Pharaoh's Island (Saladin Citadel)
جزيرة فرعون
A granite islet off Taba with a 12th-century castle built by Saladin, offering panoramic views over the coasts of four countries.
جزيرة فرعون lies about 250 m off the shore. Around 1171, Saladin built a castle here to counter the Crusaders and control pilgrim and trade routes. The castle is laid out across two hills, with walls, towers, a mosque and cisterns. After recent restoration, visitors can climb up and look out over the coasts of Egypt, Israel, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Coral reefs around the island are good for snorkeling. You reach the island by boat from the pier south of Taba, a trip of about 10 minutes. Boat tickets and admission are charged separately. Opening hours are roughly 9:00–17:00. It is about 65 km from Nuweiba.
Opening hours
About 09:00–17:00
Nearby sights
- Fjord Bay, Taba
- Taba Heights
- Castle Zaman
- Basata Ecolodge
- Wadi Wishwashi
- Ras Shitan
- Tarabin Beach, Nuweiba