But the adventure begins with a one-hour hike – involving zip lines, steep and vertical terrain, and flooded chambers.
Visitors first meet their trip leader at 5 pm at their Tanygrisiau Base, near Blaenau Ffestiniog.
From there, they begin a 45-minute walk up the mountains, which the team admits is ‘steep at times, but remote and very beautiful at the top!’
After kitting up with head torches, helmets, a harness, and Wellington boots – adventures must bid farewell to the outside world.
The journey on foot to the mine entrance and through the mine to the Deep Sleep involves two hours or more of walking, “scrambling, ducking, and balancing.”
After the treacherous route underground, through ancient miners’ stairways, ‘decaying bridges’ and ‘scrambles to negotiate,” guests reach their loggings and are provided with a warm drink, an “expedition-style meal” and information on their surroundings.
The price is $488 for a cabin, which takes two people, or £575 for the Grotto (which also takes two people). This includes an evening meal, breakfast in the morning, and hot/cold drinks.
Children aged 14 and over are welcome to accompany adults to Deep Sleep, and ‘warm clothes are recommended.’
All electric lighting in Deep Sleep, including the Wi-Fi!, is low-voltage and powered by 12v batteries.
According to the Go Below team, these batteries are “charged by the force of falling water within the mine itself using micro-hydro turbines.”
They added: “There is no grid connection, so Deep Sleep is self-powered using the mine’s own natural water courses.
“A Euro V compliant diesel generator on the surface provides backup power to charge the batteries if there hasn’t been much rain lately.”
Running water from taps from a spring within the mine provides “excellent quality” rehydration.
Produced in association with SWNS Talker
