At the northernmost edge of the Gulf of Aqaba lies the small town of Taba, a picturesque beach town that in ancient times was once a stopover on the caravan route to the Fort of Aqaba.

Taba is a meeting of borders. It overlooks Jordan, Israel and Saudi Arabia, and Egypt has major plans for this area as a tourism center. It currently has good restaurants and beach cafes, and the border can be crossed on foot, with bus service into Eilat.

The coastline in this area is the most picturesque in Sinai, with bays, coves, lagoons, a fjord and an island. The most significant sight of this area is the Salah El-Din fortress on Pharaoh's Island, which has been restored by the Egyptian Antiquities Organisation. The island, surrounded by outstanding blue and turquoise water was once a Phoenician port. It was later occupied by Crusaders and then taken under control by Sultan Salah El Din. The island and the castle remain intact. The reef around the island is popular with snorklers and divers alike.

Recently, Taba has experienced a growth spurt on its coastline and is now home to many leading hotel chains. Taba Heights is a new beach resort community offering many different activities including diving, snorkeling and a number of watersports. However, for those of you who want to avoid mass tourism, Taba is also popular because of the peaceful beauty of its Bedouin camps offering simple accommodations with unbeatable views of the sea.