The Original Sedona UFO and Stargazing Night Tour

Sedona’s red rocks are impressive by day, but the real surprise comes after dark. At three viewing spots, you’ll look through military-grade night vision goggles and see far more stars and moving lights than you can with your bare eyes. Guide Shay brings plenty of energy, UFO stories, and explanations of what you may be seeing overhead.

I like the easy central meeting point and the fact that you follow the guide in your own car, rather than being packed into a shuttle. I also like the winter heaters and the chance to hear local stories while looking toward Thunder Mountain and Fay Canyon. The main catch is that you’ll share one goggle between two adults, and seating can be limited, so this is not the best pick if standing for long periods is difficult.

Key points to know before booking

• Military night vision changes the view: The goggles reveal stars, distant lights, and moving objects that are hard to see with the naked eye.
• Three viewing areas: You’ll travel near Fay Canyon, Cultural Park Place, and Crystal Magic Psychic Center.
• You drive yourself: Meet in central Sedona, then follow the guide’s vehicle to each stop.
• UFO stories are central to the tour: The guide presents local sightings and her own experiences with plenty of enthusiasm.
• Goggles are shared: One pair is provided for every two adults over age 11, with adult help required for younger children.
• Plan for uneven ground and standing: Wear closed-toe shoes, and arrive 30 minutes early for check-in.

What the Sedona UFO tour is really about

This is part stargazing outing, part storytelling session, and part unusual night attraction. You are not simply taken to a dark overlook and left to identify constellations. The guide points out stars, explains objects moving overhead, and connects the night sky to reports of UFO activity around Sedona.

The most distinctive feature is the night vision equipment. Looking through the goggles gives the sky a green-tinted, high-contrast appearance. Stars become easier to pick out, and distant lights can seem much closer or stranger than they do normally. Several people have found this to be the most memorable part of the evening, including visitors who arrived as skeptics.

You should also know what kind of experience you are buying. The tour treats UFO sightings as a serious subject. The guide may identify lights as alien craft rather than satellites or aircraft, and the stories can be dramatic. If you enjoy paranormal subjects and are happy to consider different explanations, the evening can be great fun. If you want a strictly scientific astronomy lesson, you may find the tone too speculative.

The guide named most often in the supplied information is Shay, with the name also appearing as Shea or Chey. Her style is lively and personal. She tells stories, keeps the group talking, and explains her view of what appears in the sky. That energy is a major part of the experience.

Meeting in central Sedona and following your guide

You begin at Sedona UFO Tours LLC, at 1890 West State Route 89A, Suite D. The office is centrally located, though the suite can be harder to spot than expected, so I would give yourself extra time to find it. The operator requires arrival 30 minutes before the scheduled start for check-in.

This early arrival matters. The tour leaves on time, and a late check-in may be treated as a no-show without a refund, reschedule, or tour credit. One unhappy booking resulted from arriving after departure, so do not cut this close. Build in time for traffic, parking, and finding the office.

You must bring your own vehicle. After check-in, the group drives behind the guide to the viewing areas. An Uber, Lyft, taxi, or other drop-off service will not work for this outing because you need to follow the group between locations.

That arrangement has a practical upside. You can keep your own belongings in the car, leave when the tour ends without waiting for a shared vehicle, and avoid spending the whole evening in a crowded van. The tradeoff is that the experience is less hands-off than a normal guided tour. You need to navigate behind the guide and stay with the group.

The activity is offered in English and normally lasts about 1 hour 45 minutes. Sunset times can shift the start by 15 minutes or, at times, as much as an hour. Check the final message sent before the tour so you have the right departure time.

The drive past Thunder Mountain and Red Rock crossings

Once the group leaves the meeting point, the guide drives toward the first viewing area. Along the way, you pass Thunder Mountain, Red Rock crossing, and the road leading toward Fay Canyon.

These are not formal sightseeing stops, so do not expect time to get out, walk around, or take photographs at each point. They help place you in the Sedona area and provide a scenic lead-in before the sky becomes the focus.

