Things to do
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Coral Beach Nature Reserve
Protected reef lies close enough to shore that a snorkeller reaches living coral within a few strokes of the jetty, and marked bridges cross the shallows to drop-off points above the fringing wall. Entry is ticketed and numbers are capped. Fins and vests can be hired at the gate, and touching or standing on the coral is prohibited.
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Dolphin Reef
Bottlenose dolphins live in a netted enclosure open to the gulf, watched from wooden piers that run out over the water under shade trees. Swimming and diving sessions are limited in number and book out well ahead. General entry covers the beach and the relaxation pools, and the pace of the place suits a slow afternoon.
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Red Canyon
Iron in the sandstone turns the walls of this narrow slot rust red where a seasonal streambed cuts through the mountains north of town. The circuit takes about two hours, with ladders and handholds fixed into the tight section. Flash flooding closes it after rain, and the colour is strongest in afternoon light.
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Timna Park
Copper was mined in this desert valley from pharaonic times, and the workings, rock drawings and a reconstructed Tabernacle sit among sandstone shaped into arches, mushrooms and pillars. Driving the loop road takes a couple of hours, with short walks at each stop. Heat is severe by midday, so an early start and plenty of water matter.
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Underwater Observatory Marine Park
A submerged viewing chamber set out on the reef lets visitors look into open water without diving, backed by aquarium halls of sharks, rays and Red Sea species and a turtle pool. Feeding times structure the visit. Mornings are calmer, and the observation tower above gives a clear line across the gulf to Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.