There is a precise moment when you realize your way of traveling has changed. It’s not when you choose a five-star hotel. It’s when you find yourself under a starry Alpine sky, with the scent of wood around you and the mountains just outside your window, and you realize you haven’t given up anything.
Welcome to glamping. And welcome to Trentino.
What does “glamping” really mean?
The term comes from the fusion of glamour and camping, and it originated in the United States, where this way of experiencing nature spread earlier than in Europe. But its essence is simpler than it sounds: the freedom of camping, the open air, the authentic contact with nature, the slow rhythm-combined with the comfort of a well-designed, warm, welcoming structure.
No sleeping bag. No damp tent at dawn. No compromises.
Glamping is nature and wellbeing. Adventure and comfort. And in Trentino, this combination finds its most authentic expression.
Why Trentino is the ideal destination for glamping
Trentino is not just an Italian mountain region. It is a territory that has made integrated wellbeing its philosophy: unspoiled nature, cuisine rich in authentic flavors, top-level sports facilities, and a hospitality culture that-especially in the Alpine area-has no equal in Italy.
It is no coincidence that glamping has found such fertile ground here. The Trentino Alps offer exactly what those who choose this kind of holiday are looking for: real landscapes, real silence, a direct connection with the territory. At the same time, the local hospitality tradition ensures a level of detail that turns a stay into an experience.
Forests, peaks, trails. Skiing in winter, trekking in summer. Mountain huts, Alpine traditions, and that quality of air you can feel filling your lungs as soon as you step outside.
All just a few hours from the major cities of northern Italy and Central Europe.
Glamping in Folgaria and the Alpe Cimbra: still a rare choice
If you are looking for glamping in Trentino, your mind probably goes straight to the Dolomites or Val di Fassa. Beautiful destinations, but also crowded, competitive, often expensive.
However, there is an area in southeastern Trentino that offers something hard to find elsewhere: Alpe Cimbra.
A wide, sunny plateau between 1,000 and 2,000 meters of altitude, with three main locations-Folgaria, Lavarone and Luserna-and an outstanding outdoor quality of life. Vast forests, panoramic ridges, CAI-SAT trails, ski slopes at accessible altitude, and a modern ski area.
Alpe Cimbra is also a certified GSTC (Global Sustainable Tourism Council) destination, a recognition that is not just a label but reflects a way of managing the territory.
And here, in the locality of Francolini, directly at the new Francolini–Sommo Alto cable car, stands the Camping Essenza Alpina: the 4-star campsite of Alpe Cimbra with a Nordic-inspired panoramic SPA. And with the most exclusive glamping chalets in the area.
The Charme & Retreat Chalets: glamping, Essenza Alpina style
Glamping at Essenza Alpina is not a luxury tent. Not a treehouse. It is something more precise and refined: four independent Charme & Retreat Chalets, with panoramic views over the mountains and the town of Folgaria, built and furnished with wood as the absolute protagonist.
Each chalet is designed to make you feel truly at home. A warm, bright, essential atmosphere. No excess. No unnecessary details.
There are two types, designed for different needs.
Open-space chalets: for couples and families up to 4 people
A single, intimate space opening onto the mountains. Perfect for a couple’s weekend seeking privacy and comfort, or for a small family that doesn’t want to feel cramped. The living area opens onto the view. The wood warms everything. The silence is real Alpine silence.
Two-room chalets: for families and small groups up to 6 people
Double bedroom, twin bedroom, sofa bed, two bathrooms with shower, fully equipped kitchen. Children have their space, adults too. And you can be together without feeling crowded-which is exactly what a family holiday should be.
Both types share what makes this glamping truly unique in Trentino: the location.
The location: a luxury you don’t have to buy
Opening the door of a chalet at Essenza Alpina means already being inside the mountains.
In winter, you are directly on the ski slopes. The new Francolini–Sommo Alto cable car is just a few steps away, giving access to the entire Ski Area Alpe Cimbra with slopes suitable for all levels. No car, no parking queues, no morning transfers with skis on your shoulder.
In summer (during peak season the cable car is open), the same lift takes you in just minutes up to Sommo Alto, opening views over the Vallagarina valley and, on clear days, all the way to Lake Garda. CAI-SAT trails and MTB routes start directly next to the property. E-bikes are available for rental through partnerships. The forests of Alpe Cimbra are right outside your door.
In every season, you have full campsite services: the Essenza Alpina SPA, the Bar Essenza Alpina, the internal mini-market, laundry, ski room, and reception.
This is glamping designed for those who want to live nature, not just observe it.
SPA and chalets: the combination that makes the difference
One detail distinguishes glamping at Essenza Alpina from almost everything else in the area.
Chalet guests have direct access to the Essenza Alpina SPA, Nordic-inspired, with reservation required, and an exclusive 50% discount: panoramic Finnish sauna, Turkish bath, cold plunge pool, Aufguss rituals led by expert masters, relaxation area, herbal tea lounge, personalized massages.
Chalet guests can also book the AirPool for free when the wellness center is closed.
And from summer 2026, a panoramic swimming pool will become the new outdoor heart of the structure, overlooking the mountains and the town of Folgaria.
Returning from a day on the slopes or a hike through the woods and finding all this just steps from your door: that is Essenza Alpina glamping. Not ostentatious luxury. Lived luxury.
Glamping in all seasons: an experience that never ends
One of the most valuable aspects of the Essenza Alpina chalets is that they work all year round, each season with its own character.
Winter is snow, skiing, warm returns, sauna after sport. It is the fireplace in common areas, heated chalets, the silence of snowy forests.
Spring is the awakening of Alpe Cimbra: changing colors in the woods, first hikes, fresh mountain air. A still-undiscovered season for many, and precisely for that reason, precious.
Summer is trekking, e-bikes, mountain huts, panoramas. Waking up with light entering the room and the mountains waiting outside.
Autumn is the foliage of the Alpe Cimbra forests, mushrooms, quietness, a slower rhythm.
Essenza Alpina is open all year except for 3 weeks in May, precisely because every season matters. And glamping here is never out of season.
Glamping for families, couples, and everyone in between
A common mistake is thinking of glamping as something only for couples or luxury seekers. At Essenza Alpina in Folgaria, glamping is designed for anyone who loves living well, regardless of who they travel with.
For families: two-room chalets are designed exactly for this. Children have space, parents have space. The structure offers indoor and outdoor play areas, child-friendly bathrooms, I-Wall, and all services within walking distance.
For couples: open-space chalets, private AirPool access, sunset views over the mountains. Nothing more is needed.
For sports lovers: skiing, trekking, MTB, e-biking. Then the SPA for recovery. A perfect rhythm.
For those seeking disconnection: the silence of Alpe Cimbra is real. No crowds like in more famous destinations. No traffic like in major valleys. Just mountains, and deep quiet.
How to book your glamping chalet in Folgaria
The Charme & Retreat chalets at Essenza Alpina can be booked directly on the official website essenzalpina.it. The property is open all year (except 3 weeks in May), located in Francolini, less than one kilometer from the center of Folgaria, with free external parking and direct access to the cable car during operating periods.
If you are thinking about a different weekend, a ski holiday with something extra, or a regenerative summer escape: a chalet on Alpe Cimbra is what you were looking for.
The mountains are waiting. The comfort is already here.
