The desert of Sinai is remarkably diverse and has many different faces. There are vast open plains and high sand dunes, surreal sandstone hills and wind-carved rock formations, flat-topped ranges and plateaus offering dramatic views, rugged mountains, and a maze of long winding wadis. There are also green oases, hidden canyons, and a number of archaeological sites dating from Byzantine, Pharaonic, Nabataean, and even earlier times.
Most of the southern tip of the peninsula is mountainous, while the center is dominated by the rugged wilderness of the Tih Plateau. Between the two lies a broad sandy desert belt stretching across the peninsula from the Gulf of Suez to the Gulf of Aqaba. This belt can be divided into three safari regions that overlap around Jebel Dalal, the southernmost outlier of the Tih Plateau, but otherwise correspond more or less to tribal territories, each with its own distinct character, landscapes, and attractions.
Desert regions: 1. Muzeina Region; 2. Tarabin Region; 3. Aliqat Region.
Muzeina Region
This is perhaps the most spectacular sandy desert landscape in Sinai, and certainly one of the most varied. It features canyons, sandy plains, rock formations and surreal rock hills, beautiful green oases, and flat-topped mountains. The region stretches from the plains below Jebel Dalal (Elu al-Ajramiya) to the southern outskirts of Nuweiba and the Ras Abu Galum Protectorate north of Dahab.
Ein Hodra Oasis
Ein Hodra, meaning “Green Spring”, is a picturesque oasis with gardens and date palms, encircled by steep mountain ranges and vertical cliffs. It is very easy to reach from the main road. There are several springs here, one in a small cave and another overflowing from a fountain, which sustain a number of gardens. There are also archaeological ruins of interest in the area.
White Canyon
Beginning as a crack at the edge of a sandy plateau, the White Canyon is a narrow sandstone canyon that gradually opens into a wider wadi and leads to the oasis of Ein Hodra. Some easy climbing is required in places.
Closed Canyon
Located just off Wadi Hodra in a secluded sandy basin, the Closed Canyon is usually approached by 4×4 via Ein Hodra, Ras Ghazala, Jebel Mileihis, or Ein Furtaga. On foot, it can also be reached via Wadi Rum or from the Tarabin areas to the north. Although not the region’s most famous attraction, the canyon is highly impressive, running between extremely high walls. The entrance is still relatively wide, but farther in it becomes so narrow that people can barely squeeze through. The canyon then widens slightly before ending abruptly against unclimbable vertical walls, which give it its name.
Jebel Mileihis
Jebel Mileihis is a flat-topped sandstone mountain rising above the desert, with views stretching as far as the sea at Nuweiba. At its foot are the springs and date palms of Moyat Mileihis, set in a tranquil landscape. Wadi Disco, named after the Bedouin parties once held there, is a small settlement near the mountain and serves as a gateway to Canyon Salama (Red Canyon).
Nawamis Site
These mysterious prehistoric stone structures date to the Chalcolithic Period (c. 4000–3150 BC) and are found only in South Sinai, in several different areas. They are believed to have been ritual burial chambers and are always located on elevated ground facing west. This is the largest and best-preserved nawamis site, although similar structures are scattered across much of South Sinai.
Jebel Matamir
Jebel Matamir is a group of elongated sandstone hills rising from a sandy plain and separated by narrow gullies. Steep sand dunes climb up parts of the hills. From the peaks, there are far-reaching views across the desert and toward the distant high mountain ranges.
Jebel Barqa (Jebel Makharum) & Haduda Sand Dune
The popular sandstone formation of Jebel Makharum, with its distinctive hole cutting through the rock, is only one of many curious formations and hills within the sandstone range known as Jebel Barqa. The area also contains numerous small caves, sand dunes, and rock formations offering stunning views from above. The high sandy plateau surrounding Jebel Barqa comes to an abrupt end at the Haduda Sand Dune, where it drops steeply, about 150 meters, into a rocky wadi leading toward the coast. The views are magnificent, and it is also a great place to have fun and come away covered in sand.
