I was born in Egypt.
I have carried that fact with me my entire life — through decades of building a career in America, raising a family, reinventing myself more times than I can count. Egypt has always been the thread running through everything: the flavors I cook with, the stories I tell, the way I understand hospitality and community and the kind of abundance that has nothing to do with money.
And now, for the first time, I am going back — not just as a daughter returning home, but as a guide. I am leading a small, intimate group of women on a journey to Egypt in January 2027. And I want you to be one of them.
Extremely Limited Spots
This tour is intentionally small. When it fills, it fills.
Subscribe below to be the first to know when details and booking open. Priority access goes to subscribers only.
Why Egypt — And Why Now
There is no place on earth quite like Egypt. It is one of the oldest civilizations in human history — a land where you can stand at the foot of a 4,500-year-old pyramid and feel genuinely small in the best possible way. Where the Nile has been flowing since before recorded memory. Where the food is extraordinary, the people are warm beyond description, and every single corner holds something that will stop you in your tracks.
But beyond the history and the spectacle, Egypt has something else — something harder to name. A sense of depth. Of time moving differently. Of life being lived with a fullness and a presence that our fast-paced Western world has largely forgotten. I have been thinking about how to share that with the women in this community for years. This January, I am finally doing it.
What We Will Experience Together
This is not a standard tourist itinerary. I am designing this journey around the things that matter most to me — and to the women who follow The Real Dish. That means food, culture, movement, connection, and meaning. Here is a taste of what is being planned:
The Pyramids of Giza & the Sphinx
Standing at one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World at sunrise — before the crowds arrive. This is the kind of moment that stays with you forever.
Luxor & the Valley of the Kings
Sailing the Nile to Luxor, exploring Karnak Temple, and walking through the tombs of the pharaohs in the Valley of the Kings. History that you can touch.
Cairo's Old City & Khan el-Khalili
Getting lost in one of the oldest markets in the world — spices, textiles, handcrafted jewelry, and the kind of sensory experience that no photograph can capture.
Egyptian Food, Cooked the Right Way
As a chef with Egyptian roots, I will be guiding us through the real food of this country — not hotel buffets, but the dishes that shaped my childhood. Expect a cooking experience you will talk about for years.
Community & Connection
One of the things I love most about small-group travel is the women you meet along the way. This tour is designed to create real bonds — the kind that outlast the trip.
"Egypt is where I come from. It is also where I am going — and I cannot think of a more meaningful way to share it than with a small group of women who are ready to be transformed by it."
— Mareya Ibrahim
Why Travel With Me
I am not a travel agent. I am a chef, a wellness advocate, a storyteller, and a woman who has spent her life navigating between cultures. When I take you to Egypt, I am not reading from a guidebook — I am taking you home with me.
I know the food. I know the history. I know the hidden corners that most tourists never find. And I know how to create an environment where women feel safe, seen, and genuinely cared for — because that is what I do every single day through The Real Dish.
This tour will be small by design. I want every woman on this trip to feel like she has my full attention — not like she is one of fifty people following a flag through a museum. When I say limited spots, I mean it.
What to Expect
Full details — including pricing, exact dates, itinerary, and booking — will be shared exclusively with subscribers first. This is a very small group and I expect it to fill quickly once details are released.
Be the First to Know
Get Priority Access to the Egypt Tour
Spots are extremely limited and will go to subscribers first. Enter your email below and I will reach out personally when booking opens — before it is announced anywhere else.
No spam, ever. Just the details you need, when you need them.
This Is Your Invitation
I have been talking about Egypt on The Real Dish for a while now — in episodes, in conversations, in the way I describe the food and the culture that shaped me. And the response from this community has been overwhelming. So many of you have said: I want to go. I want to experience that.
This is me saying: let's go. Together.
January 2027 is coming faster than you think. Subscribe now, get on the list, and be ready. This is the kind of trip that changes you — and I cannot wait to share it with you.
Yalla — let's do this.
— Mareya