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Nuweiba
by Jimmy Dunn
Nuweiba, which means "bubbling
springs" in Arabic, is a 7-km long town stretched along the
Aqaba coast of the Sinai Red Sea. Developed from a barren isolated
place with no infrastructure into a promising and attractive
tourist destination, Nuweiba has just recently been discovered by
tourist investors who have established hotels along the coastline
south and north of Nuweiba, connecting it with Taba in the north
and Dahab in the south.
 Due to the problems in Israel, tourism to the
area is now down. This is not because of any danger within the
area. Rather it is due to the fact that Israelis once made up a
significant segment of the tourist population to the area and are
no longer traveling as much because of their own internal
conflict. This really ends up being a bonanza for other travelers
to the area who are seeking a laid back, non-congested beach or
scuba diving vacation. Vacation specials abound, and the local
tourism industry is working hard to promote the area to new
markets. In fact, Tour Egypt is working with area merchants and at
the end of this article; readers will find special Tour Egypt
deals for Nuweiba.
Nuweiba can roughly be divided into a number of
sections.
 Nuweiba Tarabin, the northern part, consists of
a thick grove of palms, a shallow bay and the ruins of a Turkish
fort. The well inside the ruins has served the Bedouins as a fresh
water source for centuries. In the early 80’s, the process of
settling started, when families of the Tarabin tribe who occupy
the area north of Nuweiba, permanently moved to live in their
summer location. At this time the Bedouins set up the first simple
accommodations made of scrap wood and metal, the only material
available. With an increase in tourism and an improving
infrastructure, soon many campsites and small hotels sprouted like
mushrooms along the bay.
Tarabin is known for its lively oriental
atmosphere. Restaurant by restaurant and bazaar next to bazaar
gives you the impression of a colorful oriental market
place. Along the beach you find lively outdoor restaurants
in Bedouin style furnished with carpets and cushions that invite
you to lay back and relax and let the time pass by.
The town itself is built around the former
Moshav Neviot, which was established during the Israeli occupation
in 1971. Its significance lies in marking the tribal boundary
between the Tarabin tribe in the north and the Muzeina tribe in
the south.
 The only bank in Nuweiba Town is found at the
Helnan Hotel. A new commercial area opposite the Helnan is in
development. Some restaurants and supermarkets are already
operating. Opposite the small commercial center lies the
public bakery that provides fresh pita bread from early morning
until midday. A little path leads you to the Post Office, which is
open from 9:00am until 2:00pm except Fridays and on holidays.
There is also a 24-hour Telephone Communication Center, the
"Central", from where one may buy telephone cards.
Separated through a little park lies the veteran center of Nuweiba
with supermarkets, bazaars and vegetable shops. This area is
great for low budget tourism in a bazaar atmosphere a la Khan El
Khalili.
 The Dunes are the extension and connection
between Nuweiba Town and Nuweiba Muzeina (Nuweiba Port). Along the
shore exist a conglomerate of many camps and small-scale hotels on
the beautiful sandy beaches with spectacular coral reefs just in
front of them. The Dunes are divided between "Duna" and
"small Duna". Most of the campsites and hotels are built
in the southern "small Duna", while "Duna"
remains a romantic virgin place with simple accommodations of
thatched beach bungalows and some small restaurants with brilliant
views.
Nuweiba Port, also known as Nuweiba Muzeina, is
the industrial area. With the construction of the port in 1985
trade business between Egypt and the Arab countries on the other
side of the Gulf of Aqaba increased. A highway was built through
the mountains connecting mainland Egypt with the Sinai Peninsula
to accommodate this trade.
Egyptians from all over the country came to live
in Nuweiba as work flourished. Homes and schools were built, shops
and business centers opened and the first hotels were established.
Originally Nuweiba port was the summer location
for the Muzeina tribe. It was a sparsely inhabited oasis, which
came only into life in the late summer, when the Muzeina flocked
to the palm groves to pick dates. The thriving trade encouraged
the Muzeina clan to settle. Today, they are running their own
businesses by renting out their places as shops or other
facilities to the Egyptian newcomers.
Here, one can buy goodies that are Duty Free.
There are several banks close to the port's entrance and so is the
ticket-office where one may purchase tickets for the ferry to
Jordan. The common port area is scattered with shops and
supermarkets, where one may find a good bargain for commodities
not available in Nuweiba Town. There are also good, cheap local
restaurants about the area.
