The Lost Sea Adventure — Attraction in Athens

This is a long review but thoroughly written so buckle up.

6-13-25 3 pm.

For a $28, 3/4 mile tour that lasts about 95 minutes in a 58° cave with a underground lake with 18 inch rainbow trout that taste like dog food. ( Bonus: short boat ride. ) Sam parked the boat better than my sister ever has parked anything.

Yes they feed the rainbow trout pellets of..... lost tourists?

But without the food the fish would....stop swimming. The [current ]fish ( rainbow trout) were introduced in the 1960's as told to us by our tour guide. They're not going to survive being released in another environment so don't get up in arms over the fish. I guess fishies need reparations as well.. offer them a finger to nibble off ( don't stick your fingers in the water)

4.8 stars out of 5. Samantha or Sam the tour guide was cheerful and quick to answer the group's questions. I know the tour guides are given scripts to memorize and read from but she was NOT monotonous with her words and Sam made the tour a positive experience.

At times the cave ceilings are a bit low but that how they formed. Being 1.98 Meters tall I had to duck my head a few dozen times but shorter/ average height people and dwarves should be fine.

The uphill climb was a bit strenuous to some but if you are a hiker/ in good shape you should have no qualms.

Groups of ( up to) 25 each time so plan accordingly I.E. if you don't want so many people you could go early early morning I suppose.

Every 15 minutes there's a tour, it's spaced out enough to not feel rushed.

Reserve spots online as the appoints fill sort of quickly.

$28 for adults

Annual $52 ( They ID for annual passes so you can't share them...bummer).

No pets allowed.

4.8/ 5 stars.

There's a gift shop and other kitschy buildings and photo opportunities that sort of distract from the main feature... The Lost Sea..... but overall great experience.

Front desk staff were helpful and informative and friendly despite having to deal with the general public.

People in other reviews complain about low light, rushed tours, slippery floors, strenuous activity.

As of 6/13/2025 I see none of those issues. Hence the 4.8 out of 5 stars.

If you're out of shape, "big boned" , poor eyesight, having mobility issues or are expecting an escalator then this isn't for you.

We Will go back since we bought an annual pass & for curiosity's sake.

P.S Wear a bit light shirt/ t shirt. Good walking shoes and maybe a small dim flashlight.

Expect to walk 3/4 of a mile. If you aren't capable of walking on sloped ground or up stairs then this isn't for you.

P.P.S Don't smoke or drink alcohol, pungent odors linger in the cave.

P.P.P.S. if you're afraid of the dark don't visit.

P.P.P.P.S small kids or babies should be kept home if they're unable to enjoy or tolerate a short walk underground.

P.P.P.P.P.S. in slight disrepair, some railings are not sturdy or have fallen but if you're unsteady on your feet why the heck did you go into a cave? Plus railing are for catching yourself if you slip, not to hang on like a walking crutch. Use the metal hand rails if available and...

I enjoyed this cave and the history behind it. However, my family and I had to do our own research in order to learn about The Lost Sea. We visited on July 13, 2025. We did not have a good tour guide. He was a young man with short, dark curly hair. I’m not sure if he has a speech impediment, or a hearing issue, but he spoke so fast and his words were just jumbled together. As I stood around other members in our group, I would hear people saying, “did you understand what he said?” “Can you hear him?” “What in the world is he saying?” I understand this guy needs a job, but he should not be a tour guide. The hike was a bit rough for me because I have a weak ankle and it’s steep in many areas. The rails need a lot of TLC! Wooden rails are broken and the ones they do have are lower than the metal rails. If you’re walking on the side with wooden rails, you need to be a dwarf! You have to not only watch your head for the low hanging rock, but also watch your step as it’s very uneven. Our guide took us to a part of the cave and again, nobody could understand what he was saying. It’s like you could only pick up bits and pieces. But then he was trying to show us how dark the cave was without lighting. After a few minutes of not being able to see your hand before your face, I started feeling anxious and felt like I was going to hyperventilate. It was to the point that it wasn’t funny anymore. Also when it came time for the boat ride, our tour guide told the 4 of us to get on the boat. We wanted to stay together as a family, so he should have had other members in our group get on the opposite side of the boat to even it out. Instead he told us to get in and then the boat started leaning to one side. Duh! My daughter felt like the boat was going to tip over and so were we along with our cell phones, etc. But the boat ride was very peaceful but too short of a ride. We did enjoy seeing all the rainbow trout come up to our boat. They should provide guests with fish food to feed them. It’s a neat cave with lots of history. But plan on wearing some comfortable and supportive shoes. Cave temperature remains at 58 degrees year round. If you are cold natured, bring a...

As a relatively new TN transplant, my kids and I have been eager to explore more of the state and the local tourist-heavy venues. We had seen billboards for this experience and decided it sounded like something we'd be interested in. After all, how often do you get to ride a boat in an underground lake?

Tours of the cave/boat rides are scheduled throughout the day at 15 minute intervals and are simple to book ahead of time on the website. After checking in, we were taken down a long, sloped yellow hallway (as pictured) to the mouth of the cave.

Overall, the hike to and from the lake was easy to moderate. Most of the hike to the lake is fairly level, but there is a steeply graded segment near the descent to the lake that I found a bit challenging at the time of travel (as a 9 month pregnant woman). That being said, the guides were good about building in breaks to the hike and the trail itself has several benches/seating areas for anyone requiring a rest midway. Also worth a mention that parts of the trail can be steep/slippery. I would exercise caution to anyone with mobility/gait concerns.

The cave and its' history (with its Civil War ties) are interesting to hear about, and the guides are knowledgeable and entertaining. Easily the best part of the tour, though, is the underground lake boat ride, which is, sadly, shorter than we would've liked. Glass bottomed boats pair nicely with the eerily serene turquoise water of the lake, allowing for better viewing of the copious amounts of rainbow trout stocked. While the rest of the cave itself would not be as captivating or worthwhile, the lake is truly a must-see-an altogether memorable and unique experience.

Off of the trail utilized for the main tour, there are multiple trails leading to more involved spelunking/squeeze options. These trails can only be accessed with a different, more expensive ticket option. There are also overnight experiences in the cave for more dedicated cave enthusiasts.

Definitely a unique experience, and while it may be a tourist-trap, its natural beauty should earn it a spot on...