Nature and outdoors

Achilles Challenge

Horne Lake Cave Tours and Outdoor Centre9 hr 44 min by bus · 143.7 km

! built for 13+, your youngest are 3 · capacity is 6, your group is 16 · $149 a child is over your $10 budget

Four people wearing helmets with headlamps crouch along a low cave wall beside large rounded rock formations.

Cost

$149 a child

$2384 for 16 children

Their booking software adds a 3% processing fee per booking, and non profit organisations are exempt from it.

Ages & size

Ages 13 to 12

Up to 6 children

Duration

4 hours

June to September

Days not published

Book by

Not published

Plan this trip

Fieldy handles all communication and booking for you.

What it actually looks like

Photos from Horne Lake Cave Tours and Outdoor Centre's website

Our note

This one is set at 13 and up, so it is a secondary school trip rather than an elementary one. Four hours underground with crawls that tight is a lot to ask of a first time caver, and the tightest crawl is about 18 inches high.

What the children do

A vertical caving trip beyond the crawlways in Riverbend Cave, with three belly crawls, a 6m rock climb and a 5m cable ladder climb. Kneepads are provided and no previous rope experience is needed. The site says it is only available June to September. This is a regular public tour rather than a school offering. Groups of ten or more can contact the groups coordinator for custom tour times and 15% off regular prices.

Hike a kilometre uphill, then crawl on hands and knees and on their bellies through passages as low as 18 inches, climb rock and a cable ladder, and clip into a handline to traverse a rock shelf above a large calcite formation.

Good to know

Four hours of hard physical caving with crawls, climbs and ladders, available in summer only. Washrooms, lunch space and bus parking are not stated on the site, so ask when you call.

Sources disagree. Two different numbers are given for their visitor centre. The school page lists one and the rest of the site lists another. Try the one on their contact page first and use the other if nobody picks up.

Sources disagree. Their own group pages give two different addresses for confirming your numbers, one starting groups and one starting education. If one bounces, try the other.

Sources disagree. The site gives two youngest ages for the Multi-Cave trip. The tour list says 8 and up, while the groups page says 5 and up. Their questions page explains the difference is a private tour, so say who is coming when you enquire.

Washrooms

Needs confirmation

Lunch space

Needs confirmation

Rain backup

Tours proceed as scheduled regardless of weather conditions.

Strollers

All tours begin with a 1km moderately strenuous uphill hike, which is broken up with 7 informative stops.

Wheelchair access

Our caves are wild and natural, with no lighting, paved walkways, or hand-railings.

Bus parking

Needs confirmation

Nearby park

The neighbouring Horne Lake Regional Park Campground has hiking, canoe rentals, beach walking and bird watching.

Restrictions

No backpacks in the cave, but small hip pouches or fanny packs are fine. NO flip-flops, sandals, or holey soles permitted. Children 5-15 years old must be accompanied by an adult. Dogs and other pets are not permitted inside any of the caves. All park visitors entering the caves must clean their shoes to remove White Nose Syndrome spores. No personal caving equipment that has been into any caves off of Vancouver Island. Please do not apply perfume or after-shave, because the enclosed spaces make it difficult for those with scent sensitivities. Adult participants aged 19 and over sign a liability waiver, and every participant under 19 needs a signed parental consent and medical form

Getting there

3905 Horne Lake Caves Rd Qualicum Beach, BC V9K 2L7

On foot

31 hr 14 min

too far with this group

By bus

9 hr 44 min

includes a 9 min wait

Driving

4 hr 33 min

The dark pin is Victoria.

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Details checked on 2026-09-07 against the venue’s own pages. Something wrong? , it takes one tap. · Venue page · (250) 248-7829