From Sharm El-Sheikh: Colored Canyoun , Blue Hole & Dahab

The best part of this Sharm El Sheikh day trip is the contrast: one hour you’re walking between red, gold, purple, and yellow sandstone walls, and the next you’re floating above coral at the Blue Hole. Add a Bedouin-style beach lunch, a camel ride, and an optional ATV run, and you get a lot of Sinai in one long day. Colored Canyon and the reef are the two strongest reasons to book.

I especially like the low price, about $21 per person, and the mix of quiet scenery with active stops. Guides including Mido, Mustafa, Ahmed, Emad, and Said have been singled out for being helpful, clear, and good with families. The main drawback is that the day can feel packed, and some plans may change order. Snorkeling equipment and life jackets may also cost extra, so bring money and do not assume every water item is included.

At a glance: what makes this day worthwhile

• An 800-meter sandstone gorge: Colored Canyon gives you a close look at twisted rock walls in shades of red, gold, yellow, and purple.
• Blue Hole snorkeling: You can swim among coral and fish at Blue Hole National Park, with a beach setting and mountain views.
• A full activity mix: The package can include a jeep ride, camel ride, snorkeling, beach lunch, and shopping, with an ATV ride available if selected.
• Bedouin beach lunch: A BBQ meal in a tent gives the middle of the day a local setting rather than another roadside stop.
• Guides who stay involved: Mido, Mustafa, Ahmed, Emad, and Said are among the guides praised for explanations, patience, and practical help.
• Strong value, with extras to check: The $21 starting price covers a great deal, but snorkeling gear, life jackets, fins, and wetsuits may require additional payment.

From Sharm El Sheikh to Sinai’s open country

The day starts with pickup at your hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle. Your exact pickup time depends on where you stay, so confirm it the day before. A delay of up to 10 minutes is possible, which is normal for a multi-hotel pickup.

The road toward Dahab changes the mood quickly. Sharm El Sheikh is built around resorts, restaurants, and organized beach time. This trip takes you toward wider desert views, rocky hills, and the rougher coast of the Sinai Peninsula. The transport is part of the experience, but it also explains why the day needs a steady pace.

You will use both regular transport and a jeep during the outing. The jeep section is especially useful for reaching the canyon and other desert areas, where a standard tour bus would not offer the same feel. Do not expect a private, slow-paced outing. This is a value-focused day that fits several activities into one route.

The tour is offered with English, Italian, and Arabic support. That matters when you are moving between several activities, since the guide needs to explain meeting points, equipment, safety, and timing. Guides such as Mido, Mustafa, Ahmed, Emad, and Said have received particularly warm praise for staying available and explaining what is happening.

Walking through the 800-meter Colored Canyon

Colored Canyon is the visual centerpiece of the trip. The gorge runs for about 800 meters, with sandstone walls shaped by wind and water into a narrow, twisting passage. The colors are not painted on the rock. They come from the natural layers and mineral tones in the sandstone, which show up as yellow, red, purple, and gold.

You should expect a walk rather than a simple viewpoint. The route leads through a natural maze, with uneven rock underfoot and some places that require careful movement. Oskar’s practical advice is worth following: wear comfortable shoes with a good grip, especially if you like climbing or feel unsure on rocky ground.

This is not the place for flimsy sandals or a rushed approach. Good footwear lets you look up at the rock walls instead of concentrating on every step. The guide also provides information about the canyon, which adds context to what can otherwise seem like a quick photo stop.

The canyon is a strong match for you if you enjoy geology, desert scenery, and short walks with a little physical challenge. It may be less appealing if you need completely flat paths or want to spend most of the day sitting. The route is not described as a technical hike, but the uneven surfaces deserve respect.

The light changes as you move through the gorge, making the sandstone colors look different from one bend to the next. Keep your camera ready, but do not spend the entire walk looking through it. The narrow walls, shadows, and changing rock textures are the point of being there.

