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Horne Lake caving tours
Try spelunking on Vancouver Island, a surreal underground experience!
Immerse yourself in the fascinating underground caves of Vancouver Island near Nanaimo, BC. Friendly, experienced guides lead you on a caving and spelunking journey through ancient tunnels etched and sculpted over hundreds of thousands of years. If you're looking for real adventure, have a look under Vancouver Island and discover another world - see amazing crystal formations and ancient fossils and even see an underground waterfall!
The caves at Horne Lake are largely undeveloped and kept in a natural state. They were even voted "Best Natural Outdoor Site in BC" by Attractions Canada. In keeping with the low-impact theme, none of the caves have permanent lighting or sidewalks and the floors are rocky and uneven. In winter, wetter conditions prevail. Due to the terrain, the very elderly or those with limited mobility may have difficulty on the trails or in the caves. The temperature inside the caves is cool (8 degrees Celsius or 48 degrees Fahrenheit). Bring warm clothes and sturdy boots or running shoes. Cameras are always welcome!
Facts About Caving:
Caving can be physically challenging, but no experience is necessary
Participants should be active and fairly fit
Minimum age is 8 years old
The cave is wild and undeveloped with no electricity or infrastructure
The caves are always about 8 degrees Celsius or 48 degrees Fahrenheit
We supply all necessary equipment including headlamps and helmets
Caving is available year round, but is much wetter throughout the winter. The seasons dictate which caves are open!
Horne Lake Caves Ice Age Spelunking Adventure Tour - BEGINNER
This thrilling 3 hour cave tour highlights the incredible natural forces that created these beautiful marble and crystal filled chambers. See a waterfall and ancient fossils and squeeze through the ceiling galleries on this fabulous adventure; a small taste of “wild” caving! Perfect for first time cavers with a sense of adventure. Some tight passages, short climbs and lots of cave scrambling.
May to September
Departs daily at 2pm
June 23 - Sept 3 additional daily summer departures at 10am and 4pm
Departs from Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park (1.5 hours north of Nanaimo)
Duration 3 hours round trip
No experience necessary
Must be 8 years or older
$54.00 per adult (12 years & up)
$45.00 per child (8-11)
Prices in Canadian funds and do not include tax
Horne Lake Caves Wet & Wild Spelunking Tour - BEGINNER
With the arrival of the rainy season comes a whole new way to experience caving in Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park. Join us on a guided 3-hour "Wet & Wild Cave Adventure" this winter. Great for explorers aged 8 and up, this thrilling trip is similar to the above Ice Age Tour and highlights the incredible natural forces that created these marble passages and crystal caverns. See an underground river and waterfall, marvel at the amazing crystals and squeeze through the ceiling galleries on this fabulous adventure, a small taste of "wild" caving! Participants will negotiate some tight passages, short climbs and lots of cave scrambling. And prepare to get very, very wet!
October to April
Departs daily at 1:30pm
Departs from Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park (1.5 hours north of Nanaimo)
Duration 3 hours round trip
No experience necessary
Must be 8 years or older
$69.00 per adult (12 years & up)
$54.00 per child (8-11)
Prices in Canadian funds and do not include tax
Horne Lake Caves High Adventure Expedition - INTERMEDIATE
This is a wild and challenging expedition that provides instruction and experience in basic rock climbing while navigating through this amazing underground environment. The adventure begins when the water drains out of the "Siphon Room" and continues further into Riverbend Cave, encountering a series of vertical drops. We provide one on-one instruction and all equipment to rope your way down to view the amazing "Achilles Pit" where you can see an amazing crystal formation over 4 stories tall! This tour does involve some crawling and basic roped climbing under the instruction of a certified vertical cave guide.
June to September
Departs daily at various times, departure time TBC when booking
Departs from Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park (1.5 hours north of Nanaimo)
Duration 4 hours round trip
No experience necessary
Must be 13 years or older
$109.00 per adult (13 years & up)
Prices in Canadian funds and do not include tax
Horne Lake Caves Extreme Rappel Caving Tour - INTERMEDIATE
Experience the best this park has to offer! This program is an extension of the "High Adventure" expedition and will further allow participants to climb and rappel in a wild cave environment. Descend the seven story Rainbarrel "ON RAPPEL" and visit the amazing "China Shop" at the very end of this amazing cave! Explorers will return to the surface by climbing back up the Rainbarrel on a wild cable ladder. Not for the faint of heart!
Participants on this tour must have previous outdoor rappelling experience and this rappelling experience must be recent within the last 2 years. For adventurous guests who do not have rappelling experience, we offer a 2 hour outdoor rappel clinic in the morning prior to the afternoon departure of the tour.
June to September
Departs daily at 12pm
Departs from Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park (1.5 hours north of Nanaimo)
Duration 5 hours round trip
All participants must have recent outdoor rappelling experience, but no caving experience is necessary
If you do not have recent outdoor rappelling experience you must book the additional outdoor rappel clinic for $40 per adult. Clinic takes place in the morning prior to tour departure.
