OCEANROAMERS

Set against ancient mountain ranges, this magnificient destination lies nestled at the crossroads of three continents, where untamed desert and cinnamon mountains are quenched in one of the world's most vibrant coral seas.
Taba’s exceptional geographical location between Africa and Asia at the head of the Gulf of Aqaba facing Arabia made it a stopover on the caravan route from the fourteenth century onwards. The last part of Sinai to be handed back to Egypt by Israel in 1989 and now a frontier post, Taba is today a favourite destination for Israelis and tourists from around the world since the opening of the international airport 45 km away.
Taba Heights: 19 km south of Taba.
Taba Heights is a rapidly expanding seaside resort much prized by the large international hotel chains for its 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.

Leisure activities: In addition to the traditional activities of tennis or golf, the hotels provide a wide range of water sports so that visitors can make the most of what the Red Sea has to offer – windsurfing, water skiing, sailing, sea trips, fishing and sea kayaking. The wealth of things to see on the seabed make it essential to go equipped with a mask. The shallow depth at which the reefs lie and the absence of drop-offs make it possible to enjoy the beauty of life on the coral reef with the minimum of equipment. The variety of creatures and the chance to observe endemic species, such as the toadfish, as well as the well-preserved state of the reefs are some of the great advantages of this area.

Numerous diving clubs offer courses and daily outings. Instructors take divers to the most suitable sites to dive in complete safety. Outings last a maximum of an hour and a half, and often much less. The dive sites feature a sandy seabed dotted with coral outcrops and contain a rich selection of marine life from seahorses to dolphins. The absence of currents makes these sites perfect for beginners, as well as fulfilling the highest expectations of photographers and divers of all levels. Among the best-known sites are the Fjord with its well-like topography, the Aquarium and its variety of species, and Mersa el-Muqabila where there is the chance to spot an eagle ray. For those who find boats a nuisance, lovely dive sites teeming with marine life are accessible from shore, such as the House Reef and Marina Bay, just two minutes away in a 4x4.

The Bedouins: Beyond the Taba Heights hotel complexes lie numerous Bedouin encampments. The Sinai desert belongs to this people who carry on the centuries-old nomadic traditions of rearing livestock and trade. Around 70,000 Bedouins divided into thirty tribes live here as they have done for thousands of years – without running water, electricity, telephone, television – and respecting their elders and clan chiefs who take the important decisions. They are Muslim and speak Arabic, often Hebrew and sometimes English learned from tourists. The Bedouins are the many-faceted soul of this desert world between the wadis and the high plateaus.
Island of the Pharaoh (Geziret Faraum): 5 km southeast of Taba. Just 250 m from the coast lies a small granite island surrounded by coral and dominated by the magnificent Salah el-Din fortress, built by Crusaders in the twelfth century and recently restored by the Council of Egyptian Antiquities. The island, known as Faraum, was a strategic site towards the end of the twelfth century for Caliph Saladin who used it as base for soldiers. From there he was able to control the trade of foodstuffs coming from Asia and demand ransoms from pilgrims on their way to Mecca. From the keep there is a stunning panoramic view of the coast of Arabia, Jordan and Israel.
The Coloured Canyon: 70 km southwest of Taba. The canyon affords a superb 2-hour excursion through a maze of sandstone rocks in hues of mauve, yellow, ochre and pink shading to green and blue. The route through this amazing landscape follows dried-up riverbeds. The uneven forms and height of the rocks sometimes make climbing necessary. Fossils and rock erosion show that the canyon was once under the sea. The silence of the stones speaks louder here than anywhere else.