Distance by Road: 367 South of Amman By Air : 45 minutes flight from Amman.
Aqaba is close to Petra (120 km) and Wadi Rum (50 km). The three forms together what has come to be known as the Jordan’s Golden Tourism Triangle.

The city of Aqaba is Jordan’s only seaport on the Red Sea and winter resort. Stretching along the northern right part of the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aqaba measures a length of 180km and expands to a width of 25 km with 27 km of the shoreline belonging to Jordan. The rest of the shoreline is shared with Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Israel.

 Aqaba is a worldwide tourist paradise. The city once known as Ayla, enjoys almost a perfect weather for nine months of the year. The sandy beaches shaded by palm trees, the calm clear waters of the sea and the year round tropical climate of the Gulf of Aqaba make it the perfect spot to relax, swim and sunbathe.

The prevailing northern winds from Wadi Araba keep the water surface shimmering clean and transparent which makes it ideal for water-activity oriented visitors to indulge in many water sports. From scuba diving and jet skiing and fishing to wind surfing, snorkeling and exploring.

For history enthusiasts, Aqaba offers a touch of culture and history. The Mameluk Fort is one of the main historical land marks of Aqaba, the visitors Center Museum houses a collection of pottery, coins and articrafts. It also hosts the house of Sharif Hussein Bin Ali, the great grandfather of King Abdullah II.

Current excavations at the ancient site of Medieval Islamic Ayla already revealed a gate and city wall along with towers, buildings, a town mosque, courtyards and baths. Other places to visit are the site of the oldest church in the world from the late 3rd century AD, the Aquarium and many diving centers across the shore line that offer diving services including PADI and BSAC courses.

Diving
The Gulf of Aqaba is home to some of the finest marine life in the Middle East. It is a popular diving destination boasting one of the most famous colorful coral reefs in the world.

 
The reefs stretch for a distance of over 25kms or right down to the Saudi border and are often close to shore. The water temperature rarely falls below 20°C (68°F).
The gulf is very narrow –only 5 kilometers wide at its northern end, quite deep and ranging in depth from 1000 to 1800 meters. The depth of the gulf combined with the isolation of sea currents, minimize turbulences and improve visibility, which make it one of the most rewarding experiences for scuba diving and snorkeling spots in the world.

The sea waters host an overwhelming variety of marine life. Over 140 species of coral at least 40 species of fish and other invertebrates have been identified in Aqaba, creating a colorful kaleidoscope. Starfish, sea cucumbers, crabs, shrimps, sea urchins, many species of fish and several worms which burrow into the sandy sea bottom can be seen in the waters. The rare archelia, a black tree- like specimen found at great depths was first discovered the late King Hussein himself. A variety of sea grasses are found in the shallow waters providing both food and shelter to the fish which inhabit the area. Several species of eel make their home in the gulf’s grass beds, where one can also find sea horses and pipe fishes. There are over thirty main diving sites in Aqaba, most of them suite all skill levels. Some centers offer PADI courses, equipment rental and boat tours.