Blue Hole National Park and the practical side of snorkeling

At Blue Hole National Park, the focus shifts from stone to sea. You get time at the beach and a chance to snorkel above coral reefs with colorful fish and other marine life. The setting combines clear water, reef scenery, and views toward the surrounding mountains.

The water may not always be calm. One useful warning is that the sea can be choppy, making swimming harder, particularly for children or anyone who is not a confident swimmer. A life jacket may be required before you enter the water, and that rule can feel sensible when conditions are rough.

Snorkeling gear is not included. Plan for possible rental fees for a mask, fins, wetsuit, or life jacket. The supplied information includes one account of a £5 life jacket charge per person and another of €10 per person for wetsuits, life jackets, and fins. Prices and requirements can vary, so carry extra cash and ask the guide before changing for the water.

The tour includes a professional snorkeling guide, but you should still take responsibility for your own comfort. If the water feels too rough, you can enjoy the beach and scenery rather than forcing a swim. Families should pay close attention to the water conditions and equipment rules.

The reef is one of the day’s most rewarding stops when visibility and sea conditions cooperate. You do not need to be an expert swimmer to appreciate the setting, but you should be honest about your ability. A life jacket is not an unnecessary nuisance here. It can make the water time safer and less tiring.

Bring a towel if your hotel has one available, along with sun protection and a change of clothes. A bottle of water is included, but one small bottle may not last through a long day in the sun. Water can be purchased during the outing, though one account puts a small bottle at 100 Egyptian pounds. Carry more water than the included bottle if you can.

Lunch in a Bedouin tent beside the sea

After the morning activities, you get a BBQ lunch at a beach camp in a Bedouin tent. This is a welcome pause because the day includes walking, snorkeling, and vehicle transfers. The food is less about fine dining and more about sitting down, eating a hot meal, and enjoying the sea and mountain views.

The tent setting gives the lunch more character than a standard restaurant. You have a chance to slow down and take in the surrounding desert coast. The meal also creates a natural break before the camel and ATV activities.

As with any organized day trip, do not expect a long, leisurely restaurant meal. The schedule has several stops, so lunch is part of a moving program. Still, the beach camp is a useful inclusion, especially at a starting price of $21.

Camel riding and the optional ATV route

A camel ride along the coast follows lunch. The ride is included, and it offers a gentler way to see the shoreline than the jeep or quad bike. It is also a popular photo opportunity, with sea and mountains forming the backdrop.

The camel ride is brief in the context of the whole day, so think of it as a cultural and scenic experience rather than a long trek. You will want to follow the guide’s directions when getting on and off, and keep loose belongings secure.

An ATV ride along the sea and mountains is available if you choose that option. This adds more speed and dust to the day, while the camel ride provides the slower contrast. If you select the ATV option, make sure you understand whether it is included in your booking price before departure.

The quad section suits you if you want active entertainment and do not mind a busier schedule. It may not be the best choice if your priority is lingering at the canyon or spending extra time in the water. The tour works because it offers several different ways to see the area, but that variety also means no single activity gets unlimited time.

Dahab shopping and a taste of local life

The final stop in Dahab is a short shopping visit. You can browse stalls for souvenirs and distinctive local items before returning to Sharm El Sheikh. This is not a dedicated market tour, so keep your expectations modest. You will have time to look around, but probably not enough for a slow, detailed shopping expedition.

Dahab adds a useful human touch to a day otherwise built around natural sites. The town is known here through its market, coastal setting, and connection to the Bedouin desert area. A brief stop lets you see a different side of the region and pick up something small to remember the day.

Cultural Egyptian scarves are available as an add-on. If you want one, select that option rather than assuming it comes with the standard booking. The shopping stop can also be a good moment to use any remaining Egyptian pounds.

