Nuweiba & Taba
Bedouin beach camps on the Gulf of Aqaba for stargazing and snorkelling, with the Fjord and Saladin's Castle on Pharaoh's Island to the north – quieter than the Red Sea resort towns.
Nuweiba and Taba lie on the east coast of Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, facing the Gulf of Aqaba with the mountains of Saudi Arabia across the water; at the northern end, Taba looks across to Eilat in Israel and Aqaba in Jordan. This stretch of coast has no big resort town like Sharm El Sheikh and is instead known for Bedouin-run beach camps of palm-thatched huts: Tarabin, just north of Nuweiba town, suits backpackers, while Ras Shitan and Basata further north are quieter, perfect for stargazing and snorkelling. The northern section has the Taba Heights resort, the Fjord viewpoint and Pharaoh's Island, home to Saladin's Castle. Inland, the Coloured Canyon, the White Canyon and the Ain Khudra oasis are also often visited from Nuweiba (listed under Dahab in this guide). Best season: Oct–Apr is pleasant, with winter days around 20°C and cool nights; summer is hot but the sea is at its warmest. Getting there: about 2.5–3 hours' drive from Sharm El Sheikh Airport or 7–8 hours by long-distance bus from Cairo, and ferries run from Nuweiba port to Aqaba in Jordan. There are military and police checkpoints along the way, so keep your passport on you. Get between sights by taxi or hired car. Suggested stay: 2–4 days unwinding at a beach camp, plus a day heading north to the Fjord and Pharaoh's Island. Camp facilities are basic, cash is usually needed, and mobile signal is weak in some areas.
Top sights
- Ras Shitan – A coast north of Nuweiba with Bedouin reed-hut camps, backed by red mountains and facing the Gulf of Aqaba. Famous for starry skies and sno…
- Pharaoh's Island (Saladin Citadel) – A granite islet off Taba with a 12th-century castle built by Saladin, offering panoramic views over the coasts of four countries.
- Tarabin Beach, Nuweiba – A Bedouin village and beach strip north of Nuweiba, where camps, seaside restaurants and camel rides are concentrated. It is a base for bac…
- Basata Ecolodge – One of the earliest eco-camps on the Sinai coast, with bamboo huts by the sea, self-sufficient operations, and a reputation for quiet, envi…
- Fjord Bay, Taba – A deep blue inlet surrounded by red cliffs. Viewpoints by the road overlook the whole bay, and the bay is a famous dive site.
- Taba Heights – An integrated resort on the hillside overlooking the sea, with several international hotels, a golf course, a marina and diving centres. Bo…
- Castle Zaman – A stone castle restaurant on a hill between Taba and Nuweiba, with a poolside view of the Gulf of Aqaba and the coastlines of four countrie…
- Wadi Wishwashi – A granite canyon west of Ras Shetan, offering a half-day hike that involves climbing with ropes and swimming in a deep pool.
Where to eat
- Habiba Beach Lodge Restaurant – An open-air restaurant on Habiba Bay beach, grilling seafood from the day's catch with vegetables from the camp's own o…
- Beirut Restaurant – A reservation-only Lebanese restaurant at Al Magarra camp, with a seasonal menu and excellent vegetarian dishes.
Itineraries
- Sinai Crossing to Petra, Jordan – Explore Dahab and Mount Sinai, cross the Gulf of Aqaba from Nuweiba, and connect to Wadi Rum, Petra, and Amman.