiple Sclerosis). We traveled to Kayenta, AZ from California and stayed the night at a hotel to be well rested for the tour. The next day, we drove to the tour loading site and we met up with our tour guide, Mr. Wayne. Now let me tell you about Wayne. He's a boss, a true G. He took so many good pictures of me and my father and even joined us in some. He explained each Monument and the story behind it. He was so friendly and patient with us! The monuments themselves: OMG!!!!!! Never have I spiritually connected with mesas. They all seem to have a shape of something so when you use you imagination you can really see why they're named the way they are. It's not just one or two there are like 10-15 huge monuments that were epic! We also saw Anasazi petroglyphs, pottery, and ruins. Talk about connecting with the ancients! The pictures don't do what we saw justice! After the tour, we stopped where Wayne's niece, Miss Pearl, cooked us delicious Navajo Tacos. She explained the history about them and was also so nice. Mr. Simpson played the drum/sang and we had the honor of seeing Mr. Cody perform some ceremonial dances. Mr. Simpson had the most amazing voice; the acoustics of the canyon made it sound so ethereal. Mr. Simpson even sang happy birthday to my father in the Navajo language. He also sang a romantic ballad. I felt so honored that the Diné people shared their culture with us. We drove to the Hogan (a structure made by Navajos that they used to live in) Keep in mind there is no running water (bring wipes)! And there is no electricity (bring lanterns, flashlights, and portable phone chargers). Mr. Ralph, one of the owners, was VERY crystal clear about this so anyone who is "surprised" by the accommodations really shouldn't be because in the description and when you book, it is confirmed with you. When we woke up in the Hogan we were scrambling to pack, but Wayne was very patient with us. He took us to see the sunrise and OMG what a spiritual experience to see the sun flood the valley. After this we had a continental breakfast of cereal, muffins, fruit, juice, and milk. It was very nice of them to accommodate us this way. Again it is a continental breakfast, so don't expect a full course meal. Book the overnight Hogan experience if you really want to connect with Navajo culture! It is well worth the price and traveling time! We had an Unforgettable experience thanks to this company! Some things to remember: You are a guest on Navajo Nation. We are lucky they even open their sacred land to us to visit given their history with outsiders in the past. Always show respect the people there. Do not talk over them or interrupt them. Do not ask rude questions. Do not be offended if they joke a lot or are quiet (this is part of the culture). Educate yourself about the Navajo people and culture before you go. Learn about their origin story and the trials they have been through (such as the long walk and more current uranium mining). Tip GENEROUSLY. The average salary of a person living on the reservation is under the poverty line. You have a responsibility to tip and to tip generously. CHECK THE WEATHER BEFORE YOU GO. Don't assume it will be hit because it's a desert.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Z1880oevickim

Nov 20, 2022

Highly, highly recommend. - This excursion was even better than we could have imagined.Ralph in the office was very responsible and thorough in giving us directions, helping us what to know and what to bring. Our guide was Jaime and within a few hours he felt like a dear old friend. He took time to learn about us in a genuine and sincere way. He brought us up to multiple vistas explaining the geology and history, each view was more beautiful than the last. Jaime has finally honed his tour and his camera skills. He knew exactly which settings to use to get the most amazing pictures. We had the opportunity to listen to him and another guide play flute and sing; I closed my eyes and was transported to a different time. He also demonstrated four dances which were the after dinner entertainment. Coming from an area where there is too much light, I was delighted that I could see the Milky Way in the middle of the night. Do this tour and ask for Jaime. This excursion was one of the best parts of our trip and will stay in my memory always.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Glenpyper

Jun 25, 2022

Spectacular place, epic tour - Stunning tour around the Navajo wilderness with our native guide. What an amazing place to see in the flesh. The Hogan was basic camp, so take a pillow, and maybe a hand fan as it got hot.

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Tn307

Jul 11, 2019

AMAZING! A Must do... - This was one of the most memorable and beautiful experiences! Our guide John was WONDERFUL!!! Everything about the tour, dinner, culture and overnight in the Hogan was more than we expected. Being outside at night looking up at the most stars you could ever imagine and realizing that you are in the middle of one of the most beautiful places in our great country brought tears to our eyes. It is sad to see some of these reviews in such a negative form. If you are looking for a luxury hotel and a restaurant this is not for you. This is for those who know the true beauty of what the world is without all of the distractions...We would do this again in a heartbeat! Ralph set up our reservation and was so helpful with everything. Thank you for everything!!!!

