UNESCO Škocjan Caves
Just a stone's throw from the edge of the Green Karst, visit the famous Skocjan caves, which were the first Slovenian caves to be included on the UNESCO World Heritage .
The Škocjan Caves are a unique natural phenomenon, the work of the Reka River, which springs at the foot of Mt. Snežnik and runs across the surface for approximately 55 km. When it reaches the Karst and its limestone ground, its riverbed is no longer deepened solely by erosion, but it starts corroding the limestone as well. The immense volume of the underground canyon is what separates the Škocjan Caves from all the other cave systems and places it toe to toe with some of the world-famous underground attractions. The Škocjan Caves and the surrounding area were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1986, designated a Ramsar wetland site in 1999 and a MAB Biosphere Reserve in 2003 (all with UNESCO), which saw the global professional public assign unique importance of this area. As a typical and the most distinctive natural Karst area of global importance, it is classified as one the world's gems.At the Škocjan Caves Regional Park the Reka river has created one of the largest underground canyons in the world. In addition to the impressive cave, the park has plenty of other places to visit and see.
The Reka river valley, the village of Škocjan, the almost 100-metre-deep Okroglica chasm, the Church of St Helena in Gradišče near Divača with its 15th-century frescoes, and the museum collections in Matavun are just a few treasures you can discover here. An attractive learning trail through the park intertwines nature, karst features and history.
A modern reception centre, museum collections, interactive presentations, a shop and a restaurant add to the fun of a visit to the park, which is also accessible to people with reduced mobility. You can take a virtual tour of the cave.
The tour starts at the Globočak collapse doline and leads through the Silent Cave (Tiha jama) with its rich speleothem decoration to the Great Hall and on to the Murmuring Cave (Šumeča jama) with the roar of the mighty river, which you soon cross over a suspension bridge. The trail continues along the Great and Little valleys and through Mahorčič and Marinič caves to the village of Škocjan.
The caves, which are among the most beautiful natural features in the world, are also listed as important wetlands and are part of the karst MAB Biosphere Area. Part of the Škocjan Caves Regional Park is also under Natura 2000 protection regime.
Information:
- Guided tours are available in Slovenian and English.
- Duration of visit: 2.5–3 hours, trail length: 5km, about 1000 steps.
- An easier version of the tour: exit from the cave in the Great Valley (Velika dolina) (3km, 500–800 steps).
- Cave temperature: around 12°C – sports clothing and suitable footwear recommended.
- It is not allowed to take pictures inside the caves.
- Pets are not allowed.
Opening hours
Open all year round.
