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AQABA
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Aqaba
Aqaba (العقبة al-ʿAqabah) is the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan's only port city, located on the Gulf of Aqaba at the southernmost extremity of the kingdom.
Understand
Aqaba is Jordan's window on the Red Sea. Historically the same city as Eilat on the Israeli side of the border, plans for a shared international airport and other forms of cooperation have cooled down in the past few years during a period of political tension.
Get in
By boat
Ferries run regularly from Aqaba across to Nuweiba on Egypt's Sinai peninsula, bypassing Israel and the sometimes complicated border arrangements.
By bus or car
The Desert Highway terminates in Aqaba. There are frequent buses to Amman and other points along the highway.
The Israeli border at Arava (for Eilat) is only a short hop away. The Saudi Arabian checkpoint is also visible on a clear day, but visitors without a visa can only look.
See
Aqaba Fort. Originally dating to the 14th century, although the present structure was built by the Mamluke sultan Qansawh el-Ghawri (1501-1516) and has been revised many times since then.
Do
Scuba diving is the most popular sport. Aqaba Gulf Divers (formerly Arab Divers), 3/5 Ma`an Street, though it can be reached off of Corniche Street, phone 03 2031808, is a very professional operator with fairly new equipment and decent prices. Introductory dives, for those who've never gone before, can be arranged for JD25. A similar refresher dive, for those of us certified but out of practice, is JD30.
Internet Cafes are everywhere, but most charge an unreasonable JD2/hour. The Red Sea Internet Cafe has surprisingly fast connections and charges only a half dinar per hour.
Eat
One of the finest, if not the finest restaurant in town is The Royal Yacht Club. It is situated next to the water in an upscale neighborhood. They serve exquisite fare(mostly seafood fresh from the sea)for prices that are reasonable by Western standards. Service is fast and courteous.
Sleep
Dweik Hotel (1) has small rooms, but bathrooms are in good condition. Some rooms have TV, with access to satellite channels, but you do have to get the front desk to tune the satellite for you. JD20/night
Nairoukh Hotel - Singles JD10 Doubles JD15 Triples JD20
Jordan Flower Hotel - Singles JD5-6 Doubles JD8, with bath JD10, triples JD12
Get out
Aqaba is relatively close to both Wadi Rum and Petra. Public buses go to both. Alternatively, there are a lot of tour companies around town who would happily arrange excursions, in particular to Wadi Rum.
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Hotels in Aqaba
 | Sol Y Mar Sea Star  |
Score 8.425 from 4 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 | | |
 | The Three Corners El Wekala Golf Resort |
Score 8.5 from 1 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 | | |
 | Radisson SAS Tala Bay Resort Aqaba  |
Score 0 from 0 reviews | | Southern Beach, Tala Bay | |
| The hotel offers 5 beautiful pools, (all heated in winter) which each serve a different function for guests. The Square pool and Main pool areas are perfect for lounging and enjoying the Arabian sun. These pools elegantly jut up each other as water spills over between the two areas. More active guests can spend some time training at the Lap pool while children can splash away at the Kid's pool. Rounding out the picture are 2 outdoor Jacuzzis. At sunset, the pools become illuminated with a colourful light display of brilliant purples, green, blues and more.
Guests can dip their toes into the Red Sea at the private beach which spans 300 metres. ... more | | |
 | Golden Tulip Aqaba |
Score 5.75 from 2 reviews | | Sa'adeh Street | |
| The Mina restaurant serves up to 140 persons with its outside terrace, a choice of a la carte or buffet menu.
At the 7th floor rooftop restaurant guests can enjoy local and international specialists with a nice view overlooking the red sea and the city of Aqaba.
The lobby bar as well as the snack pool bar can make your stay an enjoyable one. ... more | | |
 | Intercontinental Aqaba |
Score 8.1 from 14 reviews | | Beach Front, Hotels street | |
| InterContinental Aqaba offering luxurious bedrooms and suites is situated on a private beach on the shores of the Red Sea. The hotel is 15 minutes away from King Hussein International Airport and 10 minutes walk from central Aqaba. Famous for its Coral reefs, the red sea offers excellent sites for scuba diving and snorkelling.
All rooms are equipped with High Speed internet and wireless internet connectivity is available in all public areas of the hotel.
The hotel has a number of restaurants at the hotel. Burj Al Hamam Restaurant is one of the leading Lebanese chain restaurants in the Middle East serving Lebanese cuisine. Cote D'or Restaurant is a fine dining restaurant specializing in grilled steaks and wines. Corniche Restaurant is an all day dining restaurant offering buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner. For those wanting cold and hot beverages along with sweets, the Deli Café is the perfect choice while the Beach front serves snacks and refreshing drinks throughout the day. The Martini lounge offers live music and amazing cocktails.
