AQABA, JORDAN

Departing from the pier, our tour will take in some of the historic sites of interest which can be found in the capital, including the archaeological mound, which has rooms dating back as far as 4,000 BC and the Medieval Islamic Castle, which dates back to the 13th century.

Aqaba's long history dates back to pre-biblical times, when it was known as Ayla. According to the Bible's Old Testament, King Solomon built a navel base at Ezion Geber, just 3 kilometres from where the modern town of Aqaba stands today. Departing from the pier, our tour will take in some of the historic sites of interest which can be found in the capital, including the archaeological mound, which has rooms dating back as far as 4,000 BC and the Medieval Islamic Castle, which dates back to the 13th century.We shall also have an opportunity to drive close by the Jordan/Israeli borders, which were opened after the peace declaration between Jordan and Israel. From here we shall proceed to the Marine Science Station.Aqaba lies on the very tip of the Red Sea, one of the world’s most fascinating natural seascape environments. Here we can find crystal clear water, rare and beautiful reefs, and an incredible variety of exotic fish amongst the centuries old corals. In fact, Aqaba is home to 500 species of corals, 1,200 species of fish, and 1000 types of molluscs and crustaceans. The diversity of species in the Gulf of Aqaba makes up 30% of the species in the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Great Barrier Reef all put together!We shall have an opportunity to visit the Marine Science Station, the only marine research institute in Aqaba and be introduced to some of the magnificent species that live in the Red Sea.Before returning to our ship we shall have some free time in down-town Aqaba to perhaps admire the city further or even do a little shopping. Please note that this tour involves approximately 2 hours of walking & standing. Some of the walking may be over uneven grounds and approximately 45 steps will be encountered. We recommended that you wear comfortable, non-slip shoes.

DESCRIPTION CORRECT FOR 2008 WORLD CRUISE