The terrain.

The Grandes Canalettes rank among the largest and most beautiful caves in France. Exploration starts in the show-cave section, then switches to caving with the downclimb of the Angkor temple, all the way to the immense collector gallery.

Then come the 15 m rappel at La Dona's overhang, the camp, the petrified serpent, the immaculate Virgin's chamber, the gallery of draperies and crystal tubes, and the river gallery. You climb back up the ladders and exit through the upper Canalettes, after 4 hours in galleries very few people have seen.

Villefranche de Conflent

4h (Caving) + 15m (Walk)

From 12 years old

What's included.

SUITtough suit · provided
HELMETwith headlamp · provided
HARNESSfull harness for rappel · provided
PHOTOSGoPro loan or photos sent via WhatsApp

Day programme.

Sample schedule — times may vary based on your chosen time, weather, group level, and guide.

09:00Meeting point · technical briefing · gear upGrottes des Canalettes

09:15Approach — 15 min↑ 60 m D+

09:30Entry through the show cave · downclimbing the Angkor templeGrandes Canalettes

10:00Immense collector galleryNatural network

10:3015 m rappel · La Dona's overhangLa Dona chamber

11:00Camp · petrified serpent · immaculate Virgin's chamberCentral network

11:30Gallery of draperies and crystal tubesCentral network

12:00Underground river galleryLower network

12:40Climb back up the laddersTowards the upper level

13:00Upper exit · gear down · debriefUpper exit

Sylvain Marty

BEMF #0123 · Caving certificate · FRANÇAIS · ENGLISH

"The petrified serpent of the Canalettes — a 3-metre concretion that looks exactly like a sleeping reptile. Nobody remains unmoved."

Location.

42.583695° N · 2.370266° E

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Caving — Exploration Canalettes

The terrain.

What's included.

Day programme.

Location.

Upcoming outings.