SOLO

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Wellness Retreat – South Africa

Flash Pack Editors 29th October 2025 6 min read

Solo Travel Tips

Solo travel reframed life in my 40s after years of NHS burnout

After suffering burnout following the pandemic, Flashpacker Kirstye Todd took a leap of faith on a group trip and found it truly restorative.

Kirstye Todd 4th August 2023 6 min read

Solo Travel Tips

Solo travel for women: expert tips and top locations

This guide to solo travel for women covers everything you need to know, with expert tips and exclusive insights into the best female solo travel destinations.

Kate Leahy 3rd August 2023 6 min read

Career Tips

As a tech co-founder, my travel sabbatical has given me headspace, new friends – and all the fun

Edtech co-founder Kate Volzer carved out time to reset, reflect and travel – after years working at the sharp end of senior management.

Kate Volzer 24th July 2023 6 min read

Wellness

The big chill: 4 helpful things I wish I’d known before the age of 40

Relax, lean out and embrace the unexpected: how turning 40 is an invitation to stop with the endless grind.

Anna Brech 17th July 2023 6 min read

Solo Travel Tips

I met six friends for life in Colombia. We now travel the world together

After bonding over a love of travel on a Flash Pack adventure, Amrita Langbour and her six new friends have since shared many a trip.

Amrita Langbour 14th July 2023 6 min read

Solo Travel Tips

I faced travel as my father faced death. It was an experience that helped us both

After her dad encouraged her to travel despite his terminal diagnosis, Flashpacker Megan Coyle discovered that adventure fuelled them both.

Megan Coyle 7th July 2023 6 min read

Travel Tips

How to Get Cheap Flights: The Experts’ Take

Need tips for finding cheap flights? This guide dispels common flight booking myths and offers advice from industry experts on sourcing low-cost tickets.

Kate Leahy 5th July 2023 6 min read

Solo Travel Tips

Group travel was a turning point for me. I now have friends all over the world

After taking the plunge and booking a group trip, Flashpacker, Karen Crowe, found it helped her travel beyond her comfort zone.

Karen Crowe 30th June 2023 6 min read

Solo Travel Tips

I was dreading turning 40 single and child-free but a group trip to Bali was the perfect distraction

After fearing turning 40, one Flashpacker joined a group adventure and found herself celebrating more than just a birthday.

Anna Brech 16th June 2023 6 min read

Travel

As part of the LGBTQIA+ community, we love to travel. Group trips are our favourite

Joining a group trip as a LGBTQIA+ couple gave Anthony Doick and his partner, Glen, the freedom to be themselves and enjoy the adventure.

Anthony Doick 9th June 2023 6 min read

Solo Travel Tips

7 unexpected things you can learn from solo travel without your partner

Choosing to travel without your partner is still considered controversial by some. One writer explains how it’s strengthened her relationship

Anna Brech 7th June 2023 6 min read

STORIES FROM LEADING ADVENTURERS

Start small and follow the stories from these well-known explorers and SOLO columnists…

01Why your 30s are such an important decade for adventure

02What I learnt from running solo and unsupported across six mountain ranges

03Walking the Nile: explorer Levison Wood on his Egypt adventure

ARTIST CAMILA PINHEIRO ON THE BEST OF BRAZIL

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Writers to write home about

Meet our regular SOLO wordsmiths

Kate Wills

Journalist, Kate Wills, has written for Vogue, Suitcase and Stylist. She's the author of solo manifesto A Trip Of One’s Own – exploring female adventurers over the ages – and host of the Ticket For One podcast. Her monthly column for Flash Pack, Female SOLOists, showcases modern-day female adventurers.

Jonathan Thompson

SOLO columnist and award-winning journalist, Jonathan Thompson, traded London for Texas in 2016. He contributes to The Wall Street Journal, The Sunday Times, GQ, Esquire and National Geographic Traveller. He's also the presenter of Adventure Cities on the Discovery Channel and Hulu.

Imogen Lepere

Freelance travel writer, Imogen Lepere, previously worked as a senior writer at Food and Travel Magazine and has since written for The Independent, The Telegraph, The FT and Conde Nast Traveller. She's an adventurous soul, having lived in a commune on a Thai island and couch surfed around Scandinavia.

TRAVEL

Your solo travel and destination inspiration lives here

Solo Travel Tips

Solo travel reframed life in my 40s after years of NHS burnout

After suffering burnout following the pandemic, Flashpacker Kirstye Todd took a leap of faith on a group trip and found it truly restorative.

Kirstye Todd 4th August 2023 6 min read

Solo Travel Tips

Solo travel for women: expert tips and top locations

This guide to solo travel for women covers everything you need to know, with expert tips and exclusive insights into the best female solo travel destinations.

Kate Leahy 3rd August 2023 6 min read

Solo Travel Tips

I met six friends for life in Colombia. We now travel the world together

After bonding over a love of travel on a Flash Pack adventure, Amrita Langbour and her six new friends have since shared many a trip.

Amrita Langbour 14th July 2023 6 min read

Solo Travel Tips

I faced travel as my father faced death. It was an experience that helped us both

After her dad encouraged her to travel despite his terminal diagnosis, Flashpacker Megan Coyle discovered that adventure fuelled them both.

Megan Coyle 7th July 2023 6 min read

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WELLNESS

Master your fitness, nutrition and mental health

Wellness

The big chill: 4 helpful things I wish I’d known before the age of 40

Relax, lean out and embrace the unexpected: how turning 40 is an invitation to stop with the endless grind.

