From the Flintstones to hardy adventurers, people have been suckers for a great cave for centuries. But if you’re planning to get back in touch with your inner Stone Age soul, where are the best places to go? David Whitley has a look at the biggest, the most unusual and most spectacular.
Sarawak Chamber, Malaysia
If size of cave was a status symbol, then only a Stone Age King would be able to claim the Sarawak Chamber. Discovered only in 1981, this huge cavern on the island of Borneo is the biggest in the world, and is part of an extensive cave system. To get some idea of scale, it takes an hour for even experienced cavers to get from end to end, and headlamps usually aren’t strong enough for them to see the walls.
In terms of what could fit in it, then think St Peter’s Basilica in Rome or a decent collection of jumbo jets.
To get there, you’ve got to make your way through a few tricky passageways, so the guides at Gunung Mulu National Park (+60 85 433 561) insist that anyone they take must have previous experience. However, they do allow you to get that by doing a trip to other caves in the recently-declared World Heritage Area.
Bruce’s Cave, Scotland
This is thought to be the place that inspired a legend. The story goes that Robert The Bruce, King of Scotland way back in the early 14th century, retreated to it after a series of crushing military defeats.
With the hated English well on top, Robert had considered giving in. It was then that he saw a spider repeatedly trying to spin a web over the entrance of the cave, and he realised that perseverance would bring rewards. So he left the cave, probably breaking the poor spider’s web again on the way out, and began to wage a successful guerrilla war against the English.
Bruce’s Cave (or at least the one with the most plausible claim to being it) is now controlled by a nearby caravan site (+44 1461 800285) in Kirkpatrick Fleming, Dumfriesshire. Visitors can enter, although arachnophobes would be well advised to steer clear – spiders still inhabit it.
The Jenolan Caves, New South Wales
Recent tests made in the popular Blue Mountains attraction uncovered some startling information. It seems as though the Jenolan Caves (02 6359 3911) are way older than anyone first thought. In fact, at 340 million years old they are the oldest caves on the planet, and by quite a distance.
They’re historic in more than one sense though; Jenolan was Australia’s first proper tourist attraction, whilst Chifley Cave was the first to get electric lighting, back in the 19th century.
Today, visiting is easy, but this wasn’t the case back in the Victorian era, when frankly insane city folk would come dressed in full suits and billowing dresses, then get around via an incredibly precarious system of ropes.
The Eisriesenwelt, Austria
Whilst caverns made of rock are all well and good, sometimes you want something a little more spectacular. That’s what ice is for, and this complex near Salzburg is home to the world’s largest ice cave.
Over the years, the flow of air has ensured that walls, stalagmites and stalactites have formed, and some of the frozen formations are up to 20 metres thick.
The result is something that looks like a science-fiction film set, and a walk through the surreal crystalline world is fascinating, if a little on the cold side.
The Eisriesenwelt (+43 6468 5248) is open from the end of April to the end of October, and you’ve got a choice of getting there on foot or by cable car.
Waitomo Caves, New Zealand
If it’s not about the statistics or the decoration, but the fun factor, then Waitomo on New Zealand’s North Island is the place to head to. Here an underground river cuts through a series of caves, and this has led some enterprising souls to develop the sport of black water rafting.
To put it simply, it’s about grabbing the sort of inner tube that you’d get from a truck tyre, and sitting on it as the river current takes you downstream. Over the three hour (or five hour, if you go more the more adventurous option) trip you’ll undoubtedly get cold and wet, but it’s fantastic entertainment. The highlight, though, is turning the lights off and navigating your way underground courtesy of the thousands of glow worms on the roof and walls.
The Legendary Black Water Rafting Company can be contacted on +64 7 878 6219.
Grotte Aux Fées, Switzerland
Translated from French, this means Cave Of Fairies, and the magical little pixies apparently live here. During the tour of the grotto, you’ll come across a supposed fairy well, which is said to grant a wish to anyone who puts their left hand in it.
Nonsensical stories aside though, this cave near at St Maurice has one truly astounding feature, and that comes at the end of the trip. Pouring down from an overhead glacier is a 77m waterfall, the largest underground cascade in the world, coming complete with a guaranteed “wow” factor.
Tours of the Grotte Aux Fées can be booked on +4124 485 10 45.
Postojna Cave, Slovenia
In proof positive that vandalism has its uses, the Postojna Cave has utilised careless graffiti artists to get itself into the record books. Incredibly, it has been a tourist attraction since 1213, which is the earliest date identifiable from visitors’ etchings on the walls. This makes it the world’s first show cave.
Whilst an unfortunate amount has been destroyed by candles, torches and thoughtless scribbling, a huge system still remains, and due to lashings and lashings of calcium carbonate, there are some incredible features. These include a giant ‘diamond’ column.
The highly popular tours are available year-round.
Jeita Grotto, Lebanon
Having a cave without decoration is a bit like having a palace with no furniture, but that’s certainly not an accusation that can be levelled at Jeita’s magnificent efforts.
Just north of Beirut, the first of the caves was discovered here in 1836 and more have been uncovered since, gaining fame for the sheer array of colour and shapes in there. The two biggest drawcards are the Red Chamber, which has eerie colouration due to iron oxide on the rocks, and the White Chamber. This is home to the world’s biggest stalactite, an 8.2m monster that hangs down from the ceiling.
Jeita is open to the public every day except Mondays, and has a consistently pleasant temperature all year round.
Copyright David Whitley
