Things to Do in Dahab

The Blue Hole is Dahab's best-known reef, about 10 km north of the town. It is a sinkhole more than 100 m deep, ringed by a reef wall that starts a few metres from the shore, so you can snorkel along it without a boat. The water is clear and the coral comes right up to the surface.

The site is a protectorate with an entry ticket paid on site ($20 per person, $10 in a group). Deep dives inside the hole go far beyond recreational limits; snorkelling and normal dives stay on the reef at the edge. There are cafés on the shore with sun loungers.

North of the Blue Hole the road ends and the Ras Abu Galum protectorate begins: a stretch of coast with no road, Bedouin settlements and reefs that see few visitors. You get there by boat along the coast, or on foot or by camel on the shore trail.

At the far end is the Blue Lagoon, a shallow bay of white sand and turquoise water with the mountains behind. It is a quiet place to swim and spend the afternoon, with simple Bedouin huts for shade. Our Blue Hole trip continues here by zodiac after the snorkelling stop.

The Colored Canyon is a narrow sandstone gorge inland from Nuweiba, about 1.5 hours from Dahab by Land Cruiser. Its walls are striped red, yellow and purple, and in places the passage is only shoulder-wide. The White Canyon nearby is a pale sandstone valley you walk down into.

A day here combines both canyons with a stop at the Mushroom Rock and Bedouin tea in the palm oasis of Ein Khudra. Expect short climbs and walking on sand and rock; normal fitness and shoes with grip are enough. In summer, go early, while the canyon walls still give shade.

South of Dahab, past the lighthouse, the Three Pools are shallow lagoons inside the reef where coral gardens start close to the shore. It is an easy snorkelling spot with calm water. Entry is a group ticket of $10, paid on site.

Further south, Wadi Gnai is a palm oasis on the coast between coloured mountains, where a dry valley meets the sea. There is no road along the shore, so people get there by beach buggy across the desert or by boat. Our afternoon trip combines both: snorkelling first, then you drive your own buggy to Wadi Gnai.

Wadi Weshwash is a narrow granite canyon in the mountains near Nuweiba, with freshwater pools hidden inside it. You walk in over rocks and boulders with a Bedouin guide, then swim and jump where the water is deep enough. The pools are fed by winter rain, so water levels change through the year.

Ras Shitan, on the coast between Nuweiba and Taba, is a quiet beach of simple camps with the mountains behind and the Red Sea in front. It is where many visitors go to switch off, and it makes a good end to a morning in the canyon.

Mount Sinai (2,285 m) is two hours inland from Dahab. You climb at night with a Bedouin guide, reach the summit before dawn and watch the sun rise over the mountains of South Sinai, then walk down to St Catherine's Monastery, one of the oldest Christian monasteries still in use.

It is cold at the top all year, and you need a full Egypt visa: the free Sinai-only stamp does not cover St Catherine. Our Mount Sinai guide covers the hike, what to bring and the monastery in detail.

The Lagoon (Laguna) at the south end of Dahab is a wide, shallow bay with flat water and steady wind, one of the best-known windsurfing and kitesurfing spots in Egypt. Schools along the beach rent equipment and give lessons, and the shallow water over much of the bay suits beginners.

In the evening it is a good place to watch the sunset over the mountains. We also set up private Bedouin nights on the Lagoon for groups: a fire, tea and music until the sun rises out of the sea.

A day on a yacht is the easiest way to see more of the reef than you can reach from the shore. Boats from Dahab cruise along the coast, stop at reef sites for swimming and snorkelling, and serve lunch on board; the captain picks the sites on the day depending on wind and sea.

If you prefer the evening, the sunset yacht sails in the late afternoon and serves dinner on board. If you don't swim, the semi-submarine shows the coral and reef fish through large windows below deck, in about 1.5 hours on the water.

The mountains behind Dahab are dark at night, far from the town lights, and the sky is full of stars. A Bedouin night at Jabal Tuwailat means sitting on cushions around a fire, drinking sweet Bedouin tea and watching a fire show and a tanoura dance.

It is an easy evening of about 3.5 hours with hotel pickup, and it suits families and anyone who wants something calm after a day at sea. Bring a warm layer: desert nights get cool, even in summer.