Skocjan Caves

The Skocjan Caves are a UNESCO natural wonder, less about pretty formations than sheer scale: the Reka river has carved one of the largest underground canyons in the world, a colossal chamber through which visitors walk on a path high on the wall, crossing a slender bridge over the roaring river far below. It is a genuinely awe-inspiring, cathedral-scale underworld.

What you actually see

• The underground canyon - the vast river-carved gorge deep in the cave.
• The Cerkvenik Bridge - the slender bridge high over the roaring river.
• The great chambers - the cathedral-scale halls of the system.
• The collapse dolines - the vast sinkholes where the river enters and leaves.

When to go

Year-round; the cave is cool and constant, so bring a layer. It is seen only on a guided tour, so check times and book ahead in the busy season.

Honest expectations

It is seen only on a guided tour involving a fair amount of walking, stairs and heights on the path high above the river, so it needs reasonable mobility and a head for heights. Photography is often not allowed inside to protect the cave. It is more about awesome scale than delicate formations.

Nearby

Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle are within reach; the Karst wine region spreads around.