Just off the coast near Taba, a small granite island carries a full medieval fortress, with towers and walls wrapped around its two hills. This is Saladin’s Castle on Pharaoh’s Island, and on our day trip you cross to it by boat, explore it, snorkel the reef around it, and finish above Fjord Bay, one of the most photographed bays in South Sinai.
The short version
- Meet in Dahab: 7:45 AM (we leave 15 minutes later)
- Back in Dahab: around 3 PM
- On the island: about an hour in the castle, then optional snorkelling
- Group size: up to 10 people
- Price: €39 per person
- Included: transport from Dahab, the boat from Taba, castle tickets and guides
A castle with 900 years of history
Pharaoh’s Island is small, about 350 metres long, and sits roughly 200 metres off the Sinai shore in the northern Gulf of Aqaba. The Crusaders were the first to fortify it in the 12th century. In December 1170 Saladin took the island, rebuilt the citadel and left a garrison there, and the fortress has carried his name ever since. Later the Mamluks kept a governor on the island until around 1320.
Today the restored castle is on Egypt’s tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage. Walking its walls, you look across the water to the mountains of Sinai on one side, and on a clear day to the coasts of Jordan, Israel and Saudi Arabia, which all meet in this corner of the gulf.
How the day goes
- Dahab to Taba by car along the coast road.
- Boat to the island from Taba, a short crossing.
- About an hour in the castle, exploring the towers and walls with your guide.
- Snorkelling on the reef around the island, for anyone who wants to. Bring your swimsuit.
- Fjord Bay viewpoint on the way back, for the view and photos.
Fjord Bay: seen from above
Fjord Bay is a narrow inlet where the mountains drop straight into deep blue water, a rare fjord-like shape on this coast. At the moment, visitors are mostly not allowed down into the bay itself, so we stop at the viewpoint above it. That is where the famous photo is taken anyway.
What to bring
- Your passport (there are checkpoints on the road)
- Swimsuit and a towel if you want to snorkel
- Sun protection: hat, sunglasses, sunscreen
- Comfortable shoes for the castle steps
- Water, and snacks or lunch (meals are not included)
Join the trip
We run Saladin’s Castle & Fjord Bay as a small-group day trip from Dahab on set Saturdays. See the next date and book on the Saladins kasteel en Fjord Bay page, or message us on WhatsApp.