MTrek is an opportunity for incoming MBA1s to connect with their new classmates and
MBA2 leaders in an exciting domestic or global destination before the school year
officially starts! Led by 3-4 MBA2s, groups of 16 MBA1s will hit the road together for a
roughly week-long adventure trek. 2026 Trek locations range from Argentina and
Morocco to Spain and Brazil. Each trek will have pre-planned activities and free time for
the group to bond, have fun, and make amazing memories before classes start.
MTrek 2026 will occur from Friday, August 21 to Sunday, August 30.
Classes begin on Monday, August 31. You are expected to attend classes and will not be
excused from the first day if you choose to attend MTrek.
The MBA Program Office will run orientation from Friday, August 11, to Friday, August
21.
MTrek is available only for full-time MBA students at Ross. For incoming MBA1s, there
will be a sign-up period in late April/early May 2026 for R1/R2 admits and in late May
2026 for R3 admits. During this period, you can rank your top trek locations. Once your
preferences are in and your non-refundable deposit is paid, our team will assign you to a
trek based on your rankings. Please note we will not place anyone on a trek they did not
rank.
Each traveler is expected to pay for all individual costs associated with their trek (i.e., the
quoted package cost price, airfare, trip insurance, incidental purchases, etc.).
Quest is the external travel agency we work with to plan trek itineraries and logistics.
They set the quoted package cost for each trek, but your MBA2 trek leaders will work
hard to curate an amazing itinerary!
The quoted package cost of each trek will include:
● All activities mentioned in the formal itinerary
● Transportation to/from said activities
● A few meals
● Hotel accommodations
● A local tour guide
● 24/7 operations/emergency contact team
● Travel health insurance
The quoted package cost of each trek will NOT include:
● Flights to and from the destination
● International airport departure tax
● Any visas required
● Additional activities not mentioned in the itinerary
● Late check-out at hotels
● Meals and drinks not included in the itinerary
● Tips for guides and drivers
● Trip Insurance
● Other personal expenditures (e.g., optional activities)
All payments are made directly to Quest. Each traveler will be expected to pay a non-refundable $500 deposit. Deposit deadlines will be communicated based on class year and admission decision dates. While deposits are non-refundable, they are transferable between treks if any changes need to happen. The full package cost of each trek will be due by June 2026.
Each situation will be assessed individually. Reach out to the MTrek Board at [email protected].
Of course! Partners are welcome on all treks. Romantic partners only, no friends please, as these trips are reserved only for members of the Ross community.
Yes, travel insurance is strongly encouraged as unforeseen circumstances (flight delays, cancellations, etc.) happen all the time. The MTrek board will obtain travel health insurance for all Ross students (Partners are ineligible for this plan) participating in MTrek. More details on this plan will be shared once you are assigned to a trek.
Mystery Trek is a long, long, long, longstanding Ross/MTrek tradition. Each year a self-selecting group of MBA1s heads out to an unknown destination with their MBA2 trek leaders (don’t worry, they know where… maybe…). Airfare is bundled into the package cost of the trek to keep the location a true mystery. MBA2 trek leaders will provide a packing list and maybe a few hints along the way. Note that for 2026 Mystery Trek will not require any additional visa requirements – so both domestic and international students are encouraged and welcome to include in their rankings.