Aqaba and the Red Sea

Aqaba is Jordan's only coastal city, a relaxed resort town on the Gulf of Aqaba at the northern tip of the Red Sea, where the borders of four countries nearly meet. Its warm, clear waters are fringed with vibrant coral reefs, rich in fish and dotted with wreck dives, making it a fine and less crowded spot for diving and snorkelling, while the desert of Wadi Rum and the wonders of Petra lie close by.

What you actually see

• The coral reefs - the diving and snorkelling on the Red Sea reefs.
• The warm, clear sea - the beaches and calm gulf waters.
• The wreck dives - the sunken ships and even a plane for divers.
• The four-country view - the point where borders nearly meet across the gulf.

When to go

Year-round thanks to the warm climate; spring and autumn are ideal, avoiding both the fierce summer heat and the cooler winter water. The reefs are excellent year-round, and it makes a relaxing end to a Jordan trip after Petra and Wadi Rum.

Honest expectations

The reefs, while good, are more modest than the famous Egyptian Red Sea resorts across the water, and Aqaba is a working port as well as a resort, so it is relaxed rather than glamorous. Its great advantage is combining sea, desert and Petra in a compact area. Summer is very hot.

Nearby

Wadi Rum is just inland and Petra a couple of hours north; the Egyptian and Israeli Red Sea resorts are across the gulf.