Coloured Canyon Walk

The Coloured Canyon is a short sandstone slot canyon in the Nuweiba area of the South Sinai Governorate, on Egypt's eastern coast along the Gulf of Aqaba. It is known for rock walls banded in shades of red, orange, yellow and cream, formed by mineral variations in the sandstone, and for sections so narrow that walkers can touch both sides at once. Trailhead access from Sharm el-Sheikh is normally by jeep tour, since the canyon mouth is reached by driving along the coast and then over a rough desert track; the journey from Sharm takes roughly two to three hours each way, and many visitors combine it with a stop at the Bedouin settlement and viewpoints near Dahab or Nuweiba. The walk itself is short, about 2 to 3 km, and takes 1.5 to 2 hours including photo stops, with minimal elevation change, so the difficulty comes from the terrain rather than the distance. The floor of the canyon is a mix of soft sand, loose gravel and smooth rock, and a few places require hikers to use hands for balance or climb over a small rock step, which is why the walk is rated moderate rather than easy. The narrowest passages offer natural shade and are noticeably cooler than the open desert, but the approach and the wider sections are exposed to the sun. Key landmarks are the narrow entrance corridor, the colourful middle section where the walls are most vivid, and the point where the canyon widens and opens out to the desert again, where most groups turn around or loop back with the jeeps. There are no water sources, huts or shelters inside the canyon, so visitors carry their own water and wear a hat. Closed shoes are important because of loose stones and the occasional rock step, and sandals are not suitable. Flash floods are rare but possible after heavy rain, and local operators generally avoid the canyon in wet weather. Groups usually go with a guide and the jeep driver, who knows the track and the best times for light, since midday sun makes the colours show best when it reaches into the narrowest passages.