Kayak Tours

The kayak tour is the most adventurous way to see Podzemlje Pece, the former lead and zinc mine under Mount Peca, near Mežica in the north of Slovenia. After the mine closed in the 1990s, pumping stopped, and some of the lower galleries and excavation chambers filled with water, creating a series of flooded tunnels that can be explored by boat. The tour takes place within the Karavanke Geopark, a cross-border area recognised by UNESCO for its geology and mining heritage, and it is an unusual combination of industrial history and adventure sport.

The tour begins at the information centre, where participants are given helmets, lamps and protective clothing, and receive a first briefing. A mine train, the kind that once carried workers and ore, then takes the group several kilometres into the mountain, descending to a level well below the surface, so that the ride itself is a memorable part of the journey. At the water's edge, the guides give a safety briefing and explain the technique, and each person gets into a kayak. From there, the group paddles through tunnels and chambers that were once busy workings and are now dark, still and filled with clear water, while the beams of the lamps pick out the rock walls, old rails and the marks left by drills.

The passage includes narrow sections where the walls are close on both sides, and large chambers where the roof disappears into darkness, and at one point a small rapid adds a little excitement. The whole experience lasts about four hours, including the train ride and the preparation, and the group sizes are kept small for safety and for the feeling of exploration. The temperature in the mine is a constant ten degrees or so, so warm clothing and a change of dry clothes are recommended, and age, height and fitness requirements apply, so it is necessary to check them when booking. No kayaking experience is needed, since the water is calm, but participants should be comfortable in the dark and in confined spaces.

Booking in advance is essential, because the tour is popular and the groups are small. The other options in the same programme include the Underground walking tour, Bike Tours, the Guided mining train tour and general Mine Tours, and the Miner's lunch with mulled wine is a way to round off the visit. Above ground, Peca offers walks and views, and the Mežica valley has a mining museum and quiet villages.