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

The day’s best contrast is between the 800-meter Colored Canyon, where sandstone walls shift from yellow to red and gold, and the Blue Hole, where you can float above coral and fish. Add a camel ride, a beach BBQ, and an optional quad-bike run, and you get a lot of Sinai in one long day.

I like the variety, especially the chance to walk through a narrow desert gorge and then cool off in the sea. I also like the Bedouin-style lunch and the friendly guide service, with guides such as Mido, Mustafa, Ahmed, Emad, and Said singled out for patient help. The main drawback is that the day is busy, and snorkeling gear, life jackets, and some water may cost extra.

Key points at a glance

• Colored Canyon: Walk through an 800-meter maze of striped sandstone walls in yellow, purple, red, and gold.
• Blue Hole snorkeling: Enjoy coral and fish at Blue Hole National Park, but bring cash for required safety gear and rentals.
• Full activity schedule: The day may include a jeep ride, camel ride, quad biking, snorkeling, lunch, and shopping.
• Bedouin beach lunch: Stop for a BBQ meal in a tent beside the sea and mountains.
• Dahab stop: Browse local stalls for souvenirs and distinctive Egyptian goods.
• Best value: At $21 per person, the tour packs in plenty, though extras and a long day should be part of your budget.

A big Sinai day for a very small price

At $21 per person, this is an unusually full excursion. You are not paying simply for a ride to one attraction. The price covers hotel pickup and return, air-conditioned transport, a professional canyon and snorkeling guide, jeep travel, lunch, a camel ride, a Dahab stop, and a bottle of water.

Depending on the option you choose, it can also include Blue Hole and Abu Galum, plus an ATV ride along the coast and mountains. Cultural Egyptian scarves are available as an add-on.

That low price comes with a tradeoff. This is a packed group excursion, not a private desert outing with a slow, flexible schedule. You will change vehicles, move between activities, and keep an eye on the clock. Still, if you want to see several major sights around Dahab without arranging separate transport, the value is strong.

The published pickup time depends on your hotel. Confirm it the day before, and allow for a delay of up to 10 minutes. The early start is part of the deal, but it gives you more time away from Sharm El Sheikh and into the Sinai interior.

The ride from Sharm El Sheikh to Dahab

Your day begins with pickup in an air-conditioned vehicle. The road takes you north toward Dahab, a coastal town known for its relaxed feel, desert surroundings, and access to Blue Hole National Park.

The vehicle is useful here. The trip combines road travel with rougher jeep sections, so you get a practical base between stops rather than spending the whole day exposed to sun and dust. Drivers are also part of the experience, and several have been praised for smooth transfers and helpful assistance.

The exact order can change. One person found the actual sequence different from the advertised plan, with snorkeling and lunch happening before the canyon. That is worth knowing if you like a strict schedule. Treat the itinerary as a list of planned stops, not a minute-by-minute promise.

Walking through the Colored Canyon

The Colored Canyon is the day’s most distinctive land stop. The route leads through an approximately 800-meter gorge cut into sandstone. The walls show bands of yellow, purple, red, and gold, with the colors changing as the light reaches different sections.

You are not simply looking at the canyon from a roadside viewpoint. You walk through a natural maze, with narrow passages and uneven rock underfoot. The scale is intimate, which makes the colors and curves easier to appreciate. At some points, the walls close in around you. At others, the route opens enough for broad views of the surrounding desert.

Wear proper shoes. One guest specifically advised comfortable footwear, especially for anyone who enjoys climbing or feels unsure on rocky surfaces. Flip-flops are a poor choice here. Even if you do not plan to scramble, the ground can be rough and the route requires attention.

The guide adds useful context by explaining the canyon’s formation and history. This matters because the beauty is not only in the colors. You are seeing layers shaped by wind, water, and time, and the guide helps connect the rock patterns to the place around you.

The walk may be tiring for young children or anyone uncomfortable on uneven ground. It is not presented as a technical climbing trip, but you should expect a real walk through rock rather than a flat path.

Blue Hole National Park and the sea

After the desert, Blue Hole National Park brings a sharp change of mood. You can relax by the beach and snorkel over coral reefs with fish and other sea life below.

The setting is a strong part of the appeal. The water, mountains, and open shore give the stop a sense of space after the narrow canyon. If you choose the option that includes Abu Galum, that section adds another coastal and marine setting to the day.

There are important practical details here. Snorkeling equipment is not included in the basic package. The supplied information also notes that life jackets may be required, and one guest paid £5 per person for them. Another paid €10 per person for wetsuits, life jackets, and fins. Prices can vary, but you should carry extra cash and ask clearly what is included before entering the water.

The sea may be choppy, making swimming harder than expected. A life jacket is especially sensible for children or anyone who is not a confident swimmer. The requirement may feel like an annoyance when you first hear about it, but it is also a useful safety measure in moving water.

Bring more water than the included bottle if you can. Small bottles at the site have been reported at 100 Egyptian pounds, so buying several on location can quickly eat into the savings from the low tour price.

The Blue Hole is best for you if you want an easy chance to see reef life without arranging a separate snorkeling trip. It is less suited to someone expecting a quiet, private swim. The stop can feel active, and the water conditions are not completely under your control.

BBQ lunch in a Bedouin tent

Lunch takes place in a Bedouin tent at a beach camp. The meal is a BBQ, served with the sea and mountains nearby.

This is more than a convenient feeding stop. It gives the day a pause between physical activities, and the setting connects the excursion to local desert culture. Guides explain aspects of Bedouin life and local customs, which adds meaning to the tent rather than making it just a themed restaurant.

