Pricing policy
All prices are per person in US dollars and depend on the size of your group. Your quote lists the final price and what it covers. After the deposit, changes to your plan cost US$25 per request, plus any third-party fees.
Colored Canyon and St. Catherine by Jeep
A 12.5-hour private day across South Sinai by 4x4 jeep from Sharm El Sheikh: St Catherine's Monastery at the foot of Mount Sinai, a walk through the canyon's banded rock, then lunch in Dahab. Hotel pickup, a Bedouin driver, an English-speaking guide, entrance fees, lunch and water are included.
- Duration
- 12.5 hours
- Tour type
- Private, your own group
- Pickup
- From your hotel
- Lunch
- Included
- Guide
- English-speaking guide and Bedouin driver
- Entrance fees
- Included
Overview
South Sinai packs very different landscapes into a small area. In the high granite mountains, at about 1,570 metres, St Catherine's Monastery has stood at the foot of Mount Sinai since the 6th century, when the Byzantine emperor Justinian had it fortified around the chapel of the Burning Bush. It is one of the oldest Christian monasteries still in use. To the east, towards the Gulf of Aqaba, the Colored Canyon is a narrow slot cut into sandstone, where iron and manganese have stained the walls in bands of red, yellow, purple and white.
This private day links the two by 4x4 jeep. You leave Sharm El Sheikh early and drive north through the mountains to the monastery, which only opens to visitors for a few hours in the morning. From there the jeep heads east on desert tracks to the Colored Canyon, where you walk through the canyon with your guide. In the afternoon you come down to the coast at Dahab for a late lunch by the sea and some free time, before the drive back south to Sharm El Sheikh in the early evening.
Who this tour suits
- Active travellers who want more than a beach day: history in the morning, a canyon walk at midday.
- Families with older children and teenagers who can scramble over a few rocks.
- Photographers: the canyon walls are at their brightest when the sun is high, and the mountain road is spectacular.
The canyon involves a walk of about an hour with narrow passages and a few rocks to climb, so it is not suitable for anyone with limited mobility or a fear of tight spaces. For a calmer day with only the monastery and Dahab, by car, choose our St Catherine Monastery tour from Sharm.
Why a guide and a Bedouin driver matter here
Inside the monastery, organised guided tours and recordings are not allowed, so your guide gives the history before you go in: Justinian's walls, the Burning Bush, the icons and manuscripts that made the library famous, and the monks who still live there. In the desert, the Bedouin driver knows the tracks to the canyon and the way through it.
What you will love
- St Catherine's MonasteryJustinian's walls, the Burning Bush and one of the oldest Christian monasteries still in use.
- The Colored Canyon walkA narrow slot of sandstone banded in red, yellow and purple, walked from top to bottom.
- By 4x4 across South SinaiDesert tracks between granite mountains, driven by a Bedouin who knows the way.
- A late lunch in DahabLunch by the sea in the relaxed coastal town, with time to swim or walk the promenade.
- Mountains, canyon and sea in one dayThree landscapes of Sinai, each with its own light for photographs.
- A private guide for your groupYour own English-speaking guide, who briefs you on the monastery before you go in.
- Lunch and tickets includedLunch, water and the entrance fees are in the price, so you only bring money for drinks and tips.
Your stops
Times assume a 05:30 pickup in Sharm El Sheikh on a day the monastery is open; your guide adapts the plan to the checkpoints and the canyon track on the day.
Stop105:30 Pickup from your hotel in Sharm El Sheikh
Your guide and Bedouin driver collect you in a private air-conditioned 4x4. The road runs north along the coast and then up through the granite mountains of South Sinai, about three hours with checkpoints.
Stop209:00 St Catherine's Monastery
At the foot of Mount Sinai, your guide explains the monastery's history outside the walls. Inside, you see the Church of the Transfiguration, the Burning Bush, the Well of Moses and, when it is open, the sacristy with icons and liturgical treasures. Allow about an hour.
Stop310:30 Across the desert to the Colored Canyon
The jeep heads east through wadis and over desert tracks towards the Gulf of Aqaba, about an hour and a half. The final part is a sandy track that only a 4x4 can drive.
Stop412:00 The Colored Canyon walk
From the plateau you walk down into the canyon with your guide, about 800 metres between walls of banded sandstone, squeezing through narrow passages and climbing over a few boulders. The jeep meets you at the bottom.
Stop514:30 Lunch and free time in Dahab
A drive of about an hour and a quarter brings you to Dahab for a late lunch at a local restaurant by the sea. Afterwards there is free time to swim, walk the promenade or browse the shops.
Stop616:45 Drive back to Sharm El Sheikh
The coast road back to Sharm takes about an hour and a quarter. You are at your hotel at about 18:00.
Price
Group size and pricing
Prices are per person in US dollars. Children pay less, see the children policy below.
Get a quoteWhat is included
- Pickup and drop-off at your hotel in Sharm El Sheikh in a private air-conditioned 4x4 jeep.
- All transfers of the day in the same jeep, with a Bedouin driver.
