EpicQuest European Ski Adventures

European Ski Adventures (See Also: European Bike Adventures)

THE INSIDE LINE
A pilgrimage to the Alps is an adventure that every skier owes them self. Unequalled alpine history in mega resorts that offer hundreds of lifts and access glacial terrain just steps from the tram dock. Heli runs that take two hours to descend will charge every fiber of your being. And at the end of the day, you will wonder why you’ve never done it like this before as you lunch in a 100-year-old mountain hut that serves up traditional rustic cuisine, authentic European culture, and a hint of luxury in every detail we’ve thought to include in these life-changing adventure vacations.

And that’s just the beginning. What sets these European adventures apart are the properties we handpick for their commitment to the epic way of living and the extra cultural diversions that add a few more centuries to your itinerary—a private viewing at world-famous art museums, vip tickets to a World Cup ski race with a past Olympian as your guide, or a night (spent) on the roof of europe at the 1,000-year-old Saint Bernard Monastery that has hosted centuries’ of lost travelers rescued by the famous dogs.

DATES OF OPERATION
January - May

GETTING THERE
Fly into Geneva’s Cointrin International Airport, where we’ll pick you up for the short drive to nearby ski resorts in France, Italy or Switzerland. Itineraries typically leave the U.S. on Friday, departing Europe the following Sunday. For custom adventures, we’ll fly into Zurich or Milan to ensure the shortest transfer to your destination.

ALPINE SKI PACKAGES

CHAMONIX, FRANCE AND COURMAYEUR, ITALY
Chamonix and Courmayeur, on opposite sides of Mont Blanc, represent the birthplace of alpinism and the epicenter of mountaineering history. A ski trip to these mountain valleys is a necessary pilgrimage for any serious skier. With runs like the Vallée Blanche, the Pas de Chevre, and the Col du Plan, as well as riding the Aiguille du Midi tram, it’s no wonder that this is the most hyped location in the Alps, and this trip always lives up to the hype.

The Courmayeur side isn’t as busy as Chamonix, and consistent with the Italian culture, la dolce vita—the sweet life—prevails. But the skiing is just as fantastic and the food alone is worth the trip. With the option of ski touring from some of Mont Blanc’s satellite areas, a shot at ticking off a classic mountaineering route, and even heli-skiing in Valgrisenche, a trip to Chamonix and Courmayeur is an adventure that every skier must live at least once.

ZERMATT, SWITZERLAND
To arrive in the car-free village of Zermatt at the foot of the Matterhorn is to be taken back 150 years to the golden age of mountaineering, grand hotels and adventure. Europe’s most modern and impressive lift system delivers
life-changing glacier runs, the best on-slope dining in the world, and a heli pickup is always a phone call away. Long runs into Cervinia, Italy, for lunch or a heli drop on Monte Rosa, Zermatt’s off-piste skiing is among the least known—just one more reason we also think it’s the best—in the Alps.

The classic hotels of Zermatt are the paramours of living large in the Alps, though the newer design hotels are just as respected and innovative. Dining, culture, history and nightlife make a Zermatt adventure the cornerstone of our Epic Europe winter trips.

VERBIER, SWITZERLAND
One of the newer resorts in the Alps, Verbier, built in 1956, has achieved a solid reputation as the ultimate freeride destination, combining the best of all aspects of the sport with no set course, goals or rules to abide by—the Epic way of living. With Switzerland’s best lift-accessed steeps, incredible touring options, and classic heli descents, untracked powder is never far away. The surrounding “little areas that rock” typically deliver ultimate powder days and an almost private resort atmosphere makes you feel like you own the place. High-end accommodations, whether in private chalets or hip hotels, make for a perfect blend of luxury and adventure. Fondue dinner in a mountain restaurant precedes a moonlight luge ride back to the village and the Verbier legendary nightlife always adds just one more element of adventure to the trip.

With a mix of resort, touring, and heli-skiing, a week in Verbier barely scratches the surface of the western Swiss Alps. This is a trip that you’ll want to repeat to cover all the ground you missed the first time.

LIMITED-EDITION AND CUSTOM ADVENTURES
WORLD CUP TRIPS (SWITZERLAND AND AUSTRIA)
With Olympic gold medalist Tommy Moe and World Cup veteran Jeremy Nobis both in the Epic stable, it would be foolish not to take advantage of a hosted World Cup trip in Wengen, Switzerland or Kitzbühel, Austria. Join them for a week of powder before arriving as VIPs at the world’s biggest downhills, and discover why the White Circus is still the most exciting spectator sport in the world.

HELI HAUTE ROUTE (ITALY, FRANCE AND SWITZERLAND)
While the Haute Route has been on every adventurer’s life list for more than a century, this famed route from Chamonix to Zermatt remains a serious endeavor even today. EpicQuest has bridged the gap, allowing the discerning skier to have their powder and eat it too. Combining heli-skiing with the classic Haute Route itinerary, guests spend a week moving from Courmayeur, Italy, to Chamonix, France, to Verbier and then Zermatt, Switzerland. At each stop, you will be pleased to stretch out at the finest five-star hotels in the ski world, while making the most classic descents with a minimal amount of effort.

GLACIER EXPRESS TRAIN TRIP (SWITZERLAND)
The first-class Glacier Express train runs from the foot of the Matterhorn in Zermatt to the playgrounds of European royalty. We use this deluxe train to work our way through top terrain in the Alps before exploring gems like Andermatt, Oberalp and eventually the famous end points of Davos and St. Moritz. Ski for a day or two at each resort, then jump on board for a 2-hour ride to your next Epic station stop.

MONTE ROSA, ITALY
Alagna and Gressoney represent the best of everything about skiing the Alps. Quaint stone villages, huge trams, incredible food and wine, and unbelievable skiing—why haven’t you made this trip before? Throw in our favorite guides and hotels and a heli that picks you up at your mountain hotel, and it’s a wonder that more people haven’t discovered this corner of the Alps.

DOLOMITI, ITALY
With 464 lifts spread over two dozen resorts inter-connected with one lift pass, the Dolomiti Superski is the largest system in the world. The Dolomites are mostly limestone, making for the greatest couloir and canale skiing anywhere. Explore the massive potential of the Dolomiti, from Arabba to Marmolada, Cortina to Colfosco and Corvara. Dropping into cave systems left over from WWI, we pop out on secret runs to Rifugios with the freshest pasta and and best wine you’ll ever taste. Two hours from Venice, we can arrange a private viewing at The Peggy Guggenheim Museum and a night in Venice. If you like couloirs, Italian food, and excitement, the Dolomiti adventure is made for you.

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