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Not all group trips are created equal. Here’s how PeakHouse stacks up against the alternatives:

What PeakHouse Guests Say

“You can put 14 strangers in a house and their love of skiing will connect them instantly. This was the best ski trip of my life and I can’t wait to do it again.”
— Grant, Ski Colorado 2025

“This trip kept me motivated to keep training in the mountains after ski season and it was amazing to find a group that enjoys more active vacations. It was a great value for a trip and the memories are going to last a lifetime.”
— Sharon, Hike Banff 2025

“While I had high hopes for the skiing going into each trip, I wasn’t sure what to expect from a people/vibes standpoint. It turned out to be an amazing mix of people who all bonded quickly over a shared passion for skiing/snowboarding. I also appreciated that everyone came from different parts of the country (or different countries!), as well as different backgrounds and life experiences. The end of each trip was quite bittersweet knowing we had all enjoyed some incredible on-mountain experiences, but that our time together was coming to an end. Thankful to have made several friends through the trips with whom I’ve since stayed in touch with and skiied with later in the season!”
— Brian, Ski Italy 2025

“I cannot express how happy I am to have come across these opportunities and to have taken a chance on on attending. These experiences have been a much welcomed change from the norm to discover new worlds, and even better, to go through the same experience with people who have appreciated the moment just as much. After every trip I have personally had much to reflect on: the world we live in, the snowboard and ski community, interactions with people with different life experience and from different generations, and not least of all, myself. I believe that the lessons learned here would never have been attained if not for walking off the beaten path to visit at PeakHouse.”
— Oscar, Ski Chile 2024

Why This Matters

Most traditional group trips offer awesome experiences overall, but they are built to make logistics easier for the company running them. PeakHouse trips are built to make the experience better for you. That means smaller groups, smarter routes, better meals, and a vibe that feels closer to a friend group than a packaged tour.

We don’t believe in commercial shortcuts. We believe in shared breakfasts, trail snacks in the car, deeper conversations, spontaneous detours, and coming home feeling like you just made 10 new ski or hike friends for life.

✅ Still deciding? Ask yourself:

• Do I want to follow a group or be part of one?

• Would I rather sit on a bus or ride up with new friends?

• Do I want an itinerary that works on paper, or one that actually works on the mountain?

See upcoming trips 👇

ALL PEAKHOUSE 2025-26 TRIPS

There are a lot of skiing and hiking trips out there. Some are packaged tours with cookie-cutter itineraries. Others leave you on your own to figure out the logistics. 

PeakHouse exists to solve a different problem: how do you give people unforgettable, seamless group travel experiences they couldn’t pull off on their own? Without any compromises for the sake of commercialization?

Here’s what sets PeakHouse apart.

1. Fast-Paced, Expertly-Planned Itineraries

PeakHouse trips are built to help you get the most out of every destination. The schedules are intentionally fast-paced so you can ski more terrain, explore more areas, and experience the highlights that most people wouldn’t even know to look for.

Our team has been reviewing ski resorts for over six years and planning trips like this for college ski clubs and corporations for well over a decade. We know which lifts to hit first, where the snow holds up best, and how to avoid losing half the day to logistics. That knowledge shows up in every decision we make.

2. A Proven Track Record with Happy (and Returning) Guests

PeakHouse isn’t theory, it’s proven. Hundreds of travelers have already joined our ski and hiking trips, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. In fact, more than 25% of first-time guests have come back for return trips the following year. You can see several of our testimonials here.

Why? Because the trips deliver: high-quality experiences, real camaraderie, and a community that extends well beyond a single week in the mountains. There’s something to be said about bonding with others when you’re pushing each other to the limit. Most people leave PeakHouse trips not just better for where they’ve gone—but also for the people they’ve met and the ”mems” created together.

3. Options for Every Budget

We know everyone travels differently, so we plan PeakHouse trips at several levels:

• Regional weekend trips for quick, affordable getaways (i.e. skiing in Vermont or Washington State; hiking in New Hampshire)

• Destination week trips at some of North America’s most coveted locations (i.e. skiing in Whistler or Utah; hiking in Banff or Jackson Hole)

• International or exotic adventures for bucket-list experiences (i.e. hike-to/heli skiing in Southern Colorado; skiing in Austria, Japan, or Chile; hiking in Hawaii or Switzerland)

No matter your budget, there’s a way to join the community. And because we negotiate group rates on lodging, transportation, and activities, you often get more value than if you tried booking everything solo.

4. Vibe of a Friends Trip Without the Headaches

PeakHouse trips are designed to feel like a communal adventure with other like-minded travelers. But behind the scenes, we handle all the messy, time-consuming logistics that usually make group trips stressful.

