There are quite a few canyons in south Sinai, both in the desert and mountains, but they are quite small as compared to other well-known canyons in the world. Nevertheless, they are beautiful places, and also quite adventurous. Some of the canyons are popular safari destinations easy to reach by an off-road vehicle, others are lesser known and can only be reached on foot.
White Canyon:
Located next to the oasis of Ein Khudra, the White Canyon is one of the better-known attractions in the interior of Sinai. Usually visited as part of a Jeep safari (4×4 safari), it can also be reached easily on foot from the St. Katherine-Dahab-Nuweiba road. The canyon is carved in the soft rock of a plain, starting as a crack with a sudden deep drop. The canyon starts between extremely narrow walls, then opens up a bit before coming to another deep drop.
Kharaza Canyon:
Located in the High Mountains near the town of St Katherine, Kharaza consists of a few interconnected water pools in a short but very pretty granite canyon. Usually there is a little water here, and after rains getting through. The canyon is just off a big open wadi known as Wadi Mathar, at the base of the Mt. Katharina range. You find another little canyon nearby, more of a gap cutting through a granite hill, connecting the area to Wadi Umm Serdi.
Sagar Canyon:
Located further in the High Mountains, Wadi Sagar is a short wadi that literally cuts through a granite mountain range. It connects the higher Abu Tuweita area to Wadi Tinya, which is at the base of Jebel Abbas Basha. Wadi Sagar could be visited in a full day’s trek, but since the area offers other attractions as well, at least a two-day trek is recommended. In the narrow canyon running between vertical walls, you will find a little fountain that collects water dripping from a crack. Also, there is a fig tree, grafted on a local tree. It is one of the most attractive sights in the mountains, well worth a visit.
Closed Canyon:
It is a little cul-de-sac located in a branch of the sandy Wadi Khudra, between the oasis of Ein Kudra and Wadi Ghazala. It starts in a small crack in a sandstone range, running between steep vertical walls. At points the canyon is extremely narrow, you can just squeeze through. The path leads under big boulders towards the end, before reaching a little open area encircled by an inaccessible wall. The Closed Canyon sometimes is visited by 4×4 safari groups, although they usually focus on better known attractions. On foot it can be visited en-route from Ein Kudra oasis to Jebel Mileihis.
Wishwashi Canyon:
It’s a little canyon off Milha’s canyon, along the walking route to the Coloured Canyon. The wadi gets very narrow just a little up from the mouth, with big boulders blocking the way. There are a piece of rope and ladder at tricky parts, and water might be present in pools. It’s a pretty place, but after rains when a pool forms, it is simply amazing. The canyon can be visited from the Ras Shaitan area on the Red Sea coast as a 1-day walk, or as part of a longer trek.
Salama Canyon:
Sometimes called the “Little Coloured Canyon”, it is a cute place that starts as a crack in a rocky area of otherwise sandy Wadi Ghazala. It gets deeper a little down. The lower part of the short canyon is wider, and it connects to the bigger Wadi Disco where there is a tiny Bedouin settlement. Either on foot or by 4×4, this is the route to Jebel Mileihis, and if you visit the Wadi Ghazala area, it’s worth to see both the mountain and the canyon. Ras Ghazala, also known as El Taor, is on the St. Katherine-Dahab-Nuweiba road, easily recognisable from the rusty truck on a hill with a smiley face. It is where the treks and safaris usually start from and possibly you might get camel or jeep on the spot.