What to Do and Where to Go
Night Time
For dancing try the disco at the Hilton, Helnan,
or Dolphin Beach every night. During the week there are often
events on the beach including a beach disco at the Hilton, as well
as animation shows. In fact, during season there are beach party
discos at most of the hotel bars. There is usually live music at
Nuweiba Village (once the Helnan) and the Hilton's pool bar. Beer
(Stella) local is usually around $3.00 US while imports such as
Heineken go for about $5 in the hotel bars. However, ask around
and you might find a few better deals.
Instead of the Bars and Pubs the Beach Cafes in
Tarabin provide candlelight and music. Some places offer oriental
drum music, and a mixture of oriental life and international live
music with dancing. Or to get laid back, try the Habiba village
and let the hours drift by sitting, talking and watching the
stars.
Other popular nighttime entertainment includes
Bedouin dinner in the desert and night scuba dives.
Day Time
Probably one of the most popular excursions form
Nuweiba it to St. Catherine's monastery, which often includes side
trips to Nawamis with its early Bronze Age burial chambers. Other
stops include the Stone of Inscriptions that has writing from the
Proto Sinaitic era (the beginning of the Semitic writing developed
from Hieroglyphics), Byzantine and Roman writings and wall
paintings (stories of hunting leopard, ostrich...), and even
messages from/to travelers.
Other excursions include camel trips (by the day
or hour on the camel), which usually cost around $25 to $40 US. As
an example of short tours from Nuweiba, a three-day Colored Canyon
or five-day Ain Hudra trek usually runs about $40 per person/day.
However, the same tour can usually be arranged for one day by
jeep. The Colored Canyon and Oasis Ain Hudra (biblical Hazeroth)
treks take you to palm gardens and great landscape while the oasis
of Ain Um Ahmad, is the most beautiful and biggest oasis in South
Sinai. Bedouins growing fruits such as oranges, almonds, peaches,
figs and dates, along with some corn, wheat and vegetables,
cultivate the land.
Jeep trips to Ras Abu Gallum, a Nature
Protectorate are popular. This beautiful bay has excellent
snorkeling and scuba diving. Other excursions include a three day
Jeep Tour to Serabit El Khadem where the Turquoise Mines and
Temple ruins of the Goddess Hathor are located.
Fishing Trips can be organized in Tarabin.
And then there is the diving. Boats such as the
live aboard Princess Mikela offer diving trips between Taba and
Nuweiba where you may also swim with the free dolphin Lady Olin
and her baby.
Extensions
Extensions to Petra, Jordan also leave from
Nuweiba. Typically, these trips are one day and cost approximately
$150.00 US excluding the transportation fee.
Special Tour Egypt Deals for Nuweiba:
Nakhil Inn offers the following packages:
(email)
- 1 week package: accommodation 7 nights at Nakhil
Inn & diving 5 days $360 per person B/B.
- Weekend package: accommodation 3 nights at
Nakhil Inn & 2 days diving $170 per person B/B.
Dive program will include Devils Head, Ras
Mamlah, Abou Lou Lou reef, House reef + swimming with the dolphin.
Castle Beach offers the following packages:
(email)
- I. Package 7 nights on BB base: US $ 99
- II. Package: US $ 199 7 nights on FB including:
1 day by camel
- III. Package: US $ 375: transfer
airport/CB/airport, 7 nights accommodation on FB, 1 day by camel,
1 day by jeep, Bedouin dinner in the mountains with Bedouin music,
1 day snorkeling
Habiba
Village offers the following packages: (email)
- Package I. US $ 195: 5 nights on BB. 3 day camel
trek to the Colored Canyon
Octopus Dive Center and Salah El Deen Hotel (Taba)
offers the following packages (Pricing requires a group of
four): (email)
- Seven days half board accommodation at the Salah El Deen hotel
$385.00 for 2 people.
Diving packages from Octopus Dive Center, including lunch:
- 5 days boat diving (10 dives) with full equipment $349.00
- 5 days boat diving (10 dives) with tank and weights
$279.00
- 1 day diving from Pharoe Island (2 dives) with full equipment
$99.00
- 1 day diving from Pharoe Island (2 dives) with tank and weights
$82.00
- 1 day shore dive (2 dives) excluding lunch with full equipment
$49.00
- 1 day shore dive (2 dives) excluding lunch with tank and weights
$32.50
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