OFF-PISTE SKIING OVERVIEW
The Best Powder Runs of Your Life
Guided backcountry, or "off-piste" skiing in the Alps means big adventure runs, long descents through glacial terrain, and mind-blowing scenery.
With ski resorts that dwarf those of North America or the rest of the world, the Alps have the most off-piste and backcountry skiing access in the world. Massive inter-connected lift systems link ski areas, even across international borders. The biggest difference between the off-piste skiing in the Alps and the rest of the world, is the concept of “marked” and “unmarked” slopes. Basically, if a run is groomed, or a “piste”, it is a controlled slope. Everything else is considered “off-piste” where potential hazards are unmarked.
To understand, and safely navigate these huge backcountry regions, we always recommend skiing with a UIAGM Mountain Guide or off-piste certified ski instructor. Their ability to deal with changing weather and snow conditions, as well as knowing the vast geography like the back of their hand, is imperative when you’re dealing with the magnitude of the terrain we have here in the Alps, where a wrong turn could wind you up far from home, or worse.
But while recent developments in ski technology and safety equipment have opened the backcountry to a wide new demographic, enabling more people to enjoy the feeling of solitude and the expanses of untracked, by no means is it any more secure or tamed – which is why we always recommend skiing with a guide. That said, our hand-picked team of UIAGM/IFMGA mountain guides can deliver the best day of skiing you’ve ever had, far from the crowds, in pristine backcountry powder. Drop off the backside of a lift-accessed peak for a 2-hour descent, where the only tracks you’ll see are your own. Wind up in a remote valley or village with a solitary restaurant, and after lunch, catch a taxi or a train back to the resort you started from. The European backcountry experience is like nowhere else in the world, and once you taste the freedom, you’ll never want to do anything but this again.
CONTACT US to start planning your custom Off-Piste Skiing itinerary this winter.
Highlights
- The Alps are the historic home of off-piste, backcountry ski exploration and adventure
- Glacial powder runs, lift-accessed ski-touring, and legendary steeps
- Drop into an adjacent valley for the longest descent of your life, finishing in a remote village with a great restaurant, and a train or taxi ride back home
- All of our clients receive Mammut Pulse transceivers and airbag backpacks, the best safety equipment in the world
- Air-Glaciers emergency helicopter rescue insurance complimentary on all trips
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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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“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
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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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"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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"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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"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
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.
Please get in touch using the form below. Fields marked with a * are required.