The Best Canyons & Gorges in the Middle East

Turkey

Five gorges lie in Turkey. Horma Canyon is a narrow gorge where visitors walk a wooden walkway fixed to the canyon walls to Ilıca Waterfall. Karanlık Canyon has dark rock walls above the Euphrates, seen from rim viewpoints or from a boat along the base, with a carved Stone Road through tunnels. Valla Canyon is a narrow gorge reached by a forest walk to a spiral terrace over the rim. Tazı Canyon is cut by the Köprüçay River, and visitors mostly look down from rim terraces, often after arriving by car or organised tour. Saklıkent Gorge has towering cliffs over an ice-cold river, which visitors wade on foot.

Arabian Peninsula

Four gorges lie in Oman and Saudi Arabia. Wadi Shab has tall cliffs and a turquoise river, reached by a small boat and then a hike and swim through pools to a cave with a waterfall. Wadi Nakhr is a deep, narrow canyon, and visitors follow the Balcony Walk, a path along the cliff edge with no barrier. Wadi Al-Disah has red sandstone cliffs above a valley with a year-round stream and palms, which visitors reach by 4x4 or local jeep. Wadi Lajab is a narrow rocky gorge in Jazan with pools, small lakes and waterfalls, where visitors climb rocks and swim.

Iran and Egypt

Two gorges lie in Iran and Egypt. Chahkooh Canyon in Qeshm has sandstone and limestone walls that rise up to 100 meters, and its passage narrows to about half a meter in places. Visitors walk a path past old hand-dug wells. Wadi El Weshwash is a rainwater pool between granite mountains. Visitors take a 4x4 to the trailhead, then hike through narrow rocky passages, using ladders and ropes to reach the water. A Bedouin guide is recommended.