Aqaba

Aqaba holidays offer visitors a satisfying serene charm. As a seaport, the pace of life here is slow, relaxed and easy going. Despite the cities popularity, Aqaba retains the small-scale charm, accessibility and hospitality of a tiny village. Many stop by here on their way to the hallowed and sublimely striking rock city of Petra or too see Wadi Rum, as well as a stopover point for those travelling even further afield into Israel, Palestine or Egypt. The sleepy seaside feel means that by and large, this is the place to come to relax. If you’ve found yourself exhausted or swamped by Jordan’s more gargantuan cities or want to regroup after taking in the behemoths that are Jordan’s staple sights, then holidaying in Aqaba offers tranquillity.

As mentioned, many use Aqaba as a launch pad before visiting Petra or Wadi Rum, or to travel out of the country into Israel, Palestine and Egypt. Others come to enjoy the laid back feel and experience a Middle Eastern seaside town for the sake of a unique and novel experience.Sun worshippers flock to the hot white sands in droves whilst divers explore the expansive world beneath the water; there are many coral reefs to explore and endless marine life. Scuba diving, snorkelling and swimming are supremely popular making this the perfect destination for water babies. The cities endless beach resorts and luxury hotels make staying in style effortlessly easy.It’s also a paradise for those who enjoy water sports and water based activities including windsurfing and boating. Other points of interest include Turkish baths and an assortment of coffee houses and top notch restaurants that represent the very best of Arabic cuisine and fare.

After you’ve enjoyed the quaint setting of Aqaba, there are many nearby places that you can go on to explore, many of which can be seen in a day. Kerak enables visitors to explore the site of an ancient castle formerly used by Crusaders. Mabada offers a striking map of Jerusalem formed entirely from mosaics. Petra is Jordan’s number one attraction and it’s not hard to see why; the ancient city is one of the world’s seven wonders having been painstakingly carved out of golden sandstone. Wadi Rum is an ethereal escape encompassing a desert expanse dominated by granite cliffs. The Dead Sea is renowned as the lowest point on earth and attracts a plethora of visitors due to its high percentage saline seas, which cause swimmers to float upon the surface of the water. Then there’s the Dana Nature Reserve which retains its 15th century charm and preserves the authentic aspects of Aqaba.

The road journey from Amman to Aqaba is about 4 hours and 30 minutes whilst from Petra the journey takes about 2 hours. Turkish Airlines operates flights from Istanbul to Aqaba and Royal Jordanian operate daily flights from the capital Amman.

As a seaside resort, it makes sense to book a holiday in Aqaba in summer when the weather is warm and waters are clear and optimum for diving. The high season is comprised of April, May, September and October; these are the peak visitation periods.

January, February, March, November and December tend to have a nice, even, warm temperature ideal for those looking for a pleasant experience. The hot season takes place from April to October so if you are not particularly keen on extreme heat, head to Aqaba during the cooler months. January to August involves excessive dry periods. Typically, the weather is warmest during August and coolest during January with September being the wettest and May being the driest.

High Season

Aqaba’s summer season occurs between the months of June and August and the area is frequented both by Europeans longing for a beach break and locals and those from the Arab world who are enjoying the Gulf and Saudi holiday period. The weather during summer is hot and ideal for lounging around by the water or taking off for diving exhibitions. A healthy application of sun screen, a wide brimmed hat and sunglasses are advised to protect skin against the harrowing heat. Avoiding the sun between the hours of 11am-3pm is also advisable as this is when the sun is at its most potent, although it is still extremely hot for many hours afterwards. The heat and humidity can be difficult to contend with also. July and Augusts’ days typically reach highs of fifty degree with nights ranging around the thirty degree mark.

Winter Season

December through February is Aqaba’s winter months although the weather remains quintessentially warm and if you’d rather evade baking hot summers, then the winter weather isn’t as off-putting as it may initially seem. Aqaba is blessed with 360 days of sunshine annually, and this means that winter is not such a dark and dank affair. The winter period sees an increase in rainfall to help fertilise the land for the upcoming spring and summer months but you’d be surprised at how low the instances of rainfall actually are; there is on average one day of heavy rain per month in winter. The nights themselves can be colder so bring warm sleep wear and attire for nights exploring the city.