Aqaba
Aqaba has a huge selection of hotels and restaurants for a range of budgets. For those who don't mind a half hour walk from the center the Room 17 Youth Hostel is worth checking out. As the main departure point for crossing into Egypt there are a few options. Boats run from Aqaba to both Nuweiba and Taba. Tickets can be bought at the ticket office in the town centre. Prices are 50JD (70USD) for Aqaba to Taba and 53JD (75USD) for Aqaba to Nuweiba (2020). The Taba boat departs from the Yacht Club in the center of town. The Nuweiba boat departs from the Passenger Ferry Terminal 9km south of the centre. It is a 2 hour walk along the main road following coast. Alternatively it is only a few kilometers north to the Israeli border for the overland route to Taba. Visas for Egypt can be obtained from the Egyptian Consulate in Aqaba.
Note: The harbour at Taba is 20 km south of the town center and 17 km north of the nearest beach camps. We were able to combine up with other travelers and paid 200LE each for a ride to Dahab. The port at Nuweiba is 8 km south of the main town.
An inscription in Arabic at the entrance gate tells us that the castle was built during the reign of the Mamluk Sultan Qansur Al-Ghuri (1510-1517). The fort was used and renovated during many historical dynasties from the Mamluks themselves to the Ottomans. It also served as a caravanserai for pilgrims travelling to Mecca.
Located just south of Aqaba beach.
Entrance 1JD
