Colored Canyon

The canyon is a slot cut through sandstone in the mountains inland from Nuweiba, several hundred metres long and in places narrow enough to touch both walls at once, with the rock banded in bands of iron-stained red, purple, ochre and pale yellow that the guides make a good deal of. The walls rise up to about forty metres, the floor is sand and rock with a few scrambles and short drops, and the light changes completely as the sun moves, which is why the timing of a visit matters more than the season. Trips run from Nuweiba and Dahab, usually combined with a Bedouin lunch and a stop at a well or an oasis. It is a straightforward walk rather than a technical route.

History

The area was once covered by the Red Sea, and as the water receded it eroded the rock into formations such as the Coloured Canyon, a labyrinth almost 800 metres long with walls up to 40 metres tall near Nuweiba. A local belief holds that Moses was once lost in the canyon for 40 years (Wikipedia, Coloured Canyon).

Highlights

• Banded sandstone walls - iron staining in red, purple and yellow layers.
• Slot narrows - sections tight enough to touch both sides.
• Wind-carved hollows - smooth scoops and flutes in the rock.
• Changing light - the colour shifting completely as the sun moves.

When to go

October to April; summer heat in a closed canyon is dangerous. Late morning to early afternoon gives light down into the slot. Half a day including the drive. Avoid any day with rain forecast because of flash flooding.

Before you go

Flash floods run through Sinai slot canyons and a dry forecast matters. The walk includes a few scrambles and short drops that are awkward for the less agile. Tour groups can fill the narrow sections and the experience depends heavily on being there without one. Guides are effectively mandatory.

Nearby

The White Canyon is nearby on the same circuit; Nuweiba is on the coast east.

Key facts