Anna Brech 17th July 2023 6 min read

Mental Health

Taking a mental health break from work: the why and the how

Research has proved that rest positively boosts our productivity. Here’s how and why you should consider taking time a mental health break from work.

Anna Brech 31st May 2023 6 min read

Wellness

I’m an introverted extrovert. Here’s how it’s allowed me to thrive in groups

Knowing how you get your energy enables you to use it effectively, says Talk Club founder, Ben Akers

Ben Akers 26th April 2023 6 min read

Mental Health

Why asking for help from my community was a leap of faith that paid off

Founder of The Book of Man, Martin Robinson, sent out a signal on social media recently – and was surprised by the response.

Martin Robinson 1st March 2023 6 min read

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CAREERS

Razor-sharp career tips and better work/life balance

Career Tips

As a tech co-founder, my travel sabbatical has given me headspace, new friends – and all the fun

Edtech co-founder Kate Volzer carved out time to reset, reflect and travel – after years working at the sharp end of senior management.

Kate Volzer 24th July 2023 6 min read

Career Tips

Your midlife career change: Why and when to switch jobs

Thinking of a starting a new profession in your 30s or 40s? We round up some of the reasons why it might be one of the best moves you make.

Anna Brech 2nd June 2023 6 min read

Career Tips

What is a sabbatical? How to take time out from your job

Need some time to decompress? Here’s everything you need to know about taking a sabbatical, from asking your boss for time off to saving money.

Anna Brech 1st June 2023 6 min read

Career Tips

4 valid reasons for a career break that will make your boss say “yes”

Thinking about taking a career break? From boosting motivation to avoiding recruitment costs, here are four valid reasons for a career break to convince your boss.

Anna Brech 1st June 2023 6 min read

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RELATIONSHIPS

The full picture on friendship, family and dating advice

Friendship Tips

Men, listen up: Here’s why it’s ok to tell your male friends you love them

Talk Club founder Ben Akers teamed up with his friend, poet and author JJ Bola, to normalise three little words.

Ben Akers 15th March 2023 6 min read

Relationships

Man to Man: Why men need to master the art of conversation to combat loneliness

BBC journalist Nihal Arthanayake spoke to crisis negotiators, presidents and business leaders for his latest book on how to communicate.

Nihal Arthanayake 7th March 2023 6 min read

Relationships

How I broke up with society’s shoulds in my 30s and starting entertaining the coulds

SOLO columnist Francesca Specter writes about what happened when she liberated herself from other people’s expectations.

Francesca Specter 21st February 2023 6 min read

Relationships

What I’ve learnt from writing The Single Supplement and a decade of flying solo

Writer Nicola Slawson reflects on creating an empowered community of like-minded singles with her award-winning newsletter.

SOLO

TOP STORIES

Group travel was a turning point for me. I now have friends all over the world

How to Get Cheap Flights: The Experts' Take

As part of the LGBTQIA+ community, we love to travel. Group trips are our favourite

This is 40: how a trip to Sri Lanka made me realise I’m exactly where I’m meant to be

Why friendships are the love stories we take for granted

As a stay-at-home mum I felt invisible – but solo adventure changed my life

LATEST STORIES

Wellness Retreat – South Africa

Solo travel reframed life in my 40s after years of NHS burnout

Solo travel for women: expert tips and top locations

As a tech co-founder, my travel sabbatical has given me headspace, new friends – and all the fun

The big chill: 4 helpful things I wish I’d known before the age of 40

I met six friends for life in Colombia. We now travel the world together

I faced travel as my father faced death. It was an experience that helped us both

How to Get Cheap Flights: The Experts’ Take

Group travel was a turning point for me. I now have friends all over the world

I was dreading turning 40 single and child-free but a group trip to Bali was the perfect distraction

As part of the LGBTQIA+ community, we love to travel. Group trips are our favourite

7 unexpected things you can learn from solo travel without your partner

STORIES FROM LEADING ADVENTURERS

01Why your 30s are such an important decade for adventure

02What I learnt from running solo and unsupported across six mountain ranges

03Walking the Nile: explorer Levison Wood on his Egypt adventure

ARTIST CAMILA PINHEIRO ON THE BEST OF BRAZIL

Writers to write home about

Kate Wills

Jonathan Thompson

Imogen Lepere

TRAVEL

Solo travel reframed life in my 40s after years of NHS burnout

Solo travel for women: expert tips and top locations

I met six friends for life in Colombia. We now travel the world together

I faced travel as my father faced death. It was an experience that helped us both

WELLNESS

The big chill: 4 helpful things I wish I’d known before the age of 40

Taking a mental health break from work: the why and the how

I’m an introverted extrovert. Here’s how it’s allowed me to thrive in groups

Why asking for help from my community was a leap of faith that paid off

CAREERS

As a tech co-founder, my travel sabbatical has given me headspace, new friends – and all the fun

Your midlife career change: Why and when to switch jobs

What is a sabbatical? How to take time out from your job

4 valid reasons for a career break that will make your boss say “yes”

RELATIONSHIPS

Men, listen up: Here’s why it’s ok to tell your male friends you love them

Man to Man: Why men need to master the art of conversation to combat loneliness

How I broke up with society’s shoulds in my 30s and starting entertaining the coulds

What I’ve learnt from writing The Single Supplement and a decade of flying solo

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