The best places for caving in Russia

What is caving

Speleotourism is traveling through natural underground cavities: caves, grottos and karst systems. Do not confuse this concept with ordinary excursions underground. In the second case, you leisurely walk along well-equipped trails with railings and lighting, admiring the natural wonders and listening to the guide. Speleotourism in the full sense is an opportunity to feel like a pioneer, going down to places where most people have never set foot.

This kind of active recreation attracts those who are tired of standard tours and want to try something unusual. Fans of sports and extreme adventures face challenges to their physical abilities on underground routes. You have to climb rocks, squeeze through narrow manholes, and overcome underground rivers.

Romantics appreciate the special atmosphere of caves — the absolute silence, the bizarre shapes of stalactites and stalagmites, the feeling of time travel. Photographers make unique shots that cannot be repeated on the surface.

Speleotourism is suitable for people without claustrophobia, who are ready for physical exertion and are not afraid of the dark. It is not necessary to be a professional athlete. There are routes of varying difficulty, from cave dives for a couple of hours to multi-day expeditions.

How to start the path of a speleotourist

The first cave trips should still be arranged in the format of excursions. The tourist routes are equipped with lighting, railings and safe trails, while giving you a sense of the atmosphere of the underground world. This experience will help you understand if you are ready for more serious challenges.

If you decide to do some real caving, here's what you'll need for your first trip:

• Clothes and shoes. Warm waterproof jacket — in caves the temperature is kept at +2...+12 °C all year round, humidity is high. Sturdy shoes with good tread, preferably high boots. Thermal underwear and warm socks, gloves to protect your hands.
• Equipment. Helmet, headlamp, and spare batteries. For difficult routes, you will need a safety system, ropes, and carabiners.
• Additionally. A first-aid kit with bandages, a thermos of hot tea. Prepare high—calorie snacks in advance - you will spend a lot of energy in the dungeon.

• A small backpack. It should hold everything you need. But it is important that the bag does not get in the way in narrow aisles.

The most important thing for a beginner is to find an experienced instructor or join an organized group. Even a seemingly simple cave is fraught with danger for those who do not know the specifics of underground routes.

What you need to know about safety

Speleotourism is an extreme type of recreation, so compliance with safety regulations is critically important. Before descending into any cave, study the basic requirements.

Never go into a cave alone

The minimum group is three people: so that in case of injury, one can stay with the victim, and the other can go out for help. Be sure to inform your family or friends about your route and time of return.

Study the weather forecast and cave features before hiking

Rains can lead to a sharp rise in the water level in underground rivers and flooding of passages. Types of caves with water systems are especially dangerous during snowmelt and heavy precipitation. Karst rocks are sensitive to changes in the groundwater level, icy ones require caution due to slippery surfaces, and volcanic ones can have unstable arches.

Monitor the battery consumption in the flashlights

Always take a spare light source and check its operation before descending. Complete darkness underground is disorienting and can lead to panic. Keep up with the group and follow the instructions of the instructor.

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The best places for caving in Russia

Russia offers speleotourists a huge variety of underground routes: from simple sightseeing trails to complex multi-kilometer systems. The top caves in Russia include locations in different regions of the country, each with its own characteristics.

Krasnoyarsk Region

The region is famous for its wealth of karst formations — more than 350 locations for caving have been discovered and explored here. The most famous cave in Russia among beginners is Karaulnaya, located just 25 km from Krasnoyarsk. This is an equipped excursion route with a length of about 350 m with several halls. The temperature inside is kept at +2 °C all year round, so it's better to bring warm clothes with you.

For experienced speleologists, the Badzheyskaya cave in the Mansky district is interesting. It is located 4 km from the village of Stepnoy Badzhey and impresses with spacious caves. The total length reaches 6 km, the depth is 170 m. An underground stream flows inside, which locals call Porcelain because of the white color of the sediments on its banks.

The Big Hazel Cave is located in the valley of the Taiga Badgey, about 130 km from Krasnoyarsk. It is suitable for family hikes with children over the age of five if they have an experienced guide.

Irkutsk Region

The longest cave in Russia, Botovskaya, is located here. It is located in the Zhigalovsky district, 90 km from the village of Zhigalovo. The total length of the studied passages is more than 70 km, and speleologists are sure that this is not the limit. In 2011, Forbes magazine included Botovskaya in the top ten most impressive caves in the world.

It was formed in a thin layer of limestone and is an intricate system of corridors. It's easy to get lost here without an experienced guide. The exploration of Botovskaya has been going on since 1984, and each expedition opens new sites.

There are more than 50 caves of varying complexity scattered on the western coast of Lake Baikal. Many of them are open to tourists.

Ural

The Ural region has more than a thousand caves. Kungurskaya in Perm Krai is one of the most popular among tourists. This is a real underground kingdom of ice, reminiscent of the domain of the Snow Queen. The ice caves of Russia are especially beautiful in winter and early spring, when the formations reach their maximum size.

The length of the Kungur cave exceeds 5 km, and there are about 70 underground lakes inside. The tour route is laid through 21 caves and is accessible even to people with disabilities. The temperature in different rooms varies from -2 to +5 °C.

