UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH WITH THE ŠKOCJAN CAVES TOUR
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Ready to Journey to the Center of the Earth? Want to have your mind blown? Then you owe it to yourself to check out the Škocjan Caves Regional Park in Slovenia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These aren’t just any ordinary caves. Smithsonian magazine referred to Škocjan Caves as the “Underground Grand Canyon” and for good reason. Completely off-the-beaten path, the Škocjan Caves tour is a must.
WHAT TO EXPECT ON THE ŠKOCJAN CAVES TOUR
Size matters. The cave’s largest canyon measures 60 meters (200 feet) across and an incredible 140 meters (460 feet tall). Ready for the best part? As you make your way down a long winding lit path into the heart of the cave, you can hear a roaring sound but cannot see what is causing it. Then the underworld opens up before you.
HOW THE CAVES WERE FORMED
Among the largest subterranean chambers in the world, the Škocjan Caves were formed over vast periods of time by the Reka River. Interestingly, this ancient river still flows along the bottom of the underground canyon today. At times, the river appears and reappears in the form of rushing rapids and waterfalls, creating a major visual and auditory spectacle. These caves are unbelievable!!!
LORD OF THE RINGS
One of the main highlights of the Škocjan Caves tour, you will see a tiny footbridge suspended hundreds of feet above a raging river, yet dwarfed by the vastness of the cave. Only then do you realize the size and majesty of this natural wonder. As you approach the narrow, vertigo-inducing footbridge, your mind will conjure up images from the Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring. You join Gandalf, Frodo, and the band of dwarves as they trek single file across Durin’s Bridge inside the Mines of Moria under the Misty Mountains. Unlike the movie, this footbridge crosses over a river with the backdrop of a spectacular underground waterfall. There are no less than 26 underground waterfalls in the cave system. It also contains giant stalactites and stalagmites more than 15 meters (50 feet) in height.
ARCHEOLOGICAL DISCOVERIES
Archaeologists continue to find evidence that humans lived in the caves, possibly as early as 3,000 B.C. Among the finds are a burial site containing ten skeletons and funerary items. Although modern exploration of the caves began in earnest in the late 19th century, explorers have been visiting the caves since the 2nd century B.C. In addition to tourists and spelunkers, the Caves are home to a rare species called the blind cave salamander.
OUR EXPERIENCE DURING THE ŠKOCJAN CAVES TOUR
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When researching off-the-beaten path locations, often times we will research UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This is how we first learned about the Škocjan Caves tour. I read a few reviews and these caves sounded too cool to pass up. When we visited, we were taking a road trip from Vienna to Ljubliana. Our Škocjan Caves tour started with a completely spontaneous turn off the road. As we had visited several well-known caves in the United States and Europe, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. When we first entered, Škocjan Caves appeared to be similar to other cave systems.
Then… we had our minds completely blown away! Thank goodness for the suspended footbridge as it really gives a sense of the enormous size of the cave. To be honest, the dimensions of this underground beauty were hard to digest at first. Every minute of the walkthrough was amazing. We made our way to the exit at the mouth of the cave. We were dwarfed by the sheer size of this several hundred-foot tall opening. Nature continually finds ways to impress. The Škocjan Caves are well deserving of their UNESCO designation. I cannot recommend this experience enough. The Škocjan Caves tour is not your standard tour. You owe it to yourself to experience these caves.
PRO TIPS FOR THE ŠKOCJAN CAVES TOUR
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PRO TIP 1. Bring a sweatshirt or jacket as the temperature is a constant 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit).
PRO TIP 2. It goes with saying, do not tempt fate. Use the restroom before entering the Škocjan Caves!
PRO TIP 3. Remember to bring a backpack with snacks and drinks as there is no food available other than the ticket office and souvenir shop. Once you exit the cave, you will have an opportunity to take a snack break before heading up the dirt path back to the parking lot.
PRO TIP 4. There is a moderate amount of walking and stairs, After departing the ticket office, you walk down a dirt path to the cave entrance for a brief presentation by the tour guide. Once inside, the paths are paved and smooth. There are approximately 500 stairs that you will descend. At the end of the tour, you will need to walk up a dirt path to exit the gorge.
PRO TIP 5. Photography is difficult as lighting is minimal. Ensure you have a camera that can take photographs in low light conditions.
NEAR THIS PLACE
PREDJAMA CASTLE. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Predjama Castle is the ultimate cave fortress with a bizarre past and Game of Thrones appeal. Located within the Postojnska Jama Park.
POSTOJNA CAVE. Take an underground train ride and enjoy a 3.7-km-long journey on the world’s only double-track cave railway.
KARST MUSEUM. In 1991, construction workers unearthed a treasure chest in the caves under Predjama Castle. These valuable late 16th century items are on display at the Karst Musem.
M BURGER. Why on earth would a burger joint be considered an “attraction?” Because the food was incredible. For one of the tastiest cheeseburgers we have ever had, served by some of the kindest people we have ever met, check out M BURGER. This amazing oasis of culinary joy is situated in an obscure parking lot only minutes from Hotel Jama. It’s a real find. Simple, but wonderful — our meal was so delicious that we are still talking about it months later. ADDRESS: Novi trg 8, Postojna 6230 Slovenia. Drop it into your GPS ASAP.
BEST PLACES TO STAY
HOTEL JAMA. Hotel Jama may literally be one of the coolest hotels in central Europe. Why, you might ask? Because it served as a Cold War era hotel for Yugoslavian dictator Tito and Soviet leadership, it has a secret maze of rooms used for listening in on hotel guests. These rooms were only recently discovered in 2017. In addition to this intriguing exhibit, the rooms are modern and spacious and the staff is incredibly helpful. ADDRESS: Jamska cesta 28, 6230 Postojna, Slovenia
RADISSON BLU PLAZA HOTEL LJUBLJANA. Centrally located with modern rooms with orthopedic beds, and FREE WiFi. Guests receive a 30% discount to the Atlantis Water Park up the street. ADDRESS: Bratislavska cesta 8, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
HOTEL NOX. Located in the Šentvid area of Ljubljana, modern air-conditioned rooms with FREE Wifi, and FREE private parking. ADDRESS: Celovška cesta 469, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
BIO APARTMENTS TRNULJA. Five miles from the downtown in the Nature Park Ljubljansko Barje, all apartments are air-conditioned and fitted with wooden furnishings. Organic breakfast sourced from the Trulja farm. Guests can rent bikes on site. FREE WiFi and FREE parking are provided. Horseback riding just minutes away. Numerous hiking and cycling tracks can be found around the property. ADDRESS: Crna Vas 267, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
BOOKSHELF
Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien
TV + FILM
Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008)
Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959)
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
RESOURCES
Skocjan Caves UNESCO World Heritage Site
