The Karst plateau extending across the border of southwestern Slovenia and northeastern Italy hides a myriad of natural treasures waiting to be explored. The area is known for its caves including the largest show cave in the world—Grotta Gigante, which has been registered in the Guinness Book of Records since 1995! The cave contains many mesmerizing and large stalactites and stalagmites formed by water dripping from up to 260 ft. It also presents a challenge to visitors, boasting 500 stairs leading to a depth of 329 ft. The area has a rich and long history as well as some real hiking gems, such as the Mount Lanaro which overlooks most of the plateau and offers stunning vistas reaching even the Adriatic sea. The shady woods and roads connecting regions and cultures have something for everyone, especially hikers looking for uncrowded trails full of historical sites and natural wonders!
Enjoy limitless views, record-breaking caves, and the Sanctuary in Monrupino
This plateau is also one of the biodiverse natural habitats in Europe
Explore astonishing caves, intermittent rivers, sinkholes and other karst phenomena
57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.
We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, guides and the communities they’re travelling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Italy, please refer to the Italian Ministry of Health websites.
Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!
What you get on this adventure:
What’s not included:
This one-day hiking adventure is ideal for hikers with excellent fitness and mobility. The hike is 11.4km (7 miles) long – you can expect about 3 hours of walking with up to +310 meters (1020 ft) in elevation. The visit to Grotta Gigante consists of 500 steps down and 500 steps back up, so make sure you work on your endurance and fitness before the trip. Keep in mind, the weather in summer can be very hot and you’ll also be packing a daypack filled with water and other things you’ll need throughout the day.
Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.
Group sizes and prices:
Hiking can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
To get to Trieste, most people fly into Venice Marco Polo International Airport. From there, you can rent a car or take a shuttle service to Trieste, just an hour and a half away. Other options include flying directly into Trieste Airport or to Milan Malpensa International Airport 4 hours away.
Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, your guide will suggest the best place to meet, usually at the Piazza Oberdan. The guide will choose the appropriate terrain dependent on conditions and the ability of the group.
Your guide operates in Slovenia, Italy, and Austria, and therefore, all EU rights that concern tour packages shall apply.
Deposits
Upon booking, the traveller is required to pay a non-refundable deposit equal to 30 % of the total price unless otherwise specified in the program of the tour package. The remaining amount is required 90 days before departure unless otherwise specified. If the traveller fails to pay the above-mentioned sum at the agreed dates, they will be considered to have withdrawn from the contract.
Guide’s right to change the price
Your guide reserves the right to change the price as a result of changes in the exchange rate applied to the tour package in question, changes in transportation costs, based on the cost of fuel or other energy sources, and changes to the fees and charges applicable to some types of tourist services included in the package and charged by third parties not directly involved in the execution of the package (such as taxes and fees) that affect the price of the package. Your guide will communicate in writing any variations in price to the travellers, at the latest 20 days before the date of departure. If the price variation exceeds 8% of the original price amount, the traveller has the right to withdraw from the travel contract.
Cancellations and replacements
The traveler has the right, at any moment, to withdraw in writing from the travel contract. If the traveller withdraws from the contract, the organizer shall refund him within 14 days, reserving the right to withhold the withdrawal expenses/fines indicated below:
● For withdrawals made up to thirty days before the beginning of the trip: 30% of the total amount (non-refundable deposit)
● For withdrawals made between 29 and 15 days before the beginning of the trip: 50% of the total amount
● For withdrawals made between 14 and 7 days before the beginning of the trip: 75% of the total amount
● For withdrawals made between 6 and 1 days before the trip: 100% of the total amount.
If the traveler does not withdraw from the travel contract in writing before the beginning of the trip and does not participate in the trip, they is not entitled to a refund.
In the event that the traveler cannot take part in the trip, they can be replaced by another person, if the latter meets all the conditions of the chosen tour package. The transferor traveler must inform the organizer of this in writing at least 7 days before the beginning of the trip. In this case, the transferor must refund the organizer all the expenses incurred for the substitution. In the event that third parties necessary for the execution of the tour package (e.g., airlines) do not allow a booking replacement, the transferor will not be able to take advantage of the rights described in this paragraph.
Withdrawals during the trip
The traveler may withdraw in writing from the travel contract during the trip itself as well. In this case, the traveler is not entitled to a refund of the sums paid to the organizer, nor of any other expenses incurred. The following are considered a withdrawal from the travel contract: (i) during the trip, the traveler independently, without a valid cause and without the consent of the organizer, interrupts the chosen tour package; (ii) the traveler is not accepted aboard the means of transportation (air, sea, land or others) for security reasons or regulations imputable to the traveller himself; (iii) the traveler independently and with the consent of guides partially modifies the tour package.
The traveler may withdraw from the travel contract because of extraordinary and inevitable circumstances that modify significantly the performance of the tour package and must, in this case, present relevant evidence. In this event, the traveler is entitled to a full refund, from which only the expenses that the organizer incurred for the registration and the eventual participation in the tour package can be withheld. Whenever withdrawal from the travel contract for extraordinary and inevitable circumstances arises during the performance of the tour package, the organizer offers to the traveller the necessary support. In case of withdrawal on the part of the traveler, they do not have the right to a refund of the expenses such as expenses for obtaining visas, obligatory or recommended vaccines, purchase of flight, bus, boat or train tickets.
Organizer’s cancellation rights
Your guides reserves the right to cancel the travel contract if, because of inevitable and extraordinary circumstances, it cannot perform the tour package pursuant to the provisions of the program of the package itself or the provisions contained in these terms and conditions, or if the number of travellers registered to the tour package is lower than the minimum foreseen in the travel contract. In this case, the organizer will cancel the contract and refund in full the payments made by the traveler for the tour package. The reimbursement does not include any expenses incurred by the traveller due to the cancellation of the tour package. The right to cancel on the part of the organizer may be invoked:
● 20 days before the beginning of the tour package for packages that last longer than 6 days;
● 7 days before the beginning of the tour package for packages that last between 2 to 6 days;
● 48 hours before the beginning of the tour package for packages that last less than 2 days.
In the event of cancellation on the part of the organizer, the traveler is not entitled to be refunded the expenses connected to the tour package that are not included in the price itself (such as expenses to obtain visas, obligatory or recommended vaccines, any insurance policies, or flight, bus, boat and train tickets).
Your guide reserves the right to cancel the travel contract before the beginning of the tour package or during its performance and will be entitled to request a refund for expenses/damages from the traveler, if they directly violates the provisions of the travel contract that they have signed. In particular, if the traveler has voluntarily communicated incorrect information regarding the number and the age of the participants, or if during its performance, they have modified the tour package without informing the guide.
