AS you head into Aqaba you can see why the Jordan Tourist Board has high hopes that the resort will become one of the country’s hottest tourist spots.
The town is perfectly situated at the southern tip of the country, on the Red Sea, with the desert to the north.
Temperatures in winter here are an enjoyable 21C plus, making it an ideal winter sun destination, and the season lasts from October to May before rising into the late 40C in July and August.
At present the town is very underdeveloped, but for an idea of what it could be like in time, and with considerable investment, you only have to look across the border.
Eilat in Israel, on the other side of the bay that makes up the northern-most end of the Red Sea, has enjoyed years of development and now vastly overshadows its neighbour.
Unlike Eilat, which was created as a holiday resort, Aqaba has a long history. It was built as a port and remains Jordan’s only outlet to the sea and a main route for imports into the country. But sightseeing is confined mainly to a Mamluke fort dating back to the 16th century and an aquarium.
However, Aqaba does have some of the best and least-dived coral reefs in the area, as well as an abundance of fish, and there are a handful of established dive centres for beginners and experts.
The Royal Diving Centre, 11 miles south of Aqaba, is generally considered the best in terms of location and facilities as it is situated next to the reefs. Visitors can scuba dive – a trial dive for beginners costs about £25 – snorkel or just laze about on the private beach.
Experienced divers with a Professional Association of Diving Instructors certificate have a choice of 13 dive sites in Aqaba, including natural reefs and a wreck sunk in 1986.
Some of the best beaches in the town are those at the Radisson SAS and the Aquamarine I Hotel, which has waterskiing and windsurfing.
However, the tourist office’s aim is to direct visitors to a new complex of hotels in a new village centred on a purpose-built lagoon in the North Beach area of the town.
Movenpick is opening a 230-room hotel here in spring 2000, while Israeli hotel group Isrotel is building a 350-room property in South Beach due to open in September 2001.
Isrotel leisure services director Simon Lewis said:”Aqaba has been a very neglected area and we are looking forward to realising the potential which it has to offer.”
Aqaba is also a good base to visit the desert at Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea, 100 miles to the north. The best way to get around is to rent a car – Avis and Hertz have offices in Aqaba – and drive to Wadi Rum, where you can hire a four-wheel-drive jeep and driver for a tour of the main sights.
It costs about £20 for 2hrs and is money well spent as heading off into the desert alone is not a good idea – there are no signposts and plenty of opportunities to get lost.
Much of the attraction is seeing the desert itself. This is Lawrence of Arabia country and there are some amazing rock formations to look out for. You can break the jeep journey with a camel ride for £1.