Colored Canyon

The Colored Canyon is a slot canyon in the desert mountains about 60 kilometres north of Dahab, carved through multicolored Nubian sandstone over millions of years. The walls rise 30 metres on either side, narrowing in places to less than a metre, while the bands of cream, orange, red, and purple sandstone create patterns that seem painted rather than geological.

The canyon walk takes about 2 hours and involves some scrambling and rope assistance at a few points — nothing technically demanding, but sensible shoes are required. The best light is in the morning when the sun reaches into the canyon floor and illuminates the colours at their most vivid. Jeep safaris from Dahab run regularly; it is also possible to combine the canyon with a visit to the mountain oasis of Ain Khudra on a full-day trip.

things to do sight
A story
The Colored Canyon's extraordinary palette — cream, ochre, purple, and brick red layered in swooping bands — comes from the oxidation of iron compounds in Nubian sandstone laid down when this part of Sinai was a seabed 200 million years ago. The canyon itself was carved by flash floods over millennia, and the walls still show the scour marks of ancient water. On rare winter occasions, flash floods still rush through, stranding any hikers who have not paid attention to the weather.