Egypt - Taba Heights

[sfby]

Anyone been to this area? Looks like it's great for relaxing and diving (which may be all we want to do in December!), but is there anything else to do / see in the area?

TIA

[Mosaic]

The outlaws went a couple of years back and reported that apart the above-mentioned, there is nothing else to do. Doubtless you'll get offered very expensive excursions to Cairo, pyramids, Luxor etc that involve getting up at the crack of dawn and being herded from bus to attraction and back via 'my cousin's shop'.

[sfby]

Thanks - sounds like 7 days there will be enough!

[naomi24]

It's nice, but apart from diving, there's not much to do there. As has been said, trips to Israel are available - but I'm told the process of crossing the border is lengthy and tedious - and you can take a trip to Petra in Jordan - which is well worth seeing - and doesn't present the same problems with border crossings.

[naomi24]

Sorry, no one said trips to Israel are available. My mistake - but they are. Jerusalem and Masada - both well worth seeing too. Cairo is a long drive on a rather poor desert road - 6 hours minimum - and Luxor is a very long way off indeed, so if trips there are available they would be by air. You might also get trips to St Catherine's Monastery - the alleged site of Moses’ burning bush - but that is also a very long drive across the desert.

[sfby]

Thanks Naomi - looking on the map I'd think the only trip we'd consider is Petra - and that looks a long way. Sod the culture - eating, drinking, reading and diving it is!

[jno]

last time I was in the area (May), trips to St Catherine's were off, as tourists had been kidnapped by Bedouin.

[roslyn251254]

Just returned from Sharm el Sheikh. We had a day trip by air to Luxor - didn't book it with Thomson and saved over £100 for the 2 of us. It was an early start but it was a lovely day. Look on the internet if you want a "cheaper trip".
We did a similar day trip to Cairo & the Pyramids from Cyprus too and that was good. The Pyramids are No 1 on my amazing places list!

[jno]

oh, and Petra isn't that far - two hours from Aqaba, plus however long it takes to cross borders into Jordan. It is very well worth the trip.

[naomi24]

Silby, you’re welcome. Petra is an easy trip - and it's no problem crossing the border into Jordan.

Sharm is also a very long drive across the desert - and not worth the effort.

Back to Masada in Israel. I’ve only ever travelled to Israel by air from London to Tel Aviv, but I know the process of going through border controls between Israel and Egypt is lengthy. That said, Masada is an experience - and a 'swim' in the Dead Sea (which you’ll probably get ‘thrown in’ – excuse the pun) is even more of one, so if you can face a long day and a very lengthy procedure going from one country to the next, that trip might be worth considering.

[EcclesCake]

Taba, Hurghada and Sharm are all resorts that have been borne out of diving. They are not places that you head to for culture or sight seeing. As others have said there are various trips that you can make but be prepared for a very long day.

If you just want something different a camel ride into the desert for tea at a 'bedouin camp' and a bit of star gazing is about it.

[VeroPaquet]

Taba Heights presents an array at activities that will definitely fill your days, depending on your liking : diving/snorkeling, water ski, para-sailing, sailing, wind surfing, banana boats and other water fun activities. You can also exercise your golf talent at the 18-holes course, or get a golf tuition if you've never experienced it before. Are you interested in a bit of desert-fun, don't miss out a quad-running half day, or go for a camel desert trip. For a change of landscape, you can also spend a day in Dahab, an originally fishermen village, now bustling with divers, kite/wind surfers, restaurants and boutiques. On a more cultural side, Petra and St Catherine's Monastery will fulfill your curiosity.
I bet after all this, you'll be glad to enjoy relaxing at the pool, tasting the variety of cuisines offered by the various restaurants around, or simply sip your favourite cocktail admiring the sunset.
By the way... in December, don't forget to take a jumper... evenings can be chilly :-)

[naomi24]

I forgot about the golf - probably because I'm not a golfing fan - but yes, that's something else.

[sfby]

Thanks everyone - looks like the 7 days will be a blur of activity!

Pity it's 3 months away....

[naomi24]

Enjoy! :o)