This Ramadan Hiking Group is About Movement & Charity

An hour and a half before Maghreb prayer, Sherief Elabd waits at the entrance of Maadi’s Wadi Degla Protectorate as hikers gather and prepare to walk 5 kilometres. Some faces are familiar, some new; some old, some young; some seasoned athletes and some first-timers. Since Elabd began these hikes in Ramadan 2023, he has watched them grow in size—the last holy month, the group began to swell past 100 people—and scope—as a hike for charity, and for self-reflection.

The schedule runs as follows: after gathering at the gate, the group walks for an hour and a half at a slow pace—slow enough to strike up conversation with the people around them with the goal of encouraging new connections and friendships. The hike is timed so that everyone breaks fast together at the half-way point, after the sun sets. Then, they finish the remaining 2.5 kilometres on the way back to the entrance, which is where the main event begins—a conversation on mental health and well-being led by a guest of honour.

Ramadan, the holy month dedicated to pause, introspection, and recalibration, grounds Elabd’s hikes. They run every Saturday and Tuesday from the beginning to the end of the month, for a total of seven meetings.

“During Ramadan, people tend to slow down, relax, and start thinking ‘what can I do to improve?’” Elabd said. Three main pillars support each gathering: move, reflect, and give back.

While the hike is completely free to enter, each kilometre trekked generates a EGP 50 donation, for an average of EGP 250 per person, per hike. ‘Hike with Sherief’ donates funds directly to Egyptian communities and organisations, to causes such as empowering vulnerable women in rural areas of the Sinai, and supporting children who suffer from severe illnesses. Last year, they raised a total of EGP 250,000 during Ramadan. Elabd said that this may be one of the hikes’ most meaningful outcomes.At ‘Hike with Sherief’, giving back and movement go hand-in-hand, and movement is for everyone. Yes, Elabd may have climbed Mount Everest, crossed Greenland west to east, and ran 250 kilometres in the Arctic Circle, but, he said, these hikes are not just for seasoned athletes.

“It targets people who have never been to the gym, who have never practiced sports, and have never been on a hike before,” Elabd said. “People feel like they can hike with Sherief and do something that feels good during Ramadan.”

As a result, Elabd’s hikes have inspired some members to embark on more challenging expeditions inside and outside of Egypt. He’s watched these hikes become an integral part of people’s lives—fulfilling physically and mentally, especially after listening to the inspirational speakers that each hike is named after.

Elabd brings in a range of voices—coaches, therapists, adventurers—all that matters is that they have something to say. The discussions are an unfiltered alternative to the mental health and well-being content we consume on social media that gives participants a chance to engage in real-time.

Last year, Elabd brought in members of the Kiligyptians, a group of Egyptian women who hiked Mount Kilimanjaro in 2024. The usual hour-long talk turned into two with a 45-minute long Q&A. The audience asked questions like: “What were the perceptions of your community as a single or married woman undertaking this journey? How did you get the approval of your family or your husband? How do you balance having a successful career and also training?” And, of course, “Weren’t you afraid to climb to the tallest mountain in Africa?”

But perhaps one of the most engaging speakers was mental health coach Rehab Fayed, Elabd said. She broke down attachment styles—what makes someone anxious, avoidant, or secure in a relationship. Fayed dove into how attachment styles affect the way we select our partners and gave advice on how to move towards security no matter where we are on the spectrum.

Elabd invited Fayed back to inaugurate the first hike of the Ramadan 2026 series on Saturday, February 21st.

To anyone who wants to join, Elabd says:

“Say yes to moving your body during Ramadan. Have iftar with like-minded people in the outdoors. Open your mind to inspiring people who shed light on the importance of mental health in a very modern way. Just come and show up. You'll never have this experience elsewhere in Egypt.”

While the club was born during Ramadan, Elabd has run these hikes on a monthly basis for the past year. To join any one of them, you can follow @hikewithsherief on Instagram—and just show up.