There's so much beauty and nature to see in Slovenia--above ground and underground. There are several cave networks in Slovenia, but to enter the deepest and largest canyon, you must go to the Skocjan caves located just southwest of Slovenia's capital, Ljubljana.
The Skocjan caves offer more than the typical limestone stalagmites and stalactites. The trail leads you through the cave's largest canyon measuring 200 feet across and 460 feet tall. Evidence found that humans lived in these caves as early as 3,000 B.C. I found the rickety rope bridges and extremely narrow steps carved into the cavern's walls by the early explorers to be most fascinating, if not a little eerie when imagining them risking their lives by making their way through a darkness and depth beyond anything experienced by most. The first explorer came down in 1851. It took another 39 years before the path visitors walk on today was mapped out.
Photos were not allowed inside the caves, so I've hunted down some professional shots to appreciate what visitors see when inside:
Image by Vicente Villain
Image by TravelingOtter
Image by Ramon
The tour is guided with loads of interesting stories and historical facts. It gets chilly in the caves, so a light jacket is nice to have. The pathway can be a little slippery in places, so wear comfortable non-skid shoes. The walk is just shy of 2 miles and can be a little steep with a series of steps throughout.
For ticketing information, visit park-skocjanske-jame.si.
