White Canyon
A pale limestone gorge near Ain Khudra, usually walked downhill from the plateau into the oasis below.
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The White Canyon is the pale counterpart to the Colored Canyon a short distance away: a gorge cut into near-white limestone and chalk, bright to the point of glare in full sun, with smooth scoured walls and a floor that narrows and widens as it drops. It is usually walked downhill, starting on the plateau and descending through the narrows, which involves a few short chimney climbs and squeezes and takes an hour or two, ending near the palms of Ain Khudra oasis where a Bedouin camp serves lunch. The combination of the two canyons and the oasis is the standard full-day trip out of Nuweiba or Dahab, and the descent through the white narrows is generally the part people remember.
What you actually see
- Near-white limestone narrows - a bright gorge with scoured walls.
- Chimney squeezes - short climbs and drops on the descent.
- The oasis at the bottom - palms of Ain Khudra at the canyon mouth.
- The plateau start - open desert before the ground opens up.
When to go
October to April. Morning start so the descent finishes before the heat. Half a day, or a full day combined with the Colored Canyon and the oasis. Do not go with rain in the forecast.
Honest expectations
The descent requires some scrambling and a head for narrow spaces; it is not suitable for everyone in a group. Glare off white rock is intense and sunglasses matter. Flash flood risk is real. A guide and a vehicle are required; there is no way to do this independently.
Nearby
Ain Khudra oasis is at the foot of the canyon; the Colored Canyon lies east.
What to pack for White Canyon
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
