'''Taba Heights''' is a city on the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt. Part of a new Egyptian city building programme to re-establish families in other overcrowded cities it is made up of 6 large hotels and a dive and water sports centre nestling between mountains and the sea. There is also a residential complex for the Egyptian staff and a few shops providing goods cheaper than can be bought in the hotels. From the beach you can see Israel, Jordan and Saudi Arabia on the opposite shore of the Gulf of Aqaba.
Get in
Taba has its one small international airport with duty free. However, EgyptAir does not serve this airport. If flying from elsewhere in Egypt, you must fly into Sharm el-Sheikh and take a bus or taxi to Taba.
East Delta Bus Co. is the only mass transportation from Cairo and Nuweiba. The bus drops off passengers at the petrol station outside the gates of Taba Heights.
Get around
Regular free buses are provided between the dive centre and the hotels.
See
Day trips are available to Petra in Jordan, Eilat, Jerusalem and Cairo.
Do
Scuba diving, sailing, windsurfing, all with training offered. The scuba diving is mediocre for the Red Sea. It does not offer the same quality of diving that is obtainable at Ras Mohamed or sites reached from Sharm. Most dives will be to about 18 meters with good fish life and about 50% coral coverage on the various small pinacles. Rays are relatively common and Whale Sharks have been spotted around High Summer. Dive sites are, however, not as busy as you will find elsewhere on the gulf; generally there will only 1 boat per site. As there is only one dive centre diving is relatively expensive. __135 for 3 dives not including kit hire.
Quad bike trips into a canyon. The shore reef are a series of pinnacles with poor coral coverage but excellent fish life and provide excellent snorkeling. The beaches are very good although the sun is extremely strong, especially in the summer months. Most days there is a strong breeze that makes the heat tolerable and helps with windsurfing but can make swimming a little choppy.
Buy
Gold, inlaid boxes and the usual Egyptian souvenirs.
Eat
There are a set of restaurants located in the hotels and a "Pub Tandori". Food and drinks are expensive. Beach bars run by the hotels serve juices, food and acoholic drinks.
Drink
Full range of alcoholic drinks are available as
Sleep
The hotels are of good quality with air conditioned rooms, many with a sea view.
Budget
El Wekala Three Corners"
address="Taba Post Office 46621"
phone="+20 69 358 0150"
email="request-elwekala@threecorners.com"
url="http://www.threecorners.com/taba_hotel/elwekala.php?page=location&hotel_id=8"
>Budget Belgian owned hotel located at the rear of the complex (adjacent to the shopping area). A shuttle bus is required to get to beach or watersports/diving centre.</sleep>
Splurge
Hyatt Regency Taba Heights. aba Post Office 46621. 20 69 358 0234. ttp://taba.regency.hyatt.com/. aba@hyattintl.com. 5 star resort style hotel set amidst 368 hectares of landscaped gardens and lagoons. The hotel has 3 restaurants, 3 bars and a spa.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED</sleep>
Get out
Nightlife is poor. Specialist nights are arranged and one hotel has a house band that performs live most nights. It is possible to get a taxi to Sharm El Sheik but this is some distance away. As guests are placed in hotels with nationality groupings it is likely that you will make friends quickly.
When flying anywhere out of Taba Airport ensure that you take Toilet Paper from the Hotel with you, as the Airport staff remove it and try to charge you __1 (GBP) per individual sheet.