The drive also gives the guide a chance to explain nearby places and point out roads connected with local attractions. You pass the street leading toward the Stupa, but the tour does not visit the Stupa. If you want to see it, plan a separate visit during daylight.

The first viewing site sits adjacent to the Fay Canyon area. It is not a hike into Fay Canyon, and the tour does not promise a formal lookout with paved paths. You may walk over gravel, dirt, or uneven pavement, so closed-toe shoes are a must.

Fay Canyon: the first look through night vision

At the first site, the guide gets the group settled and hands out the night vision goggles. This is usually where the evening begins to feel different from ordinary stargazing.

One pair is supplied for every two adults over age 11. That sharing policy is deliberate. Looking straight upward for a long time can strain your neck, and switching between two people gives each person a chance to rest. Still, sharing means you will not have continuous use of the equipment.

Children age 10 and younger share with an adult and must be assisted at all times. Children may not physically hold the goggles because of their cost. Adults over 18 may also receive an approved star pointer, which the guide uses to direct attention toward specific points in the sky.

The Fay Canyon stop is where you may see the widest spread of stars and moving lights, depending on clouds and moonlight. A clear night can reveal constellations and even the Andromeda Galaxy. Cloud cover or a bright moon can reduce the view, especially if your main goal is the Milky Way.

The guide’s narration is just as important as the equipment. You hear explanations about orbital height and why some visible objects may not be satellites, along with stories of reported activity over Sedona. Some of these claims are unusual and not presented with a skeptical scientific filter, so keep that in mind when deciding if the tour fits your interests.

Cultural Park Place and the second viewing area

The group then continues toward a viewing site near Cultural Park Place. The drive is short enough to keep the evening moving, but the tour still feels like a small road outing rather than one fixed observation session.

This second location gives the guide another chance to point out lights, stars, and possible craft from a different angle. Moving between sites is useful because trees, hills, nearby buildings, and city glow can affect what you see in one direction.

The downside is that the tour does not provide a private telescope for each person or a chair at every position. Equipment is shared, and seating may be limited. Some people have found themselves standing for much of the experience, so consider bringing a compact chair only if the operator allows it and you can manage it while following the group.

The activity information says the maximum group size is six, which would make the session feel fairly personal. The equipment rules still apply, though, so a small group does not mean one goggle per person. Confirm the group size and equipment arrangement when booking if this is important to you.

Crystal Magic and the final night-sky stop

The route passes Crystal Magic Psychic Center on 89A before reaching another viewing location. The center is a recognizable point along the drive, but it is not the main attraction and you should not expect a shopping stop as part of the timed tour.

This final viewing area gives the guide another setting for UFO stories and sky watching. By this point, you will have had several chances to compare the ordinary sky with the night vision view. That comparison is one of the outing’s strengths. You can look up normally, then use the goggles and see how much more detail appears.

The tour ends by following the group back to the original meeting point. There is no separate return transfer, so keep your own vehicle with you throughout the evening.

What the goggles reveal, and what they do not prove

The night vision goggles are the feature that makes this activity different from a standard Sedona stargazing walk. They amplify available light and make faint points in the sky easier to notice. This can include stars, distant lights, and objects moving across the sky.

That visual effect can be startling. A light that seems ordinary to the naked eye may look bright and unusual through the goggles. The guide then offers an interpretation, often connecting the object to UFO activity.

I would treat the goggles as a viewing tool, not proof of an extraterrestrial explanation. The equipment can help you see more, but it cannot by itself identify what an object is. That distinction matters if you are comparing this tour with a conventional astronomy program.

The best approach is to enjoy the strange and beautiful view while keeping your own judgment. Believers will get plenty of material to think about. Skeptics can still appreciate the stars, the technology, and the chance to discuss how people interpret unexplained lights.

