Debutant caving – Haute Savoie
See this excellent guide book: Grottes et Gouffres de Haute Savoie. The book is in French but you can download topos and descriptions in English using the codes in the book.
Grotte de Balme
Easy but really worthwhile cave, short walk-in, lots of passageways (take a copy of the survey), generally shouldn’t get wet above the knee. It has some pretties, sadly it was really beautiful when the sump was drained in the 60’s but then it was severely vandalised. We got as far as Les Rails de Boue (the Entrée des Suisse having been found a bit small), but didn’t go further in case it filled up with water. Would like to return on a drier day. Described in the Haute Savoie guide (see above) and also in Spelealpes volume 24, available from Descent Canyon and other places: https://www.descente-canyon.com/boutique/produit/11024/Spelealpes-n%C2%B024-2009.html.
Parking is here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/M7mZJ55BeQ6Tqamc7, a clear path leaves the hairpin bend and climbs the cliff (handlines in place) to the cave.
Grotte d’Archamps
The hike to this cave is 400m uphill, on a narrow path crossing quite steep ground, and it can be hard to follow the trail (hint: ignore the big red arrow). Don’t go if there is snow on the Salève. Much of the cave slopes downwards fairly steeply, but is otherwise straightforward with a couple of climbs equipped with chains. Take a 10m rope to protect a child.
GPX file of route to the entrance
Grottes de Megavette
This cave is close to the road and well used by guides. It does have some steep sloping sections equipped with handlines, you should wear harnesses or belay belts with cows-tails to clip into the lines. Otherwise no gear is needed. In the lower section of the cave you can expect to get wet to the waist. You enter through the higher entrance and come out of the lower entrance, this is quite small but just as you are getting claustrophobic you can see the daylight!
GPX file of route to the entrance
Grotte de la Diau
This is a super cave but quite serious. You enter at the resurgence and climb up fixed ladders and chains. It must not be attempted after heavy rain or with rain forecast. Also, the entrance is at the base of a cliff and exposed to falling icicles during times of spring thaw. Wear harnesses and cows-tails and take ropes to secure the traverses as described in the guidebook.
GPX file of route to the entrance
Glaciere d’Aviernoz
Nice introduction to pull-through caving. Fairly short approach if you don’t mind driving up the forestry track (we parked about pt1253 but you can drive all the way to pt1342). We used a 30m rope to secure the traverse into the shake-hole and up the first ladder, then we had to return to the entrance afterwards to remove this rope, but it’s only a few minutes from the exit. Inside the cave it is about 0°C.