What the $21 price really gives you

At about $21 per person, this is unusually inexpensive for a day that includes hotel pickup and drop-off, air-conditioned transport, a jeep safari, a canyon guide, snorkeling guidance, lunch, a camel ride, and a Dahab stop. The value is strongest if you want variety and prefer to let one operator handle the transport between scattered sites.

The price does not mean every possible extra is covered. Snorkeling equipment is specifically excluded. Life jackets, fins, and wetsuits may also require rental payment, based on the charges reported during the water stop. Optional Blue Hole and Abu Galum access, the ATV ride, and Egyptian scarves depend on the option or add-on you select.

That makes the tour good value, but not a completely cash-free day. I would budget for equipment, drinks, and souvenirs. You should also check the exact package at booking so the low headline price does not surprise you later.

The included bottle of water is helpful, but not enough for everyone for a full day in hot, dry conditions. Bring extra water from your hotel if possible. This is one of those small preparations that can make the difference between enjoying the canyon and simply trying to get through it.

The day’s main tradeoff: variety versus free time

The schedule gives you a little of everything: desert walking, reef snorkeling, a meal, a camel ride, a possible ATV run, and shopping. That is the appeal. You can sample several classic Sinai activities without arranging separate transport or negotiating with different operators.

The cost is free time. Oskar found that the actual order did not match the stated plan, with snorkeling and lunch coming before the canyon. That is worth knowing before you go. The sequence may change because of conditions, local timing, or the operator’s schedule.

A changed order does not automatically hurt the experience. In some cases, visiting the water earlier can work well. The important point is to stay flexible and listen carefully to the guide’s instructions. If you need a fixed timetable or want to choose exactly how long you spend at each site, a private tour may suit you better, though it would likely cost more.

The guides are a major part of how well the day works. Mido, Mustafa, Ahmed, Emad, and Said have each been praised for being friendly, clear, patient, and ready to help. That includes practical jobs such as explaining local customs, helping with scarves, assisting families, and keeping the group moving.

Who should book this Sharm El Sheikh day trip?

I would recommend this tour to you if you want a broad sample of Sinai without paying for several separate excursions. Families can enjoy the range of activities, though parents should take the rough sea, canyon footing, heat, and optional ATV ride into account.

It also suits first-time visitors who want the main natural highlights near Dahab in one outing. The canyon and reef offer genuinely different scenery, while lunch and the market stop break up the driving.

You may want to skip it if you dislike early starts, long transport days, organized group timing, or add-on costs. It is also not ideal if snorkeling is your only goal, since the tour gives substantial attention to land activities.

For the best day, wear sturdy shoes for the canyon, carry extra water, bring money for equipment rentals and drinks, and confirm your pickup time the day before. If children are joining, ask about life jackets and keep close watch at the Blue Hole.

Final verdict: book it for variety and value

I recommend this tour if you want an active, affordable day that combines Colored Canyon, Blue Hole, Dahab, lunch, and several optional extras. The canyon walk and reef stop are the strongest parts, while the camel ride and ATV option add fun without requiring a second booking.

Book it with realistic expectations. The day is busy, the order can change, and equipment fees may appear at the snorkeling stop. But at around $21, with helpful guides, transport, lunch, and a strong mix of scenery, it offers a lot for the money. Pack properly, keep some flexibility, and you should come away with a memorable view of Sinai beyond the resort strip.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off from Sharm El Sheikh in air-conditioned transportation. Your exact pickup time depends on your hotel location, so confirm it one day before departure.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

No. Snorkeling gear is not included. You may also need to pay extra for items such as fins, wetsuits, or life jackets.

Is a life jacket required at the Blue Hole?

A life jacket may be required before entering the sea. The water can be choppy, so check the local safety instructions and budget for a possible rental fee.

Is lunch included?

Yes. The tour includes a BBQ lunch served in a Bedouin tent at a beach camp in Dahab.

Is the ATV ride included?

The ATV ride is included only if you select the ATV option. Check your chosen package before booking.

What languages are offered?

The tour is offered in English, Italian, and Arabic.