(1) We used a native Navajo guide service associated with Monument/Mystery Valleys. See the review written by "ThePajamahadeen" for the name of the guide service. Contact the Monument Valley resort staff or the guide company directly for the best service and appointment date/time. (2) There is a cost for the guide service - the Monument Valley Tour is usually in the morning and the Mystery Valley tour is in the afternoon. You may want to reverse it - -this way you get to see the petroglyphs in Mystery valley in the morning light and the sandstone monuments in Monument Valley in the afternoon light. A full day tour is about $350.00. (It's worth it). (3) Yes, you will need a guide as it is all on Navajo nation land. You can't go in without either tribal permission or a tribal approved guide. I hope this helps you. Regards,, ThePajamahadeen

We stayed at the Kayenta Hampton Inn and drove to Monument Valley. We did the first part of the tour in the morning using a native guide service. We got to see all of the "off-the beaten-track" sights - including petroglyphs, arches, caves and historic landmarks such as John Ford Point (yes, the movie director). The same afternoon we used the same guide and went into "Mystery Valley". Here we were able to see an entire wall of petroglyphs left behind by natives from @1300 AD. We climbed into arches and caves not normally visited by tourists. The scenery was spectacular. Climbing the "slickrock" is not for the timid, and the climbing was arduous in spots, but the views and pictures were incredible. All of my pictures will be posted soon. (1) The back trails by vehicle are extremely bouncy. If you husband has a bad back, this may not be the trip for you. (2) If you stay at TheView, my answer is probably not. It's a great place - but not 3 days worth. (3) Mystery Valley, for us, was the better of the two tours - but that's just us. We climbed the slickrock and other interesting areas and I managed even with my dodgey knees. We used the Monument Valley Dineh Bikeyah Tours. They were extremely informative and knowledgable about all aspects of Navajo tradition and history. We would use them again when we need another Navajo tour.