The Tourist Gaze

If you’d asked me just a few weeks ago about Taba Heights, Egypt, I wouldn’t have known what to say. I might not even have been able to find it on a map. But after a lengthy yet mostly smooth crossing across the border from Israel to Egypt and about two hours more on the road (including a laaaaate lunch at a — gasp! — Korean restaurant in the middle of the desert), we find ourselves holed up in a glitzy hotel in this resort town for a deliciously unexpected one night of pleasure.

Taba Heights is a remote resort town on the Sinai Peninsula, nestled along the Red Sea. Most visitors are familiar with the bustling resort town of Sharm El Sheikh, thanks to its luxury hotels, vibrant nightlife, and a constant flow of beach-goers. Taba Heights, in contrast, offers an entirely different experience. The resort is 30 minutes from the border town of Taba (which only became two hours on our case because we ate at the Korean restaurant much farther down the highway just to backtrack to Taba Heights afterwards).

The particular hotel we’re staying at is the Strand Beach Resort, an idyllic retreat whose orange walls blend with the rugged mountains around it. I am aware that I will sound like a resort copywriter here, but really, the place is designed with comfort and luxury in mind, featuring cavernous lobbies, labyrinthine hallways, and spacious rooms with private balconies that overlook the crystal-clear waters of the Gulf of Aqaba.

If only we have more than a night here, we’re at the mercy of a variety of activities, from relaxing on the beach to snorkeling and diving, with coral reefs just off the shore. The resort’s spa offers a range of rejuvenating treatments, while the on-site restaurant serves up a buffet of local and international dishes. The resort also has a cluster of large pools for a leisurely swim or a sunbathe on the surrounding loungers.

Such amenities make it easier for me to decide to forego climbing Mt. Sinai, where some members of our group will go at 10 in the evening in time to witness the sunrise at the summit. I, on the other hand, along with four members around my age, decide to relax our aching legs at the spa, have a massage, and just chill at the jacuzzi and sauna. I’m at the point in my life where I want to get all the pampering I can get.

Taba Heights is not a popular destination (I can’t even find a Wikipedia article about it), but what it lacks in bustling crowds, it more than makes up for with its natural beauty and tranquility that is often missing in similarly commercialized destinations. While an overnight stay might feel like a very short time to relax and unwind in this peaceful slice of the Sinai, Taba Heights–and the Strand Beach Resort in particular–is definitely worth a visit for those looking to experience a quieter side of Egypt that few tourists ever get to see. (Yeah, I do sound like a resort brochure.)