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Taba
Taba, in the eastern Sinai peninsula of Egypt, marks the location of the southern border crossing between Egypt and Israel, servicing travellers coming into Egypt and the Sinai via Eilat. The town has grown up around the border crossing and offers basic amenities for travellers - these will no doubt be greatly enhanced when a new Taba Heights development gathers pace. Taba is a relatively minor centre for Red Sea diving.
Get in
Visitors to Taba arrive either north from Israel, south from Egypt or by air to Taba International Airport. On leaving Israel, a departure tax of 70NIS (Jul 2006) is charged. For entering Egypt, most nationalities can receive a free Sinai permit allowing 14 days within Sinai itself. You must have an advance visa if you wish to proceed out of the Sinai. Whether you have a visa or not, you'll be charged 40LE (Jul 2006) as "Sinai tax".
When crossing the border, there are 150 meters of no-man's-land between the Egyptian and Israeli checkpoints. Touts may offer you the use of carts to carry your bags, but will charge for this service.
On the Egyptian side, long-distance taxis await at the traffic circle. Negotiate fares carefully, at last check rides to Dahab cost around 50 Egyptian pounds.
On the Israeli side, local bus 15 connects to Eilat's Central Bus Station and also the Jordanian border at Arava.
Coming from Cairo there is a bus, usually leaving at 10 PM from the main bus station in Cairo. If you need help finding the bus station there is a tourist information stand in the main Cairo train station, they speak English and are generally helpful. Cost is around 50LE one way. The bus has a colorful crowd of almost all men. The bus is generally a descent new-ish model, not unlike long haul buses in the states, but like everything in Egypt it will likely be in some state of disrepair.(Avoid sitting near the toilet.)
It is not advisable to discuss further travel plans, as in going to Israel, aloud or with other travellers as this may elicit unwanted attention.
Do
The primary reason for Taba's existence is the casino at the Hilton.
Buy
Castle Zaman, 25 km Nuweiba - Taba Road (10 minutes from Taba Heights). Dramatic mountainous views of four countries. Specializes in food slowly roasted in earthen pots; the process takes 1-3 hours, which you can kill by the pool, exploring the underground treasure room, getting a massage, or sipping fresh cocktails by the bar. Not child friendly.
Sleep
Budget
Beer Sweer, an area located just some 15 km south of Taba, on your way to Nuweiba, offers lots of small beach camps. All have a restaurant section, and bamboo straw huts, where the Stars shine though at night. The camps are directly on the beach, with possibility to simply sleep on the beach, beside the sea. Figure on US$15/day including food and drinks.
Al TarekDiana Beach Camp'Sabah Camp'Baraka- A quiet beach camp run by the kindest man in the world, Yousef. The food is deliscious and...
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Hotels in Taba
 | The Three Corners El Wekala Golf Resort  |
Score 0 from 0 reviews | | Taba Heights - South Sinai |  |
| Our Buffet Restaurant present at dinner time our famous Theme Nights, such as The Taste of Italy, Around the World, Wonders of the Far East, French Romance, Oriental Night, BBQ buffet and European buffet.
Enjoy the art of cuisine at the Chez Pascal Restaurant and the Dolce Vita Restaurant. The Chez Pascal Restaurant offers an authentic Belgian cuisine with a choice of steaks cooked to perfection, seafood dishes. Enjoy also our Dine Around program and taste everything Taba Heights Hotels' restaurants offer.
End your evenings with a drink in the Peanuts Bar ... more | | |
 | Sol Y Mar Sea Star |
Score 8.75 from 3 reviews | | 10 Km Taba / Nuweiba Road, South Sinai | |
| Each room has a balcony or a terrace overlooking the pool or the mountains, while the suites have a fabulous view of the Red Sea.
... more | | | | More hotels in Taba |
| Private Tour of Memphis, Sakkara, Giza Pyramids and the Sphinx |
7 - 8 hours |
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Memphis
Memphis, founded around 3,100 BC, is the legendary city of Menes, the King who united Upper and Lower Egypt. Early on, Memphis was more like a fortress from which Menes controlled the land and water routes between Upper Egypt and the Delta. Having probably originated in Upper Egypt, from Memphis he could control the conquered people of Lower Egypt.
