Lying on Jordan’s tiny coastline, nestled between the mountains and the Red Sea, Aqaba is a cosmopolitan Arabic beach town steeped in six thousand years of history. With colourful souks, a historic fortress, snorkel-friendly coral reefs and a scenic promenade, Aqaba is an ideal destination for those looking to combine a beach break with a splash of culture.

Originally known as Elath (later Ayla), the story of Aqaba stretches back to the period of the Old Testament. Captured by the Assyrians around 735 BC, it later passed through the hands of a vast array of conquerors, caliphates and crusaders. Eventually, the Ottomans took control, until Lawrence of Arabia advised the Arab forces to make their famous ‘camel charge’ on Aqaba Fort in 1917. In the wake of WWI, the city was officially secured for the newly established Emirate of Transjordan.