Skocjan Caves

About 100 thousand travelers from all over the world annually visit this wonderful hook of Slovenia near the picturesque village of Skocjan. There is a real wonder created by Mother Nature, one of the most famous cave systems in the world, Skocjan Caves. Mysterious underground mazes with original bizarre-shaped caves and a natural bridge were formed by a powerful underground river many centuries ago. At the end of the 20th century, underground water bodies received the status of a karst biosphere reserve and were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Speleologists have discovered about 6.5 kilometers of underground mazes that have a depth of more than 220 meters in some parts. The Reka River flows through almost all the mazes, forming a deep canyon up to 150 meters high and up to 60 meters wide. This unique place is called "Sumeca jama". Funnels and grottoes, underground streams, and about 30 waterfalls falling from a height of more than 10 meters are located underground as if intentionally hidden from human eyes.

One of the largest underground grottos in Europe, the Martel's Chamber, deserves special attention. It was named after the French scientist, the founder of speleology, Edouard Martel. With an area of 36 thousand square meters and a depth of about 150 meters, the grotto makes an unforgettable impression on visitors. It also makes them return again and again to enjoy its unearthly beauty and grandeur.

The average temperature in Skocjan Caves is 12°C. But due to the high humidity (more than 80 percent), it seems that it is much colder there. So it is better to dress warmly. Be sure to take waterproof shoes, because as a result of small but regular floods, most of the way is covered with a wet and slippery surface. However, the pleasure that travelers will get from visiting the mysterious underground mazes is undoubtedly worth all these minor inconveniences.