Expect a simple group meal rather than fine dining. That is appropriate for the setting. You have spent the morning on roads, rocks, and the shore, so a filling BBQ and a place to sit matter more than a long menu.

The timing can vary because the activity order changes. If snorkeling comes first, lunch gives you a chance to dry off and rest. If the canyon is first, it breaks up the walking before the afternoon activities.

Camel riding beside the coast

The camel ride follows the beach camp schedule and takes place along the sea. It is a short, photogenic part of the day, with a chance to take pictures against the coastline and mountains.

I would treat this as a cultural photo stop, not a long camel trek. The available information does not promise a lengthy ride, and the full schedule leaves limited room for lingering. It is still worthwhile if you have never ridden a camel in Egypt, particularly because the coastal setting differs from the usual desert postcard.

The staff and drivers may help with scarves and photos. One guide and driver were praised for helping visitors fold their Egyptian scarves, which can make the picture stop easier and more fun. If you want photographs, keep your phone or camera accessible, but protect it from sand and water.

Optional quad biking around Dahab

The ATV section adds speed after the slower camel ride. You ride along Dahab’s coastal and mountain terrain, taking in the open views while handling the quad bike.

This option is not included in every booking, so check your selected package. It suits you if you want more action and do not mind another structured activity in an already full day. It may not suit you if you prefer extra time at the beach or dislike noisy motor activities.

The quad-bike ride is one of the reasons this outing appeals to mixed groups. One person can enjoy the canyon and snorkeling, while another gets the thrill of the ATV section. Just remember that every added activity also makes the schedule tighter.

A short shopping stop in Dahab

The final stop is in Dahab City, where you can browse stalls and look for souvenirs. The selection may include scarves and other local items, along with goods described as exclusive or distinctive to the market.

Keep this stop in proportion. It is a chance to browse, not a dedicated shopping tour. You will likely have limited time after a long day of outdoor activities, so decide before you arrive if you want a scarf, small keepsake, or gift.

The shopping stop also gives you a brief look at Dahab itself. You will not have hours to explore the town, but you get a taste of its shops and coastal-town character before returning to Sharm El Sheikh.

Guides, drivers, and the feel of the day

The guide can make or break a packed excursion. The strongest personal praise has gone to guides named Mido, Mustafa, Ahmed, Emad, Said, and Rahim. Their praised qualities are practical ones: explaining the schedule, helping with equipment, assisting families, sharing information about local people, and keeping a friendly tone.

Guide assignments can change, so do not book solely because of one name. Still, the repeated pattern is encouraging. The service seems to rely on guides who stay close to the group and help with small tasks, from fitting gear to folding scarves.

The drivers also matter because you spend much of the day moving between sites. Smooth transfers, careful driving, and help with bags or clothing make a noticeable difference after the early pickup.

Expect a sociable group setting. The tour is designed to combine many people and many activities at a low price. Families have used it successfully, including a group with four adults and four children, but children should be comfortable with heat, walking, rough ground, and a long day.

What to bring and what to budget

A little preparation will make this trip easier:

• Wear sturdy, comfortable footwear for the canyon.
• Bring swimwear, a towel, and sun protection.
• Carry cash for snorkeling equipment, life jackets, fins, wetsuits, drinks, and optional purchases.
• Pack extra water because bottled water at the Blue Hole area can be expensive.
• Bring a phone or camera for the canyon, camel ride, and coast.
• Confirm your pickup time the day before.
• Choose the quad-bike and Abu Galum options carefully when booking.

The included bottle of water is useful, but it should not be your only hydration plan. The combination of desert walking, sun, snorkeling, and motor activities can leave you thirsty well before the return drive.

The day also rewards flexible clothing. You may move from dusty canyon paths to wet beach areas, then back into a vehicle. Simple, quick-drying clothes are more practical than anything delicate.

Is this $21 excursion worth booking?

I would book this tour if you want maximum variety for a low price and have only one day available for the Dahab area. The canyon, Blue Hole, BBQ lunch, camel ride, shopping stop, and optional quad biking give you a broad sample of Sinai.

I would be more cautious if you want a slow day, guaranteed timing, or a private experience. The route can change order, the day is long, and the extra costs for water and snorkeling equipment reduce the headline bargain.

For families, first-time visitors, and active couples, the mix works well. For the best experience, confirm exactly which options are included, bring sturdy shoes and cash, and accept that the schedule is busy. If you do that, $21 buys an impressive amount of scenery, activity, and local contact.

FAQ

What is included in the tour price?

The package includes hotel pickup and drop-off in air-conditioned transportation, a professional canyon and snorkeling guide, jeep travel, the Colored Canyon visit, lunch in a Bedouin tent, a camel ride, a Dahab shopping stop, and a bottle of water. Blue Hole, Abu Galum, and the ATV ride depend on the option selected.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

No. Snorkeling gear is not included in the basic package. Additional charges may apply for fins, wetsuits, and life jackets, so bring extra cash.

Is a life jacket required at the Blue Hole?

The provided information and trip experience indicate that a life jacket may be required before entering the sea. One reported charge was £5 per person. Conditions can be choppy, so a life jacket is particularly useful for children and less confident swimmers.

What footwear should I wear?

Wear comfortable, sturdy footwear for the Colored Canyon. The ground is rocky, and the route can involve climbing or walking over uneven surfaces.

When will pickup take place?

Pickup time depends on your hotel location. Confirm the exact time one day before the trip, and allow for a possible delay of up to 10 minutes.

Which languages are available?

The tour is offered in English, Italian, and Arabic. Guides named Mido, Mustafa, Ahmed, Emad, Said, and Rahim have been associated with particularly helpful service, but the assigned guide can vary.