Located in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, the Marble Arch Caves are renowned for their dramatic limestone formations and immersive underground scenery. In addition to traditional tours, visitors can now experience the caves via a scenic cave cruise that combines boat travel with guided exploration.
In celebration of the caves’ 40th anniversary and a decade of service on Lough Erne, Erne Water Taxi partnered with the Marble Arch Caves to introduce a new joint experience. Guests board the eco-friendly vessel Island Discovery at Enniskillen Castle Museum’s jetty and are guided along a 12-mile route to the cave entrance. Along the way, knowledgeable guides share local history and folklore, offering context about the region and its island communities.
Once inside, the tour navigates subterranean rivers where visitors can admire stalactites, intricate formations and other geological features. The full cave cruise and guided tour runs approximately 60 to 75 minutes, delivering a compact but memorable encounter with the underground landscape.
© Tourism Ireland
The visitor centre also offers a Virtual Reality Cave Explorer Experience designed to improve accessibility for guests who might find the underground tour challenging, allowing them to enjoy a realistic and informative alternative.
“This collaboration highlights the best of Fermanagh’s natural beauty and eco-tourism efforts,” said Barry Flanagan, owner of Erne Water Taxi. “The Island Discovery provides a sustainable way to explore Lough Erne while learning about our unique island town. We’re delighted to be part of this incredible experience.”
The collaboration aligns with Tourism Ireland’s global campaign, Ireland Unrushed, which encourages travelers to slow down and fully experience the tranquillity and scenic beauty of places like Fermanagh.
Tickets are available online or by phone at 44 (0)28 6632 1815. Enniskillen is roughly 1.5 hours from Belfast and under 1.5 hours from Derry, making the Marble Arch Caves and the new cave cruise an accessible day trip for visitors based in those cities.