- A private English-speaking guide throughout the trip.
- Entrance to St Catherine's Monastery and the Colored Canyon fee.
- Lunch at a local restaurant in Dahab.
- Bottled water during the day.
- All taxes and service charges.
- Drinks with lunch and anything not listed in the program.
- International flights.
- Your Egypt entry visa (or Sinai-only permit).
- Personal expenses and tips (optional).
Practical information for this tour
Opening days and hours
The monastery is open to visitors from 9:00 to 11:30 and is closed on Fridays, Sundays and major Orthodox feasts, at the time of writing. The tour therefore runs on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and leaves Sharm early so that you arrive soon after the doors open. Opening hours can change at short notice for religious events; we confirm them before your date.
Colored Canyon access
The canyon is reached by a Bedouin 4x4 track, and access has been restricted at times in recent years. We confirm access to the canyon when you book. The walk is about 800 metres, one way, from the top of the plateau down to the exit where the jeep waits, and takes 45 to 90 minutes. The narrowest point is about 60 centimetres wide, and there are a couple of boulders to climb, one with a fixed rope.
Dress code and what to bring
- Clothes that cover shoulders and knees for the monastery; a scarf is useful.
- Trainers or walking shoes with good grip for the canyon; no sandals.
- A warm layer from November to March: St Catherine is high and cold in the morning.
- A hat, sunglasses and sunscreen, swimwear and a towel if you want to swim in Dahab.
- Your passport for the checkpoints, and some cash for drinks and tips.
Photography
Photos are allowed in the monastery courtyard; inside the church, photography and recordings may be restricted, and the monks ask for quiet. In the canyon, a phone with a wide-angle lens works best in the narrow walls.
Pickup, timing and the road
Pickup is at about 05:30 from hotels in Sharm El Sheikh and Naama Bay. The road to St Catherine is about 214 kilometres, roughly three hours with checkpoints. You are back in Sharm at about 18:00.
Fitness and children
The canyon walk needs average fitness and sure feet. Children from about eight who are used to walking usually enjoy it; tell us their ages when you book. The jeep tracks are bumpy, which is uncomfortable for anyone with back problems.
Travel policy guide
Booking confirmation
A deposit of 30% of the total tour cost confirms your booking. We send you a secure payment link for the deposit; the balance is paid in cash or by card on arrival in Egypt, unless your written offer gives another date. We never ask for card details by email, chat or WhatsApp. We confirm every booking by email.
Cancellation and refund
- 22 days or more before departure: 100% refund
- 15 to 21 days: 70% refund
- 8 to 14 days: 50% refund
- 0 to 7 days: no refund
No-show travelers are charged 100%. During peak events in Egypt, hotels and Nile cruises do not refund deposits. Groups of more than 10 people may have different terms.
Children policy
- Under 2: free, sharing the parents’ bed, meals not included
- 2 to 5 years: 25% of the adult price
- 6 to 11 years: 50% of the adult price
- 12 and over: adult price
Add each child and their age in the enquiry form so the quote is exact.
Optional visits
Add a lunch stop, a longer visit or a second site to your day. Tell us what you want and we add it to your quote with its cost.
Extra expenses
Not included in the price: Any extras or optional activities not listed in the itinerary; International airfare; Egypt entry visa fees; Personal expenses and gratuities (tipping optional).
Tipping guide
Tipping is customary in Egypt and is not included in the price. A usual amount for a private day tour is US$5 to 10 per person for your guide and US$3 to 5 for your driver.
Questions about this tour
On which days does the tour run?
On Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, because the monastery is closed to visitors on Fridays, Sundays and major Orthodox feasts.
How hard is the Colored Canyon walk?
Easy to moderate: about 800 metres downhill, 45 to 90 minutes, with narrow passages and a couple of boulders to climb, one with a rope. Good shoes and average fitness are enough.
Is Mount Sinai included?
No. Climbing Mount Sinai is a night hike for sunrise and is a separate tour. This day visits the monastery at the foot of the mountain.
Is the tour private?
Yes. The jeep, driver and guide are for your group only.
Is lunch included?
Yes, a late lunch at a local restaurant in Dahab. Drinks are paid locally.
How long is the day?
About twelve and a half hours, from a 05:30 pickup to about 18:00 back at your hotel.
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60 Ahmed El Zomor, Cairo, Egypt
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Christiane SMay 2026
Amazing Egyptian vacation! We did an 11 day private tour of Cairo, cruise on the Nile between Aswan and Luxor and a 4 day stay in Hurghada. The guided tours were very interesting, with extremely knowledgeable guides, attentive and helpful.
Ehrhart MAugust 2024
Egypt package to the Pyramids of Giza and Saqqara was a fascinating journey through Egypt's ancient past ,guide knowledge, the majesty of the pyramids, and the historical depth of Saqqara made this tour truly enriching!
Clayton Z973August 2024
our honeymoon to Egypt ,Giza and Saqqara was a magical escape into history The pyramids looming in the distance, the quiet serenity of the desert, and the ancient wonders of Saqqara created moments that will be with me forever!
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