Caving - Spelunking

Caving or spelunking is a sub-terrain activity for people who are thrilled with the unknown and want to explore cave systems for either scientific purposes, sports or recreation. It is an activity that combines hiking, climbing, mountaineering and outdoor exploring. On it's extreme version it requires cave diving techniques in order to pass through passages covered with water inside a cave. More than 10.000 caves are found and explored all over the country, on mountains, on the coastline and sea, even on urban terrain. Many caves are considered part of the local history and culture, often accompanied with local myths and folk stories of the region they are found. In Greek mythology many caves are related with a birth of a god or residence of creatures like titans, giants and nymphs. Caving is an activity done in nature, requires certain techniques in order to enter and come out of a cave with safety and can be dangerous without special training and equipment. We arrange half day trips to local sights of interest in Attica taken all the safety requirements.

Panos Cave - Mt Parnitha

Description : A cave of ancient rituals of the Greek god Pan and his followers the Nymps. It is a cave located north of Athens near the province of Filli in Parnitha mountain. One of the early statements about the cave was given by the historian Pausanias that describes the location and characteristics of this small but beautiful cave. This cave also named “Lichnospilia”, because of the 2,000 oil lamps that were found by archaeological survey. The cave consists of two chambers that connect with each other with a very narrow and low passage. In order to pass through to the second chamber, we have to crawl through the passage. The second chamber has a wonderful basin decorated by stalactite and stalagmite material. The cave ends with a big crack where we can find a second entrance that has a rope descent to the ground floor. Close to the location that we will leave our vehicles stands the Filli Caste, a fortified outpost of the ancient Athenians of the 4th century BC, a megalithic archaeological site, worth visiting. No previous experience needed.

Prices : Upon request

Duration : 5-6 hours.

Location : Fyli area, mountain Parnitha, 45 mins drive from Athens.

Hiking duration : Easy to medium difficulty, 1,5 hour hike to the cave entrance.

What's included :

-Expert local guide.

-Safety gear : Helmet, flash light, mountain first aid kit.

-Vat and taxes.

What you should bring :

- Water and snack, light clothing for hiking, extra pair of clothes that will get dirty for caving, mountain boots or sports shoes with good grip.

Cave of Euripides - Salamina island

Description : The cave of Euripides is located at the village of Peristeria, on the south part of the island of Salamina at the Saronic Gulf and at an altitude of 115 meters from the sea. Numerus findings that were recovered from to the archaeological survey by the University of Ioannina from 1994-199, shows clear evidence that has been in use for at least 6 different periods of the prehistory and history of Greece. It has been used as a shelter from the Neolothic period, to a burial and worship site at the Mycenaean period. On the classical period it was used as a retreat and workshop site for the tragic poet Euripides. On Roman and Hellenistic period it was used as a pilgrim and visiting site to honour the tragic poet. On Frankish period it was used as a shelter and treasury. The hiking route that starts from the village will lead us after a 20 minutes hike to a fenced area with the ruins of Dionysus altar. After a few meters we will reach the cave entrance, from where we will enjoy great sea views on a beautiful pine forest mountain slope. It is a small but beautiful cave with many narrow passages and corridors and almost 10 chambers waiting to be explored, making it an ideal destination for families with kids and small groups.