Dune of Safra
This striking rock formation and high sand dune lie a short distance from the well known as Bir Safra, located at the junction of several major routes. The area is connected both to Jebel Barqa and to Wadi Arada and its canyon.
Arada Canyon (Double Canyon)
Arada Canyon actually consists of two canyons branching from the same entrance and connected by a small plateau, forming a circuit. Some climbing is required, and a little assistance may be needed at a few tricky spots. The entrance is located in a secluded sandy section of a gully.
Guna Plateau
The Guna Plateau is a long, flat-topped mountain range between two major wadis, with gullies descending from it in all directions. From the edge of the plateau there are stunning views across the surrounding desert, dotted with sandstone outcrops and framed by distant rugged mountain ranges, including Mount Catherine. Several canyons are located at the foot of the plateau.
Tarabin Region
The heartland of this southern Tarabin tribal territory lies west of Nuweiba and is home to the region’s—and perhaps Sinai’s—most famous desert attraction, the Colored Canyon. Farther west, the region includes Wadi Zalaqa, which separates the Guna Plateau from the Tih Plateau. It is a major route between the coast and the interior, ending at the plains below Jebel Dalal (Joofa).
Wishwashi Canyon
Located a short distance from the laid-back beaches of Ras Shaitan, between Nuweiba and Taba, Wishwashi Canyon is a beautiful place when it contains water. It lies just off Wadi Milha, the route leading to the Colored Canyon. Wishwashi Canyon is usually visited as part of that trek, but it can also be explored on its own. A little scrambling is required to reach the point where the canyon ends, and there may be water in the pool there.
Colored Canyon
The Colored Canyon is the best-known of all Sinai’s canyons. It winds between steep walls displaying an incredible palette of colors and rock formations, beginning on a plateau and ending in a sandy wadi. For those coming from Wishwashi Canyon, this sandy wadi marks the entrance. The walking trail continues farther north toward Bir Biriya, a well with date palms, and Rainbow Canyon.
Ein Furtaqa
Ein Furtaqa is a small oasis in Wadi Watir, along the 4×4 route between the Colored Canyon and Wadi Ghazala (Ein Hodra). It is also located beside the paved road, as Wadi Watir is a major thoroughfare connecting mainland Egypt with the port of Nuweiba.
Rainbow Canyon
Rainbow Canyon is a colorful canyon whose entrance opens from a secluded sandy basin surrounded by jagged rock formations. It can only be reached on foot, either from Bir Biriya or from Wadi Watir via Hlel al-Waar. It is a beautiful place and well worth a visit if you are walking between the Colored Canyon and Jebel Barqa, though it is probably not worth making a special trip solely to see the canyon itself.
Ein Umm Ahmed Oasis
One of the main Tarabin oases in South Sinai, Ein Umm Ahmed lies within the sandy belt that stretches from coast to coast beneath the Tih Plateau along a major dirt road. The oasis contains many date palms and several plantations and has a remote, frontier-like atmosphere. Numerous nawamis structures can be found in the area, and on foot or by camel the oasis is connected to several beautiful destinations, including Jebel Barqa.
Wadi Zalaqa
Long and wide Wadi Zalaqa, running between the walls of extensive mountain ranges, forms part of the sandy belt below the Tih Plateau that stretches across the peninsula from coast to coast. It begins at Wadi Zaranik beneath Jebel Dalal, near Joofa in central South Sinai, and ends at the oasis of Ein Umm Ahmed in the east. Jebel Barqa, the most impressive mountain in this region, lies just off Wadi Zalaqa shortly before Ein Umm Ahmed. Numerous nawamis structures can be found along the route. Wadi Zalaqa is also the venue for the annual intertribal camel race.
Jebel Barqa & El Breqa
Jebel Barqa is an impressive sandstone mountain rising from the surrounding sandy plains and low hills. The route to the summit begins in one of the narrow canyons at its base, but the final section of the climb is difficult and potentially dangerous. The saddle at the top of the canyon, which can be reached relatively easily, also offers fine views in two directions. El Breqa is a high sand dune piled between the walls of a long wadi and separated from Jebel Barqa by a small pass over a rocky hill.