We take care of:

• Coordinating carpools and rental cars

• Assigning rooms so everyone’s comfortable

• Buying a boatload of groceries so meals are always ready

• Planning seamless transitions between mountains, trails, and après spots

And unlike some group travel programs, we don’t cut corners with things that would make our lives easier but create a more corporate vibe.

You won’t be:

• Crammed onto commercial buses.

• Served pre-packaged, inauthentic meals.

• Denied the opportunity to take spontaneous detours from the official itinerary.

• Forced to do every itinerary item on the trip (they are all by invitation rather than mandatory).

We make the harder choices because they make for a more authentic, close-knit experience.

This is also a huge reason why our groups bond so quickly. Combined with our fast-paced itineraries, where you’re constantly skiing, hiking, eating, and relaxing together in different settings, you naturally get to know people in ways that just don’t happen on typical “turnkey” group trips.

5. Deep Industry Knowledge = Smoother Trips

For over six years, we’ve been reviewing ski resorts and outdoor destinations across North America and beyond, and we’ve now been to over 150 ski resorts and hiking destinations around the world. That means we’ve seen it all: weather issues, last-minute lift closures, lost baggage, transit delays—you name it.

We design every PeakHouse itinerary with that knowledge baked in, so we can anticipate potential hiccups and have backup plans ready. You benefit from years of experience without having to worry about the details yourself.

Final Thoughts

PeakHouse is the skiing or hiking trip you’ve always dreamed of going on. But now it’s actually a reality without the anxieties of the logistics that come with planning something like this on your own, the commercialization brought by more established players, or the lack of community that comes from traveling somewhere far away solo.

If you want to optimize your time on the trails, meet chill people, and explore world-class destinations without the headaches, it’s probably safe to say you’ve come to the right place.

Ready to jump in? 👇

🏔️ SEE ALL PEAKHOUSE 2025-26 TRIPS 🏠

On Thursday, the Indy Pass announced a suite of access changes for the upcoming season, as well as a reopening of pass sales over the next few days.

In total, 43 new resorts have been added to the Indy Pass, though that number has quite a few asterisks, as some resorts included are for nordic skiing, and some are actually multiple resorts. By our count, 38 downhill resorts have been added this year, with two of those providing access to multiple areas (though you still only have two days at those as a whole).

Mont Sutton and Owl’s Head have been added to the pass, and Burke has been upgraded from an allied partner to a full partner, further cementing its place as one of the most extensive pass products in Northern New England.

The Indy Pass is adding resorts of all sizes across the world, from the 170 ft vertical of Hyland Hills in Minnesota, to the over 500 km of trails and 150 ski lifts of Portes du Soleil on the French-Swiss border.

The complete list of downhill ski areas added to the pass is:

• United States – 12

  • Burke Mountain Resort – Vermont

  • Buffalo Ski Club – New York

  • Cuchara Mountain Resort – Colorado

  • Dry Hill Ski Area – New York

  • Hilltop Ski Area – Alaska

  • Hyland Hills Ski Area – Minnesota

  • Little Ski Hill – Idaho

  • McIntyre Ski Area – New Hampshire

  • Mt. Eyak – Alaska

  • Mt. LaCrosse – Wisconsin

  • Sunburst Ski and Snowboard – Wisconsin

  • Tenney Mountain – New Hampshire

• Canada – 10

  • Centre Vorlage – Quebec

  • Hockley Valley Resort – Ontario

  • Marble Mountain – Newfoundland

  • Mont Sutton- Quebec

  • Mont Edouard – Quebec

  • Owl’s Head – Quebec

  • Ski Mont Habitant- Quebec

  • Smokey Mountain – Labrador

  • Ski Valle Bleue – Quebec

  • Val D’Irene – Quebec

• Europe – 13

  • Glenshee Ski Centre – Scotland

  • Hochzeiger Pitztal – Austria

  • Krvavec Ski Resort – Slovenia

  • Leukerbad Torrent Ski Resort – Switzerland

  • Norefjell Ski and Spa – Norway

  • OK Bergbahnen – Germany (7 mountains

  • Palandoken Ski Resort – Turkey

  • Pila – Italy

  • Pitztaler Gletscherbahn – Austria

  • Portes du Soleil – France and Switzerland (12 mountains)

  • Rauriser-Hochalmbahnen – Austria

  • Riksgränsen and Björkliden – Sweden (2 mountains)

  • Steinplatte Tyrol – Austria

• Asia and South America – 3

  • Corralco – Chile

  • Canmore Ski Village – Japan

  • Kurohime Kogen – Japan

In addition, those who have not bought an Indy Pass yet will have their chance to do so now. A limited number of passes are on sale, but they will likely sell out quickly.

