Nabq Mangrove Trail

The Nabq Mangrove Trail is a flat coastal walk inside the Nabq Protected Area on the Gulf of Aqaba coast of Egypt's South Sinai Governorate, north of Sharm el-Sheikh. Nabq is one of the larger protected areas of the Red Sea coast and contains the northernmost stand of mangroves in the Red Sea region, which grow in salty shallows where the desert meets the sea. Trailhead access from Sharm el-Sheikh is by road, a drive of roughly half an hour to an hour north along the coast, and visitors arrive by taxi or on a jeep tour that often combines the mangroves with other stops in the protected area. Entry to the protected area normally involves a fee collected at the gate. The route runs about 3 to 5 km depending on how far visitors walk and takes two to three hours at a relaxed pace, with essentially no elevation gain, so it is rated easy. The surface is a mix of packed sand, firm salt flats and loose sandy stretches near the shore, and the walk is exposed with very little shade other than the mangrove canopy itself. Key landmarks are the mangrove stand of Avicennia marina, whose roots and low trees stand in shallow water, the sandy shore with views across the Gulf of Aqaba towards the mountains of Saudi Arabia, and the surrounding coastal desert with acacia and desert vegetation. Birdwatchers can find wading birds, herons and migrating species, particularly in the cooler months. There are no huts or developed water sources, so visitors carry water, wear a hat and use sandals or light shoes for the sandy and sometimes damp ground. The walk can be shortened or lengthened freely, and a natural turn-around is the point where the mangroves open to the water. Visitors should follow the protected-area rules, staying on marked paths, not picking plants and not disturbing wildlife, since the mangroves are a fragile habitat. Midday heat in summer is intense, so early morning or late afternoon is more comfortable.