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Saladin Castle, Pharaoh’s Island
Found in the Gulf of Aqaba, Pharaoh’s Island in Egypt is home to the remains of an early medieval fortress. In 1116, crusader Baldwin I of Boulogne built a castle on Pharaoh’s Island to defend Christian access to the Kingdom of Jerusalem. But the Muslim forces of Saladin – the first Sultan of the Ayyubid dynasty – captured the castle in around 1170 and expanded it.
Today, a number of operators offer tours to the island – located just 250m off the Egyptian coast – where the scenic ruins can still be explored. Visitors to Pharaoh’s Island must book in advance for the chance to explore the castle, otherwise you are restricted to viewing the fortress from your boat or the shore.
