This Farm Stay Outside Cairo Is Actually A Weight Loss Boot Glamp
“We know what we’re doing, and we’ve been there. This isn’t some theoretical mumbo jumbo, this is the real thing.”
The concept of fitness boot camps is not one commonly encountered in Egypt, nor in the Middle East at that. Yet, for fitness power-couple Mohamed Taher and Nada Taalab, founders of Egyptian wellness retreat Squad 101, it is the dream they have achieved together. Located at East Dream Farms on Egypt’s Cairo-Alexandria Desert Road, Squad 101 is on a three-pillared mission to bring world-class health, wellness, and weight loss to a plot of verdant land less than an hour away from Cairo.
But what exactly does Squad 101 offer? And how did the idea for it come about?
SceneTraveller spoke to Squad101 founders Mohamed Taher and Nada Taalab, and got more than our fair share of insider scoop on how two individuals found each other, when they were on a journey to find themselves.
But first…
The Retreat
Functioning as a weight loss boot-camp, a rejuvenating wellness retreat, and a serene escape from the Egyptian capital city, Squad 101 is all about tailor-made programmes—defined by both guest and host following a series of intimate encounters preluding the stay—that gently nudge guests or ‘squad members’ along the path of self-discipline and healthier pastures.
Offering accommodation for men, women, couples, and families, Squad101 adopts a triadic approach to wellness hospitality, which encompasses discipline, community, and luxury.
The Experience
“Our initial vision for Squad 101 was more of a military-style boot camp,” Taher shares with SceneTraveller. “But the zeitgeist has changed. People seek luxury, especially given that this is an expensive service. So, we decided to go all out and spoil our clientele.” Squad 101 now presents itself as an all-inclusive retreat that emphasises both physical and mental well-being. “We’re basically a fully functioning hotel now,” says Taher, highlighting the amenities that guests can expect.
Before ever setting foot in the resort, guests receive a comprehensive questionnaire covering everything from regimen to medical history, ensuring the entire team is aware of their individual needs. Then, the real work begins.
Upon check-in, guests undergo an in-body examination and a fitness test, followed by a welcome session with both staff and fellow guests to foster a sense of community.
As Taher humorously shares, “The first day is the calm before the storm because it gets real the next day.” However, it's not all struggle. Squad 101 also offers all the amenities of a luxury hotel—including lush greenscapes, a world-class spa and elegant interiors designed to alleviate any exhaustion or hesitation from the rigorous program—to ensure a balance of relaxation and activity throughout the retreat.
But How Does Squad101 Get it Done?
Determination is often the most difficult aspect of any transformation, and Squad 101 aims to tackle that challenge head-on.
“It’s always, ‘I’ll start tomorrow,’ but it never happens. What you pay for at Squad 101 goes beyond the physical amenities and tailored plans—you pay for discipline and determination,” Taalab explains to SceneTraveller.
Following a sleep schedule-dictated night and an early wake-up call, guests head over to their individually curated workouts, medically supervised group meals, personalised physiotherapy sessions, massage therapies, sauna appointments, jacuzzi sessions, and special interactive games, events, and workshops designed to encourage bonding.
Overall, the program is designed not only to provide all the modern facilities one might want/need but also to foster a sense of community that motivates participants to push through their struggles together. “People would come feeling pensive and discouraged, but they leave happy and strong—most even extend their stays. They reach their full potential here. That’s what we’re all about, helping people through, giving them a community,” Taalab adds.
Taalab and Taher’s personal experiences have fueled this mission from the very start: “We were both obese, we were both athletes, and we were both obese again. We lived the struggle,” Taher shares. Their goal is to ensure no one has to endure the struggle alone, a goal they have achieved time and time again since 2021 with several individuals they now call family.
Now..What About The Meet Cute?
In case you haven’t picked up on it yet, Nada Taalab and Mohamed Taher are not just business partners, but partners in life. Having traversed parallel journeys throughout their time on this Earth, Taher met Taalab after the latter was done filming an episode of Egyptian television host Lamis El Hadid’s nightly talk-show. Taalab was on the show to promote her inaugural fitness retreat, Chefox Camp, Squad 101’s elder sister.
Though Chefox was designed to host women, the camp opened its doors to men and couples soon after their television spotlight. Taher would go on to join Chefox, experiencing “torture at [Nada’s] hand”, who “had to force discipline on him.”
Trials, tribulations, and pent-up-resentment-that-soon-dissipated later, the pair fell in love, got married, and founded Squad 101 together. Now, the dynamic duo seeks to spread the love and the lessons learnt, introducing Egypt to a concept that, while unfamiliar, is much needed and sought out by so many.
So, Any Last Words?
“We’ve been there. This isn’t some theoretical mumbo jumbo, this is the real thing.” Taher shares. “It’s all about that first step. You need to take it.”
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