Flash Pack

Some vacations are made for switching off. Others involve scaling Himalayan peaks, cycling across international borders or dangling from a Norwegian cliff face with several hundred meters of fresh air beneath your boots. For solo travelers with an appetite for adventure, the world is one enormous playground.

Sri Lanka is a masterclass in contrasts. Ancient royal cities rise from tropical plains, emerald tea estates ripple across mist-covered hills, and wild elephants roam national parks just a few hours from palm-fringed beaches. Add a rich tapestry of Buddhist heritage, fragrant regional cuisine and some of South Asia’s most spectacular railway journeys, and this compact island has remarkable depth.

Chile is a country that doesn’t believe in doing landscapes by halves. Stretching more than 4,000 kilometers along South America’s Pacific coast, it packs in the lunar deserts of the Atacama, the glacier-carved peaks of Patagonia, emerald lakes and some of the world’s most intriguing archaeological treasures. And then there’s Santiago, where lively neighborhoods, sophisticated restaurants and a flourishing wine scene add a deliciously cosmopolitan twist.

When I first began my career in psychotherapy over 26 years ago, I remember male clients would come to my office like they were approaching a red-light district. There was a lot of shame and embarrassment around the idea of being seen to ask for help. That attitude has eased over recent years, yet I continue to see lots of men who are depressed and struggling – and there’s a number of reasons why.

Anna Brech 8th Oct 2026 14 min read 2122 Travel isn’t just about where you go, but who you share the journey with. With so many group options to choose from, we’ve rounded up some of the best group travel companies around – whether you’re looking for high-octane nightlife, cultural immersion, or a solo traveler seeking adventure and deep-rooted connection.

Going to the cinema often feels like one of the many activities that we’re conditioned into seeing as a group activity, like going to a restaurant, cozying up in a bar, going to a festival and traveling the world. Yet, just like the rest of these activities, there are so many joys that can come from going it alone. Spending time on our own is important. We can enjoy our own company while giving our brains time to decompress. It gives us space to draw our own conclusions, perspectives and ideas.

Izzy Mason 7th Oct 2026 13 min read The Dominican Republic does beach bliss brilliantly, but there’s far more to this Caribbean heavyweight than a sunlounger and a well-positioned piña colada. Beyond the resorts, you’ll find jungle waterfalls, cacao plantations, colorful cities, mountain rivers and a national enthusiasm for merengue.

Izzy Mason 7th Oct 2026 11 min read Solo travel promises freedom: your dates, your destination, your slightly unreasonable insistence on getting the window seat. But traveling independently doesn’t necessarily mean doing every part of the journey alone. Small-group adventure travel occupies a useful middle ground. You can book without waiting for somebody else’s PTO to align with yours, while still gaining companions for the experiences that are simply better shared.

Few countries deliver a sense of scale quite like the USA. One journey might take you through sculpted desert canyons and immense national parks, while another follows the soundtrack of the Deep South or ventures into the glacier-carved wilderness of Alaska. The advantage of traveling in a small group is that these vast landscapes become considerably easier to navigate.

Anna Brech 6th Oct 2026 9 min read Happiness is often painted as an individual quest. This elusive concept – the must-have currency of a modern age – is frustratingly vague and difficult to pin down. It depends on who you are, and how you feel at any given point. But certain countries across the world have developed routines that are intrinsically linked to happiness on a national level.