Private vehicle tours
Moab Lux Tours, where you buy the vehicle, not the seat
A small private operator working the early and late ends of the day, when the light is worth getting up for and the viewpoints are empty. Island in the Sky from $650 for up to three guests.
The short answer
Best for: couples and small groups who want the vehicle to themselves, photographers chasing first and last light, and anyone who would rather not share a viewpoint at nine in the morning.
Island in the Sky starts at $650 for up to three guests. That is per vehicle, not per person, which changes the arithmetic entirely.
The model
Per vehicle, and what that means
Most Moab park tours sell a seat. This one sells the trip. The number looks larger and behaves differently, so it is worth doing the sum before dismissing it.
| Party size | Private from $650 | Shared seat at $155 | Shared seat at $275 |
|---|---|---|---|
| One person | $650 | $155 | $275 |
| Two people | $325each | $310total | $550total |
| Three people | $217each | $465total | $825total |
Private rate as published by the operator for up to three guests, checked September 2026. Shared seat rates are published Canyonlands half day and full day prices from other Moab operators, shown for comparison.
At one person the private vehicle is poor value. At two it is roughly level with a full day shared seat. At three it is cheaper per head than a $275 seat and you have the vehicle to yourselves, which is the point at which most people stop hesitating.
The angle
Early and late, which is when it matters
Island in the Sky is a mesa top district of viewpoints, and viewpoints are entirely about light. A scheduled tour leaves when the schedule says. A private vehicle leaves when the light says.
- Mesa Arch at sunrise is the most photographed thing in Canyonlands and it is over in about twenty minutes. Getting there for it means leaving Moab in the dark.
- Grand View Point in late light gives the long view down the rim with shadow in the canyons rather than flat midday glare.
- Dead Horse Point at sunset is a short detour off the same road, with a separate $20 state park fee that no federal pass covers.
- The middle of the day is when the car parks fill and the rock goes flat. A private trip can simply avoid it.
Fit
Who this suits
Photographers
The obvious case
Being at the right place at the right hour is most of photography, and a shared departure cannot do it. A private vehicle can leave at four in the morning if that is what the shot needs.
Couples and threes
The crossover point
At three guests, $650 works out at $217 each, below a $275 shared seat. At two it is close to level. Below that a shared tour is cheaper.
Anyone who would rather not share
A quiet day
No waiting for eleven other people at each stop, no fixed lunch time, and a guide answering your questions rather than the group's.
Before you book
What to ask when you ring
- What is the rate at our group size, and what changes if somebody drops out.
- What is included. Transport, gear, park entry, meals, tax and gratuity all vary.
- How much walking is there on our date, in miles rather than in adjectives.
- How many guests are already booked, if the trip is shared.
- What is the cancellation window, and is a deposit required.
Two more for this operator specifically. Ask what the rate covers beyond three guests, since the published figure is a starting price for a small vehicle. And if the light is why you are booking, say so when you ring rather than on the morning, because it changes the departure time and sometimes the route.
We do not run trips, own gear or employ guides, and no operator pays to appear here or to appear higher. Details below are from each company's own published material, checked September 2026. Full disclosure.
Common questions
Questions
How much does Moab Lux Tours cost?
Island in the Sky starts at $650 for up to three guests. That is a per vehicle rate rather than a per person one, so at three guests it works out at about $217 each, below a $275 shared seat on a full day tour.
Is a private tour cheaper than a shared tour in Moab?
It depends on your group size. At one person a shared seat is far cheaper. At two the two models are roughly level against a full day tour. At three or more a private vehicle usually wins on price as well as on flexibility.
Can I book a sunrise tour of Canyonlands?
Yes, and it is the main reason to book privately. Mesa Arch at sunrise is the most photographed subject in Canyonlands and the light lasts about twenty minutes, which means leaving Moab in the dark. A scheduled departure cannot usually accommodate that.
How many people fit in a Moab Lux vehicle?
The published starting rate covers up to three guests. Ask about larger parties when you ring, since the rate beyond three is not published.
Does the tour include Dead Horse Point?
Ask when you book. Dead Horse Point is a short detour off the same road as Island in the Sky, but it is a Utah state park with a separate $20 per vehicle fee that no national park pass covers.
Next step
Compare the alternatives
Rates from the operator's own published material, checked September 2026. Comparison figures are other operators' published seat prices.