Aliqat Region
Several tribes have territories within this region, but the largest area, including the main attractions, belongs to the Aliqat. They are also the dominant force in tourism, although they do not have the exclusive right to operate here. Other tribes present include the Qararsha, Hamada, Suwalha, and Badara. The region offers a variety of historic sites and a dramatic sandy plain lying below the long escarpment of the Tih Plateau, which can be ascended at several points. It extends between Wadi Mukattab (north of Wadi Feiran), Serabit al-Khadem (east of Abu Zenima), and the plains below Jebel Dalal (Wadi Gharaba).
Wadi Mukattab: The Valley of Inscriptions
A historic site in a beautiful natural setting, Wadi Mukattab, the Valley of Inscriptions, lies in an open sandy area along the off-road route from the Wadi Feiran road to Serabit al-Khadem. Ancient inscriptions can be seen on the rock faces for several hundred meters.
Wadi Maghara: Turquoise Mines
Turquoise was mined at Wadi Maghara from the time of the Pharaohs. The site contains several ancient mine workings and a Pharaonic rock carving. The entrance to the narrow valley is marked by the shrine of Sheikh Suliman. The area lies close to Wadi Mukattab.
Serabit al-Khadem: Temple of Hathor
North of Wadi Maghara lies Serabit al-Khadem, the most important Pharaonic site in Sinai. It stands where the sandy desert belt below the Tih Plateau meets the rocky mountain ranges to the south. The Temple of Hathor occupies the top of a flat-topped ridge, providing a magnificent desert backdrop to the archaeological site.
Wadi Gharandal
Another route to Serabit al-Khadem, approaching from the Gulf of Suez coast, follows Wadi Gharandal. This long valley runs below the Tih Plateau, and its lower section near the coast, Seil Gharandal, is especially attractive. Water flows along the surface, supporting ponds, gardens, date palms, and lush vegetation. For visitors heading to Serabit al-Khadem, this route is more scenic than the one from Abu Zenima—the two routes eventually meet in the sandy desert—but it is also a major industrial road, with heavy truck traffic and several active mines along the way.
Ramlat Hmeyer & Jebel Hmeyer
Ramlat Hmeyer, the “Red Sand”, is a vast desert plain between the dark Serabit ranges and the Tih Plateau. It ends at Jebel Hmeyer, which appears to be little more than a hill when viewed from one side, although there is a dramatic drop on the other. A 4×4 vehicle can easily reach the flat summit via a good track. Beyond it lies another plain, marked by striking patterns of red and black sand washed together by occasional rains.
Forest of Pillars (Jebel Fuqa) & Jebel Raqaba
The Forest of Pillars is an unusual geological rock formation at the foot of the Tih Plateau. The area is often referred to as Jebel Fuqa, although that name properly belongs to a nearby rocky hill. Above the Forest of Pillars rises Jebel Raqaba, one of the heads of the Tih Plateau, which can be climbed from the nearby settlement of Warsa. Although the Forest of Pillars has suffered significant damage from tourism, it remains well worth a visit.
Tih Plateau
The center of Sinai is occupied by a vast desert highland known as the Tih Plateau (Jebel al-Tih). Along its southern edge, it drops abruptly to the sandy desert belt that stretches across the peninsula from coast to coast. Viewed from the south, the Tih appears as a massive rock wall extending across the horizon, broken by several prominent heads and outliers. The plateau can be ascended at certain points, some accessible only on foot, such as Jebel Raqaba, while others, including Jebel Dalal, can also be reached by camel or 4×4 vehicle. According to tribal tradition, the crest of the Tih Plateau roughly marks the boundary between North and South Sinai.
ATTRACTIONS: Red Sea Coast > St Catherine & Mt Sinai > The High Mountain Region > The Desert