The juxtaposition of ‘new meets old’ is thrown around a lot in travel, but Cairo takes it to the extreme. Where else can you see ancient iconic marvels and centuries-old mosques sitting alongside a rapidly modernizing metropolis? This striking contrast is just one of the reasons why few cities in the world offer an experience like Egypt’s capital.

Reem Hamed is an Egyptian designer, born and raised in Cairo. She’s the founder and Creative Director of RAMLA, a footwear brand founded in 2017 with the aim of reviving a lost culture and empowering women artisans. We sat down with her to hear more about her building a ‘Made in Egypt’ brand, female creativity in Cairo, and her favorite hidden gems.

We get it, the old-fashioned concept of group travel conjures up a certain image. Here’s why our signature style of small group travel is anything but what you’d imagine.