There are not many questions for which you can almost guarantee the answer from every respondent, but I believe this to be one.

Ask a man; ‘would you like to go away with a load of women to a beautiful country to soak up the sun, see some sights, have a few beers and try something new?’

Can dogs eat grapes, bananas, apples, oranges and other fruit?

I’d wager that more than 90% of replies would be along the lines of, ‘Where do I sign up?’

So why are men not signing up? Because, believe it or not, this is exactly what they can be doing with their spare time and yet very, very few are.




The best way to find out what could be so off-putting about a trip which sounds like a very pleasant daydream was, of course, to give it a go.

These are group trips organised for solo travellers, so everyone has signed up separately but get together when they arrive.

It’s hardly a new concept; everyone’s aware of 18-30 for the youngsters and Saga for the older generation. But what about everyone else? There’s a good 20-year chunk in the middle there that have not been catered for.

Flash Pack are looking to fill that void by offering group adventures to people 30 to 45 years old, but they are finding it’s an age range that sees women flocking to join in, but men reluctant to get involved.

Their trip to Slovenia in May was typically over-subscribed by women and that is the one I tagged along with to see if men are missing out on something, or if they have been right to stay at home.

When I say men aren’t signing up for these trips, I really mean it. Not including myself and the tour organiser, there were 13 people on the trip – every single one was female.

I flew into Ljubljana on a Friday afternoon and was driven over to the hotel where the group was already enjoying a drink in the bar.

There wasn’t much hanging around though before we were off for a walking tour of the city.

It was my first time in the Slovenian capital and it is a lovely city with a great atmosphere on a Friday evening.

We had a stroll around, seeing the sights before making the most of the Friday-night atmosphere by going to a few of the bars along the river Ljubljanca.

There was even a little boat trip with a glass of sparkling wine or two.

It was all quite refined along the river, but we also sampled Ljubljana’s edgier side, heading into the graffiti-covered, bizarrely decorated area of Metelkova.

It was a little intimidating at first but friendly and open when you get involved, it was a great place to take the night into the small hours.

Sadly, this was all our time in Ljubljana, but the plus side was that we were off to an even more spectacular part of the country in the morning: Lake Bled.

‘It looked like a postcard’ is a bit of a tired cliché, but it really bloody did.



A shimmering lake basking in sunshine; towering snow-topped mountains in the distance; a picturesque castle atop a nearby cliff; and an island floating on the lake boasting the prettiest of churches.

It’s not there just to be looked at, though, so we ruined the peace and tranquillity of the setting by taking to the lake aboard paddleboards.

Not a single one of the party had taken control of a paddleboard before and, at times, it told.

There was the odd splash as someone went in the drink, shattering the calm of the lake.

There were plenty more wobbly moments when the wind picked up, so we weren’t quite like ducks to water.

It was still a lot of fun though and a great way to take in the scenery and have a laugh with the people you are still getting to know.

A trip for lunch and a couple of drinks in the town of Bled itself made for a pleasant afternoon, before we went to check out our glamping accommodation. Another new experience for me.

I’d heard varying reviews of glamping (glamorous camping) in the past but the facilities at Lake Bled were really great.

You got a little hut with a heater and electricity, your own hot tub, a private bathroom (which could have been in a hotel room) and access to a sauna.

All this a five-minute walk from the lake surrounded by breathtaking scenery.

Our glamping experience (Picture: flashpack.com)

The campsite atmosphere was also great for some more bonding with the group.


The Saturday night was a whole lot of fun as we sat outside with beer and wine flowing, playing games and sharing stories.

The Sunday was another new experience for a lot of the group as we went canyoning.

For the uninitiated, this is making your way down a river, jumping off and sliding down whatever natural obstacle you encounter.

(Picture: Katie Murray)

Fears were faced, nerves were conquered and injuries were miraculously avoided as we spent 90 minutes throwing ourselves off rocks.

The mild peril of falling off your paddleboard seemed a distant memory in this more extreme environment.

You’ll notice I haven’t actually mentioned what it was like being the only man on the trip so far. Well, that’s because there is really nothing to report on that front.

At no point did I feel like the odd one out, that I couldn’t get involved in a conversation or that there was anything I wanted to do that no one else would be up for.

These trips attract a group of like-minded people who want to see somewhere new, try something they wouldn’t get to at home and meet a few new people in the process.

Why this has become the domain of women I can’t work out, because there are plenty of men who would love to do those exact same things.

The activities were in no way aimed solely at women – with a bit of archery thrown in on the last morning – neither was the location, nor the places we were taking in for food and drinks over the weekend.

(Picture: Katie Murray)

It really did seem obvious I would from the start, but, as the only man on a trip with 13 women to a truly stunning country, I had a great time.

How to join in an adventure holiday as a solo traveller My trip was organised by Flash Pack who organise group holidays for solo travellers across the globe. The Wild Slovenia trip starts at £845.00. This includes three breakfasts, one lunch and one dinner, three nights based on sharing twin rooms. all activities with a local flashpack guide and airport transfers.

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