OUT FOR THE DAY….with Rosaleen Bond and her three junior journalists
Underground Adventure at Fuilla: A Family Caving Experience in the Pyrénées-Orientales
What is the Fuilla Cave?
If you’ve driven between Fuilla and Villefranche-de-Conflent, there’s a good chance you’ve passed one of the Pyrénées-Orientales’ best kept secrets without even realising it. Hidden beside the road lies part of the Fuilla Canalettes cave system, with more than 27 kilometres of underground galleries carved through limestone over millions of years. Unlike the nearby show caves, this is a real caving experience. You’ll pull on a helmet, switch on your head torch and explore the cave much as cavers have for decades.
A Protected Underground World
The caves are also one of the region’s most important bat habitats and form part of the Natura 2000 protected network. Visits are limited to the summer months to protect hibernating bats, making the experience feel even more special.The Experience
Our adventure began at the cave entrance where we were fitted with helmets and head torches before following our guide underground. I’ll admit, the first obstacle made me wonder whether I’d made the right decision. With my short legs and slight dislike of confined spaces, I was relieved I’d mentioned it to our guide beforehand. Thankfully, once inside, that was probably the hardest part. The temperature immediately dropped to around 12°C and the outside world quickly disappeared. All that remained was the sound of dripping water, footsteps and excited whispers from the children. The route constantly changes. One minute you’re walking through surprisingly large galleries, the next you’re ducking beneath low ceilings or crawling through smooth limestone passages. At several points the children took their own smaller route while the adults followed an easier path before meeting up again. They loved the independence and I was more than happy to avoid the crawling. Along the way our guide pointed out remarkable limestone formations, signs of the bats and explained how the cave had slowly developed over millions of years. At one point every light was switched off, leaving us in complete darkness. It only lasted a minute, but it’s something none of us will forget.
A Brilliant Introduction to Caving for Families
What surprised me most was how accessible it felt. Rather than being extreme, it simply felt like exploring a completely different world together. My uncertainty actually made me relax and let the guide take control, which she did brilliantly. Whenever the children needed reminding of the rules, she stepped in with calm encouragement and plenty of humour. If you’ve never been caving before, this is an excellent place to start. The guides adapt the route to suit the group and carry all the safety equipment, allowing families to simply enjoy the adventure.What to Wear
Wear walking shoes or lightweight hiking boots with good grip, long trousers and a long-sleeved top. Expect to get dusty, especially during the crawling sections, and bring a change of clothes for afterwards.Booking Your Visit
Visits must be booked in advance and groups are deliberately kept small, allowing guides to adapt the experience to everyone’s confidence level while protecting this fragile environment.
Family discovery sessions run throughout the summer (typically from 1 June to 30 September) and are suitable for children from around 6 years old. Bookings can be made directly with Explor’Addiction via their website, by phone, SMS/WhatsApp on +33 (0)7 85 84 20 16, or by email at contact@exploraddiction.com. If the guides are underground and can’t answer immediately, they recommend sending a text message with your preferred date, number of participants and the children’s ages
For the latest availability and online booking, visit Explor’Addiction.