A visit to caves and caverns is a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the distant past and relive the traces of the civilizations that came before us. Situated outdoors, this experience is perfect for adventurers and thrill-seekers! France saw the birth of 'speleology' - a study of modern cave exploration. This distinct study was invented by a French pioneer known as the 'father of modern speleology'. Step into the past and connect with history, nature and marvel at the underrated beauty of caves. Let us give you five reasons to discover and explore caving, an adventure worth trying!
1. Caving is more than just a sport
When you book a caving session with our partners, you will embark on a multidisciplinary activity. Prepare to be marvelled at the natural and man-made wonders as you will come across carefully carved out spaces and elements and crystals like quartz, amethyst, etc! Once you descend into the caves, our guides will carefully take you through the cavities that are the genesis of our ancestors. You will discover the ancient ruins and how our ancestors lived. Allow yourself to discover the natural cave springs, rocks, topography, archeological elements of the caves, and so many other things! This experience has an educational value and will provide you with a unique insight into how caves work with scientific and technical information.
2. It's a new world to discover
A caving session is a gateway to a magnificent world. You will witness a unique landscape of various shapes that will parade in front of you. You will see meanders, tunnels, wells etc. Prepare to be amazed by the ancient stream beds, streams, rivers, gorges, waterfalls, basins, etc. If your adventure takes place on man-made sites, you will encounter old mines and quarries that overlook cliffs and rocky outcrops. The French territory offers fascinating sites like the cave of Trabuc, the Gorges du Tarn that has hidden turquoise blue lakes. If you like the depths, you can head for the Padirac chasm, a 75-meter well that hides an exceptional river discovered more than 100 years ago. For the more adventurous, visit Gouffre Jean-Bernard de Samoëns which offers you the possibility of going more than 1,500 meters deep. If you want to be surprised, head to the Underground Cathedral, Aven d´Orgnac that has 55-meter ceilings with huge spaces lined with radiating stalagmites.
3. It’s a safe sport
Our partners in France take all the necessary security measures so that you can enjoy this unique environment. When you arrive for the caving session, you will be briefed about progression techniques, apt rope manoeuvres, various decent strategies, crawl and climb techniques. This lesson will come in handy when you are tackling pits and narrow passages. Equally, they have state of the art equipment such as descenders, ascenders, harnesses, lanyards, protective helmets, crampons, lighting devices etc., that protect you from falls. Some activity centres offer isothermal suits to protect you from temperature variations that may occur in the depths.
4. It's an activity suitable for the group
If you want to discover the depths of the Earth, it is much more interesting to make reservations with a group, with friends or with family. Children above 6 years old can also enjoy this experience as we offer several courses suitable for children, such as Grotte Roche and Grotte Trolls. Adults may enjoy natural slides, aquatic or dry caves at La Ture, which is a deep cave of 70 meters decorated with stalactites and stalagmites. From a collaborative standpoint, this is a very interesting activity too. Having an excellent team spirit contributes to the experience and encourages everyone in the group to move harmoniously and enhance the experience of discovering new things - which is the ultimate goal.
5. There is a deal for all budgets
Caving is not reserved for the most upscale as everyone can afford such a unique activity. We offer a variety of sessions fitting several budget scales to make this activity accessible to everyone. Some of our partners have cave discovery routes starting from thirty euros onwards, as is the case with the Gorges de la Jonte in Aveyron. Visit our website to find the package that suits you best, both in terms of price and proximity. Choose the way you want to go caving!
When do you want to book in France?
Caving is usually done in the middle of summer, but this activity does not have a season. However, for high altitude routes, it is preferable to select them in winter to take advantage of the mild temperature of the caves. And, don't forget to cover yourself well with comfortable clothes for your adventure.