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. Most recently, in 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.

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 each mystery destination has been added to the full-time lineup (Ptor’s Backyard, Racha, Spanish Pyrenees, Lofoten), and something tells us what we have planned for 2025 will be no exception.

AVAILABILITY & REQUIREMENTS

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AVAILABILITY

Max 6 - 3 SPOTS LEFT

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

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 if required.

2025 DATES

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MARCH 2-10

6 DAYS RIDING/9 DAYS TOTAL*

*Departing March 11 may be required. See below for additional information.

MEETING POINT

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ISTANBUL, TURKEY (IST)

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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The guide team for our 2025 Mystery Trip will be kept secret so as not to spoil the mystery. 40 Tribes’ Director, Chief Operating Photographer and Magical Mystery Designer, Ryan Koupal, will join. Meet our guides.

BOOKINGS

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USD $3,600/PERSON

6 DAYS RIDING/9 DAYS TOTAL*

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ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE REQUIREMENTS

Participants will need to arrive at the Istanbul Airport (IST) on March 2 and depart on March 10* (specific arrival and departure time frames TBA). *NOTE that we likely won’t be returning to IST until later in the day on March 10, which, depending on available flight times to your home destination, may require that you overnight and depart on March 11. If necessary, accommodation in Istanbul for the night of the 10th as well as airport transfers will need to be arranged on your own.

PRICE INCLUDES

40 Tribes Lead and Tail guides; 1 night hotel lodging in Istanbul (March 2); Transfer from IST to the hotel on March 2 (if arriving within the specified arrival window); Transfer from the hotel to IST on March 3; Round trip flights between IST and our destination, including baggage fees; Private transportation and 7 nights lodging once we have reached our destination; All breakfasts and dinners; 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 on March 10/11, if necessary; Touring snacks/lunches; Alcohol; Meals before arriving and after departing the destination (i.e. in Istanbul and during transit); 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.