Slovenia: Skocjan Caves Park

Hot days are coming and with that search for escapes to nature for some cooling down. It is always good to go to the rivers, canyons and waterfalls, because closeness of water chills us.

We know especially beautiful nook to explore in hot summer days. We went there a while ago with our friends (I think it was in April) and the day wasn´t hot, it was actually rainy. And it was insanely beautiful anyway.

Škocjan Caves Park.

Škocjan caves with their surroundings are on UNESCO´s list of natural and cultural world heritage from 1986 because of their outstanding underground canyon and Karst phenomena. In our opinion, they are more beautiful that better-known Postojna Cave, but they certainly are one of the most beautiful caves we have seen so far. They lie on edge of South East of the Karst, near Divača.

“System of Škocjan caves consists of a number of individual caves and tunnels, sinkholes, natural bridges and sinks. It was created by the Reka River, which disappears in karst underground right here, after fifty-kilometer surface stream, and reappears on the surface in springs at the Gulf of Trieste.”

Škocjan Caves Park has two guided tours that are opened. Tour 1 is through underground canyon, tour 2 is by the Reka River – through caves, natural bridges, sinkholes, by the canyon and river. This paths´ name is “Following the Reka River underground”. If you intend to visit Škocjan Caves you shouldn´t miss that one. You won´t be sorry, guaranteed.

Taking photos in underground canyon and in cave itself is not allowed, so all the photos you can see were taken on tour 2 “Following the Reka River underground”. Despite bad light due to rainy weather the photos can´t be bad, because the nature here is so beautiful J

If you will decide to see both tours – which we recommend – than you will need enough time and some time management.

In April, May and October you can attend guided tour 2 at 11 a.m. or 2 p.m. We attended the first term and because we were the only visitors at that time – we had our own individual tour. In summer months, you can go by yourself, without guide, which is sometimes even better, because you can explore by your own tempo. In June, July, August and September you can enter caves between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. You should have enough time, because motifs to take some photos are more than enough. The classical visit of the caves – guided tour 1 – is in summer months available every hour from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., in April, May and October enters are at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Nevertheless all adults have already been at Škocjan Caves at least once before – with school as natural science day – we were thrilled about new Tour 2 because of sinkholes, natural bridges, canyon and waterfalls. We will come again.