River

River visit

If you have wired earphones (mini jack), please bring them for the tour.

Tour duration : 1h30 (introduction + in and out of the tunnel)
Access to the cave : shuttle bus (30 min drive) / pedestrian (2h hike)
Public : all public (80 uneven steps to reach the river)
Minimum age : 7 years old
Guide : touristic

First part

Discover the biggest underground chamber open to all public worldwide. An artificial horizontal tunnel, with a 660 m (0.41 mile) length, allows you to reach by foot this huge cavern, which is then being revealed by a gradual lighting. The tour is guided and commented along a secure path.

The guiding thread is an extraordinary human adventure : the exploration of a deep pit in the heart of La Pierre Saint-Martin limestone massif.

 

Second part

Before or after seeing the la Verna chamber, you go up a long stairway carved in stone and boulders (80 uneven steps) that leads to the river. Up there you can enjoy a panoramic viewpoint of the chamber. You will also be able to see the water intake structure built by the SHEM company and the plaque in memory of Marcel Loubens. Since 2019, you can cross the river thanks to the addition of two footbridges, towards the upstream great gallery where the 1953 first explorers came from.

 

Provided equipment : hygiene cap, helmet with light, audiophone (for an easier use, bring your own mini jack wired earphones, if owned)

What to bring : warm clothing (average temperature is 5°C with strong air current in the tunnel), hiking shoes

 

Admission prices

All indicated prices include VAT and transport with the shuttle bus from the reception located in the village of Saint-Engrâce (Calla area/ alt : 660 m) to the entrance of the cave (alt : 1050m). Another option is to go hiking to the entrance of the cave: see conditions.

Normal admission price
Child ** : 18€ - Adult : 25€

Reduced admission price *
Child ** : 17€ - Adult : 21€

* Off-peak period (from Monday to Friday, excluding school breaks and public holidays. See booking calendar), family (minimum 2 adults + 2 children), group starting from 16 people (if only one payment is made), speleologists owning a federation licence (upon presentation of the licence).
**  From 5 to 15 years old included  (please keep in mind minimum ages : Discovery from 5 years old, River from 7 years old, Exploration from 10 years old).

 

Access to the cave

Shuttle : 30 minutes (1 way)

From the Arrakotchepia reception area located in Sainte-Engrâce (Calla district / Alt: 600 m), a shuttle bus takes you to the entrance of the cave. The 7 kilometer route, including 4 km of concrete mountain trail, crosses the village of Sainte-Engrâce (11th century Romanesque church), climbs through the beech forest and overlooks the Arphidia ravine.

Walking : 2 heures (1 way)

You can walk in the footsteps of the pioneers of speleological explorations through a preserved nature. The entrance tickets and a map are provided to you at the Arrakotchepia reception area. From there, a 6 kilometers long and 450 meters high path follows the GR10 and then the Arphidia ravine and brings you to the "Dominique Prébende" hut near the entrance of the cave. The guide of the tour is waiting for you or will meet you there.
Picnic tables and a covered terrace are at your disposal in front of the hut. Attention: there is no drinking water on site.

Private vehicle: 30 minutes (one way)

Access to certain tours is exceptionally open to private vehicles. Only compact cars are permitted (campervans, motorbikes and commercial vehicles are excluded) and visitors are asked to carpool to limit the number of cars.
On both the outward and return journeys, private vehicles must follow the shuttle bus (same timetable) along the 7-kilometre route, 4 km of which is a concrete mountain track.

 

Access

Route from the ticket office (parking)
to the cave
(access to the track is regulated)