Excursion & Dinner
On Friday afternoon, September 18, you are invited to a social event - excursion to the magnificient Škocjan Caves and a conference dinner in the renowned manor house Zemono. Both excursion and dinner as well as bus transfers (Portotož - Škocjan, Škocjan - Zemono, Zemono - Portorož) are covered by the participant and accompanying fee.
Excursion to Škocjan Caves
The Škocjan Caves are a unique natural phenomenon, that was entered on UNESCO’s list of natural and cultural world heritage sites in 1986. The exceptional volume of the world’s largest underground canyon is what distinguishes the Škocjan Caves from other caves and places them among the most famous underground features. The view from the Cerkvenik Bridge (photo below), 47 meters above the Reka River, is truly spectacular. Equally intriguing are limestone deposits in the form of stalactites and stalagmites. The most beautiful are found in the Organ Hall, Great Hall and Rimstone Pool’s Hall. Due to particular geo-morphological and microclimatic conditions, an extraordinary ecosystem has developed. Large nursery colonies of several bat species, world-famous cave salamander (Proteus anguinus), endemic species of underground crustaceans and beetles are the most famous inhabitants.
The length of all cave passages totals approximately 6 kilometers, while the vertical difference between the highest and the lowest point in the caves reached by man, is 205 meters. As a part of the guided tour only a part of the cave system is explored. The tour that is approx. 3 km long begins at the Visitors Centre and lasts 90 minutes. The altitude difference of 140 m (500 steps), can be significantly reduced using the funicular lift from the Big Collapse Doline (photo below) where the tour ends, back to the Visitor Centre. The temperature in the caves is constant at 12°C and the cave floor can be moist, so a light jacket or sweater and good walking shoes are recommended. Those who do not want to enter the underground can enjoy on the picturesque 2 km long trail on the relatively flat terrain around Big and Little Collapse Dolines. The trail ends in the village of Škocjan, 10 minutes from the visitor center, where the museums collections devoted to the history of exploring the caves, ethnology exhibition, geological and archeological artifacts are displayed.
After the guided tour there will be a bus transfer to Zemono where the conference dinner will take place. The transfer is included in the conference fee.
Conference Dinner
The conference dinner will take place at manor house Zemono in the restaurant “Pri Lojzetu” that is recognized as one of the best in Slovenia.
At the end of the social event a bus transfer will be organized back to Portorož.
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| Dolina at Škocjan Caves | Škocjan Caves - Cerkvenik Bridge |
Photos: Park Škocjanske jame (author: Borut Lozej)