Destination unknown: surprise a friend or yourself with a mystery trip

When Kiran Yadav got into an argument with her husband Prem, things escalated quickly – and ended with an ultimatum. “Fine – pack your bags and leave,” said Prem, laying a set of suitcases at her feet. The luggage was brand new. “Pack your bags. We’re going to Istanbul.”

Just hours later, they’d embarked on the trip of a lifetime for Kiran’s 50th birthday, an all-out luxe escape to Istanbul. From a speedboat transfer to beat Turkish traffic, to flying their daughter Natasha from the UK to surprise her mother at the Four Seasons, Prem raised the bar for grand gestures.

Prem, a former Hong Kong restaurateur, is known in their family for being the ultimate surprise trip planner. He’s not alone: mystery trips are catching on around the world, with people increasingly planning trips for others – or choosing to be surprised themselves.

Food entrepreneur Simran Savlani is one of them: she planned a trip to Bhutan for her mother’s 60th birthday, and Chengdu for her sister’s 25th. “I love planning surprise trips. It’s fun thinking about what the person would enjoy and how not only to surprise them but also plan a whole itinerary based on their interests,” Savlani says.

Others turn to travel operators, like Black Tomato, to help pull off milestone moments. “We’ve witnessed a surge in ‘hush’ trips, where only one partner or person in the group knows the details,” says Tom Marchant, Black Tomato co-founder.

When asked to plan a family trip to Asia, Black Tomato delivered a 10-night expedition to Japan for the ultimate ninja training programme. “The family was blown away; they’re eager for us to plan another surprise trip,” says Marchant.

A surprise trip is one you can share: the Yadavs’ Istanbul trip is a precious memory for the family – especially after Kiran’s recent passing. “It’s something I look back at fondly: making someone’s day by going to the nth degree to show them how much they matter,” says their daughter Natasha. “It’s one of our favourite memories together. “It really is an act of love.”