Taba Holidays

Taba is a small treasure near the tip of the Gulf of Aqaba and the most northerly resort in the Red Sea Riviera.  Set against ancient mountain ranges, this magnificent Egypt holiday destination lies at the crossroads of three continents, overlooking Jordan, Israel and Saudi Arabia.  It is a vibrant International border crossing as well as a relaxed and inspiring location for an Egypt family holiday or those in search of a holiday to Egypt that is quieter and more leisurely. Taba is an ideal base for exploring the sights of the region such as Petra, Jerusalem, the Dead Sea, St Catherine's Monastery or Mount Sinai, all of which can be visited on day trips. In less than an hour, you can cross from the stark wilderness of Sinai to the luxury of Eilat or take a ferry to Aqaba in Jordan. 

Those who enjoy breathtaking scenery steeped in rich history should not miss Pharaoh’s Island. Also called Coral Island or Geziret Faroun, it lies just south of Taba and was a Crusader fortress which Sultan Salah El Din (Saladin) captured in the 12th Century.   Today you can follow in the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia and explore the fully renovated mediaeval fortress in all its glory.
Taba’s coastline features some of the most idyllic and unspoilt beaches, bays, lagoons and dive sites against a backdrop of untamed desert and the mysterious and impressive cinnamon mountains where you can spend some time at a Bedouin camp. If you want your Egypt holiday package to be more active, Taba can offer quad biking, camel trekking and jeep safaris to explore the amazing landscape, while the Taba Heights development is home to an 18-hole championship golf course.
 

Taba Hotels

Taba hotels offer is the perfect facilities for all action Egypt holidays or those seeking a more relaxing all inclusive holiday to Egypt.  A variety of  hotels including the Sol Y Mar Sea Star  and the Jaz Royal Taba have their own golden sandy beaches and unspoilt bays, lagoons and dive sites set against a backdrop of untamed desert and the impressive Cinnamon Mountains where you can spend some time at a Bedouin camp.   Taba hotels feature a host of opportunities for passive and active leisure.  Guests can try out windsurfing, snorkelling or Scuba  diving or explore Sinai and its monuments, desert landscapes and impressive dunes.  There’s a huge range of watersports, snorkelling and diving on offer as well as golf at the 18-hole Champsionship Taba Heights golf course.

Taba Heights is a rapidly expanding seaside resort with beautiful beaches and exceptional coral reefs. Taba Heights is a breathtaking year-round resort ideally situated in one of the most beautiful spots of Egypt's Sinai Peninsula. Beyond the Taba Heights hotel complexes are numerous Bedouin encampments. The Sinai desert belongs to these people who carry on the centuries-old nomadic traditions of rearing livestock and trade. Around 70,000 Bedouins live here as they have done for thousands of years in a stark desert world between the Wadis and the high plateaus.

Diving & Snorkelling in Taba

Visitors can make the most of the Red Sea in Taba.  Windsurfing, water skiing, sailing, fishing and sea kayaking are all popular while the shallow depths at which the reefs lie and the absence of drop-offs make it possible to enjoy snorkelling or diving with the minimum of equipment. Scuba diving in Taba tends to be boat-based rather than shore diving and numerous diving clubs offer courses and daily outings.  Taba dive sites feature sandy sea beds dotted with coral outcrops and contain a rich selection of marine life from seahorses to dolphins. The absence of strong currents makes most of these sites perfect for beginners and the crystal clarity of the waters make underwater photography sharp and stunning in every detail. 

Taba Dive Sites

The Aquarium:  a drift dive dropping onto a shallow, gently sloping coral garden. This site has an impressive variety of fish life.

Maxwell's Reef: dropping off to around 60 metres, there are huge table corals at around 20 – 30 metres and a good chance of seeing Batfish, Red-toothed Triggerfish and millions of Anthias swarming around the coral heads.

Marsa El Muqabila: an ideal first dive for new arrivals to Taba, with a good range of fish, calm waters and few currents. A resident school of yellow-tailed barracuda can often be seen patrolling the reef ledge, and giant puffers, blue spotted rays and turtles are regular visitors.

Picasso Reef:  an underwater mountain 200 metres from shore leading to huge table corals with Eagle Rays and Great Barracuda passing by. Good chance of spotting the rare and beautiful Picasso Trigger Fish.

Fjord (the hole):  a huge coral bed leading to an equally huge hole with a maximum depth of 24 meters.  Fish from the open sea come to feed on the tiny Glass Fish and Silver Fish that are found in abundance here.

Fjord (Banana):  is a shallow reef in the shape of a banana filled with marine life to a maximum depth of 12 meters.

Coral City:  a deep dive to a maximum depth of 20 meters with huge Brain and Mountain corals supporting many Lion Fish, Stone fish and tiny Silver and Glass Fish.  You can often see Jacks and Tuna feeding.

Angel Net: consists of two main coral reefs with a 10m grassy strip between. This is a spectacular site taking its name from the remains of a tangled fishing net, now home to a great variety of marine life.  A large 14 metre pinnacle attracts lots of pink alcyonarians and scalefin anthias.
 

Desert Adventures in Taba

Taba is the perfect place for adventure based excursions that explore the breathtaking scenery of the Sinai desert and mountain ranges. It’s also a great base for exploring the sights of the region such as Petra or Mount Sinai and in less than an hour, you can cross from the stark wilderness of Sinai to the luxury of Eilat or take a ferry to Aqaba in Jordan.

Highlight of any desert excursion has to be a trip to the Coloured Canyon, 70 km south west of Taba. The canyon is a maze of sandstone rocks in shades of mauve, yellow, ochre, pink, green and blue. Routes through this amazing landscape follow dried-up riverbeds where fossils and rock strata show that the canyon was once under an ocean. The rare rock formations and canyon walls are dramatic and breathtaking, but most visitors comment on the eerie and seemingly unnatural silence in the canyon.  It lies close to the town of Nuweiba and a day trip here can be combined with a visit to St. Catherine's Monastery.

Desert excursions from Taba deep into the Sinai will also introduce visitors to the Bedouin in and around the Beir Sagheer Valley.  The Bedouins are amongst some of the most hospitable people you could ever meet, so you can be sure of a warm welcome when you arrive.

Historic Taba

Taba is not only a convenient base for excursions and day trips to many fascinating historic sites, it also has its own selection of fascinating history.  The Monastery of St Catherine is a popular destination and is one of the oldest monasteries in the world, boasting a collection of illuminated manuscripts that is second only to those stored in the Vatican itself. The Mountain of Moses (Mount Sinai) is sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims alike. A trip to the summit can be made by using the 3,000 Steps of Repentance. It is best to visit Mount Sinai during sunrise or sunset to enjoy the marvellous view that makes the climb worthwhile.

Five km to the south east of Taba lies the Island of the Pharaoh (Geziret Faraum), a small granite island surrounded by coral and dominated by the magnificent Salah el-Din fortress built by Crusaders in the 12th century AD and recently restored by the Council of Egyptian Antiquities.  There is a stunning view from the castle keep of the coasts of Arabia, Jordan and Israel. 

Excursions to see the stunning city of Petra in Jordan regularly leave Taba Heights Marina, taking a boat to Aqaba for a full day visit to the red rose rock city.  The city of the Nabateans, Petra is a rose red lost city carved from the living rock.  Of the 800 carved tombs in Petra, the Kazneh (treasury) is the most famous, standing as it has done for over 2,000 years.