Caving is probably one of the most unique pastimes. The splendour and magnificence that is exhibited by the natural rock formations is simply breath-taking. The feeling of exploring subterranean territory is indescribable and should be experienced by all. Here are some of the world’s best caving destinations that you have to visit at some point in your life…
Puerto-Princesa Underground River – Philippines
The Puerto-Princesa Underground River is a subterranean waterway that is packed with incredible rock and mineral formations. Many people visit this cave via tour boats. It features a limestone karst mountain landscape that has a 8.2 km underground river and it is also one of the new Seven Wonders of the World.
Cango Caves – South Africa
This is actually a very popular tourist destination in Western Cape region of South Africa. It has massive stalagmites that sit in large chambers – immeasurable beauty. Pathways are illuminated and easy for you to navigate. There is even an adventure tour option that enables participants to crawl and climb through various underground areas.
Ape Cave – USA
The Ape Cave in Gifford Pinchot National Park was named in honour of its first explorers, a local Boy Scout group known as the Mt St Helen’s Apes. Ape Cave is best known for its extremely lengthy and continuous lava tubes. Unfortunately it is quiet dark so if you explore it, you better have a good flash-light on hand but the scenery that awaits is definitely worth the effort.
Phong Nha Cave – Vietnam
Phong Nha Cave is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is laced with limestone rocks and other types of rock formations. Whether or not you have a geological knowledge, it is still an interesting place to visit. However, visitors are only allowed to explore about a mile or so of the Phong Nha’s tunnels.
Callao Caves – Philippines
The incredible Callao Caves can be located in Cagayan in the Phillipines. It is a seven chamber cave that even has a natural cathedral that was converted into a chapel by locals. Every chamber has its own natural crevices. Ample light creeps into the cave through these crevices, serving as illumination.
Carlsbad Caverns – New Mexico
Its brilliant cartoon-like rock formations can be found throughout the caverns. Those formations can be attributed to erosion that has occurred over a period of hundreds of thousands of years. Its largest cavern is known as the Big Room and has a ceiling that reaches over 250 feet at its highest point.
Reed Flute Cave – China
This epic cave has garnered its name because of the immense reeds (locals use it to make flutes) that grow out of it. Beautiful stalactites and other rock formations that are found in this cave are lit up with coloured lights. It is also vested with historical significance. During WWII, it served as an air raid shelter.
Mammoth Cave National Park – USA
Whether you are a bit of a passive onlooker or somewhat of a daredevil, a tour to the Mammoth Cave National Park will have something for you. Featuring tours of varying levels of difficulty, there are 16 different tour types. Some even entail free falls and crawling through minute spaces. At a length of over 365 miles, it makes this one of the world’s longest cave systems.
