Women only adventures
To the world's most interesting places

I went to Egypt expecting the Pyramids to steal the show. They didn’t. 
 
Hi, I’m Anela from Patch’s Trip Design team. I’m based in Bosnia & Herzegovina, and in November 2024 I finally ticked off a bucket-list dream – my first trip to Egypt (and my first time ever in Africa!). 
 
Don’t get me wrong. Standing beside the Pyramids is incredible. They’re enormous and make you feel tiny, and the Sphinx is even better in person. 
 
But my guide told me: “You’ll forget about the Pyramids once you see the temples of Upper Egypt.” 
 
I thought, no chance. Turns out – he was right. 
 
Aswan stole my heart. Sailing down the Nile on a felucca at sunset, arriving at Philae Temple by little speedboat as its towers rose higher and higher out of the water... it felt like sailing straight through history. 
 
But the people surprised me most. Our local team welcomed me like family within about five minutes. A man at a bazaar started chatting to me in Bosnian (my own language, in Egypt!) And a Nubian host named Ahmed had me in stitches over mint tea, explaining their traditions in the funniest way. 
 
As a solo female traveller, I felt safe the whole way through. With a guide and a group, the pushy vendors leave you be, you’re never negotiating taxis, and you’ve got local know-how by your side (mine even taught me a secret hand signal for haggling in the bazaars 😄). 
 
What I did notice was how few tourists there were. There were no queues at the big monuments or crowds at the Valley of the Kings. It felt like having ancient Egypt almost to myself. 
 
Egypt is huge, chaotic, and unlike anywhere I’ve ever been. It’s also warm, welcoming, and absolutely worth it. 
 
So if it’s been sitting on your bucket list... take it from me. Stop thinking about it and just go. 💙 Right now might just be the best time. ...

Having a team spread all across the Balkans means we get to do one of our favourite things – meet our travellers in person and hear their stories firsthand. 🥰 
 
Yesterday, Csilla from our team hopped aboard the Šarganska Osmica, the famous train that loops and winds its way through the mountains of western Serbia, and came back absolutely glowing. 
 
She met with a group of our Fencox guests (our sister brand). They’d flown in from every corner of Australia – QLD, NSW, WA, VIC, the ACT, and all of them had stories in spades. Repeat travellers, marathon runners, world wanderers, a former Australian Ambassador to Turkey, an Irishman who’s called Australia home for 48 years.... 
 
They all move as one, look out for each other and genuinely care. Their guide Igor calls his groups “family” – and looking at these photos, you can see exactly what he means. 🥹 
 
And speaking of Igor – this is exactly why we’re so proud of the guides we work with. Csilla described him as someone who “dances his way through the day.” Effortless, natural, and completely adored by the group. 
 
Our Balkans by Rail adventure is already one of our Patchies’ all-time favourites. And here’s the exciting bit – the itinerary is about to get even better. We’re making it more special than ever. 
 
So if the Balkans are on your list, know this: you’ll keep bumping into our team along the way (we can’t help ourselves), you’ll be guided by the best in the region, and we can’t wait to hear what you think about the improved itinerary. 
 
See you on the tracks 🚂💙 ...

Somewhere in the Indian Himalayas right now, one of our Patchies is grinning over a cup of chai and watching prayer flags snap against an impossibly blue sky.

We can tell, because we’ve been scrolling through their photos all morning.

Perhaps it was the colourful Hemis festival that lifted cheerfulness even higher (pun intended😉). ​

Or maybe it was the sheer joy of travelling with women who get you that made our Patchies’ eyes sparkle, and their bellies ache with laughter.

Probably both.

Whatever it is, you can tell our Ladakh and Kashmir crew are having the time of their lives.

So tell us: what’s the moment that makes you happiest when you travel? ...

You can travel an entire country in a single day. At least, it feels that way in Malaysia.

Our Patchies started day four with the Orang Asli, hearing stories passed down through generations of rainforest living. Hours later, they were zig-zagging through the chaos of Kuala Lumpur, surrounded by skyscrapers and market stalls selling everything under the sun.

It’s easy to think of a country as one thing, but Malaysia keeps reminding our group that it’s many things at once – ancient and modern, wild and chaotic, quiet and loud.

By the time dinner rolled around, our Patchies had plenty to talk about (and plenty to eat – just look 😄).

When has a country surprised you by being more than you expected? ...

What’s more fun than the vibrant chaos of walking up rainbow-coloured steps, surrounded by a giant golden statue and lively monkeys?

Well, that would be learning to make Ang Ku Kuih, a traditional South-east Asian pastry shaped like a tortoise shell, symbolising luck and longevity.🐢

On Day 3, our Patchies explored the Batu Caves and their Hindu shrines, then climbed the rainbow staircase for breathtaking views, experiencing Malaysia’s colourful blend of cultures firsthand.

This melding of Indian and Chinese influences truly shines in Malaysian dishes found at local stalls - a culinary adventure we’ll dive into in our next post!

Would you like a recipe for Nyonya Palm Sugar Layer Cake? Let us know in the comments, and we might share it.😉 ...

Here’s a sneak peek of Patchie energy in action!

Our Patchies have just started their Malaysian adventure and day 2 took them from a 500-year-old fortress with killer views down to the streets for chendol and the best rice balls they've ever had.

Then they navigated their way into Kampung Morten, a traditional Malay village tucked between high-rises, where they made onde-onde with a local and drifted down the river as the city went by.

Something also happened on this day, but we’ll share that tomorrow – turns out, we can keep a few secrets. 😉

Two days in, ten more to go. Stay tuned! ...

Something happened at our Queensland coffee catch-up that I keep thinking about. ☕

Hi, Farrah here, and I had such a lovely morning with asmall group of Patchies who gathered for a little bit of chit-chat. Within the first few minutes, two of them recognised each other from a 2024 trip. I loved seeing them reminiscing about their trips while our two brand-new Patchies soaked it all in.

My favourite moment was seeing how past Patchies gave confidence to those two ladies who hadn't travelled with us yet. Turns out, the upcoming trip will be their first time travelling solo – without their husbands – for both of them.

By the time coffee was done, they both felt so much more comfortable and confident about it after chatting with those who had gone before them. I simply adore our Patchies!

P.S. Don’t you just love the sound of laughter that was happening?🥰 ...