JO · Aqaba Governorate · 29.53°N 35.01°E

aqaba

Red Sea reefs, fish lunches and warm-water days after Petra or Wadi Rum.

Best time
March–May and October–November are warm, with comfortable water. June–August is very hot; winter is mild and sunny, though the water is cool enough that a wetsuit helps.
How long
2–3 days
Getting there
Fly with one stop to Amman, usually via Dubai, Doha or Istanbul, about 14–17 hours all in, then about 4 hours by road or a short domestic flight. Jordan is 5 hours behind KL.
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JO · Aqaba Governorateaqaba29.53°N 35.01°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Red Sea reefs, fish lunches and warm-water days after Petra or Wadi Rum.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingAqabaJO, Aqaba Governorate
KLaqaba
≈ 7,587 km from KL, as the crow flies
Aqaba resort beach in Jordan.

Photo: Issagm at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Aqaba is Jordan's only seaport, a working city with coral reefs just down the coast. It's an easy few days of snorkelling and fish lunches after Petra or Wadi Rum.

Makan

  1. SayadiehFish on rice cooked with browned onions and spices, Aqaba's speciality.Map ↗
  2. Grilled seafoodFish, prawns and calamari at the restaurants in the town centre.Map ↗
  3. Falafel sandwichHot falafel with salad and tahini, the quick market snack.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. South Beach reefsSnorkelling and dive sites such as the Japanese Garden, south of town, with reef fish right off the shore.Map ↗
  2. Cedar Pride wreckA cargo ship sunk on purpose off the south coast, now a classic dive and snorkel site.Map ↗
  3. Glass-bottomed boatA look at the reef for anyone who'd rather not get wet.Map ↗
  4. Aqaba FortA small Mamluk-era fort by the seafront, beside the giant Arab Revolt flagpole.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Food is halal as standard. The reefs are south of the city, so stay near South Beach or take a taxi down.
  • Keep fins and feet off the coral, even where it's shallow.
  • Fighting in the region closed Jordanian and Gulf airspace at times in 2026, so a flexible ticket and insurance that covers disruption are worth having.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.