Discover the best of Marfa and Big Bend with someone who knows how to tackle this famously vast, breathtakingly rugged region that we call the Most Remote International Art Center in the World. 

It’s hard to think of an area of the world that combines two such diametrically opposed qualities: expansive, desolate beauty together with high sophistication brought by New York City artist Donald Judd and his compatriots. It's that fascinating frisson between nature and culture that we'll be exploring. 

Read all about our previous trip to Marfa and Big Bend here. 

NextTribe co-founder Jeannie Ralston wrote about Far West Texas for Travel + Leisure in the early 90s and has returned many times since. 

Join our Zoom info session about the trip on Thursday, Aug. 24th. 

She knows the land and has connections to people and places you'd never get to know if you were going on your own. 

THIS IS THE LAST YEAR WE CAN OFFER THIS TRIP UNTIL 2026 BECAUSE THE CHISOS MOUNTAIN LODGE IN BIG BEND WILL BE DEMOLISHED AND RECONSTRUCTED STARTING IN FALL 2024. 

NOTE: NextTribe members receive a $100 discount on price. 

Far West Texas is a massive area encompasses the fierce and rugged Big Bend National Park as well as formerly dying ranch towns that are newly chic, such as Marfa, Alpine, Marathon, Fort Davis, and Terlingua. 

The driving force for the change the area has been experiencing is the growing notoriety of the Chinati Foundation, a contemporary art museum on 340 acres in Marfa, founded by New York artist Donald Judd. 

Using her knowledge of the area and connections, Ralston has put together an itinerary that is tight and smart, but with plenty of time for exploring towns and ogling the landscape.

As on any NextTribe trip, guests will have access they’d never get if they went on their own, including talks with artists and a visit to ancient petroglyphs that are not open to the public.

NextTribe offers a safe travel environment that through the energy and alchemy of adventurous women turns into a real community in a short amount of time.  

On every trip, you will be led by a friendly and fun woman of our own age, who has deep local knowledge and/or roots. She has proved to us that she is responsible, flexible, and truly cares about every traveler, nurturing new friendships and making sure no one feels left out. Other tour companies drop in a local guide who remains apart from the group. Our leader is the glue among the travelers--the person who ensures that this is more than a trip; it's a community of curious, like-minded women on the move.

We are known for group travel for women over 45 who don't normally like group travel. We keep our groups small and know that our guests are curious explorers who can take care of themselves. We allow them space to make the trip their own. You will not be in lockstep on a tight schedule behind a guide. You can roam on your own if you want (with a good GPS and an understanding of how to meet up with the group later) or you can take full advantage of the guide's knowledge of the city. 

We do expect our travelers to have a level of self-sufficiency, being able to carry their own bags if need be, and to be respectful of others in the group and open to new experiences and friendships. 

CONTACT

NextTribe, Inc.

10900 Research Blvd. #160-C

Austin, Texas 78759

Phone: 512-609-0340

YOUR DEPOSIT:

Your initial deposit in non-refundable and reserves your spot on a trip. Even though your deposit is non-refundable, it is transferrable to another trip provided you cancel at least 30 days prior to the start of the trip. You may apply your deposit toward any other trip through 2024. 

YOUR BALANCE:

Full payment for your retreat is due 60 days prior to the start of the trip. At 60 days prior to your trip, there are no refunds for any reason. If you must cancel within this 60-day period, you will need to contact your travel insurance company for reimbursement. 

IF YOU CANCEL:

Up until 60 days prior to your trip, you can receive a refund for all but the deposit, which, as stated above, can be transferred to another trip through 2024. 

At 60 days prior to retreat, there are no refunds or credits. Your room and tour has already been paid to our vendors. NextTribe cannot offer refunds for any reason (Covid, injury, illness, death, etc). For this reason, we highly recommend you to purchase travel insurance. 

To officially cancel, you must send an email to NextTribe stating that you wish to cancel to admin@NextTribe.com.

IF WE CANCEL:

If we are forced to postpone or cancel your trip due to a significant event that makes it infeasible to operate the trip as planned (including, but not limited to, natural disasters, manmade disasters, Covid, disease, travel restrictions, etc.) NextTribe will offer credit for another trip (with a $100 discount on the next trip) or refund all of your payments. California travelers please note that NextTribe's Seller of Travel license number is 2153726-70 and we do not participate in the California Travel Consumer Restitution Fund (TCRF). 

PLEASE DO NOT MAKE AIRLINE RESERVATIONS UNTIL THE NUMBER OF SIGN UPS REACH THE MINIMUM STATED ON THE TRIP POSTING.

CHANGES TO TRAVEL:

We will make every effort to operate all trips as advertised, however all itineraries are subject to change. We reserve the right to alter or make reasonable substitutions as deemed necessary. 

TRAVEL INSURANCE:

Travel insurance is recommended to be purchased within 21 days of booking your retreat.

We strongly encourage every traveler to purchase travel insurance within 21 days of booking your trip. Several people have had to cancel recent trips because of a death in the family, an injury or COVID, and once we enter the non-refundable stage of your booking, we can NOT refund your trip for any reason. 

NextTribe is working with a travel company to make buying insurance easier. Until then, we suggest you consult this article for your best options. 

Here's what Cathy Black, a legendary media publishing executive from New York City, said about our last Marfa-Big Bend trip:

"I always wanted to go to Marfa having read about its magic for many years. Great experiences, an amazing group of women from many walks of life, wonderful conversations, fun and laughter, good food and magnificent mountains. What else could you ask for?”