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DIFFICULTYModerateDISTANCE35.0 kmASCENT↑ 700 mELEVATION200–850 mDURATION3 days, 2 nightsREGIONnuweiba-taba

Three days through the inland wadis of the Nuweiba-Taba region — Coloured Canyon, Jebel Berqa, Ein Khudra oasis. A multi-tribe trek through Mzeina and Tarabin territory.

Coloured Canyon to Ein Khudra via Jebel Berqa

Route Map

35.0km
700mascent 850mhigh point 200mlow point 3 days, 2 nights
Coloured Canyon entrance (road inland from Ras Shaitan)
Route data: Zoltán Mátraházi (sinaimaps.com, 2014)
Base map: MapTiler · OpenStreetMap contributors
Download GPX
  • Camels carry the heavy gear while you hike with a light pack. Best of all, they always know the way home
  • Explore at your own pace on a private adventure. Take it slow, skip a leg, or climb that peak over there
  • Adventures are available the next day and included in your daily rate. Just text your guide, and it’s done.

Key Information

Day 1 — Coloured Canyon and onward to the inland wadis

The walk starts at the entrance to the Coloured Canyon, on the road inland from Ras Shaitan. A Tarabin guide joins here. The canyon walk takes a few hours — the floor is sand and small stones, the walls are banded sandstone. Exit at the canyon’s western end. From here the route turns inland toward Jebel Berqa. The wadi widens; the walls drop in height. Overnight in a wadi camp.

Day 2 — Jebel Berqa and the watershed

The walk reaches the base of Jebel Berqa and climbs the saddle on its side — not the summit, but a high pass that gives views in both directions. Halfway through the day the route crosses into Mzeina territory and a guide handover takes place. The walk descends into the Ein Khudra wadi system. Overnight in a wadi camp.

Day 3 — Through to Ein Khudra and exit

The walk reaches Ein Khudra oasis. Time at the gardens, lunch in the arisha of one of the Bedouin families. The trek ends at the oasis — 4×4 pickup brings the group out to road access at Cafeteria Joma.

Two nights in wadi camps — no garden overnight until the final day at Ein Khudra (which is the trek's end, not an overnight). Tents pitched in sheltered spots. Mattresses on the ground. Pit latrines. Water carried from the start. Meals over the fire — bread, foul, tahina, dates, nuts, vegetable and meat stew. Tea is heavy black with sugar.
This route crosses the territory of two tribes — the Tarabin (الترابين) in the north, and the Mzeina (المزينة) in the south. The Tarabin trace their ancestry to 'Atiya of the Quraysh, the same tribe as the Prophet Mohammed, originally from the Turba valley east of Mecca. 'Atiya migrated to Sinai in the 14th century and is buried at Wadi Wattir near Nuweiba. The tribe expanded significantly in the 18th century, conquering territory across Sinai. Today they are the largest Bedouin tribe in the Negev and Sinai together, with over 500,000 people across Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Gaza. In Sinai their concentration is north of Nuweiba; they hold the inland wadis around the Coloured Canyon area as well as much of the coastal Nuweiba-Taba strip. The Mzeina are the largest South Sinai tribe — covered in the Route 7 (White Canyon and Ein Khudra) hosting tribe description. They arrived from the Hijaz in the 15th to 17th centuries, are part of the Tawara confederation, and their territory runs from Nuweiba south to Sharm el-Sheikh. A Bedouin guide is on every trek, always from the controlling tribe — for this route, a Tarabin guide for the first half, a Mzeina guide for the second. The handover takes place at the territorial watershed, usually around Jebel Berqa.
The Coloured Canyon is cut into sandstone with bands of differing mineral content — iron oxides produce the reds, manganese the purples, calcite the whites. The banding is horizontal — formed when each sediment layer was laid down with different mineral concentrations in the ancient sea that covered this region. The canyon was cut by water erosion over millions of years; flash floods still pass through every winter. Jebel Berqa is one of the inland sandstone mountains of this region. Lower than the granite peaks of the southern high mountains, but the climbs from the wadi floors are still significant. The saddle the trek crosses gives views west toward the Sinai high mountains and east toward the Gulf of Aqaba. Ein Khudra means Green Spring — fed by an underground source, palms cultivated for generations by the Mzeina families of the oasis. The oasis sits at around 700 m elevation.
October through April. Summer is hot in the wadis though the Coloured Canyon stays shaded; the Jebel Berqa saddle is exposed. The trek is not advised in midsummer.

What to bring

  • Hiking shoes with good grip — the wadi floors are sandy with some rocky sections.
  • A 35-40 litre daypack.
  • 2 L water bottles. Extra capacity needed on saddle-crossing days where springs are not available.
  • A warm layer for the night.
  • A windproof shell.
  • Long trousers and a long-sleeved shirt for the day.
  • Sun hat, sunglasses, high-SPF sunscreen.
  • A wide cotton scarf.
  • A small head torch.
  • Personal toiletries.
  • Personal medication. Nearest pharmacy is in Nuweiba or Dahab.

What to leave behind

  • Cotton socks. Wool or synthetic only.
  • Anything you can’t carry comfortably for five hours.

Peace of Mind in the Wild

Comfort & Hygiene

Clean Water: We provide ample bottled mineral water for drinking. Mountain springs are reserved for washing only to keep your stomach safe.

Nature’s Bathroom: We practice Leave No Trace. Privacy is found in nature, and some garden stays feature eco-friendly dry latrines.

Fresh Food: All meals are cooked fresh over the fire—no processed trail rations.

Solo & Social Safety

Respectful Distance: Bedouin hospitality is rooted in honor. Your guide is trained to respect your privacy—giving you solitude when you want it, and company when you ask.

Private by Default: Unlike mass tourism, you set the pace. You don't have to worry about strangers or large groups in your camp.

Safety & Connection

Signal Spots: Mobile reception is available at specific high points. Your guide knows exactly where to check in.

Emergency Link: We maintain direct contact with the tribe in town. In the rare event of an emergency, camel or 4x4 rescue reaches extraction points within 90 mins.

The Network: You aren't alone; local gardeners and herders form a living safety net around you.

Driven by Community, Rooted in Dignity

Booksinai is a community-led movement with deep roots in the desert. We operate without outside investors or corporate influence. Our entire team comes from the local community, sharing the beauty of their home through honest hospitality.

Investing in the Next Generation

Your journey creates a lasting impact far beyond the trail. We pledge 25% of all profits to educational initiatives for Bedouin children. These funds support the brightest young minds in our community, providing the tools they need to thrive. By trekking with us, you directly invest in the future of Sinai’s hereditary knowledge.

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