Colored Canyon, Blue Hole & Dahab 4x4 Day from Sharm El Sheikh
11 hours, shared 4x4 for up to 16. Colored Canyon, lunch, Blue Hole snorkeling and Dahab, with hotel transfers.
The short answer
An 11-hour shared 4x4 day from Sharm El Sheikh with a 90-minute Colored Canyon walk, lunch, Blue Hole snorkeling and an hour in Dahab, about five hours of it spent driving.
- New
- Small group
Snapshot
Good to know
- Destinations
- Sharm El Sheikh · Nuweiba · Blue Hole · Dahab
- Includes
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Sharm El Sheikh (Naama Bay, Sharks Bay, Nabq, Hadaba, Old Market) · 4x4 vehicle and driver, shared with other guests · Guide (English) · Bedouin guide in the canyon · Lunch at a shore restaurant
- Guide languages
- English
Best time to go
October to April has the most comfortable temperatures for the canyon walk. In summer it is hot, so go early and drink plenty of water.
- Egyptian tour operator working since 1988
- ETAA Licence 718, Category A, and IATA member
02Overview
A first look
This is an 11-hour 4x4 day from Sharm El Sheikh to the Colored Canyon, the Blue Hole and Dahab, in a shared vehicle with up to 16 guests. It starts at 06:00 and includes about five hours of driving, so it is long. In return you walk a sandstone canyon with a Bedouin guide, snorkel along a reef wall, eat lunch on the shore and spend an hour in Dahab. Transfers, guides, lunch, mask and snorkel, and protectorate fees are included. It suits active travelers aged 8 and over.
Background
The facts
The Colored Canyon is near Nuweiba, about 2.5 hours north of Sharm El Sheikh, and the Blue Hole is by Dahab on the coast road south of it. Driving time is roughly 5 hours in total.
Named in this entry
Colored Canyon·Blue Hole Dahab·Dahab·Nuweiba·Sinai
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Active travelers and families with children aged 8 and over who want canyon, reef and a seaside town in one long day.
Maybe not, if
- Children under 8, travelers who dislike long drives and anyone who cannot walk over uneven rock.
What lingers
- 01Guided walk of about 90 minutes through the Colored Canyon with a Bedouin guide
- 02Snorkeling along the reef wall at the Blue Hole, mask and snorkel provided
- 03Lunch at a Bedouin restaurant on the shore, with the sea in front of you
- 04An hour on the Dahab seafront to walk, shop or have a coffee
- 05Shared 4x4 with a maximum of 16 guests and an English-speaking guide
- 06Protectorate fees and bottled water are covered, so there are few costs on the day
Honest assessment
Real trade-offs from our experience managing this tour.
Highlights
- Canyon, reef and town in one day
- Small shared 4x4 of up to 16 guests
- Lunch, snorkel gear and park fees included
Things to Consider
- About five hours of driving
- A 06:00 start and a late return
Stop by stop
Detailed itinerary
- 1
The 4x4 collects you at 06:00 from your hotel in Naama Bay, Sharks Bay, Nabq, Hadaba or the Old Market. If you want a breakfast box from the hotel, ask the hotel the evening before. Bring your passport, because there are road checkpoints on the way north.
- 2
From about 06:30 to 09:00 the road runs up the coast and then inland through the mountains towards Nuweiba. Checkpoints are routine and the guide handles them, but the passports must be in the vehicle. Most guests sleep or watch the changing rock colors out of the window.
- 3
At around 09:15 you enter the Colored Canyon on foot with a Bedouin guide. The walls are layered sandstone in reds, yellows and purples, and in places the passage is narrow enough to touch both sides. There is some scrambling over rocks, so wear shoes with a good grip.
- 4
After the canyon the 4x4 heads south on the coast road, reaching the Blue Hole near Dahab at about 12:30. Use the drive to drink water and rest. Swimwear under your clothes saves time when you arrive. Lunch comes first, then the water.