InterContinental Aqaba also offers a wide variety of meeting rooms.
A 300 metre beach along with a 200 metre swimming pool are available for your pleasure and comfort. A 24 hour gym, a Spa, a squash court, a dedicated Kid’s Club, and an array of water sports activities are also available. ... more | | | | More hotels in Aqaba |
| Private Four Day Jewels of Petra Tour - Petra, Amman and Jerash |
4 days / 3 nights |
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This tour will also take you South of the kingdom to Petra. The ancient Nabataean city of Petra is considered one of the wonders of the world and people come from all over the world to see it.
Amman is a city enriched with glamour of the past and the present, known as the ancient city of Philadelphia. See Late King Hussein Palace, where he is buried, the Roman Theater and Citadel.
Depart to the north to visit Jerash, the most complete and well preserved city of the Roman Empire. During the Roman Empire it was often called "Pompeii of the East".
GUIDES
As the Ministry of Jordan does not allow a driver to also be a guide, there is not a guide included in the cost of your tour. Your driver will be very informative and be able to point out and explain sites as you drive past. Many people prefer to visit the sites and follow the walking tracks on their own, although there will be local guides available for hire on arrival into Petra for an approximate cost of US$30.00 per visit. Your driver will be happy to assist you with any questions or exchange of money.
Click here for more information and Booking Details
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| Private Half Day Tour to Madaba, Mount Nebo and Amman City Tour |
5 hours |
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You will leave Amman to visit Madaba a city known for it's mosaics. The most popular and well known is the ancient and most complete mosaic map of Jordan and the Holy Land of the 6th century in St George Orthodox Church, marked with the points of interest of some historical stories recorded in the Bible.
Next you will climb up Mount Nebo where Moses died. Enjoy the view of the Holy Land and also see more mosaics of different animals and figures found inside the church of Mount Nebo.
Visit Amman's downtown market and city center, it's traditional souks, coffee shops, restaurants selling local food and sweets, churches and mosques amongst other popular places.
Amman is also the ancient city of Philadelphia with its Roman theater and many other monuments that can be visited like the Citadel. You will pass by the Late King Hussein Palace, where he is buried, then drive to the other side of the city where you can see the beautiful houses made of white stones of the higher class in Abdoun.
You will see the pubs, international restaurants, and discotheques as you become familiar with the contrast in infrastructure and life style from the old and traditional, to the new and modern.
GUIDES
As the Ministry of Jordan does not allow a driver to also be a guide, there is not a guide included in the cost of your tour. Your driver will be very informative and be able to point out and explain sites as you drive past. Many people prefer to visit the sites and follow the walking tracks on their own, although there will be local guides available for hire on arrival at Mt Nebo for an approximate cost of US$15.00 per visit. Your driver will be happy to assist you with any questions or exchange of money.
Click here for more information and Booking Details
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| Private Full Day Tour to Petra |
12 hours |
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You will depart the hotel early in the morning to drive south to the Nabatean Red - Rose City of Petra that can be considered one of the wonders of the world.
The city located 140 miles (225 kilometers) from Amman, was carved in stone more than 2000 years ago in order to dominate the trade routes of ancient Arabia. You will visit it's towns, damns, and water channels.
The visit begins with a walk through the siq, a narrow path of three quarters of a mile (1.2 kilometers), which is the main entrance to the city. The ancient main entrance to Petra. An impressive long, deep and narrow gorge of stunning natural beauty. The Siq is hemmed in by cliffs soaring up to 263 feet (80 meters).
At the end of the siq, you will see the treasury - El-Khazneh, which was believed to hold countless treasures. The first view of the El-Khazneh is absolutely breathtaking so have your camera ready. Other monuments you will see are the Theatre, the Altar of Sacrifice, and the Royal tombs.
Please ensure you wear comfortable shoes for such an incredible and unforgettable adventure.
GUIDES
As the Ministry of Jordan does not allow a driver to also be a guide, there is not a guide included in the cost of your tour. Your driver will be very informative and be able to point out and explain sites as you drive past. Many people prefer to visit the sites and follow the walking tracks on their own, although there will be local guides available for hire on arrival into Petra for an approximate cost of US$30.00 per visit. Your driver will be happy to assist you with any questions or exchange of money.
Click here for more information and Booking Details
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