EZTrip.com International Destination Guide and Hotel Listings

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 (co-operative village). During the late 1970s, thousands of Israeli and Western backpackers flocked here to party and sleep on the beach; nowadays, the resort attracts a staider crowd of moderately affluent Egyptians and package tourists, for whom it constitutes a kind of cut-price Na'ama Bay. For others, however, Nuweiba is simply a stepping stone to Taba on the border with Israel, or the place to catch ferries to Aqaba in Jordan.

Like Dahab, Nuweiba has also spawned a neighbouring Bedouin settlement, which draws younger, low-budget travellers. Named after the local Bedouin tribe, TARABEEN is much like Asilah used to be, but is catching up fast: there are now over twenty campgrounds and a few hotels or semi-hotels on its wide and sandy beach, lined with restaurants and tourist bazaars. As yet though, there are no bars as such. If you want a beer, you'll have to venture to the Helnan in Nuweiba City. But if you yearn for the "old days" when you could still see the stars and hear the waves, undisturbed by bright lights or loud music you will need to head to the DUNAS , just south of Nuweiba city, or further north to the campgrounds appearing in BIR SWAIR . Like Dahab the place is very popular with Israelis due to its proximity to the border. Tarabeen is also a good place to arrange camel or jeep safaris.

Buses from points south call at the port before running on to the Helnan in Nuweiba City - or vice versa coming from Taba. Taxis charge £E10 for the journey between Tarabeen and Nuweiba City, £E15-20 to or from the port. You can walk from the Helnan to Tarabeen in twenty minutes, via the beach; it takes slightly longer by road. Package tourists fly into Taba International airport , near Taba, whence shuttle-buses convey them to the new hotels in Taba Heights, the Coral Hilton or Helnan hotels.