Tradition tells us that Menes founded the city by creating dykes to protect the area from Nile floods. Afterwards, this great city of the Old Kingdom became the administrative and religious center of Egypt.
Sakkara
Sakkara is one section of the great necropolis of Memphis, the Old Kingdom capital. Three major discoveries have recently been made at Sakkara, including a prime minister's tomb, a queen's pyramid, and the tomb of the son of a dynasty founding king.
Sakkara is best known for the Step Pyramid, the oldest known of Egypt's 97 pyramids. It was built for King Djoser of the 3rd Dynasty by the architect and genius Imhotep, who designed it and its surrounding complex to be as grand as it was unique and revolutionary. Imhotep was the first to build stone tombs in honor of the king's majesty.
Great Pyramids of Giza
The Great Pyramids of Giza, dating back to 2500 BC are some of the most famous manmade objects in the world. While there are actually over one hundred Pyramids in Egypt, including at least eight more at Giza, the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops) is the only "Wonder of the Ancient World" that still survives.
Great Sphinx of Giza
During your time at The Great Pyramids of Giza, there is no escaping the mysterious Sphinx, a symbol which has come to represent the essence of Egypt for thousands of years. With the body of a lion and the head of a king, there is as much mystery surrounding who built it as there is determining why it was built.
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| Private Tour of Egyptian Museum, Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Bazaars and Solar Boat Museum |
7 - 8 hours |
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Solar Boat Museum
Stretching almost 150 feet (46 meters) in length, some of the boat's timbers are made from whole cedars of Lebanon. The prow sweeps upward, with a papyrus end, while the bow curves inward and is tipped with a carved papyrus blossom. There are hand carved oars and ropes so ahead of their time that they might have been made today. The boat's state of preservation is remarkable and it often considered one of the most fantastic finds since Tutankhamen's tomb.
Great Pyramids of Giza
The Great Pyramids of Giza, dating back to 2500 BC are some of the most famous manmade objects in the world. While there are over 100 Pyramids in Egypt, including at least 8 more at Giza, the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops) is the only "Wonder of the Ancient World" that still survives.
Great Sphinx of Giza
There is no escaping the mysterious Sphinx, a symbol which has come to represent the essence of Egypt for thousands of years. With the body of a lion and the head of a king, there is as much mystery surrounding who built it as there is determining why it was built.
The Egyptian Museum
A visit to the Egyptian Museum at Tahrir square is an absolute must on any visit to Cairo. It was built during the reign of Khedive Abbass Helmi II in 1897, and opened in 1902. With 107 halls you can explore the history of Pharaonic Egypt through the 120,000 artifacts exhibited, from Narmer to Ramses. On the upper floor is the famous collection of King Tutankhamon treasures.
Khan el-Khalili Bazaars
Founded by the Emir Djaharks el-Khalili in 1382, the khan developed such a stranglehold on goods moving from the East to the West, that it is indirectly responsible for the discovery of the American continent. The spice markets in the Khan forced explorers to find alternate routes for goods coming from the East.
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| Private Day Tour to Alexandria |
11 hours |
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The second largest city in Egypt, Alexandria, known as "The Pearl of the Mediterranean",? has an atmosphere that is more Mediterranean than Middle Eastern; its ambience and cultural heritage distance it from the rest of the country although it is actually only 140 miles (225 kilometers) from Cairo.
Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC, Alexandria became the capital of Graeco-Roman Egypt, its status as a beacon of culture symbolized by Pharos, the legendary lighthouse that was one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
The setting for the stormy relationship between Cleopatra and Mark Antony, Alexandria was also the center of learning in the ancient world. But ancient Alexandria declined, and when Napoleon landed, he found a sparsely populated fishing village.
Visit Pompey's pillar, an 82 foot (25 meter) tall red Aswan granite column, which was constructed in honor of the Emperor Diocletain. Continue to the nearby Catacombs of Kom ash-Shuqqafa. This area along the coast about 15 miles (24 kilometers) east of Alexandria's old district along the Corniche is where many of the modern Alexandrian hotels are located, and also the magnificent Montaza Palace.
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