For anyone who participated in scouting in the 1980s–’90s, it will feel a bit like stepping back in time. Yet, in light of the major life changes witnessed in the last four decades, the initiative about to arrive in Italy for the first time carries a revolutionary edge.
The event tied to mountains and trekking—but designed for everyone, as the organizers promise—goes by the name Highlander Adventure, and, despite the name conjuring up daring exploits, it has nothing extreme about it. On the contrary, this is a chance to unwind. It lasts from one to three days (you can choose how long to stay) and offers a collective experience along hiking trails, dawn yoga sessions, music and storytelling around the campfire with astronomers (for those who stay to camp overnight), plus segments of mountain education and much more.
Registrants for the first Italian Highlander are more than half foreign, but there’s still a bit of time to reach the 200 spots available. “Half of the participants at the Italian event are international, and half are women,” explains Marco Zoppi, one of the organizers specializing in competitive sports events who has acquired the rights to Highlander Adventure for Italy, from whom we received an explanation of the project.
What Highlander Adventure Is
It is an international format, born in Croatia about ten years ago and in recent years has become a global phenomenon of the “outdoor lifestyle.” It is held in about twenty countries worldwide, from France to Croatia, from California to Costa Rica, from Australia to Nepal.
Calling it merely “trekking” would be incorrect, the organizers note. Highlander addresses one of the strongest needs of our time: disconnecting from the constant noise of urban life to return to physical, slow, shared experiences. Here there are no rankings, no stopwatches, and no performances to showcase.
“They invited me last year to try one,” recalls Zoppi, “and I came back so fired up that I said: I’m bringing this back home to Italy! I obtained the license, presented the project in a few locations, and Val di Sole gave me instant approval. They have a terrain highly suited to hiking, and this camping-in-a-group format is a novelty for everyone (even more so because camping in the Dolomites is prohibited, yet we secured permission to do it as a group). This is the zero edition. There will be mid-mountain guides, clothing experts, and more, and it will be an opportunity to carry out educational activities about mountains. The only use we ask for with phones is to use maps that are available offline; otherwise it’s a kind of detox bubble because everything we organize pushes people to stay away from smartphones.”
The format has captured a new generation of outdoor travelers who seek not only athletic activities but immersive, sustainable and authentic experiences. The guiding philosophy is simple: take only what you truly need and leave the mountain exactly as you found it. “In some countries you even have events with 800 participants,” says Zoppi.
What the Experience Consists Of
The journey begins with “Highlander,” a backpack on your shoulders, your own gear, and a paper map, as you attempt to go without a phone and step by step enter a community of people who share the same experience made of trails, silence, stories and genuine relationships. Participants can choose from different formats—from 15 to 50 kilometers, spread over two or three days—traversing woods, clearings and alpine landscapes. “They’re forest tracks, nothing difficult or dangerous,” reassures Zoppi. But the real experience starts at sunset. Each evening, a temporary village of tents and soft lights rises at the heart of the mountains: shoes come off, the phone is forgotten, and people begin to tell stories. Around the fire, a dimension almost forgotten in contemporary daily life emerges: the community. “The most beautiful moment is the overnight camping,” he explains. Then, in the morning, the village is assembled and dismantled without leaving a trace.
A Growing Trend in Italy
This initiative embodies several travel trends that have been rising in recent months/years, according to Google Travel Trends data that SiViaggia had in advance: for example, analyses of the world’s leading search engine show that online searches for “adventure travel” increased by 130% in the last three months of 2026, while backpacking rose by 40%. Solo traveling also grew by 30% in the last three months. Searches for “girls trips” are up 80% compared to a year ago, and searches for “meditation retreats” are up 40% in the last 12 months, meaning activities like yoga or Pilates are very much in line with current travel trends.
Where and When It Takes Place in Italy
The first Italian edition of Highlander Adventure takes place in Val di Sole, Trentino, from June 5 to 7, 2026. It is open to everyone, starting from age 12. Even before it has begun, a second edition is already anticipated, which could be organized within the year, this time in Central Italy.
