Description

Taba is located in the eastern Sinai Peninsula of Egypt. It marks the location of the southern border crossing between Egypt and Israel, servicing travelers coming into Egypt and the Sinai via Eilat. The town offers basic amenities for travelers which will greatly be enhanced when the new Taba Heights development gathers pace. Taba is a relatively minor centre for Red Sea diving and the primary reason for Taba's existence is the casino at the Hilton. Tourists to Taba can station themselves in the resorts of Dahab or Eilat or alternatively, stay in Taba and make daytrips to these two places.

Shopping

Though most shops in Dahab are found along the beachfront, there are many shops in the town center and along the road sides, which offer a range of selections to the travelers. Cotton trousers, kurtas, scarves, sarongs, beach towels, T-shirts, jewelry cases etc mark the best buys. Almost all the shops entertain hagglers. Eilat is a true shopping destination as it is a Duty Free Zone and most products and services are available VAT-free. Eilat has up to date air-conditioned shopping malls which have fashion boutiques, jewelry stores, toy stores, books, sports equipment, souvenirs etc. Every Thursday, which is a weekend here, there is an open air market with a carnival atmosphere in the plaza of the City Center which is set up by the Ministry of Tourism. Here tourists can find almost everything at extremely competitive prices.

Restaurants

Dahab has a multitude of restaurants that cater to the tastes of travelers from all over the globe. For the best chicken steaks and other non-vegetarian food, travelers should visit the Nirvana. Many local tavernas serve good choice of menus for a very moderate price. Al Capone’s must be visited for quality sea foods and Italian cuisines. Other suggested restaurants include the Shark, Calm Inn, El Fanar and Tota for the best pizzas. There are ample restaurants which can be visited by tourists during their stay at Eilat. The main promenade has fashionable restaurants which cater to tourists and locals alike. Most of the restaurants are owned by the major hotel chains and are usually priced reasonably, unlike the restaurants of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Tourists visiting Eilat should not miss eating falafel. For Eilat's cheap yet excellent falafel, tourists should visit the falafel joint just across the street from the bus station on HaTemarim Boulevard. The Pago Pago floating restaurant is strictly non-kosher and serves great sushi, sea-food and extraordinary steaks. Pedro's Restaurant should be visited for excellent steak. The Ginger Restaurant is a favorite hangout for the elite of Eilat and visitors to this restaurant are Page3 pictures material of the local newspapers.

Night Life

Dahab presents active nightlife with many bars and restaurants offering full scale amusement to the travelers. There are many night-time venues, which offer live music shows anchored by famed disco jockeys. Most bars have karaoke bars, discotheques etc. Some suggested venues include Karaoke night, Cherry drops, Little Buddha etc. The nightlife of Eilat is lively with wild fun on the beaches during the daytime. Sunbathers hang out at the beach until late afternoon and head straight to the bars and discos to continue the celebration. Most of the nightlife spots are located around the Beach areas and along the hotels' promenade in the town. The beaches of Eilat are a major attraction apart from the pubs and the nightclubs. Wild parties are organized on the beaches during the summer months. Some of the pubs and bars in Eilat are The Unplugged bar, The "Monkeys" Pub, the "Green Beach" Pub and The Underground Pub.

Activities

Tourists can enjoy a wide array of activities while in Dahab. Being a famed destination for diving, snorkeling and surfing the town presents very good sites to carry on these activities. Horse and camel riding and jeep safaris can be held to the nearby places of interests. Boat trips in glass bottomed boats can be held to witness magnificent underwater views. Eilat is a water-sport playground, where tourists can choose activities include water-skiing, windsurfing and parasailing on most of the beaches. Tourists can hire a Jet Ski or a motorboat, take a Banana ride or go for a slow rowing on a pedal boat. Snorkeling or Snuba diving are also offered on the beaches here. There are also guided tours organized by the International Bird Watcher Center. The desert adventures offered in Eilat range from private and organized hiking, to wild jeep tours and camel treks around the Eilat region. Tourists can also see fascinating sites, such as King Solomon's Pillars, Timna Valley Park, the Red Canyon, Ein Netafim and Pillars of Amram.

Communications

The international access code to dial into Egypt is +20. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code. There are internal codes used to call places within the country. Long distance calls are very expensive when made from hotels and it is suggested to be made from post, telephone and telegraph offices that are found in most of the cities. GSM 900 network cover the entire country and roaming is available due to its agreements with international operators. Internet is accessible at Internet cafes in most towns and resorts. International directory phone enquires can be made by dialing 120.

Contacts

Egyptian Tourism Authority, Cairo: +20 (0)2 285 3576 or http://touregypt.net/tourism
Egyptian Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 895 5400
Egyptian Embassy, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7499 3304
Egyptian Embassy, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 234 4931
Egyptian Embassy, Canberra, Australia (also responsible for New Zealand): +61 (0)2 6273 4437
Egyptian Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 343 1590/1
Egyptian Embassy, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 660 6566
United States Embassy, Cairo: +20 (0)2 797 3300
British Embassy, Cairo: +20 (0)2 794 0852
Canadian Embassy, Cairo: +20 (0)2 794 3110
Australian Embassy, Cairo: +20 (0)2 575 0444
South African Embassy, Cairo: +20 (0)2 359 4365
Irish Embassy, Cairo: +20 (0)2 735 8264
New Zealand Consulate-General, Cairo: +20 (0)2 574 9360
Emergencies: 122 (Police); 123 (Ambulance)

Currency

EGP

Attractions

Fantasea Dive Center, which offers a range of diving courses, including typical biological dive safaris, must be visited. Reef 2000, one of the best diving centers in Dahab is worth a visit. Sunset and sunrise views from Mt Sinai are brilliant and travelers should never miss an opportunity of experiencing these splendid views.
The chief attractions in Eilat are the Coral Beach Underwater Observatory which is good for swimmers, sunbathers and water sport worshipers. On a sea shore, to the north of the Coral Reef, there is a Dolpin Reef facility which is perfect for scuba diving and snorkeling. At The Dolphin Reef visitors can observe dolphins, and even swim and dive with them. The place also offers a dolphin therapy program for children. Eilat is also an ideal place for bird watchers as it is one of the world's most important bird migratory routes. The Eilat Mountains from the west and the Jordanian Edom Mountains from the east are worth visiting. The Timna Park located about 25 km north of Eilat are the site of ancient copper mines is today an attraction known for its beautiful colored rocks, cliffs and canyons. The most impressive natural formation is Solomon pillars which are 50-m high red pillars carved from the stone by streams of water.

Language

Arabic

Language Description

Arabic is the official language of the country. English and French are widely spoken in most of the tourist areas.

Tipping

It is customary to tip small change for most services rendered. “Baksheesh”, as tipping is called here, is very useful to gain entry to seemingly unreachable places, or to be treated in an extra special way. Drivers and waiters expect about 10% and 5% tip respectively.