The Sedona vortex tour, honestly
Sedona’s vortexes are part of the town’s identity, and the jeep vortex tour is one of the most popular ways to see them. Here is what you are actually buying.
The short answer
The Guided Vortex Jeep Tour is a two-and-a-half-hour, small-group visit to several of Sedona's vortex sites with a guide who explains them. It costs ~$124, rates 4.8 from 134 reviews and involves no off-roading at all. You are paying for the route and the commentary. Whether you feel anything at the sites is between you and the sites.
What a vortex is, briefly
Vortex sites are specific spots around Sedona that many people believe carry a concentrated natural energy. The idea grew with the New Age movement, and the town has drawn spiritual travellers ever since the Harmonic Convergence of 1987. The places usually named include Bell Rock, Airport Mesa, Cathedral Rock and Boynton Canyon. The listing does not say which sites the tour visits, so do not book it expecting a particular one.
What is included
- About 2.5 hours in a small group with AZ Safari Jeep Tours
- Visits to several vortex sites, with time on foot at each
- A guide covering the energy spots, their healing reputation and the red rock around them
- Bottled water
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Off-roading of any kind: the listing is explicit about this
- Gratuities, with 18% charged upfront for parties of six or more
- Hotel pickup: you meet at Jordan Road and Apple Avenue
The walking
This is the part people miss. The jeep does the driving between sites, but at each stop you get out and walk on uneven ground. The operator asks for comfortable shoes and excludes people with mobility impairments. It is not a strenuous hike, but it is not a sit-in-the-seat tour either.
Who it suits
- Anyone who came to Sedona for more than the geology. This is the only tour on the page built around the vortexes.
- Curious sceptics. The sites are beautiful whatever you believe, and a good guide makes the beliefs interesting rather than demanding.
- People who want a smooth ride. No off-roading means no bouncing between stops.
Who should book something else
- Thrill-seekers. If you wanted to be thrown around, take Rim Run Supreme instead.
- Families with babies. No children under two, and under-fives need a full car seat you bring yourself. See jeep tours with kids.
- Anyone with limited mobility. Oak Creek Canyon stays in the jeep, on tarmac.
- Anyone who wants the big view. Scenic Rim climbs onto the Mogollon Rim, which this tour does not.
If the vortexes are why you came
~$124 per person, 2.5 hours, small group, bottled water included. Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 134 reviews.
In short
A smooth, small-group tour of several vortex sites with a guide who explains them, some walking on uneven ground and no off-roading. Book it for the places and the conversation, not for the jeep. The history section on the main page explains how Sedona became a vortex town in the first place.