About 550 caves with a total length of about 25.5 km are known in the Sverdlovsk region. The Russian cave in the Gubakha area has the first category of difficulty. Its length is 1,450 m and its depth is 72 m. The location is in demand among tourists, but the passage of the distant halls requires special equipment.

Krasnodar Region

Vorontsov Caves in the Khostinsky district of Sochi is the largest karst system in the region. The complex includes four caves: Vorontsovskaya, Dolgaya, Labyrinthovaya and Kabaniy failure. The total length of the passages reaches almost 12 km with height differences of 240 m. It is the sixth deepest cave in Russia by length.

The tour route passes through Vorontsovskaya, where there are safe trails with railings. The temperature inside is kept at +12 °C all year round. The longest hall is the Prometheus Grotto, 120 m long. In the Bear Hall, archaeologists have discovered the bones of a cave bear, and in other parts there are traces of ancient human sites from the Paleolithic era.

Hotels near caves

Comfortable accommodation is an important part of a speleotourist trip. After an active day in the dungeons, you want to return to a cozy room, take a hot shower and recuperate before new adventures.

Accor hotels are located in such a way that they serve as convenient bases for exploring caves. Here you can not only relax, but also plan a route, book a transfer or get advice on the best places for caving in the region. For example, here are just a few of our hotels that are convenient for lovers of this type of vacation.

Novotel Krasnoyarsk Center

It is located in the heart of Krasnoyarsk, from where it is only 25 km to Karaulnaya Cave — an ideal distance for a day trip. Due to the hotel's location in the city center, you can easily reach both natural attractions and cultural sites of the Siberian capital.

After returning from the expedition, guests can dine at the Gourmet Bar by Novotel restaurant with panoramic views of the Theater Square. European cuisine and Siberian delicacies are served here. To recuperate, there is a spa area with a hammam, an aromatic room, a modern gym and a cozy relaxation area.

From Novotel Krasnoyarsk Center tours are possible not only to Karaulnaya, but also to the more remote Badzheyskaya and Bolshaya Oreshnaya caves. Get advice on routes and book a transfer to the starting point.

ibis Irkutsk Center

A modern hotel near the Angara embankment in the historical center of Irkutsk. From here it is convenient to start the journey to the Botovskaya cave, the longest in Russia. Although the distance to it is impressive, Irkutsk is the starting point for most expeditions in this direction.

The hotel has an ibis Kitchen restaurant, where hearty breakfasts are served in the morning, which is especially important before a long journey. In the evening, guests can relax in the 24-hour lobby bar. The rooms are equipped with everything necessary for a comfortable stay: comfortable beds, modern showers and free Wi-Fi.

The proximity to the railway station and the main attractions makes the ibis Irkutsk Center the best choice for speleotourists. Here you can plan a route to the caves of the Baikal region and relax between expeditions in a comfortable urban environment.

Novotel Yekaterinburg Center

A hotel in the center of the Ural capital can be a starting point on the way to the famous Kungur ice cave. Yekaterinburg is about 300 km from this natural wonder, and many travel companies organize one-day or two-day trips from the city.

There is a spa area where you can warm up after visiting the ice caves. The hotel's restaurant offers a varied menu, and in the bar you can spend the evening sharing your impressions of underground adventures. The rooms are designed in the modern style of the Novotel brand and are equipped for maximum comfort.

From Yekaterinburg, it is convenient to explore not only the Kungur cave, but also other Ural locations for caving. The hotel staff will help arrange a transfer and suggest trusted guides for a safe trip to the underworld.

Swissotel Resort Sochi Camellia

A five-star hotel on the Black Sea coast offers a unique opportunity to combine a beach holiday with speleotourism. Vorontsovskiye Caves are located about 20-25 km from the hotel, a comfortable distance for a morning or afternoon excursion.

The Purovel Spa is available on site. Enjoy treatments using alpine oils, ideal for recovery after active walks in the mountains. Gastronomic diversity is provided by three restaurants: the pan—Asian BAO, KAMELIA CAFE with European cuisine, and Rivage with Mediterranean dishes and sea views. Swiss chocolate and specialty desserts are served at Swiss Gourmet Pastry Shop.

The outdoor heated pool is open all year round, keeping the water temperature at +28 °C. After exploring the cool cave halls, it is especially pleasant to plunge into the warm water under the southern sky. A private sandy beach and an evergreen park create an atmosphere of a full-fledged holiday resort.

Discover underground worlds with Accor

Speleotourism is a way to see Russia from a completely new perspective, descending into ancient caves where time seemed to stop millions of years ago. This type of vacation can be both an extreme adventure for experienced travelers and an educational excursion for families with children. The main thing is to properly assess your strength, observe safety precautions and choose a route based on your level of training.

Comfortable accommodation makes any trip more enjoyable. Choose Accor for a vacation close to nature — our hotels in Krasnoyarsk, Irkutsk, Yekaterinburg and Sochi will become a reliable base for exploring the underground wonders of the country. Book a room on the website and go towards an unforgettable experience.