Eilat and the Red Sea: Reefs, Desert and the Jordan Border

Eilat sits at the very tip of Israel, wedged between four countries' worth of desert mountains at the northern end of the Gulf of Aqaba. Jordan is a five-minute drive east, Egypt a stone's throw west, and Saudi Arabia is visible across the water. The result is Israel's sunniest corner: around 360 days of sunshine a year, warm sea in every season, and a laid-back resort rhythm.

The reason to come underwater is the coral reef. The Gulf of Aqaba holds one of the northernmost coral reefs on Earth, protected inside the Coral Beach Nature Reserve, and it is in excellent health - reachable by a marked snorkeling route right from the beach. If you prefer to stay dry, the Underwater Observatory takes you below the surface in a tower, and the Oceanarium tanks keep everyone happy. The Dolphin Reef, a sandy lagoon enclosed by nets where bottlenose dolphins live and (if they choose) swim alongside snorkelers, is a favorite for families.

Between swims, Eilat is a duty-free shopping city with a promenade of cafes, and the mountains behind it beg to be hiked. Timna Park, with its ancient copper mines and strange rock sculptures, is half an hour away. From October to April the desert around Eilat is one of the world's great birdwatching crossroads, as half a billion migrating raptors funnel over the city.

Eilat's real superpower is its location. Through the Yitzhak Rabin border crossing, the city of Aqaba is minutes away - and from there, a full day trip to Petra, or two days for Petra plus Wadi Rum's red desert. Crossing to Egypt's Sinai through Taba opens up another world of reefs and mountains. Visas and border formalities for Jordan are straightforward, and we arrange everything, including licensed Jordanian guides.

The scenic way to arrive is the drive itself: down Highway 40 through the Ramon Crater and the heart of the Negev. Ask us about combining Eilat, Petra and the desert in one unforgettable route.