The Colored Canyon is a narrow sandstone gorge in the Sinai desert near Nuweiba, famous for rock walls streaked red, purple, gold and ochre by iron and manganese in the stone. You reach it by 4x4 across the desert, then walk roughly 800 metres through the canyon floor — an easy-to-moderate hike with a few narrow squeezes and small rock steps to scramble over. It's one of Sinai's most photogenic half-days and slots neatly into a Dahab or Sharm el-Sheikh trip, usually alongside a Bedouin lunch or a stop at nearby Nuweiba. A local guide and the 4x4 are essential; you can't sensibly drive yourself out here.
WHAT IT IS: A narrow, ~800m sandstone canyon with naturally coloured rock walls, in Sinai near Nuweiba
BEST FOR: Hikers, photographers and families wanting desert scenery without a hard trek
HOW TO VISIT: 4x4 day trip from Dahab (~1hr), Nuweiba (closest) or Sharm el-Sheikh (~2.5hrs), guide included
DON'T MISS: The purple manganese streaks and the narrow 'squeeze' sections mid-canyon
The first time we walk clients into the Colored Canyon, the conversation always stops. You drop off the open desert plateau into a slot barely wider than your shoulders in places, and the sandstone walls rise up around you streaked in red, plum-purple, gold and rust — colours you'd swear had been painted on. It's one of the quietest, most photogenic corners of Sinai, and yet it's an easy morning out: no serious climbing, no long trek, just a 4x4 ride across the desert and a gentle walk through the rock. We run this route regularly from Dahab, and it's one people talk about for the rest of their holiday. Here's what it is, what the hike involves, and how to do it properly.
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What Is the Colored Canyon and Why Visit?
The Colored Canyon (or 'coloured canyon' in British spelling) is a dry sandstone gorge in the mountains of eastern Sinai, inland from the Gulf of Aqaba coast. It sits roughly between the small coastal town of Nuweiba and the desert interior, about an hour's drive north of Dahab. The canyon was carved over millennia by flash floods that cut down through soft, layered sandstone, leaving a winding corridor around 700 to 800 metres long with walls that reach up to 30–40 metres high in the deepest sections.
What makes it special is the colour. The rock is shot through with mineral deposits — iron oxides give the reds, oranges and rusty browns, while manganese produces the surprising streaks of purple and near-black. In the right light, especially late morning when the sun angles into the gorge, the walls glow. There are no crowds like the big Nile temples, no ticket queues — just you, your guide and the rock. For anyone who thinks Sinai is only diving and beaches, the canyon proves the desert interior is every bit as memorable.
Planning your dates? We'll match them to the best experience.
Tell us when you can travel and we'll suggest the ideal route and season — usually within the hour.
This is a walk, not a climb. From the drop-off on the plateau, your guide leads you down into the canyon and you follow the sandy floor as it snakes through the rock. The full traverse is around 800 metres and takes most people 45 minutes to an hour and a half at an easy pace, with plenty of stops for photos. The ground is mostly flat sand and smooth rock, so ordinary trainers are fine.
The narrow bits and small scrambles
What lifts it from a stroll to a mini-adventure is the terrain in the middle. In a few spots the canyon narrows to a genuine squeeze where you turn sideways to pass, and there are a handful of small rock steps and dry-waterfall ledges — usually under a metre — where you'll hand down a bag or take a helping hand from the guide. Nothing here needs climbing experience, but it's why we call the difficulty easy-to-moderate rather than easy: reasonable mobility helps, and it's the reason a guide who knows the route matters.
Local tip: go in the direction most guides take — starting high and walking down through the canyon rather than up. It's easier on the knees, the light is better for photos, and the narrowest, most colourful section comes about two-thirds of the way through, so you finish on the highlight rather than the walk-out.
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How to Visit the Colored Canyon
You don't visit the Colored Canyon on your own. It's deep in the Sinai desert with no signage, no facilities and unmarked 4x4 tracks, so every trip runs with a local Bedouin driver-guide in a 4x4 — not a formality, but the only safe and legal way in. The upside is an easy, all-inclusive day: an organised tour handles hotel pickup, the desert drive, the guided walk and usually a Bedouin lunch or tea stop, and has you back at your hotel by afternoon.
Where you set off from changes the day's length. Nuweiba is the closest town, but most travellers come from Dahab, which is about an hour's drive away and the most popular base for this trip — often combined with the Blue Hole or a desert safari. From Sharm el-Sheikh it's a longer run of roughly two to two-and-a-half hours each way, so the Sharm version is a full day rather than a half. Browse our Dahab day trips and Sharm el-Sheikh day tours to see how the canyon is packaged with pickup and a guide included. Dahab day tripsSharm el-Sheikh day tours
★ Ready to see the canyon for yourself? Our Dahab and Sharm el-Sheikh day tours run to the Colored Canyon with a 4x4, an English-speaking Bedouin guide, hotel pickup and lunch included — just pick your base and dates. See our Dahab & Sharm day tours Dahab & Sharm day tours
Not sure which month suits you? Ask a local.
