I love caves, so when a friend of mine suggested visiting Slovenia last fall, I leapt at the opportunity to explore the karst topography of the Škocjan Caves. I had read up on the caves beforehand, and had planned on taking both the official tour of the cave and the unguided walk following the Reka River (which really is a bit redundant) underground. Unfortunately, I learned the unguided river walk is unavailable in October, and the guided tours did not overlap in such a way that I could do both in one afternoon. I opted for the official Underground Canyon tour, which included beautiful limestone formations, similar to what I've seen in many other caves. The canyon itself was impressive, with the roar of the Reka rapids filling the cavern. I remain convinced a surreptitious photo could be taken at the canyon, despite the prohibition (which is ostensibly for safety). I was most impressed by the blocked off narrow stairs, walkways, and rope bridges previously used by cave explorers and early tour groups. With the extra time after the tour, my friend and I walked the trails around the Škocjan doline, enjoying the autumnal scenery. We also visited the cave museum, which included memorabilia and interesting stories from early explorers. I really enjoyed these caves.

Logistics: Škocjan Caves can be reached by private transportation or by train via the town of Divača; a shuttle runs from the Divača train station to the caves, and a hiking trail also connects the town to Škocjan Caves.