Explore Sinai
Beautiful but desolate, NUWEIBA is another resort on the Gulf of Aqaba, consisting of a port with nearby tourist complexes, followed 4km up the coast by Nuweiba “City”, an administrative and commercial centre grafted on to a former Israeli moshav (cooperative village). During the late 1970s, thousands of Israeli and Western backpackers flocked here to party and sleep on the beach, but today tourism is at a virtual standstill. The beach is beautiful, but – with the exception of a few patches of privately owned sand – covered with rubbish. For most travellers, Nuweiba now serves primarily as a stepping stone for onward travel by bus to Eilat in Israel or by boat to Aqaba in Jordan.
Around 500m north of Nuweiba City is the neighbouring Bedouin settlement of TARABEEN, named after a local Bedouin tribe and attracting younger travellers.
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Diving, snorkelling and safaris in Nuweiba
Diving, snorkelling and safaris in Nuweiba
Diving in Nuweiba is mostly from the shore thanks to a lack of jetties and safe anchorages. There are several shallow reefs offshore, the best of which is the Stone House, beyond the southern promontory. Though fine for snorkelling, they’re not so great for diving unless you’re a novice, so the divers that come here usually travel to Ras Abu Galum or sites north of Nuweiba. These trips can be arranged by any of Nuweiba’s dive centres, including Emperor Divers at Hilton Nuweiba Coral Resort (t 069 352 0320, w emperordivers.com) and Scuba Divers at La Sirene (t 069 350 0705, w scuba-divers.de).
Safaris
There are also a wide range of camel and jeep safaris. The nearest destinations are the oasis of Ain el-Furtaga and the colourful sandstone canyon of Wadi Huweiyit. Slightly further north lies Moyat el-Wishwashi, a large rainwater catchment cistern hidden in a canyon between imposing boulders.
One of the most popular jeep excursions is to the Coloured Canyon; the name comes from the vivid striations on the steep walls of the canyon, which is sheltered from the wind and eerily silent. Other destinations include Wadi Ghazala, with its dunes and acacia groves where gazelles may be spotted; Ain Um Ahmed, whose deep torrent, fed by snow on the highest peaks of the Sinai, shrinks to a stream as the seasons advance; the oasis of Ain Khudra, supposedly the Biblical Hazeroth, where Miriam was stricken with leprosy for criticizing Moses; and the beautiful – and relatively untouristed – Rainbow Canyon.
Recommended guides include Morad el Said at Amon-Yahro Tourist Camp, an English- and German-speaking Egyptologist. If you fancy learning to ride a camel, the Habiba camp, next to the Amon-Yahro Tourist Camp has its own school (w sinai4you.com/crs).