- 5
Lunch is served at a Bedouin restaurant on the shore, at low tables with cushions, and is included in the day. Drinks with the meal are not included and are paid at the restaurant. Tell the guide about any dietary needs when you book so lunch can be arranged.
- 6
The Blue Hole is a deep sea hole close to the shore, and the snorkeling is along its reef wall, where the water drops away steeply. Mask and snorkel are provided. Fins and life-jackets can be rented on the spot. Stay with the guide and keep to the shallow reef edge.
- 7
In Dahab you have about an hour of free time on the seafront. Walk the promenade, look at the shops or sit with a coffee by the water. Dahab is a relaxed, low-rise town, quite different from Sharm. Keep a little cash for coffee and any small souvenirs.
- 8
The 4x4 leaves Dahab at about 16:15 and returns to Sharm between roughly 16:15 and 17:45 in the afternoon, ending with drop-offs at each hotel. The route is the main coast road. After a long day you will probably be tired, so plan a quiet evening.
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Sharm El Sheikh (Naama Bay, Sharks Bay, Nabq, Hadaba, Old Market)
- 4x4 vehicle and driver, shared with other guests
- Guide (English)
- Bedouin guide in the canyon
- Lunch at a shore restaurant
- Mask and snorkel
- Protectorate fees
- Bottled water
Not included
- Gratuities
- Fins and life-jacket rental at the Blue Hole
- Camel ride at the Blue Hole
- Drinks with lunch
- Personal expenses
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Eat a light breakfast and have water in the vehicle before the canyon walk
- 02
Rent fins at the Blue Hole if you want to swim further along the wall
Before you go
What to pack & wear
Children & families
Children under 2 travel free, ages 2 to 11 pay half the adult price, and ages 12 and over pay the adult price. The minimum age for this trip is 8, because of the long drive and the rock scrambling in the canyon.
Indicative rates only – pricing and departure fluctuate. Please enquire for live rates on your specific dates.
On the ground
Your route
Asked & answered
Frequent questions
01How does the price work for this 4x4 day?
The price is per person for a seat in a shared 4x4 of up to 16 guests. It covers transfers, guides, lunch, mask and snorkel, protectorate fees and water. Prices are provisional until our team confirms your request. Fins, life-jackets, drinks with lunch and the Blue Hole camel ride are extras.02What time is the hotel pickup?
Pickup is at 06:00 from hotels in Naama Bay, Sharks Bay, Nabq, Hadaba and the Old Market. Our team confirms the exact time and the lobby meeting point after accepting your request. If you want a breakfast box, arrange it with the hotel the evening before.03Is this trip suitable for children?
Children under 2 travel free, ages 2 to 11 pay half the adult price, and ages 12 and over pay the adult price. The minimum age is 8, because of the long drive and the scramble over rocks in the canyon. Younger children cannot join this trip.04Do I need my passport, and what else should I bring?
Yes, bring your passport for the road checkpoints. Also pack swimwear, a towel, sturdy shoes for the canyon, a hat, sunscreen and some cash for extras such as fins or a coffee in Dahab. The canyon floor is rocky, so sandals are not a good idea.05What happens if I cancel?
More than 72 hours ahead, keep 100% as credit toward future travel or take a 100% refund, less bank charges. Between 72 and 24 hours, keep 100% as credit or take a 50% refund. Within 24 hours, or if you don't show up, there is no refund or credit. If we have to cancel, you lose nothing.06Is this a private or a shared tour?
It is shared. You travel in a 4x4 with other guests, up to 16 in the group, and the schedule is set for everyone. Both the English-speaking guide and the Bedouin canyon guide look after the whole group together, so nobody is left alone on the rocks.
If plans change
Cancellation and refunds
If you cancel, your refund depends on how early you tell us and on the type of trip. Read our current cancellation and refund policy
Continue reading
From the archives
Last updated Product ID: EXC-SHM-594582
At a glance
- Departs
- Daily
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