Phoenix Private Wupatki & Sunset Crater Tour Review: Is it Worth It?

Okay, so you’re thinking of taking a day trip from Phoenix, right? Perhaps a private tour to Wupatki National Monument and Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument is something you are contemplating? You know, a chance to see some pretty cool stuff and escape the city for a bit? I took this very tour not that long ago, and I can tell you a bit about it. I can go over what to expect, what you’ll see, and if the whole thing is worth your time and, you know, money.

What is the Phoenix Private Wupatki & Sunset Crater Tour?

The Phoenix Private Wupatki & Sunset Crater Tour, well it is that, a personalized, guided trip from Phoenix to two awesome national monuments found in northern Arizona. This tour whisks you away from the desert landscape of Phoenix up to a completely different scenery. You will get ancient ruins, you will get volcanic landscapes, and stunning views all around. Because it is a private tour, you’re getting a far more intimate experience than, let’s say, you would on a big bus tour. That also means that you will have a guide all to yourself, that you can ask every question under the sun from, and that you can completely adjust the pace and itinerary, in a way, to what works best for you.

Typically, alright the tour starts pretty early in the morning – like, you’re talking 7 AM pick-up time. A friendly guide swings by your Phoenix-area hotel in a comfortable SUV. Then, you guys will be off on your adventure, you know, with a drive north.

What Do You See on this Tour?

On this tour, get prepared to see some quite remarkable stuff. You’ll be spending time at both Wupatki National Monument and Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, and each has got its unique highlights.

Wupatki National Monument

Wupatki, that is where you will see some amazing ancient Pueblo ruins. It’s almost a step back in time. The main site, Wupatki Pueblo, is really remarkable. I am talking about a large, red sandstone structure that was home to people going as far back as 800 years. Walking through it, that definitely gave me a feel for how life might have been way back then. So that is rather unique, to say the least. Plus, your guide will probably tell you all the interesting stories and historical info to really bring it all to life. Very interesting, that.

One rather unique feature at Wupatki Pueblo? It is this community room. Now, it gets a bit weird, because archaeologists think that the room was influenced by the ball courts of cultures from, you know, even further south – Mesoamerica. That kind of makes you think about, wow, just how far ideas and connections went way back when, and it just very incredible, that.

You will definitely see the Lomaki Pueblo too. It is a smaller ruin, granted, though no less striking, and it stands on the edge of a small canyon. Then, there is the Citadel Pueblo, built on top of a sandstone outcrop, alright, giving you terrific views of the surrounding area.

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument

Sunset Crater is something entirely different altogether – that being a landscape shaped by volcanic activity. The Sunset Crater, okay it is this cinder cone that rose out of the ground back in about 1085 AD, so it has really changed the area around it. Even today, it appears like you are walking on another planet, which I can tell you, you know, is quite impressive. So that is how it feels.

Okay, you definitely want to check out the Lava Flow Trail, as it will lead you through a field of jagged black lava. It is almost unreal, really. You will get to see ice caves (well, kind of…), weird pressure ridges, and all this terrain. Plus, you’re getting some pretty neat views from the top of the crater itself. Because the altitude is around 7,000 feet up, okay you’re likely going to find the air is quite a bit cooler than in Phoenix, which really can be a welcome relief, and all that stuff.

For someone who likes a good view? You could always take a look at the Lenox Crater Trail. It has some moderately steep sections, though you get 360-degree views that happen to be really something else.

What Makes a Private Tour Special?

So a private tour, alright it is rather different than going with, let’s say, a group, with dozens of other folks. With this kind of tour, you get some very specific benefits. The first is that the experience, alright it can be really customized to what you want. Perhaps you have a really huge interest in archaeology? Okay, you can probably spend more time at Wupatki. Rather you want to hike around Sunset Crater? Your guide really can adapt, very much unlike what you will experience in big group tours, or so I assume.

Speaking of guides – having someone that has dedicated, just for you, can be quite awesome. So your guide has this wealth of knowledge about the area’s geology, history, and ecology, and all of that is right there just for you. Okay you will probably hear stories and facts that you will not find in a guidebook. Also, because you are getting individual attention, well you can ask all those silly questions you might feel weird asking in front of a crowd.

Then there is the comfort level. Going in a smaller vehicle is a very different experience altogether from being stuck on a big tour bus, I will just say. So you can stretch out, control the temperature, and you’re definitely not fighting for a window seat. Oh, and a major bonus, alright they’ll often provide snacks and drinks, meaning you don’t have to stress over bringing your own.

Is the Phoenix Private Wupatki & Sunset Crater Tour Worth It?

So, getting down to the main question – is this tour seriously worth it? Well, like your enjoyment of any tour, it does depend on what you want, what you’re looking for, and your budget. However, so here are some things you want to bear in mind:

• Convenience: The biggest plus is that you do not have to do any driving. The trip to Wupatki and Sunset Crater is, you know, it is about a two-hour drive from Phoenix, so alright having somebody else handle that, well it makes for a stress-free day.
• Knowledge: Seriously a good guide makes a ton of difference. I got to hear a ton of stories and info that you will just not find on your own. Their insights will likely add a ton to the whole experience.
• Personalization: That is really where a private tour excels. Getting to tailor the trip to your interests so you spend more time at the places that really excite you just will not happen when you have others involved.
• Price: Private tours certainly tend to be way more expensive than group tours. That being the case, if you’re really watching every penny, it probably isn’t the way to go. You really should compare costs with other tours.

Ultimately, if you’re somebody that values getting comfort, personalization, and convenience and also learning everything possible? And perhaps price is not an object? This tour so might be the right one for you.

On the other hand, if you’re okay with driving yourself, alright you would enjoy looking things up on your own, and you are attempting to spend as little as you can? You so might rather just drive up there yourself. Keep in mind that you will have to rent a car, probably, as well as purchase monument passes. You will also need to have a plan. Even if you skip the tour, I really advise not skipping the monuments themselves. So it is an Arizona sight, to be sure, that really does show off all that the state contains, and that would include desert, history, and even volcanos.

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