Indy Pass 101

The Indy Pass is a budget alternative to the better-known Epic and Ikon season pass products. Unlike its more expensive counterparts, Indy only offers two days at each full partner resort. However, the list of partners is lengthy, with at least 170 independent downhill ski resorts across the East Coast, Midwest, Rockies, West Coast, Japan, and Europe. Indy also features a handful of “Allied” ski resorts; access to these mountains is not fully included on its passes, but is significantly discounted.

The full press release can be found here: https://www.indyskipass.com/this-is-indy/news/2526-indy-passes-back-on-sale-after-adding-43-new-resorts-across-10-states-and-14-countries

Our Take

East Coast Additions

While the Indy Pass only allows for two days at each partner, its density of resorts in the east has made it a strong competitor to the Epic and Ikon passes. While the resorts aren’t generally up to par with top-tier resorts like Killington, Tremblant, or Stowe, heavy hitters such as Jay Peak, Cannon, Saddleback, Waterville Valley, Bolton Valley, and Magic Mountain have made it a desirable buy for those looking to chase storms across New England.

The new additions this year are not the strongest overall in the Northeast, but each have some upsides. Mont Sutton adds another snowy area akin to Jay Peak just across the border, and nearby Owl’s Head has incredible lake views as well as modern lifts. Both of these are on the smaller size and have some dated infrastructure however, so those looking for the best mountain experience within driving distance of Boston may want to look elsewhere. Other local resorts such as Tenney and McIntyre in New Hampshire and Dry Hill and Buffalo Ski Club in New York make the Indy Pass a strong competitor for those who love to Ski the East but don’t mind smaller and less-built-up mountains.

West and Midwest Additions

In contrast to the Eastern additions, there isn’t much to say for the other North American resorts added. The Midwestern additions are all quite small, though they do provide easy day trips for those in the Twin Cities or Wisconsin. The Western additions are similar, either being incredibly small or incredibly remote, or both.

International Additions

Perhaps the most compelling addition to the Indy Pass is actually found across the pond. Portes du Soleil is the second largest ski domain in the world (after Les Trois Vallees), and the largest on a US-based megapass. Indy also added a few other heavy hitters in Europe, including Italy’s Pila, Norway’s Norefjell, Sweden’s Riksgränsen, Switzerland’s Leukerbad, and Austria’s Pitztal Gletscher.

For more information on the Indy Pass, check out our breakdown of Indy vs. Epic, Ikon, and Mountain Collective in video form below.

Earlier today, Vail Resorts unveiled a new benefit for the 2025-26 ski season called Epic Friend Tickets. These tickets provide a set discount of 50% off window rate lift tickets for companions of Epic Pass holders across all 37 North American resorts in the company’s portfolio, including major destinations like Vail, Whistler Blackcomb, and Park City, as well as regional and local areas such as Stowe, Heavenly, and Hunter. Most season pass products are covered by this benefit, but Epic Day Pass holders are excluded.

The new Epic Friend Ticket system adds a new benefit not previously seen in similar products offered by Vail in the past: friends who buy an Epic Friend Ticket can apply the entire cost of that ticket toward purchasing a 2026-27 Epic Pass. As a result, those who buy a pass for the season following this one can effectively ski or ride for free for the day(s) they use a Friend Ticket.

Entitlements vary based on purchase date: pass holders who bought before April 14, 2025, receive 10 Epic Friend Tickets, while later purchasers get 6 tickets. This initiative replaces the older “Buddy” Tickets, which offered less consistent value. The lesser-value “Ski With a Friend” tickets carry over for those who purchased a pass before May 27 this year.

All 2025-26 Epic Pass products are on sale now on the Epic website. Prices rise on September 1.

Our Take

Window lift ticket prices at most Vail-owned mountains have reached levels that many skiers find absurd, so halving that cost for friends of Epic Pass holders is a welcome change. While even at half price a day ticket will still be expensive, this move makes it far more attainable for people who might not commit to a full season pass, and it’s an especially good deal if you end up buying a pass for the following year using the ticket credit.

This all being said, it’s hard not to see this as a strategic response to the slump in Epic Pass sales over the past year. While this strategy seems like it could be effective to win back new or lapsed customers on paper, the marketing alone won’t be enough; Vail Resorts will need to pair this initiative with visible improvements in capital investment, maintenance, and overall guest experience if they want these visitors to return year after year. If this discount is supported by tangible enhancements on the mountain, it could be a genuine turning point. Without that follow-through, it risks being just another short-term promotion.

Considering the Epic Pass? Check out our detailed comparison against competing Ikon, Mountain Collective, and Indy offerings. You can also check this comparison out in video form below.