Ruling on going on a mixed gender trip with friends
As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh
I’m a 23M looking for guidance regarding an upcoming 10-day out-of-state trip organized by my college. A few months ago, I went on a similar trip and unfortunately experienced how difficult it was to avoid constant, daily interaction with the opposite gender. Now, another trip is coming up, and while all my close friends are going, the setup has both male and female students (Muslim and non-Muslim) sharing the exact same transport, meals, and daily activities throughout the 10 days, with the only segregation being separate sleeping rooms. I genuinely have no issue staying behind if it means protecting my deen and akhirah from fitnah, so I want to ask: what is the ruling on attending a trip with this level of ikhtilat, and is it obligatory to excuse myself?
Edit: I forgot to mention that the trip location would also be in a land of disbelievers. I’m currently Alhamdulliah in Muslim state. Maybe that also matters ?? Idk