Hanksville: Purple Mountain Photography Tour

An other worldly experience by a very knowledgable guide

Jenni met me and off we went. From pick up to drop off I learned so many different things about this area historically and environmentally. What a wealth of knowledge she has to offer. From Jenni's driving over the crazy dirt road in between sharp rock formations to the multi-colored clay hills felt so safe and secure. The winds were really strong and yet she handled the drone like a pro. Climbing up the different clay mounds to get different perspectives that were so very intriguing and different from and other area I've ever seen. I would have never have guessed the large rocks were actually volcanic rocks that were very heavy and learned so much from Jenni. This tour was well worth the money spent and then some. I highly recommend this tour. You will be very satisfied!

via Tripadvisor

Book the Purple Mountain tour!

We had an excellent experience on our Purple Mountain tour! Jenny is very knowledgeable about the area and its geography. She was very helpful in pointing out interesting attractions in the area. We added the drone video/ photos and they turned out amazing! The tour was comfortable and snacks and water were provided. She even drove us out to Hanksville to pick up something to eat before heading back to Torrey. We appreciate the excellent service!

via Tripadvisor

Bad experience! A ruined memory

I never write negative reviews but this time I have to do it to warn you against wasting your money and time. BAD experience. The premises were the best, as the guide seemed very friendly and serious at first, but we did not know that the experience would soon turn into a nightmare. Why is that? After spending an hour and a half making the videos with her drone (as per the tour agreements) she tells us that she thoughtlessly deleted all the videos in the heat of downloading them all immediately confusing the full memory of the phone with the full memory of the drone 😅 (all this while climbing the rocks, without anyone asking her to send us the files immediately). Yes, he had deleted all the videos (which is why I chose to do the photo tour and not the classic one). My husband and I were very disappointed both because we wasted time but also because having a drone video of the Bentonite Hills had been one of our desires for a year (and we could have shot the videos ourselves by now having a drone - instead of relying on what we thought was a professional) but we tried to keep calm by telling her she didn't have to worry. To recover the situation she made us make another video even though it was dark. And so we went back down, going down and up the rocks, to be able to make a video and “save” the day. I don't tell you my disappointment inside... but okay, it can happen, I thought. He then accompanied us saying that he would send us the videos (and I did not understand why he was in such a hurry before while then he did not send us anything). The next day, having received no video for over 24 hours, I solicited the tour operator, without receiving any response. Then I contacted the Support Service of the provider through whom I booked their tour. And so, a few minutes later, I got a message from the tour operator telling me that they have zero tolerance for customers with behavior like mine. Ironic right? They deleted the videos, they proved incompetent and unserious (ah, the guide when she deleted the videos also told us that she had other screw-ups with other customers) and I went on the wrong side? At the end of the fair they refunded my tour without ever sending me any videos. It makes me think that the videos I made after that were so bad that he didn't want to send them to us anymore. Also because, having our own drone, we perceived that she was very awkward and not very skilled with drone driving and downloading content. Anyway, despite the refund (which I care little because I don't think I'll ever come back to this place) I'm very bitter. The guide and the tour operator ruined the memory of a magnificent place that I dreamed of capturing from above. Let’s realize that they charge 428 euros for a tour of this kind! You'd rather go alone in a 4x4 and save that money.

Response from the operator: Siamo dispiaciuti che l’esperienza non sia stata di suo gradimento, ma riteniamo doveroso fornire alcune precisazioni, poiché diversi punti riportati nella sua recensione non corrispondono alla realtà. Il tour da voi prenotato era il classico “Colline di Bentonite”, della durata di 3 ore. Non è mai esistito un accordo che prevedesse la realizzazione di un video di un’ora e mezza. Al momento della prenotazione, avete selezionato tramite la piattaforma GetYourGuide un servizio video aggiuntivo del valore di $150, il cui contenuto viene specificato come “video personalizzati realizzati sul campo”, senza alcuna indicazione di durata minima né di numero garantito. Il percorso richiede circa un’ora all’andata e un’ora al ritorno, lasciando circa 60 minuti per esplorare e girare i video. La nostra guida, fotografa professionista con oltre 15 anni di esperienza, ha accontentato ogni vostra richiesta, persino seguendovi — su vostra iniziativa — mentre “scalavate le rocce”, e dedicandovi oltre un’ora di riprese, ben oltre l’orario previsto, pur non essendoci alcun obbligo in tal senso. Avete richiesto l’invio urgente del materiale video, sostenendo di “lavorare per GetYourGuide”. Nonostante non vi fosse alcun obbligo contrattuale né alcuna promessa di consegna “entro 24 ore”, abbiamo comunque cercato di venire incontro alla vostra urgenza, tentando anche di condividere i file direttamente sul campo. La mattina successiva, tuttavia, avete iniziato a inviarci numerosi messaggi e minacce di contattare il servizio clienti, accusandoci di non aver rispettato termini mai concordati. Come piccola compagnia operativa nel deserto, senza copertura telefonica durante i tour, non abbiamo un servizio clienti attivo 24/7. Questo ci permette di mantenere un prezzo competitivo per i nostri ospiti. In seguito ai vostri messaggi a GetYourGuide — in cui dichiaravate che i video erano stati cancellati e che il servizio era stato “poco professionale” — la compagnia ha interpretato la vostra insoddisfazione come totale e ha proceduto al rimborso completo. Di conseguenza, come da prassi, il materiale video realizzato durante il tour non era più dovuto. Ci teniamo infine a sottolineare che il nostro team è sempre disponibile, cortese e professionale, come testimoniato dalla stragrande maggioranza delle recensioni ricevute. Offriamo un servizio autentico, immersivo e curato nei minimi dettagli, e trattiamo ogni ospite con rispetto — ma ci aspettiamo altrettanto in cambio. Chiunque legga questa risposta è invitato a visitare la nostra pagina Instagram per valutare con i propri occhi se la nostra guida sia o meno una fotografa professionista. La qualità del nostro lavoro parla da sola. Lo staff di Meridian Tours

via Tripadvisor (translated)

It was a very enjoyable experience. Jenny was very enthusiastic throughout, and her knowledge of astronomy and astrology was intriguing. It was a perfect family tour. we had a wonderful time with kids who are now into astrophotography, thanks to Jenny!

via Tripadvisor