Borikovska Cave lies in the Rhodopes, 1.5–2 km south-west of the village of Borikovo, Smolyan municipality, in the Chervenata Prast area. The entrance is at about 1,105 m, in beech forest at the foot of a cliff above the Borikovska river. The cave is 470 m long.
It is a single, even channel-like passage, 4 to 10 m wide and high, with a diamond-shaped entrance 4 by 1.5 m. For the first 270 m the floor is clay holding many fossil bones of large mammals, mainly cave bear — the cave is a very important palaeontological site. Between 270 and 380 m calcite deposits take over, and only the far end is rich in formations. It was explored and mapped in 1967 by Dimitar and Georgi Raychev and others from the Studenets caving club of Chepelare, and remapped in 2007. The finds Raychev collected are kept in the Museum of the Rhodope Karst in Chepelare.
The cave is part of an eco-trail from Borikovo and is visited only with a guide from the Mogilitsa tourist council. The entrance is closed with a wooden frame and mesh to protect the fossil layer from treasure hunters, with a gap left at the top for bats. Do not collect bones or dig inside. The path to the entrance is steep and poorly formed — wear hiking boots and bring a headlamp.
Borikovo is about 50 km from Smolyan, close to two hours by car on a mountain road. The path to the cave starts where the Borikovska river meets a small tributary on its right bank.
Smolyan region
1.7 km away
Smolyan region
5.0 km away
Borikovska Cave is located in Smolyan, Bulgaria.
Borikovska Cave is most easily reached by car. Use the coordinates above to navigate, or open the location in OpenStreetMap or your preferred maps app for turn-by-turn directions. Public transport options vary by region — for remote destinations a rental car gives the most flexibility.
Caves can be visited year-round — the temperature inside stays roughly 10–12°C regardless of season. Spring and autumn are quieter than peak summer. Bring a warm layer and sturdy footwear; some caves close in winter when access roads become impassable.
Access to caves varies. Show caves typically run guided tours during posted opening hours; wild caves require proper equipment and experience. Inside, the temperature stays cool year-round (~10–12°C) — bring a warm layer, sturdy non-slip footwear, and a torch even on guided tours.
