DOLOMITES
Arriving in the Dolomites is like landing on the moon – an otherworldly sculptural landscape with sheer limestone cliffs, magnificent eroded pinnacles and their adjacent couloirs, bucolic meadows filled with grazing cows, wildflowers and fairytale chalets. Not to mention the warm welcome of the Südtirol people, the delicious cuisine (a mix of the alpine Südtirol and true Italian Veneto), the local wine, and a myriad of 5* hotels, family-run inns, and incredible mountain refugios. This is true heaven for travelers seeking civilized adventure!
Named a UNESCO world heritage site in 2009 for its diversity of spectacular landscapes and geological formations, the Dolomiti and its region of Trentino – Alto Adige – Südtirol is just as diverse in its local culture. Prior to 1919, most of the Dolomites belonged to the Austrian-Hungarian Habsburg empire. Following WW1, this region was annexed by Italy but the Fascist government forbid the Austrian culture & German language; it wasn’t until post WW2 that the Südtirol was granted autonomy and allowed to practice and celebrate their varied and unique cultures. The southern Dolomites located in the Veneto Province are true Italian, the language, Mediterranean influenced cuisine, high-fashion residents and cosmopolitan villages like Cortina. But head just one valley north towards Tre Cime or Alta Badia, and you are struck with a vastly different culture as if you had crossed an international border. Lederhosen and dumplings are just the beginning, small alpine producers craft artisan cheeses and speck smoked over a wood fire, Schüttelbrot flat-bread, apfelstrudel, beer and renowned wines from the Alto Adige. The local German dialect varies greatly, and is sometimes all but lost amongst the native Ladin language.
But the reason most of us travel the Dolomites is the incredible hiking, biking and skiing for all levels and abilities. In the summer months, the hiking trails are endless – from easy alpine loops accessible by cable car, to week long hut-to-hut trekking tours, and for the more adventurous the alpine climbing & via ferrata selection is some of the best in the world. In winter, the Dolomiti Superski resort is one of the largest in the world, composed of 450 lifts and 1,200 kilometers of pistes, not to mention the incredible opportunities for off-piste skiing in the seemingly endless valleys and couloirs through eroded limestone.
- Mountain lunches – rustic gourmet cuisine along every trail - winter & summer!
- Rosa Alpina Hotel & Spa, family-run luxury mountain retreat
- Gourmet Ski Safari – haute cuisine at 2,000m skiing rifugio to rifugio
- Freeriding in the Val Mezdi, one of the Dolomiti classics with more than 1400m drop
- Mountain biking tour of the Dolomites on the vast network of gravel paths from WW1
- “Traces of the Great War”: Explore caves, trenches and war ruins on the Marmolada
- Discover the acclaimed wines of the Alto Adige
- Multiday hiking itineraries resting comfortably at cozy mountain refugios
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Experience options: Dolomites
WHAT WE DO
Epic Europe is a luxury experiential adventure travel operator based in the Swiss Alps.
Epic Europe specializes in private bespoke itineraries for small groups. Experiencing the best of each region, from interacting with the local people and enjoying authentic regional food and wine, as well as time-honored traditions and festivals, to recreating in the alpine landscape, and truly understanding why the Alps are the birthplace of adventure travel. From custom ski, hiking, or cycling trips to building in city tours, cultural itineraries, or gastronomic discovery, these award-winning, multi-dimensional trips are tailored to our clients' wishes every time, and are not packaged tours. From Switzerland, Italy, and France's Alps, to world-class cultural cities and larger towns, Epic Europe can design a tailored adventure that fulfills your every need.
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"Our family spent last Christmas in Zermatt on a bespoke Epic Europe ski trip. The special thought and care that they put into our holiday made it our best yet." - L.M.; CA USA
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"A day of heliskiing in Italy culminated with a sunset run off the Breuil saddle of the Matterhorn - one of the most thrilling runs of my life - and we left our tracks in a place where they remained for a week afterward, reminding us of the best day of skiing in our life!" - WG, CT USA
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"Epic Europe has coordinated several corporate events for us over the past 5 years, and I cannot imagine a more professional operation to handle all of the details. From a team-building event for 50 people in a 17th-century castle atop a mountain pass, to marketing conferences and catalog shoots, their knowledge of the best locations in the Alps is second-to-none, and they are as good as it gets at being creative." - E.P., Lugano CH
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"I would have to say that Verbier and Zermatt might be the best places I have ever ridden a mountain bike, and I couldn't imagine going without the help of Epic Europe's guides. It was a dream trip for sure." - B.S., PA USA
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"Epic Europe's custom road biking trip that they put together for my buddy's bachelor party was great - the right combination of killer rides, great hotels, and outstanding restaurants. Great guides, and overall a perfect trip." - A.S., London UK
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"I have done trips in the Alps and surrounding regions with Epic Europe for the past 4 years, and every one has been unique and surpassed the last. The experiences that they deliver due to their personal relationships are a window into the real life in these incredible locations, and they share these friendships with us." - K.B., CT USA
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"Hiking in the Alps has always been on my bucket list, but I wasn't sure that a typical trip was my style. Epic Europe designed a custom route for our group, staying in the best little inns and hotels, and we felt like we had the trails to ourselves. I will come back again and again to explore new trails with their guides every year that I can!" - R.B., NY USA
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“The team at Epic Europe created the most incredible trip for us, where everything came together seamlessly, and we never had to think about what came next - it just magically happened as if it was meant to be. That takes real talent, and they make it look easy." - B.N., WY USA
PROCESS
Would you like more information, or to have us create a tailored trip for you? We would be glad to begin the design process for your ultimate experience in the Alps.
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