THE LEDENIKA CAVE AND SAEVA DUPKA
Situated some 16 km from the town of Vratsa, the cave is located on the territory of Vrachanski Balkan Natural Park.
The name – “Ledenika” comes from the icy stalagmites that form in the entrance hall during the winter time. The cave was known to the locals since the times of the Ottoman Empire. Back then many shepherds used it all year around to preserve the milk longer, because of the low temperatures inside.
Since 1961 the cave has been facilitated for tourists and today it is listed under #16 in the 100 National Tourist Sights in Bulgaria. What is special about the cave, besides the natural formations that occur throughout in the entire place, there is a hall, with such amazing acoustical qualities that it has been called “The Concert Hall”. Often live orchestras perform inside.
About a 100 km from Ledenika Cave we find another very interesting cave under the name of Saeva Dupka. It bears the name of the two brothers – Seu and Sau, that accidentally discovered the cave during the 19th century. In the early 1880’s Prof. Zlatarski took on the first documented scientific explorations of the cave that kept going until the late 1960’s. Today we know that the age of Saeva Dupka is around 3 million years and together with the Yagodinska Cave it is considered as one of the two most beautiful caves in Bulgaria. A giant 60 m in diameter stalactite is one of the main attractions as well as the unique variety of colors found inside the cave.
An exciting journey into the underground world of Bulgarian caves this tour is excellent choice for all speleology enthusiasts!
PROGRAM
This is an example program, that can be modified according to your desires.
09:00 am – Pick up from previously arranged location
10:30 am – Arriving at Ledenika Cave
12:00 pm – Lunch
01:00 pm – Arriving at The Saeva Dupka
02:30 pm – Departing for Sofia
04:00 pm – Arriving back in Sofia
IMPORTANT INFORMATION!
You should be well equipped: comfortable walking shoes are recommended for the tour, as well as raincoat and long pants, and a hoodie. The temperatures inside the caves are considerably lower than the outside temperature during the summer and you can easily get cold.
