Nuweiba in Egypt

 

Nuweiba is a coastal town and situated on the coast of the Gulf of Aqaba , the eastern part of Sinai Peninsula , Egypt . Historically, this region was populated by two Bedouin tribes: in the north Tarabeen, and the Marizena in the south. The Nuweiba town sprung south of Tarabeen after the Israel captured this region in the Six Day War, under the Israeli name, Neviot. Since Israelis departure, the town has enlarged itself and some 7 km to the south is Nuweiba Port. Nowadays many car ferries ply to Aqaba in Jordan and suburb areas are joining the main town. Between the port and the town are chain of modern hotels, like the Hilton Nuweiba Coral Resort and Nuweiba Resort Hotel, catering to divers and beach holiday makers, and particularly those looking for a relaxing, restful stay in a beautiful environment.

 

The Arabic meaning of Nuweiba is ‘bubbling springs'. The area has been recently developed by tourist investors, but is worth visiting. The city is mainly separated into three parts. In the south lies the port, beach strip, the city and Tarabin, the Bedouin camp. Nuweiba does not have a city center, but one can find souvenir shops, internet cafes and cheap restaurants. In the city along the beach there are several resorts and upscale camps. In the northern area, that is, between Tarabin and Taba, one can find more basic camps than in the Tarabin. After the Israeli bombardment in 2004, these areas (Nuweiba, Dahab and Sharm) are highly affected by tourist decline, so one can find solitude by the beach in these areas.

 

Most of the tourists arrive to Nuweiba by ferry or bus to the port. If one is arriving from Taba, Cairo then its better to leave the bus near the hospital. Now hire a taxi from the port to reach the city or Tarabin. Negotiate hard, because there is no fixed rate for private taxis. One can easily cover the distance between the city and Tarabin by foot. Nuweiba is a small place and so there is scarcity of taxis, better be attentive to keep the hired taxi with you, if the driver is good and charges you reasonable price. Also make a mental note of the taxi number and driver's taxi license, which is clearly displayed on the driver's side of the taxi.

 

For sightseeing purpose one can enjoy the sunrise. Sun rising from Saudi Arabia 's hijaz mountain-range and the aqaba gulf creates a panoramic view. Other interesting things are camel trekking, landscape view, snorkeling, diving etc. Nuweiba's hotels and camps also offers diving and snorkeling at a small reef situated in the southern part of the Tarabin. One can quench shopping spree, eating and drinking at several small shops. There is cluster of petty shops nearby Tarabin beach selling artifacts and souvenirs. Handmade items are of special interest, such as silver and Bedouin rugs – these are available at cheap rate in comparison to the larger cities. One can enjoy varieties of burger, kebab, pasta, pizza, etc at the restaurants of hotel and camps.