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)

Apply for funding

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 £150,950 to 227 expeditions travelling to 48 different countries.

We are also particularly keen to encourage young cavers into expedition caving. Over the last 18 years, the GPF has additionally awarded 117 individual grants to cavers going on their first foreign expedition.

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

Tresviso 2017

August 20, 2017October 21, 2023

2017: Tresviso 2017 focused exploration in the Cueva del Nacimiento in the Urdon Gorge (Tresviso, Cantabria). Avens at the back end were climbed, increasing the height to +534 m from the entrance, and with more leads identified. Sump 2 in Cueva del Marniosa was dived, with dry stream passage found beyond.

Read more on this year’s accomplishments … Continue Reading >Tresviso 2017

Huautla Resurgence 2017

July 23, 2017October 21, 2023

2017: Over a three-week period this year’s expedition mounted two camping trips beyond a 1.4 km/65 m deep sump. The exploration teams each spent two nights at the remote camp and mapped a total of 1.5 km of dry passages, including finding many particularly fine calcite formations.

Read a summary of this year’s progress … Continue Reading >Huautla Resurgence 2017

Expedition insurance

June 19, 2017October 12, 2019

Cavers travelling abroad on expedition have had many concerns regarding their travel insurance – is cave exploration covered? Will the insurer actually pay out?
The BCA have been working hard on behalf of their members to solve this problem and are pleased to announce the launch of BCA Member Caving Cover.
Find more details and get a quote online at: https://www.bcacavingcover.co.uk … Continue Reading >Expedition insurance

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.