The practical comfort issues

The tour supplies heaters during colder months, which is useful in Sedona’s nighttime temperatures. Bring layers anyway. A heater can warm the group, but it does not replace a jacket, hat, or warm shoes.

There are no restrooms at the viewing locations. Use facilities before leaving the meeting point, especially if you are traveling with children.

You may stand on gravel, dirt, or uneven pavement, and the activity is not recommended for anyone who has trouble walking or standing. Neck strain is also possible from looking upward for long periods. Sharing the goggles helps, but you should still pace yourself.

Flash photography and audio or video recording are not permitted. This rule protects the equipment and the way the guide conducts the session. Breaking it can end your tour early. You can take in the sky with your own eyes, but do not plan on documenting the whole evening.

Service animals are allowed, and the activity is near public transportation, but public transport does not replace the required personal vehicle for the driving portion.

Is $155 a fair price?

At $155 per person, this is not a budget stargazing stop. The price pays for a guide, access to specialized night vision equipment, winter heaters, several viewing areas, and a small-group format when the maximum applies.

I think the value depends on what you want from the night. If you are curious about night vision, UFO stories, and a guided outing with a strong personality, the price may feel reasonable. The equipment is the part you cannot easily recreate on your own.

If you mainly want to see constellations in a quiet, scientifically grounded setting, you may find better value elsewhere. A bright moon, clouds, or city glow can limit the view, and the tour cannot guarantee a UFO sighting. You are paying for the guided format and the chance to look through the goggles, not a guaranteed celestial event.

A free gift is included, and the operator also has an Alien Tour Shop and Cafe at the meeting location. Arriving early gives you time to look around, but shopping is separate from the tour itself.

Who should book this Sedona night tour?

I would recommend it to adults, families with older children, and couples who enjoy unusual local attractions. It also suits people who want a memorable night activity after hiking and sightseeing during the day.

Children can participate, but younger ones need constant adult assistance and cannot hold the goggles. Since the subject matter is presented seriously, parents should decide if the UFO stories fit their children.

This is a good match for you if:

• You enjoy paranormal stories and open-ended questions.
• You want to try military night vision equipment.
• You do not mind sharing one pair of goggles.
• You can stand and walk on uneven ground.
• You are comfortable driving behind a guide at night.
• You want a small, conversational activity rather than a large bus tour.

It is a weaker match if you need guaranteed seating, a restroom at the viewing site, private transportation, or a traditional astronomy lesson. It is also not ideal if you dislike speculative UFO claims.

Weather can change the quality of the evening. The operator may cancel for poor conditions, area closures, or other safety concerns. If the weather is bad, you may be offered another date or a full refund. The experience also requires a minimum number of bookings, and cancellation for that reason brings the same options.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a playful, unusual Sedona night centered on night vision goggles and UFO storytelling. The strongest part is the view through the equipment, especially on a clear night when stars and distant lights become much easier to spot.

Skip it if your priority is formal astronomy, guaranteed dark skies, or a seated program. For the right audience, the mix of technology, local stories, and three viewing areas can be memorable. Just arrive early, bring your own car, wear sturdy shoes, and keep an open mind without handing over your critical judgment.

FAQ

Do I need my own vehicle for the tour?

Yes. You meet at the central Sedona office and then follow the guide in your own vehicle to the viewing locations. You cannot arrive using an Uber, Lyft, taxi, or another form of transportation that leaves you without a car.

How many night vision goggles are provided?

One pair is provided for every two adults over age 11. Children age 10 and younger share with an adult and must be assisted. Children may not physically hold the goggles.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes. Tour times can change with sunset, sometimes by 15 minutes and occasionally by as much as an hour.

Are restrooms available at the viewing sites?

No. There are no restrooms at the viewing locations, so use facilities before leaving the meeting point.

What should I wear?

Wear closed-toe shoes suitable for gravel, dirt, or uneven pavement. Warm layers are also useful during colder months, although heaters are provided in winter.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered another date or a full refund. The experience may also be canceled if the minimum number of bookings is not met, with the same options available.