Baradla-barlang Hosszútúra

Useful Information

photography — Baradla Barlang Aggtelek to Jósvafõ through trip, Slovakia. Public Domain.

Location:	Aggtelek, 3759. At the border to the Slovak Republic, NE part of Hungary. In the Aggtelek National Park, between Aggtelek and Slovakia. Best access from Budapest: Budapest-Eger-Kazincbarcika-Aggtelek (220 km). (48.4716240, 20.4954368)
Open:	All year 2nd Thu, 3rd Sat, Sun of month 9:30. Online booking mandatory! [2025]
Fee:	Adults HUF 14,000, Students (10-) HUF 10,000, Seniors HUF 10,000. Equipment rental fees: Overall HUF 5,000, Helmet HUF 500, Headlamp HUF 2,000, [2025]
Classification:	Karst Cave
Light:	Incandescent
Dimension:	L=25,120 m, VR=112 m, A=261 m asl, T=10 °C.
Guided tours:	L=7,000 m, MinAge=10, Min=10, Max=35.
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Aggteleki Nemzeti Park (Aggtelek National Park), H-3758 Jósvafõ, Tengerszem oldal 1, Tel: +36-48-503-003. informacio@anpi.hu
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1995	inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Description

Baradla-barlang Hosszútúra (Baradla Cave Long Hike) is the longest tour of the Baradla Cave system. With a total length of 7 km it includes the Aggtelek as well as the Jósvafő show cave, although both tours are only done halfway. And of course the guides will not explain the details of those parts, as this is a different tour. This tour is actually a through trip from one show cave to the other. Mainly a huge tunnel with few side passages, this tour is intended for the adventurous tourist. The tour is 7 km long, but a very easy, no crawls, no narrow parts, no climbing, so this is not cave trekking. There are one or two sections with some staircases though.

The almost 7 km long main branch between the villages of Aggtelek and Jósvafő is the winding bed of an underground river. It is on average 10 m wide, 7-8 m high, and in some places it widens into a huge chamber. The passage normally has few speleothems, but there are spots with huge formations, including micro gours, groups of stalagmites and stalactites, and frozen waterfalls. The largest of those formations is the 17 m high Star Observatory located in the Jósvafő section. Other formations are named Helmet of Minerva, the Dragon Head, and the Column of Saint László.

The river passage has a few tributaries, like the Acheron, originating from the Acheron sinkhole on the border of Aggtelek. While there is a small brook in the main passage, this river cave does not have much water most of the year. Actually most water flows 30-40 m deeper in the phreatic zone, through completely waterfilled passages. During times of high water levels, the river is reactivated, and it is not possible to make this tours. Such events are rare though.

The officials call this tour "difficult", which is probably a psychological trick to filter unsuited visitors. This tour is a 7 km hike, and the difficulty is comparable to a hike on the surface, nevertheless, the distance requires some physical fitness. The long tour includes a picknick halfway, bring a snack and water, picknick tables are provided. Normal hiking clothes are recommended, a light sweater or fleece, good hiking shoes and a good headlamp are mandatory. We actually recommend bringing a helmet with headlamp and a reserve lamp, because the 2-hour walk might be too much for a seldom used lamp. Officially they recommend gum boots, but actually there are bridges and only a few spots where you actually have the chance to get wet. If you have gum boot which allow hiking 7 kilometer you may wear them, we actually recommend good trekking shoes which are at least water resistan and more comfortable Before reaching the concrete trail of the show cave on the other side, the boots are washed, otherwise the trips would bring dirt on the paths. However, the trails are not muddy, there is just some dripping water and cave clay on the trails.

Also, be aware that you emerge at a different cave entrance, so if you are not with two cars, you have to take the bus back to your car. The tours start at 9:30, the exit is reached about 4 to 5 hours later between 13:30 and 14:30. There is a bus daily at 14:48 in the direction of Budapest, which stops at the Aggtelek entrance. Alternatively you may park at Jósvafő in the morning and take the bus from the bus stop called Jósvafő, szálló bejárati út, at 9:08 to Aggtelek. The tour guides are aware of this and wait until the bus arrives at the Aggtelek entrance.