The Ghar Parau Foundation

A 100% voluntary-based charity providing grant-aid assistance for British caving expeditions to all corners of the world.

Photo: Sunbeams in Doline 1 Hang Son Doong, Vietnam. (Ryan Deboodt)

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About us

The Ghar Parau Foundation is a 100% voluntary-based charity. Through the management of an investment fund, the GPF provides grant aid to British caving expeditions, in particular those that include an element of innovative exploration or scientific study.

Since 2007, the GPF has awarded £136,450 to 215 expeditions travelling to 49 different countries.

We are also particularly keen to encourage young cavers into expedition caving. Over the last 17 years, the GPF has additionally awarded 107 individual grants to cavers going on their first foreign expedition.

Photo: Alum Pot, Yorkshire Dales, UK (Mark Burkey)

Ario Caves Project 2016

December 12, 2016October 21, 2023

2016: The Ario Caves Project expedition returned to the 600m deep C4 to work on several promising leads in the main streamway at the bottom of the cave. Upstream, a 30m high waterfall was climbed to gain >300m of new passages while downstream, the sump was dived for a further 80m towards the nearby 2/7.

Read a summary of this year’s progress … Continue Reading >Ario Caves Project 2016

Durmitor 2016

November 13, 2016October 21, 2023

2016: The expedition achieved its main objective of facilitating the first successful cave dive in Durmitor. Beyond the Blue Lagoon sump pool, Tony Seddon laid 85 m of line before reaching his depth limit of -35 m with the sump ongoing. A small team also visited the Tara Canyon, recording locations of several resurgences and entrances.

Read more on YUCPC’s deepest find in Durmitor. … Continue Reading >Durmitor 2016

Neprehojene Poti 2016

November 13, 2016October 21, 2023

2016: Exploration was mainly focused in an area known as Galerija in the Slovenian Julian Alps. Sustained efforts in the cave “Primadona” resulted in it being pushed 190 m deeper, with 835 m of new passage found that ended in a series of large chambers.

Read more on ICCC’s expedition to the Migovec Plateau

Tresviso 2016

September 7, 2016December 10, 2023

2016: Challenging and remote exploration in the Cueva del Nacimiento cave in the Urdon Gorge (Tresviso, Cantabria) requires 4-5 nights underground camping to adequately push leads.

Read more on this year’s attempts to connect with the deeper systems in Andara. … Continue Reading >Tresviso 2016

Mulu Caves 2015

April 9, 2016October 21, 2023

2015: Ongoing exploration in the Gunung Mulu National Park, Malaysia resulted in further extensions to the world’s 8th largest cave system, Clearwater, along with a new entrance in the Hidden Valley – Conviction Cave.

Read more on the 2015 Mulu Caves expedition, and the use of 3D laser scanners to map some of the world’s largest cave chambers. … Continue Reading >Mulu Caves 2015

Kaokoland, Namibia

January 12, 2016October 21, 2023

2015: The expedition explored 7 new caves in Kaokoland north Namibia, the longest being over 350m long. We received logistical support from Namibian NGO IRDNC who also provided local liaison and guides. Enough encouragement was obtained to consider a return in 2016 to explore more new cave sites.

Read more on these African caves … Continue Reading >Kaokoland, Namibia

Torca del Regallon

December 24, 2015December 10, 2023

2015: In 2015, the Ario Caves Project focused their efforts on Torca del Regallon (also known as C4) last visited in 1997. Major leads explored included a sump at around 600m depth thought to connect with upstream 2/7, and a 15m waterfall marking the upstream limit of the master streamway and heading into blank space.

Matienzo 2015

December 24, 2015October 21, 2023

2015: During a busy 2015, 50 cavers helped survey 10 km of passage in Matienzo caves, 5.5 km of which were new, and with open leads left for 2016. Water tracing at Cueva Valline showed a potential link between Valline and Reñada, with work started on connecting the two (700m new cave).

Read more on the expanding cave systems … Continue Reading >Matienzo 2015

There and Back Again

September 20, 2015October 21, 2023

2015: Eight members of the Imperial College Caving Club went to the Takaka Hills in New Zealand. The expedition found new passage deep in an already discovered cave (Ed’s Cellar) as well as finding several new caves (Weta than Ever, Black Helix and Red Dog/Dead Rogue) in the Canaan Downs region.

Read more on their discoveries … Continue Reading >There and Back Again

Migovec : Pushing the Southern Reaches

October 21, 2014December 10, 2023

The 2014 Expedition to Slovenia celebrated 40 years of exploration by the Slovene caving club, as well as two decades of joint efforts to extend Sistem Migovec. This year saw the discovery of another sump at -967m, and a major breakthrough in the southernmost part of the system.