The Mont Fort expedition
Activities to discover the landscape, glaciers and permafrost
The Mont Fort Expedition is a combination of educational offerings located between Verbier, Nendaz and Mont Fort.
The different educational trails showcase the region’s natural wonders and make it possible to discover the landscape from a variety of perspectives. The initiative aims to raise awareness of and highlight both past and present environmental changes in the Alpine region.
Our ski lifts make it easy to access the higher altitude areas where glaciers reign supreme, providing a rare opportunity to watch how the ice has been on the move over time and to explore the frozen landscapes. The col des Gentianes and Mont Fort have numerous glaciers and ridges (bearing witness to the presence of glaciers in times past).
Take the main path that links Verbier or Nendaz to Mont Fort and experience an adventure that’s one-of-a-kind. You’ll pass through lush green mountain pastures before finally reaching a world of rock and ice.
A three-stage ascent:
Your chance to conquer Mont Fort! At every stage of the ascent, from the base camp to the summit, you will come face-to-face with raw nature shaped by the elemental forces of water, air, rock and ice.
The ascent is set to be marked by information panels featuring informative and themed content in 2024. A number of exploratory activities are already available.
In order to create this kind of educational trail we worked with local experts in the fields of the environment and nature conservation. We were assisted by the Bureau Relief, which specialises in geotourism and promoting natural heritage.
The information panels are presented in three languages and can be reached without the need for specialist equipment.
La chaux and Tortin
Located more than 2,000 m above sea level, La Chaux (coming from Verbier) and Tortin (coming from Nendaz) are the starting points of the Mont-Fort expedition. As you climb, the atmosphere begins to cool.
Sites currently under construction
Les Gentianes
The location known as "Gentianes" offers a unique opportunity to touch the glacier de Tortin and explore its immediate surroundings. This ties in neatly with the Mont Fort Expedition and there are two possible loops to do, depending on how much time you have.
The first loop is a short one and enables you to walk on the glacier by following the markers which show its former outline. An information panel shows an artist’s impression of the glacier’s previous locations, helping us to understand how it has changed over time. You can now imagine how the landscape would have appeared to a mountaineer standing here 200 years ago, as well as thinking ahead to the future and what this scene will look like in 2100.
To provide you with a lasting memory of this experience, a picture frame has been installed in front of the glacier.
Mont-Fort
Starting this summer, you will have the chance to reach the summit of Mont Fort, where different observation posts will shed light on the forces shaping this ever-changing landscape. See the destruction of the mountains for yourself, rediscover past glaciers and marvel at the Alps: these impressive geological ruins!
Embark on a new adventure!
Each stage in the ascent of Mont Fort offers a unique opportunity to explore the world of ice-bound mountains with its vanished glaciers, living ice and frozen ground. This concept is embodied in a visitor trail called ‘Ascension’ which features activities to help you learn more at every stage.
The expedition’s themes centre on both the spirit of adventure associated with ‘conquering’ an Alpine peak and the exploration of a world that’s totally removed from our day-to-day existence, one made of rock and ice. To come face-to-face with nature in the raw in this way is a powerful experience, enabling you to really get up close and personal with the natural world.
Activities map
