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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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 £154,450 to 230 expeditions travelling to 48 different countries.

We are also particularly keen to encourage young cavers into expedition caving. Over the last 19 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)

Christine in sump 1 with Suex scooter (© Richard Walker)
Featured

Deadlines for GPF and MEF Spring 2026 grant applications

Posted on By Henry Patton

Please be advised of the deadlines for the above organisations that give financial and other support to UK caving expeditions going abroad.

Mount Everest Foundation: 31st January 2026
Ghar Parau Foundation: 28th February 2026

Visit their respective websites for full terms and conditions to ensure your expedition is valid.

Photo: Christine in sump 1 with Suex scooter (© Richard Walker)

Descending the main shaft (approx 300m) of LOC81 (Keramos 2)

SUSS joining the Gourgouthakas

Posted on By Henry Patton

The main aims of the SUSS expedition were to resurvey and push LOC81 (named Keramos 2). These were successful, resurveying past the limit of exploration from 2001 and rebolting down to -450m. We also assisted in getting a diver into a sump at -1,100m, and carried out much rebolting and resurveying in Gourgothakas and Liontari (the two deepest caves in Greece).

Report | Descending the main shaft (approx 300m) of LOC81 (Keramos 2), Greece (© Toby Ward )

Aurelia descends 'My Little Pitch', a 90m pitch discovered at the end of the 2024 expedition. (© Ben Richards)

Nova Meja – New Frontier

Posted on By Henry Patton

Despite ambitious goals, the 2025 expedition succeeded in its objectives. 11 cavers were introduced to alpine expeditionary caving, our first ever hammock camp was established at -700m (proving very popular), deep leads in Primadona were pushed and ongoing, and we concluded by dining with the British Ambassador to Slovenia.

Report | Photo: ‘My Little Pitch’, Primadona, Slovenia (© Ben Richards)

Gongdap Kol, South Garo Hills, Babiocetus fossil. Embedded in oolitic limestone C 35-40 million years (© Gregory Warjri/Core Geo Expeditions)

Core Geo-Expeditions South Garo 2025

Posted on By Henry Patton

After the very successful Expedition in 2024 this one was planned to continue work in the Chibe Valley based out of Emangre village. In total 93 caves were discovered with a total of 13.2 km of passage surveyed. In addition, an SRT training programme as well as a variety of related cave skills were taught to local guides.

Report | Photo: Gongdap Kol, South Garo Hills, India. Babiocetus fossil embedded in oolitic limestone c. 35-40 million years (© Gregory Warjri/Core Geo Expeditions)

The 2025 Ario expedition quickly achieved its first objective, the key connection between Tras La Jayada and the main stream in Cave of the Witch's Eye. However, easy access to the main stream in the latter did not result in significant new finds. Several minor caves were also pushed, with small finds surveyed, before derigging. Report | Photo: Viagra Falls in upstream Cave of the Witch's Eye (© Bartek Biela)

Ario 2025

Posted on By Henry Patton

The 2025 Ario expedition quickly achieved its first objective, the key connection between Tras La Jayada and the main stream in Cave of the Witch’s Eye. However, easy access to the main stream in the latter did not result in significant new finds. Several minor caves were also pushed, with small finds surveyed, before derigging.

Report | Photo: Viagra Falls in upstream Cave of the Witch’s Eye (© Bartek Biela)

El Gordo Caver at top of rock pile (© Simon Cornhill)

Matienzo Caves Project 2025

Posted on By Henry Patton

Objectives 2025 were to extend key systems: four valley system extended by nearly 2 km to nearly 79 km, including finding ‘el Gordo’, a 166x100m 50-metre-high chamber; extending Sistema de Risco by nearly 1 km to just under 13 km; and a key breakthrough was made in the well-known Cueva de Rascavieja extending it from 614 m to 1,714 m with open leads left.

Report | El Gordo caver at top of rock pile, Spain (© Simon Cornhill)

Group photo of the expedition team. (© Paul McCarron)

Dachstein Caving Expedition 2025

Posted on By Henry Patton

This year’s Dachstein expedition was particularly successful, finding 1267 m of new cave passage in WUG Pot (Hirlatzhöhle), and 314 m in new caves. Prospecting continued in higher areas finding numerous small caves, while in WUG Pot three different leads all led to ongoing large new passage and the establishment of a new lightweight camp.

Report | Photo: The Dachstein 2025 expedition team. (© Paul McCarron)

Bolting Anfängerglückhöhle (© Daniel Gorst)

CUCC Totes Gebirge Expedition 2025

Posted on By Henry Patton

We explored 3.7 km of new cave passage. Continued exploration in Kaninchenhöhle extended it by 2,210 m, while Balkonhöhle was pushed to a new deepest point of –622 m. 28 new caves were prospected and surveyed, most notably Gruffalohöhle and Anfängerglückhöhle, both with promising leads to return to. It was the first expedition for 9 cavers.

Report | Photo: Anfängerglückhöhle, Austria (© Daniel Gorst)

Luke Cafferty in the entrance of Helms Deep (© Rob Eavis)

Albania 2025

Posted on By Henry Patton

The Eldon’s expedition to northern Albania in 2025 was yet again a resounding success. During the week the small team managed 42 man days on the mountain, a big ask even before descending any caves, with some team members clocking up +7000m elevation gain. 30 new caves were logged, half of which explored, with some still ongoing.

Report | Photo: Helms Deep, Albania (© Rob Eavis)

Divers in Sump1, Pozo Azul, Spain (© Pedro Gonzalez)

Pozo Azul 2025

Posted on By Henry Patton

Objectives 2025: test a new radio location/communication device, survey all side passages and explore sump 6. The water levels this year were several inches higher than usual, with poor visibility. Thus it was only possible fo ther radio location objective to be completed. A significant connection between the sink and the resurgence in a nearby system was achieved.

Report | Photo: Divers in Sump 1, Pozo Azul, Spain (© Pedro Gonzalez)