Gentle sea, bizarre coral reefs, golden sand - all this is a wonderful resort in Jordan! Aqaba hospitably welcomes tourists and becomes a real paradise on earth for them during their holidays!
Jordan is a country located in the Middle East. It has northern borders with Syria, in the northeast it borders with Iraq, in the east and south with Saudi Arabia, and in the west it borders with Israel and the Palestinian territories. Warm, mild climate and not very expensive vacation, along with excellent service, attract a huge number of tourists here. Tourism in Jordan is the main source of income for the Kingdom's economy. From official sources it is known that in 2017 alone, 1, 1 million foreign tourists visited Jordan. People go to the Kingdom not only to relax, but also to use medical services. Medical tourism is gaining momentum in Jordan. Today, the Kingdom is already in fifth place in this tourist segment. Medical tourism brings over $ 1 billion to the state treasury annually. And the country's authorities intend to further develop this lucrative source of income.
Aqaba - heavenly delight
The only seaside resort in Jordan is Aqaba - a city with an interesting centuries-old history, memorable architecture, a unique climate and beautiful sandy beaches, the length of the entire coast is more than 27 km. The city is also famous for having the largest flag in the world. The height of the flagpole reaches 136 meters, and the size of the flag is 60 meters by 30 meters in the wind. This flag even made it into the Guinness Book as the single largest flag in the world. The resort is comfortably located in the north of the Gulf of Aqaba of the Red Sea, not far from the Jordanian capital city of Amman. It should be noted that rest in Aqaba differs from rest in other similar resorts in that you don't want to spend time only on the beach, swimming and sunbathing. Aqaba is a dynamic and active tourist destination. Everything is arranged in such a way that after some time you will want to walk or drive to explore the surroundings and explore the local attractions that this southern sunny city is so rich in. It all starts with the road. The best way to get to Aqaba is from Amman. Fortunately, the capital of Jordan is located just three hundred kilometers from the resort. They are delivered from Amman to Aqaba by very comfortable buses, which are municipal. You can also get to the place of rest by private transport. Only 4 hours on the way and the hospitable resort of Aqaba is ready to receive another group of tourists. You can take a taxi to get around the city. Cars in traditional yellow color. As an alternative to yellow taxis, if the tourist group is close-knit and large, minibuses are offered here, during a trip around the city, at the request of passengers, you can make stops anywhere. It is fair to say that the climatic conditions in Jordan, in most of its territory, are quite capricious, temperature contrasts do not allow you to feel constant comfort. But Aqaba is so different that the sea resort is always climatically as comfortable as possible. This is achieved due to the fact that the resort is protected by a ridge of mountains from cold northern winds and desert sand. Even in winter, the water temperature does not drop below 22 degrees Celsius. This contributes to the growth of coral reefs, of which there are a great many. In this regard, diving is actively developing. Tourists definitely include such a boat trip in their leisure time and try to dive in order to admire the coral fairy tale. Swimming in the Red Sea peaks in autumn, when the average water temperature is 27 degrees Celsius. The greatest comfort for relaxation is noted precisely in the off-season. The level of hotels is different. Accommodation can be found for every taste and budget. Five-star hotels, for example, such as Movenpick, Intercontinental do not offer an all-inclusive system, only breakfast is included in the price. Lunches and dinners will need to be organized by yourself, but there are no problems with these problems in Aqaba. The best hotel choices are still four star hotels. Here the cost of living and the service offered have an ideal balance. Golden Tulip and Yaafko are the most suitable hotels for this. Lots of budget hotels like Plaza Maswada. In hotels of this type you will not find an oriental scale in the decoration of premises, but comfort and cleanliness are everywhere here, and what else does a tourist need! For the fairer sex in terms of shopping, Aqaba is paradise. Since the city has been declared a duty-free zone, you can make inexpensive purchases here, and the choice of goods is so wide that the eyes run wide. But not shops with a rich selection of goods, not cozy restaurants, immersed in greenery and offering delicious cuisine, will not distract tourists from the sea and beaches. Most of course go to Aqaba to swim and sunbathe. And this is not surprising.
The best beaches are here
The beaches here are excellent, for every taste, sandy - for lovers of sunbathing on the sand and pebble-rocky for lovers of just such a rest on the rocks. Almost all beaches are owned by hotels located on the first line. This is another reason for choosing accommodation - a beach strip is also attached to the hotel. But there are beaches that are owned by the municipality. They are equally comfortable and free to enter. It offers beach umbrellas, sun loungers and sun loungers for a purely symbolic rent. The administration monitors these beaches, so it is always clean and comfortable there, there is a shower, toilet, lifeguards work. On the beach, there are often cafes where you can buy refreshing drinks and have a snack if you are hungry.
The Red Sea is a beautiful sea
The Red Sea needs to sing an ode separately. The water is clean and transparent, its transparency reaches 50 meters. There are coral reefs not far from the coast. With the help of a mask and a snorkel, you can enjoy watching the swaying thorny thickets with pleasure. Their bizarre shapes are eye-catching. It seemed that nature itself created a fairy tale and now invites you to enjoy it. If you want to go diving professionally, a training course for a young diver is offered here. The resort has six diving training centers. At the same time, BS-AC, SSI or PAD diplomas are issued. These centers have their own sandy beaches. One of the most famous is The Royal Diving Center. Diving is seriously taught here. After completing training and receiving a diploma from this center, you can safely dive into the serious depths of the sea and admire its beauty.
Historical values of Aqaba
To increase your horizons and get cultural pleasure, you should definitely take a city tour. Aqaba has a rich history. Its roots go back to an ancient settlement that is at least 6 thousand years old. In the Middle Ages, the pilgrims to Mecca passed through Aqaba. The Ancient City itself stood on a rocky promontory. Now this place is called the hill of Tell al-Khalifa. Having visited this hill, you can see artifacts found during excavations. There is a historical museum in Aqaba, it is located near the Mamluk Fortress - a military fort built during the Crusades by European knights. It should be said about the cave, which is located near Aqaba. This is the legendary Lot Cave. Tradition says that it was from this cave that the righteous man and his daughters watched the death of Sodom and Gomorrah. The cave contains a small Byzantine fortress and several ancient tombs. A vacation in the young but growing resort of Aqaba will be unforgettable.
The gentle and warm sea, beautiful clean beaches, cozy hotels and a huge selection of local cuisine will not leave anyone indifferent. The resort abounds not only with cafes and restaurants with local flavor and cuisine. For Europeans, there is a wide selection of European cuisine. From unsurpassed Arab desserts, you will be offered aromatic sesame cookies and delicate pistachio baklava. Aqaba can rightfully be called a heavenly place!