We'll tell you honestly what the weather and crowds are really like for your travel dates.
The Colored Canyon is a year-round trip, but the desert dictates timing. Spring and autumn (roughly March–May and September–November) are ideal, with warm days and comfortable walking temperatures. Winter is fine and often beautifully clear, though desert mornings and evenings turn genuinely cold, so bring a layer. High summer is doable but hot — go early, carry extra water, and expect the midday drive to be baking. One serious caveat: the canyon floods in heavy rain, and guides will cancel or reroute after storms, so trust their call. For the wider month-by-month picture across Egypt, see our best time to visit guide. Best time to visit Egypt
Closed walking shoes or trainers with grip — there's sand, smooth rock and the odd scramble.
Plenty of water (at least 1.5–2 litres), plus sun protection: hat, sunglasses and SPF 50.
A light layer or fleece in winter — the desert is cold before the sun is high and after it drops.
A camera or phone; the colours and the narrow sections are the whole point. See what else to pack in our what-to-wear guide. What to wear in Egypt
Cash in EGP for tips, the Bedouin tea stop and any small purchases.
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Who the Colored Canyon Suits
This is one of the more inclusive adventures in Sinai. It suits active families with older children who'll love the squeezes and scrambles, photographers chasing the coloured light, and anyone who wants real desert scenery without committing to a hard trek or an overnight expedition. It's less ideal for those with limited mobility, a fear of tight spaces, or very young toddlers, because of the narrow sections and small drops. If you're reasonably fit and comfortable on your feet, you'll be fine — and you'll come out grinning.
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Combine It With Sinai's Other Highlights
The Colored Canyon rarely fills a whole day on its own, which is why almost everyone pairs it with something else. From Dahab, the classic combination is the canyon in the morning and the Blue Hole for snorkelling in the afternoon, or a wider Bedouin desert safari with a jeep, camel ride and a starlit dinner. Many trips also fold in a stop at Nuweiba or the palm-fringed oasis of Ain Khudra on the way. Blue Hole DahabDahab desert safari
To build the rest of your Sinai time, our things to do in Dahab guide covers the town's laid-back diving-village scene, while our where to stay in Dahab guide helps you pick a base, from beachfront camps to Masbat's lagoon hotels. If you're staying on the other side of the peninsula, our things to do in Sharm el-Sheikh guide sets the canyon among the resort's excursions and reefs. Things to do in DahabWhere to stay in DahabThings to do in Sharm el-Sheikh
And if you'd rather not stitch the days together yourself, let us do it. Our Red Sea travel packages combine a Dahab or Sharm base with the Colored Canyon, snorkelling and the coast's best excursions, transfers and hotels included — or we can design something entirely around your dates. Red Sea travel packagesTailor-made Egypt tours
★ Want the whole Sinai trip planned? Our Red Sea packages pair a Dahab or Sharm beach base with the Colored Canyon, the Blue Hole and the coast's desert adventures — hotels, transfers and guides sorted around your dates. Explore our Red Sea travel packages Red Sea travel packages
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The Colored Canyon is in the eastern Sinai desert, inland from the Gulf of Aqaba coast near the town of Nuweiba. It's about an hour's drive north of Dahab and roughly two to two-and-a-half hours from Sharm el-Sheikh, reached by 4x4 across unmarked desert tracks with a local guide.
The canyon itself is around 700–800 metres long, and walking through it takes most people 45 minutes to about an hour and a half, including photo stops. The terrain is mostly flat sand and smooth rock, with a few narrow squeezes and small scrambles under a metre, so it rates as easy-to-moderate rather than strenuous.
It's easy-to-moderate and suits active families with older children who enjoy the narrow sections and small rock steps. It's less suitable for very young toddlers, anyone with limited mobility, or those uncomfortable in tight spaces. With a local guide and sensible shoes it's a safe, well-run half-day out.
Yes. Colored Canyon day trips run from Sharm el-Sheikh, though it's a longer drive of around two to two-and-a-half hours each way, making it a full day. Trips include hotel pickup, a 4x4, a guide and usually lunch. Dahab is the closer and more popular base if you have the choice. Sharm el-Sheikh day tours
Yes — a local Bedouin driver-guide and 4x4 are essential. The canyon is deep in unmarked desert with no facilities or signage, so self-driving isn't safe or practical. Guides also know the route, the best light, and when to cancel after rain, when the canyon can flood dangerously.
Wear closed walking shoes with grip and light, breathable clothing, plus a warm layer in winter. Bring at least 1.5–2 litres of water, a hat, sunglasses, SPF 50, a camera and some cash in Egyptian pounds. Sun protection matters year-round, and mornings can be cold in the cooler months. Dahab day trips
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