| Overlooking Jordan, Israel and Saudi Arabia, Taba | | | | levy taxes on the Arab merchants. If you are |
| is a paradise for active holidaymakers and | | | | interested, you could also go snorkeling in the |
| outdoor types who enjoy diving, surfing, sailing | | | | reefs surrounding the island's nearby waters. |
| and catamarans, as well as walking or motorbike | | | | Diving Sites - Taba offers boat diving as well as |
| tours in the mountains. | | | | shore diving from its several dive centres. The |
| The border town between Israel and Egypt, this | | | | Canyon offers a diving depth of 40 metres and a |
| Egyptian Riviera was once a rest town for | | | | stunning topography with lots of soft coral and |
| traders using the caravan route to the fort of | | | | fish, and amazing hard coral formations. The |
| Aqaba at the northern-most edge of the Gulf of | | | | Picasso Reef, 200 metres from the shore, is an |
| Aqaba. | | | | underwater mountain that leads down 24 metres |
| Recently, Taba has experienced a growth spurt | | | | to huge table corals. On a level of 12 metres, this |
| on its coastline and is now home to a number of | | | | reef is full of fish, including Picasso Trigger Fish. |
| leading hotel chains that have built luxurious resort | | | | The Coral City has huge Brain and Mountain corals |
| hotels around a new luxurious resort called Taba | | | | that support many Lion Fish, occasionally Stone |
| Heights, which is 15 km south of the border. | | | | Fish and tiny Silver and Glass Fish. The Angel Net |
| Although Taba is a man-made holiday resort, it | | | | is full of huge coral blocks. Taba also offers the |
| offers a wonderful vantage point for traveling into | | | | most beautiful collection of small Red Sea Banner |
| the Sinai desert, visiting Bedouin camps, and | | | | Fish at the Ben Coral. |
| enjoying the still unspoiled coastline. | | | | Taba Cuisine |
| The views across the Gulf of Aqaba to Jordan | | | | Ful is a type of bean that is cooked in several |
| and Saudi are very picturesque, especially at | | | | ways, e.g. in ful midamess, whole beans are boiled |
| sunset when the mountains appear to turn red. | | | | which can be eaten with vegetables, mashed with |
| Taba Attractions | | | | onions, tomatoes and spices. This is also eaten |
| The Monastery of St. Catherine - One of the | | | | with many other food dishes. Molokhiyya, a |
| most popular excursions from Taba, St. | | | | leafy-green summer vegetable used in soups and |
| Catherine's Monastery is located at the foot of | | | | salads, is also popular with the Egyptians. |
| Mount Sinai. This monastery was constructed | | | | International cuisine is readily available in the hotels. |
| under the Roman Emperor Justinian in the 6th | | | | The Egyptian meat-koftas and kebabs are a |
| century. One of the oldest Christian monasteries | | | | must-try for everyone. Veggies can sample |
| in the world, it is built around what is thought to | | | | chickpea balls called falafels, hoummos, and baba |
| be the site of Moses' Burning Bush. | | | | ghanoug (aubergine and tahina). Conclude your |
| It is a well-preserved monastery with a | | | | meal with a dessert treat of lip-smacking sweet |
| spectacular natural setting for priceless works of | | | | honeyed pastries or baklavas! |
| art, including Arab mosaics, Greek and Russian | | | | Taba Heights Beaches |
| icons, Western oil paintings, paintings on wax, fine | | | | Marriott Beach - This is only a half-kilometre of |
| sacerdotal ornaments, enamels, marbles, chalices, | | | | private sand beach, which has waterfalls, a |
| and reliquaries, including one donated by Czar | | | | Jacuzzi, a cave, and a huge outdoor freshwater |
| Alexander II in the 19th century, and another | | | | slide. A favourite with tourists is the swim-up bar, |
| donated by Empress Catherine of Russia in the | | | | the children's pool, and the children's club (for |
| 17th century. St. Catherine's Monastery also holds | | | | children of 4 to 11 years of age). |
| the world's second largest collection of illuminated | | | | You could also indulge in a wide variety of beach |
| manuscripts. | | | | sports such as water-skiing, wakeboarding, |
| Mount Sinai (or the Mountain of Moses) - Mount | | | | pedaloes, windsurfing, snorkeling, and diving. |
| Sinai is considered sacred by the Muslims, Jews | | | | Taba Parks & Gardens |
| and Christians; it is believed that God delivered the | | | | National Park of Nabq - Stretching over 600 |
| Ten Commandments to Moses on this mountain. | | | | square kilometers, this national park is home to a |
| The 2,285-metre-high summit is easy to scale and | | | | variety of animal life, including herons, ospreys, |
| most hikers stroll up during the night to avoid the | | | | storks, foxes and gazelles. |
| heat and to capture the view of a stunning | | | | National Park of Ras Abu Galum - Further up |
| sunrise. You could also dare yourself to go by | | | | north is the Abu Galum natural reserve, which has |
| camel caravans or up the Steps of Repentance | | | | granite coastal mountains. Here you will find an |
| which has 3000 steps carved into rock monks. | | | | abundance of plant and animal life, which also |
| Pharaoh's Island and Salah El Din Citadel - One of | | | | includes the Nubian ibexes, hyraxes and red foxes. |
| Taba's main attractions, Pharaoh's Island is quite | | | | The Perfect Time to Visit |
| stunning. This rocky island is surrounded by | | | | Summer can be quite hot in the Sinai, with |
| outstanding blue and turquoise water that was | | | | temperatures often touching 40◦C |
| once a Phoenician port. | | | | 106◦F -- although the cool ocean breeze |
| Pharaoh's Island is crowned by the ruins of the | | | | provides some respite. Cooler times to visit is |
| 12th century crusaders' fort. This fort was built to | | | | during March to May or October to November |
| protect the pilgrims on their journey from | | | | when the mercury hits a pleasant average high of |
| Jerusalem to St Catherine's Monastery, and to | | | | 28◦C/85◦F. |