Half Day Aqaba and Surrounds

Duration: 1 day

Highlights: Aqaba Castle, Aquarium.

Half day tour of the highlights of Aqaba and surrounds.

Itinerary

FULL LENGTH TOUR DESCRIPTION
This easy-walking half day orientation tour takes you to the popular highlights of Aqaba, Jordan’s only city that has access to the sea.

Joining your deluxe air-conditioned motorcoach and professional guide on the pier, begin with a visit to the Aqaba Fort. Located on the city’s waterfront, the Fort dates back to the 14th century and was built by one of the last Mameluke Sultans, Qansah al-Ghouri. An interesting Hashemite Coat of Arms hangs at its main entrance, which was placed there during WWI after the Turks were expelled from Aqaba by the combined British-Arab forces in 1917.

A short walk then brings you to the Aqaba Museum, which houses an interesting collection of artifacts and information about the old medieval city of Ayla, located a few minutes north along the waterfront road. The collection of ceramics showing Iraqi, Egyptian and Chinese influences provides evidence that Ayla was a busy trading port in the Middle Ages. Following the visit, enjoy some time to browse the souvenir shop opposite the Aqaba Museum, offering a variety of interesting handmade items.

Back on the motorcoach, take in the many sights on an approximate one-hour drive to the outskirts of town, where you’ll stop to visit the Aqaba Aquarium at the Marine Sciences Centre. Established in 1980, the aquarium is a popular attraction with its varied collection of marine species, some of which are found only in the waters of the Gulf of Aqaba.

Driving back to Aqaba, enjoy approximately 30-minutes of free time to shop or ‘soak up the local colour’ around the City Centre before returning to your ship.
 
SHORT LENGTH TOUR DESCRIPTION
This easy-walking half day orientation tour highlights the popular attractions of Aqaba city and surrounds. Visits to the 14th-century Aqaba Fort, its Museum with artifacts from the Middle Ages, and the Aquarium all combine with some free time to offer an excellent introduction to Jordan’s only city that has access to the sea.
 
TIMING BREAKDOWN
00:00 – 00:15 Disembark, board the motorcoaches
00:15 – 00:30 Departure Aqaba Port
00:30 – 01:30 Visit Aqaba Castle and its Museum
Free time to visit the Souvenir shop opposite to the Museum
01:30 – 02:30 Board the buses, drive to the Aquarium and visit
02:30 – 04:00 Back to Aqaba City Centre, and free time for self exploration
04:00 Back to Aqaba Port

Approximate duration: 4 hours
 
OPERATIONAL NOTES
- Red carpet at dock on arrival
- Flowers for the ladies upon arrival
- Free bottled water on coaches
- Free postcards, one per person on board the coaches
- Free Arabic sweets to taste on board the coaches
- Pre-paid tickets to the sites, so there will be no queuing or waiting at the entrance
- Uniformed staff with clear nametags available at the pier, the site, and the restaurant to assist the guests at any time
- Aqaba Museum opens daily from 08:00 till 19:00 and is open 7 days a week
- Aqaba Aquarium opens daily from 08:00 till 16:00 and is open 7 days a week
- There is no exact time for shops to open and close, and each shop keeper has his own timing, but in general shops in Aqaba are open around 09:30 till 13:30 and then again from 15:30 till 20:00 and most shops close on Friday, our weekend
- Easy walking: Approximately 250 yards of walking over flat, even surfaces with approximately 20 steps to reach the Aqaba Fort, museum and souvenir shop