Aqaba is Jordan's only port and its Red Sea playground, wedged between the deserts of four countries. Where tourism in Jordan is usually about stones and sand, Aqaba adds coral: the Gulf's calm, clear waters host some of the finest snorkelling and scuba diving in the region, including the Cedar Pride wreck and the underwater military museum.
The city itself is relaxed and family-friendly, with a Crusader fort, a large flagpole, waterfront promenades and duty-free shopping. Water temperatures stay comfortable year-round, and dive centres cater to every level from discovery dives to technical wrecks.
Aqaba completes the classic southern loop — Amman, Dead Sea, Petra, Wadi Rum, Aqaba — and sits about an hour from Wadi Rum by road. Travellers who hire car & driver in Jordan use the desert highway to link the coast with the interior, while full package tours to Jordan often finish with beach nights in Aqaba before returning to the capital.
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