MYSTERY TRIP

GUIDED SKI & SPLITBOARD EXPEDITION

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The concept is simple. We plan a mega shredventure; you don’t know a thing about where you’re going or what we’ve got in store for you until you get there. If you don’t like surprises, this is probably not the trip for you. If you do, get ready for the granddaddy of all surprises and a trip that will make you reconsider your typical approach to travel planning. Just ask our inaugural Mystery Trip clients who, in February 2020, met up in Geneva, Switzerland and were treated to a week-long stay at a private refuge above La Grave, France—staffed and catered, with beer and wine flown in by heli in the fall—with local legends Ptor Spricenieks and Joe Vallone as their guides. Or our 2022 Mystery Trip clients (half of whom were repeats from 2020), who landed in Istanbul and were handed tickets for an onward flight to Georgia, where they joined us in exploring a new zone while living in one of the most luxurious basecamps we’ve ever experienced. 2023 was no exception when it comes to surprises: The crew gathered in London and shortly thereafter found themselves boarding a flight to France. By the end of the day they were in Val d’Aran sitting down to a dinner of steak and wine while learning about a planned hut trip in Spain’s most beautiful national park. In late March 2024 the meeting point was Oslo, Norway, with a final destination north of the Arctic Circle where we skied late season powder and were awed by the northern lights on the Lofoten archipelago. Most recently, in 2025, the meet up location was again Istanbul—the crossroads of the world—but this time, instead of Turkey being just a waypoint, it was the final destination. Following a night in the city, everyone boarded a surprise domestic flight the next morning, and after a 5-hour drive into the far northeastern corner of the country, the crew landed in a tiny village at the literal end of the road, surrounded by the Kaçkar Mountains.

Our Mystery Trips are intended to happen only once…except for those that end up being so rad that they earn a spot on our list of regular offerings. Thus far all but one mystery destination has been added to the full-time lineup (Ptor’s Backyard, Racha, Lofoten, Turkey), and something tells us what we have planned for 2026 will be no exception.

AVAILABILITY & REQUIREMENTS

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AVAILABILITY

Max 6

EXPERIENCE

Participants must be advanced to expert level skiers or snowboarders, with at least 1 year touring experience. Participation does not require formal avalanche safety certification.

GEAR

Pow skis (at least 110mm underfoot recommended) are required for skiers, and splitboards are required for snowboarders. All participants must provide personal touring gear and avalanche safety tools (transceiver, probe, shovel). We will distribute a mandatory gear list closer to the expedition start date.

PHYSICAL FITNESS

Participants must be in excellent physical condition, and comfortable touring for long distances carrying their own backcountry packs.

VISAS

Available as a visa on arrival for many nationalities. We recommend contacting us first to check your eligibility.

2026 DATES

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JANUARY 2-10*

6 DAYS RIDING/9 DAYS TOTAL

*Or might we recommend NYE in Istanbul? If you can swing it, we propose arriving on December 31 to ring in the New Year and kick the trip off in style, in one of our favorite cities in the world!

MEETING POINT

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ISTANBUL, TURKEY

DETAILS

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We communicate where you need to be and when (above—NOT your final destination), what you need to pack, but not much more than that. If we disclosed the finer details, it wouldn’t be a mystery!

GUIDES

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Our 2026 Mystery Trip will be lead by AMGA Ski Guide Erin Laine. 40 Tribes’ Director, Chief Operating Photographer and Magical Mystery Designer, Ryan Koupal, will tail guide. Meet our guides.

BOOKINGS

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USD $4,785/PERSON

6 DAYS RIDING/9 DAYS TOTAL

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ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE REQUIREMENTS

Participants will need to arrive in Istanbul (airport code IST) on or before January 2. If you can swing it, we propose arriving on December 31 to ring in the New Year and kick the trip off in style, in one of our favorite cities in the world! If arriving IST on January 2, we will provide a specific arrival time frame giving you enough time to collect your bags, meet the crew, and check in for your flight to the surprise destination. On the tail end, we will likely not arrive back to IST until late on January 10, which means that—depending on available flight times to your home destination—you may need to overnight and depart on January 11. If arriving early and/or staying after, accommodation in Istanbul as well as airport transfers will need to be arranged on your own. We are more than happy to share contact information for our favorite hotel in the city, or there is a hotel at the airport if that would make more sense for your travel plans.

PRICE INCLUDES

40 Tribes Lead and Tail guides; Round trip flights between IST and our destination, including baggage fees; Transportation and 7 nights lodging once we have reached our destination; All meals and snacks during your stay; Daily sauna/bathhouse access; Snowmobile support for distant ski objectives; 6 days of epic guided skiing/splitboarding!

PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE

Airfare to/from IST and associated baggage fees; Accommodation and airport transfers in Istanbul, if required; Meals before arriving and after departing the destination (i.e. in Istanbul and during transit); Alcohol; Medical/evacuation insurance; Tips for guides.

BOOKING POLICY

A 20% deposit is required to secure your spot, with the remainder due 4 months prior to the expedition start date. Our cancellation/refund policies can be found here.