Colored Canyon & Blue Hole tour: Snorkel and hike

Hike a canyon of layered color, then snorkel reefs where the fish are thick

A full-day guided tour from Sharm el Sheikh combines canyon hiking, snorkeling and desert culture in one nine-hour loop. You travel by air-conditioned vehicle and jeep to Colored Canyon (an 800-meter gorge of vibrant sandstone in yellow, purple, red and gold), then explore it on foot with a guide. Next comes Blue Hole National Park, where you snorkel among coral reefs and colorful marine life. The day includes a camel ride along the Red Sea coast, lunch in a traditional Bedouin tent, and a shopping stop in Dahab City. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included. Snorkeling gear and Blue Hole entry are available as add-ons depending on which option you choose at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Sinai's natural wonders

• Pickup from Sharm El Sheikh
• Drive to Dahab town
• Jeep ride to Colored Canyon
• Explore Colored Canyon gorge
• Visit Blue Hole National Park
• Snorkel in Blue Hole
• Lunch in Bedouin tent
• Camel ride along coast
• Quad bike ride in Dahab
• Shopping in Dahab City
• Return to Sharm El Sheikh

The experience

The day starts early with pickup from your hotel in Sharm el Sheikh and a drive south in an air-conditioned vehicle to Dahab. Once there, you board a jeep for the ride into Colored Canyon: a natural gorge carved through sandstone cliffs that shift between yellow, purple, red and gold as the light moves. The canyon floor is an 800-meter walk through a narrow labyrinth, and the guide points out the formations and the color shifts as you move deeper. This is hiking, not a stroll: the terrain is uneven and the walls close in, but the path is walkable for most fitness levels.

After the canyon, you head to Blue Hole National Park on the coast. Here the rhythm changes completely. You have time to swim and snorkel in the shallow reefs just offshore. The water is clear enough to see the coral structure and the fish moving through it. Snorkeling gear is included if you book the Blue Hole Experience or Ultimate Adventure option. The Basic Tour option lets you add it separately. The park has a sandy beach where you can rest between water time. Lunch arrives mid-afternoon: a barbecue served in a traditional Bedouin tent set up on the sand, with the sea in view. The meal gives you a break before the next leg.

The return journey includes a camel ride along the Red Sea coast: a slower, more deliberate way to see the shoreline and take photos. Depending on your option, you may also ride a quad bike along Dahab's coastal terrain for a faster, more exhilarating run. Before heading back to Sharm el Sheikh, there's a stop in Dahab City for shopping: local shops sell natural oils and herbal products if you want to pick up souvenirs. The drive back to your hotel takes the late afternoon and early evening.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• guided exploration of Colored Canyon's 800-meter gorge.
• professional canyon and snorkeling guide.
• snorkeling equipment (included with Blue Hole Experience and Ultimate Adventure options).
• lunch and refreshments in a Bedouin tent.
• scenic camel ride along the Red Sea coast.
• optional quad bike ride in Dahab (Ultimate Adventure option).
• free time for shopping in Dahab City.
• bottled water throughout the day.

Options for this experience

3 options

Basic TourGuide in 4 languages · 08:30Snorkeling gear is not included. Explore Salama Canyon, make a stop for shopping in Dahab, take a camel ride, have lunch, and go snorkeling at a stunning spot near the Blue Hole. Pickup is included.

Blue Hole ExperienceGuide in 4 languages · 08:30Covers entry to the Blue Hole, snorkeling equipment, lunch, a camel ride, and a shopping stop in Dahab. There are no extra charges on site. Pickup is included.

Ultimate AdventureGuide in 4 languages · 08:30Complete program featuring an ATV ride, entry to the Blue Hole, snorkeling equipment, the Colored Canyon, a camel ride, lunch, and a shopping stop in Dahab. Includes pickup.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (12 to 70 years) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish, Italian, Arabic and Russian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelersInfants must sit on laps

Operated by NASS TOURS

Is this one for you?Book the Blue Hole Experience if you want snorkeling and canyon hiking without the quad bike. It keeps the day focused on water and geology. Choose the Ultimate Adventure if you want the speed and thrill of the quad bike added to the camel ride and snorkeling. The Basic Tour works if you're flexible on snorkeling gear and Blue Hole entry, letting you decide which add-ons matter to you at checkout.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Italian, Arabic and Russian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What is the Colored Canyon like to walk through?

Colored Canyon is an 800-meter gorge with narrow passages and uneven terrain, winding through sandstone cliffs that display layers of yellow, purple, red and gold. The walk is guided and takes you through the natural labyrinth. It's suitable for most fitness levels but does require steady footing and comfort in close spaces.

Can I snorkel at Blue Hole National Park, and what will I see?

Blue Hole National Park has shallow coral reefs just offshore where you can snorkel among colorful fish and diverse marine life. Snorkeling equipment is included with the Blue Hole Experience and Ultimate Adventure options. The Basic Tour option allows you to add it at checkout. Blue Hole entry itself is available as an add-on depending on your chosen option.

What's included in the lunch, and where do we eat?

Lunch is a barbecue meal served in a traditional Bedouin tent on the beach at Blue Hole National Park, with views of the sea. It's included in all options and gives you a rest stop between the canyon hike and the camel ride back along the coast.

How long is this tour, and what time does it start?

The tour runs for nine hours total. It begins with an early morning pickup from your Sharm el Sheikh hotel and ends with drop-off back at your hotel in the late afternoon or early evening.

Is the camel ride included, and what about the quad bike option?

The camel ride along the Red Sea coast is included in all options. An optional quad bike ride along Dahab's coastline and mountains is available with the Ultimate Adventure option. The Basic Tour and Blue Hole Experience options do not include it unless you select it at checkout.