hopi tours

You are visiting a culture that is 900 years old. Think about it. Feel it. Breathe it. You can see the past while walking in the present. Understand a short journey may lead you into the depths of your own spirit. You'll be rewarded.

Many of the tour guides will take you to visit Hopi artists. Some galleries are owned by the artists and other galleries are owned by merchants who sell the work of local artists. One of our favorite galleries is the Rising Sun Gallery owned by husband/wife (silver artist/basket maker) Weaver and Alberta Selina. We made our first purchase of silver jewelry from Weaver in August 1994 and made our latest purchase in October 2012. His work is of a consistent high quality with extreme attention to detail and great customer service (he made us a custom pendant which was *exactly* what we wanted)! So if you are interested in purchasing, or even admiring, some beautiful artistry in silver, ask your guide to take you to Rising Sun Gallery, located on Second Mesa about one mile east of the Hopi Cultural Center Motel and Restaurant on the south side of route 264.

We decided to spend a day of our vacation on the Hopi reservation and chose Micah Loma'omvaya from Hopi Tours, an anthropologist and resident of Second Mesa, to lead us through the different villages. We have driven on reservation lands in the past throughout the Southwest, but never saw an opportunity to really immerse ourselves in the culture of a tribe. We researched some of the tour companies that offer day trips to the mesas, and chose Micah because of his background, commitment to advocating for the Hopi people and involvement in keeping the traditional Hopi ways alive, especially with the youth. It was easily the highlight of our trip. We booked the full day tour, which gave us a chance to see farming techniques (it's amazing what can be grown successfully in the desert-like atmosphere!) and the villages on all three mesas, along with a guided tour through the Cultural Center museum and a couple of side trips to petroglyph sites and a beautiful canyon. MIcah is engaging and very patient, as he answered many, many questions throughout the day. We had the chance to visit craftspeople in their homes and view their work. We had planned on having a traditional Hopi meal in a home setting, but unfortunately, due to ceremonies and other commitments, that was not possible. However, Micah guided us through the menu at the Cultural Center restaurant, and we did try several traditiional items. He also made us a gift of some piki bread made by his wife, so we were able to try that traditional staple as well. It is important to note that the Hopi have strict rules for visitors, so there is no photography allowed unless you are invited to do so, and you are expected to show respect while in the villages by not gathering stones, feathers, etc. and by dressing appropriately and remembering that you are a guest in someone's home/village and acting accordingly. While there is no way to fully absorb the customs and the deeply held spiritual beliefs of the Hopi people in a one day visit, we felt like we came away with a good starting picture and a desire to learn more. If you are looking for a special, unique experience and the opportunity to learn about a very different culture, this is a must-do.

My family stayed at the Moenkopi Lodge and were lucky enough to find out about Hopi Tours through a flyer in early May. With little warning we were able to book a tour the very next morning by phone call. Micah, our tour guide, was impressive. He is a practicing member of a Hopi Clan, and a very Professional Anthropologist ( Go U of A ! ). Not only does he understand the culture, but also the history, geology, interpretations, and farming practices. With Hopi Tours you can get whatever perspective you are looking for. There is no way we would have been able to do even one tenth of the things we did if we had gone by ourselves. Not to mention Micah is a great guy who really cares and is active in the Hopi and larger communities. We probably asked him too many questions but he was very accomodating and cheerful the whole day !!! 5-star rating for the quality of good company and information - Cheers

My wife and I have driven through the Hopi Lands numerous times and have eaten at the Hopi Cultural Center and shopped at the wonderful arts and crafts stores. We were also very fortunate to be able to attend two ceremonials. This May, however, we decided we wanted to learn more about the Three Mesas and the Hopis, so we signed up for a full-day tour with Hopi Tours, which is owned and operated by Micah Loma'omvaya. He is both a traditional Hopi and an anthropologist. We began the tour around 8:30 in the morning. As we visited villages on the mesas, the amazing Taawa Petroglyph area, and both irrigated and dry-farmed croplands, Mr. Loma'omvaya explained the history, culture, and politics of the area. A real highlight was sharing a traditional Hopi meal with Mr. Loma'omvaya and his family. Ms. Loma'omvaya prepared a delicious mutton stew with hominy, delicate blue corn paper-thin rolled crepes that were cooked on limestone, a sweet blue cornmeal tamale-like treat wrapped in translucent corn husk and tied with ribbons of corn husks, lovely yeast rolls, and a homemade natural tea. This was all topped off with tasty watermelon slices. Mr. Loma'omvaya was a great guide. He knows the Hopi culture and its politics, and to the extent permissible, shared his insights and expertise with us. He is charming, engaging, and committed to his Hopi culture. We had a marvelous tour and plan to have Mr. Loma'omvaya guide us again. This tour is an excellent value and gave us a real appreciation of the complex and beautiful Hopi culture.

Micah at hopitours.com gives a day tour of the three mesas that integrates the Hopi history and culture of these native Americans. Well worth the time.

We spent a full day with Micah over Thanksgiving break. Our two active and energetic children (9 and 12) were enthralled the entire day and we have talked about the tour and what we learned many times since our return. During the course of the 8-hour day we toured small villages and learned about crops and farming, the history of the Hopi, their relationship with neighbors, their clans, their beliefs and many other interesting details. We visited petroglyph sites and Micah's family home and were treated to a traditional Hopi meal, snack and tea. We appreciated the time Micah took to answer our million-plus questions about Hopi history and traditions. The day was truly unforgettable and we are very grateful for the opportunity we had to spend it with Hopi Tours. We have traveled many places and have seldom spent a more interesting or educational day. Highly recommended.

Micah is VERY knowledgeable and explains so much about the culture while taking you to various sites - well worth the time and money.