Sweltering heat overwhelms the desert, and a thin haze lifts from the sand; adrenaline pulses behind the throat, and a hiker prepares themselves for an unparalleled trek. Egypt’s landscapes are a study in beauty, ranging from Jebel Elba’s unsung oasis, to the mountain ranges which have come to define the Red Sea. Between the historic nature of these sites, and the mythic grandeur packaged with them, is a curiosity looking to be satiated. A curiosity for a good, long hike. Here is an exploration of some of Egypt’s most beautiful and symbolic hiking trails. 1. Colored Canyon, Nuweiba Hiking through the Coloured Canyon is an extraordinary affair. While Nuweiba is often associated with white stretches of beach, the Canyon presents a powerful statement by nature—a labyrinth of layered, colourful sandstone formations seen nowhere else in Egypt. With a depth of 30 metres and a length of 800 metres, the Coloured Canyon is situated 210 miles (322 kilometres) from Cairo, and roughly a two-hour commute from Sharm el-Sheikh. Its colourful nature is a result of receding Red Sea tides and the erosion of limestone, leaving open an underbelly of magentas, oranges,…
Hike like an Egyptian: a List of Egypt’s Most Powerful and Symbolic Hiking Trails
September 23, 2022
