Aqaba is a coastal town with an estimated population of 110,000 citizens. Aqaba is tactically essential to Jordan as it is the country's only port. The town borders Eilat, Israel and there is a border post where you are able to cross between the two countries freely. Both Aqaba and Eilat are at the head of the Gulf of Aqaba. In 1965, Hussein attempted to give Aqaba room to grow by trading land with Saudi Arabia. In return for desert land in Jordan's interior the Saudi's traded prime coastline to the south of Aqaba. In addition to the extra land for expansion of the port, the trade also gave the country access to the superlative Yamanieh coral reef. Aqaba was a key site for imports of Iraqi goods in the 1980s until the Persian Gulf War. In August 2005, an early-morning rocket attack nearly struck a U.S. Navy ship docked there causing damage to adjacent facilities in the city; the attack also hit the neighboring Israeli town of Eilat. Al-Qaeda or an affiliate claimed responsibility.
When you visit Aqaba you can experience one of this regions most relaxing traditions. Enjoy a Turkish bath. This is a method of cleansing the body that was especially popular during the Victorian era. The process involved in taking a Turkish bath is similar to that of a sauna, but is more closely associated to the bathing practices of the Romans. Taking a Turkish bath firstly involves relaxing in a room that is heated by a flow of hot dry air permitting the bather to perspire freely.
You can also take a scuba diving trip to see the beautiful Yamanieh coral reef. This is one of the finest scuba experiences in the middle east.