Aqaba is located in the south of Jordan just accross the border from Eilat in Israel and is the only place in the whole country where you swim in the sea. Although the beaches aren't great, snorkeling and diving is. The red sea has a fantastic underwaterscape and although a few spots in Egypt may have better opportunities, Aqaba is pretty okay.

The town itself is not really exciting. Don't expect anything Lawrence of Arabia-style.

Aqaba is a convenient starting point for seeing a few of the main attractions in the south of Jordan such as Petra or Wadi rum. Furthermore it offers the possibility to take the boat to Egypt, with ferries leaving regularly for Nuweiba in the Sinai.

It is fair to say Aqaba is not that exciting to a superficial traveller,when he or she expects to see all that the town has to offer through hotel windows and city sites presented in package deals. However, Aqaba is like many of its archeological sites - it needs to be excavated.

You need to experience the culture, immerse yourself with the realism of its life. That is the magic of Aqaba. No place on Earth has the geographic characteristics of its charm. Mountains, the sea and the desert. Its heaven on earth. The people, granted, are rough and, yes I'll admit, a bit prehistoric, but that is something that adds to the experience, a little something to remind you that you are not in heaven but still in fact in this living world.

It's not only a great starting point, but a great middle and end point as well. Carpe Diem. Go and experience life, not just a postcard.