Not sure about getting a visa in Sharm. It probably isn't too much hassle, ask your rep.

As for the Coloured Canyon, you will be OK with just the free visa as it is still in the Sinai area.
Click HERE to see a map of the location (Nuweiba is about 100 miles from Sharm I think).

What is the Coloured Canyon?

I'm going back to Sharm next year, if the CC is worth a visit I might see if FC do an excursion.

Pippy

In Pippy HT Mod fashion, it's THIS.

Never been there, but we've been to the White Canyon

Thanks Everest

Although it looks interesting, I think it would require too much energy in the August heat

Pippy

Thanks for your reply Everest, much appreciated...........lets hope the bus/taxi has a/c for our journey back to Sharm as Im sure we will be hot and bothered by the time we have finished

Just to add to the confusion...

The coloured canyon is just outside the visa free area being about twenty km west of the Nuweiba check point. However, you do not need a visa to visit it. The tour company will have to get a special permit from the tourism police in Sharm before you leave ( or from the tourism police in Nuweiba if travelling from Nuweiba ) and usually this is done the night before or before you set off.

From Sharm it will be a two hour drive to Nuweiba and then up Wadi Watir on a rough track. It will be hot in the summer - the best thing is to do it either very early morning or very late in the afternoon, though this is not always practical from Sharm.

And yes, Pippy, it is worth visiting as you ll be pretty close to me !

More pictures at...

http://www.swisscare-hotels.com/OB1.JPG
http://www.swisscare-hotels.com/OB2.JPG
http://www.swisscare-hotels.com/OB3.JPG
http://www.swisscare-hotels.com/OB4.JPG
http://www.swisscare-hotels.com/OB5.JPG
http://www.swisscare-hotels.com/OB6.JPG
http://www.swisscare-hotels.com/OB7.JPG
http://www.swisscare-hotels.com/OB8.JPG
http://www.swisscare-hotels.com/OB9.JPG

Ah well, in that case Alvin I shall have to investigate further!

Great pics, I particularly like the one of the man with a rock balanced on his head!

Pippy

Things may well have changed, but I think it was 3 years ago, dopey here left our passports in the departure lounge at Gatwick, & realised half way through the flight to Sharm! Gatwick faxed copies to Sharm & at least they let us in, but we were NOT allowed to go on any excursions until our passports arrived, other than a local camel ride, dinner at a bedouin camp.
We had to do everything in the second week, including the Coloured Canyon which was great if you don't mind heights. It was getting down into it in the first place which caused me grief!

Oh & beware of the 'Black Hole!'.