Aqaba, Jordan Cruise Vacations : Princess Cruises

Aqaba, Jordan

Located in southern Jordan, Aqaba is a tourist’s paradise, where the astonishingly blue Red Sea gives life to breathtaking coral reefs. The coastal city also serves as a gateway to Jordan’s ancient wonders, including the revered city of Petra and historic sites in Wadi Rum.

Visit 50 Essential Experiences: The Travel Bucket List

Read First Purser, Angus Wilkinson's, most memorable travel experience: traveling to Petra, Jordan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Petra

Awe-inspiring Petra is a centuries-old UNESCO World Heritage Site, a city intricately carved into rose-colored sandstone. Enter the narrow Siq to the famed Treasury, where Indiana Jones found the Holy Grail, and explore ancient monuments, temples and tombs.

Wadi Rum

Many Bedouins call the extraordinary desert landscapes of this expansive valley home. Also known as The Valley of the Moon, Wadi Rum features iconic Seven Pillars of Wisdom Mountain, named by Lawrence of Arabia, and is rife with rock paintings and petroglyphs.

Aqaba Castle and Archaeological Museum

Said to be originally built by 13th-century Crusaders, this ancient castle overlooking the Red Sea holds stables, a prison and an execution chamber. Next door, the Aqaba Museum houses intriguing collections of artifacts from as far back as the 7th century.