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Bichour61

May 16, 2019

Awesome, just do it - A very good trip, worth it every step of the way ! Our guide Jamie was really great. It's an unforgettable nature experience. Even though not everyone would like it because of the adventurous side of the trip. Do the overnight only if you don't mind having a relatively rough night, but again, it's part of the adventure and completely worth a short and uncomfortable night. Two things : Yes it is a bit expensive and also the tour can be a bit unpredictable (bad weather, uninterested guide, late guests)

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Ann

Jul 5, 2019

Worst night of our vacation - We are a family of four (13 & 15 year old teens) who are taking a trip across the Southwest. I deliberated a lot about this overnight, given the negative reviews I saw. I even called to cancel, because it was so much money and I wasn’t sure it was going to be a good experience. I spoke with someone who assured me it was great and the negative review was someone who didn’t arrive to the tour on time and left early, so they missed the tour part. After being talked back into the overnight, we enjoyed the first part of the tour immensely (tour, meal and entertainment). This was the sunset tour that I had tried to change our reservation to and it is excellent and worth the $150 to have an afternoon/evening seeing the sights and hearing about Navajo culture. Sadly, this where the accolades end. When we arrived at our hogan, it felt very confusing. Our guide seemed surprised we wanted to sleep in a hogan given how how it was outside. He let us in to the hogan, which was a souvenir shop and didn’t really have room for us and all the merchandise on display. He then suggested sleeping under the stars, which was what the other two groups planned to do. As a mom, the concept of sleeping outside in the desert when the “desert comes alive with life” was NOT appealing. We chose to sleep in the little shack where they sell things that barely has a roof but offered some protection from the elements. It was a horrible, sleepless night. The tarp covering the shed flapped all night long (imagine someone shaking a grocery bag by your ear all night) and sand constantly blowing in your face. Multiple times that night a dog belonging to a neighbor got into a fight with a wild horse and barked all night long. Our guide meanwhile, slept on a cot! I was so jealous and the entire night we weren’t sleeping I debated asking him to take us back so we could sleep in the car. Yet, we persevered.... while it was a beautiful sunrise, the breakfast was just so so (fruit and banana bread or cereal), then we drove straight back to the hotel. DO NOT spend an extra $150 for this “experience”! It ruined our next day, as instead of sightseeing we were all cranky and exhausted, so we barely saw Sedona. I am SO disappointed, particularly since I had tried to cancel this part of the tour and been talked out of it. Trust ME, not worth the loss of sleep!!!

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Jacknicholson31

Nov 16, 2018

Very very disappointing - I did the overnight experience in an Hogan. What a big mistake it was. I booked this tour because I thought it would be great to see the monuments in both sunset and sunrise. Thanks to this company, I missed both. First, he was obviously disapointed that I was alone in his tour, he did not bother exiting the car in most stops we made. The first thing he told me was that it was cold and did not want to eat outside and that we would go to a "cantine". I did not mind that much so I said ok. This was in fact an empty room back in town (we had to leave the valley and come back to the hogan during the night). One of the stops during the day is at the hogan you will sleep in so a lady can show you few ustensile Navajo used. This lasts about 5min and you are greatly encourage to give money (my guide basically told me: there is a box to put money here). Looking at the price we pay for this tour, I do not think this is ok to ask for more money playing on the old lady card, knowing that she does that for every tour and is part of the same clan etc... but why not... The dinner is barely ok, they give you a taco with a burnt steak and some tea. Again, not really an issue if we were not paying so much. The "European Breakfast" is a total joke as it consists of a banana and an orange juice given in the car. Again, paying 250$ for this is kind of bothering. In the morning, the "tour" basically consists of taking you from the hogan to a place where you will watch the sunrise for 10min before leaving. I had specifically asked that we saw the sunrise on the monuments as I was alone in the tour and we did not see the sunset. My guide decided to take me to another place, which was ok but not what I wanted to see and what I asked... In the end, I told him i would prefer keep moving to the hotel so I could see it. We drove and had to stop at the bottom as the sun was already rising...ending in me seeing the sunset on the wrong side of one monument, the other being hidden in the back. The night in the hogan is as expected and described, on a mattress with a sleeping bag. Nothing to complain about here, and the stargazing is quite amazing. What I would do instead of this tour is book a night at the hotel where you would be able to see both sunset and sunrise and do a day tour with any company. That would be approximately the same price (or a lot less expensive if you are 2) and a lot better.

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