Kutaisi Canyons Day Trip
Two of western Georgia's limestone gorges in one private day from Kutaisi: the cliff walkway at Okatse, the tiered Kinchkha Waterfall nearby and a short boat trip on the turquoise Abasha inside Martvili Canyon.
Okatse CanyonPhoto: Paata vardanashvili, CC BY-SA 4.0North of Kutaisi the lowland gives way to forested limestone hills, and rivers have sawn deep, narrow gorges into them. This private day takes in the two best known. Okatse Canyon, near the village of Gordi, is walked from above: a forest path through the old Dadiani hunting grounds leads to a steel walkway of about 780 m bolted to the canyon wall, with the river far below your feet. Kinchkha Waterfall drops down a cliff a few kilometres further up the same valley. After lunch you cross into Samegrelo for Martvili Canyon, where the Abasha runs clear and blue between mossy walls and, when the water is calm, a rubber boat takes you up the narrowest part.
Plan on eight to nine hours from your Kutaisi hotel and back, with about four hours in the car on paved local roads. The walking adds up to roughly 6 to 7 km, mostly level, with stairs at Kinchkha and at the end of the Okatse walkway. People with a strong fear of heights can skip the walkway and still enjoy the forest trail. The trip runs from April to November; outside that window we adjust the plan, as the boats stop and the walkway can close after heavy rain.
Highlights
- Walking the steel path that hangs on the side of Okatse Canyon
- The viewing platform at the end, cantilevered out over the gorge
- Kinchkha Waterfall falling in steps down a forested limestone wall
- A short rubber-boat ride on the blue Abasha inside Martvili Canyon
- A Megrelian lunch of elarji, gebzhalia and spicy chicken
- An optional stop at the hilltop Martvili Monastery
Tour facts
The Okatse approach trail is long and the walkway ends in stairs, Kinchkha has a staircase and the Martvili boat needs a step down from the jetty. Travellers with reduced mobility can see Martvili Canyon from the paths near the entrance and enjoy the lunch stop, but should talk to us before booking.
Places on this tour
4 places · tap any place to read its guide
- 1Okatse walkway, Kinchkha Waterfall and the Martvili boats
Day by day
01Okatse walkway, Kinchkha Waterfall and the Martvili boats
We set off from Kutaisi at around 8:30 and drive north through Khoni to the Okatse visitor centre in Gordi, about an hour and a quarter away. From there a trail of a couple of kilometres runs through oak and hornbeam woods that once belonged to the Dadiani princes, then joins the metal walkway fixed to the rock face. At the far end a platform juts out over the drop. Afterwards it is fifteen minutes by car to Kinchkha, where a staircase leads to a view of the falls spilling roughly 70 m down the cliff. Lunch is Megrelian, in a village restaurant on the way west. In the afternoon you reach Martvili Canyon, walk the paths beside the Abasha and, water permitting, glide between the walls by boat. Back in Kutaisi by early evening.
Prices
Price per person for a private tour, by the size of your group. Sample prices
| Group size | Per person | Whole group |
|---|---|---|
| Solo traveller | $190 | $190 |
| 2 travellers | $110 | $220 |
| 3-4 travellers | $80 | from $240 |
| 5-8 travellers | $55 | from $275 |
| 9-15 travellers | $40 | from $360 |
Room and children
- Children under 6 travel free; ages 6-11 pay 50%.
- Prices change with hotel level and season; your quote is final.
Popular add-ons
- Lunch at a family guesthouse$20
- Upgrade to a 4x4 for the whole day$40
What's included
- Pickup and drop-off at your hotel in Kutaisi or Tskaltubo
- Private guide in your language for the whole day
- Private air-conditioned car or minivan with driver
- Entry tickets for Okatse Canyon, Kinchkha Waterfall and Martvili Canyon
- The boat ride in Martvili Canyon when it is running
- Megrelian lunch with soft drinks
- Bottled water in the vehicle
- Wine or other alcohol at lunch
- Any local off-road ride on the Okatse trail, where one is running
- Tips for your guide and driver, as you see fit
- Travel insurance with health cover, which Georgia has required of visitors since 1 January 2026
Good to know
Who it's for
- Visitors based in Kutaisi or Tskaltubo who want the region's best-known gorges in a single outing
- Families with children from about six years old who enjoy a boat ride and a forest walk
- Travellers comfortable with heights who want the hanging walkway at Okatse
- Food lovers keen to try Megrelian cooking at its source
If heights, boats and 6-7 km of walking do not appeal, our Kutaisi Caves and Monasteries Day Trip is a gentler day around the same city.
What to bring
- Trainers or walking shoes with grip, as metal steps and canyon paths stay damp
- A light rain jacket, even in summer, because western Georgia sees frequent showers
- A small daypack with water for the 2.5 km forest approach to the Okatse walkway
- Insect repellent for the humid woods and the riverbanks at Martvili
- A dry bag or zip pouch for your phone on the Martvili boat
- A scarf or wrap if you want to enter Martvili Monastery
- The Martvili boats stop in rain and when the river rises, and do not usually run in the cold months.
- The Okatse walkway can close after heavy rain; we then lengthen the Kinchkha and Martvili parts of the day.
- Expect queues at Martvili Canyon on summer weekends; we aim to arrive outside the busiest hours.
- The walkway has see-through sections, so anyone with a strong fear of heights may prefer to wait at its start.
Guest reviews
Questions about this tour
Is the Okatse walkway scary?
It is solid, fenced and wide enough to pass other people, but the canyon floor is a long way down and you can see it through the gaps. Most visitors find it exciting rather than frightening. If heights bother you, walk the forest trail and wait at the start of the walkway while the others go on.
Does the Martvili boat ride always run?
No. The boats stop when it rains or when the river rises, and they usually do not operate in the colder months. On those days you still walk the canyon paths and footbridges. If the boat matters to you, keep a spare day in Kutaisi and we will move the trip to suit the forecast.
Can children do this trip?
Yes. The park only lets children aged 6 and over onto the Okatse trail, so younger ones wait at the visitor centre with an adult, and the Martvili boats take passengers taller than 1 m. Life jackets are provided on the Martvili boats. Let us know ages in advance so we can bring child seats.
What should I wear?
Trainers or light walking shoes with grip, since paths and steps can be wet. Bring a light rain jacket: this corner of Georgia gets plenty of rain even in summer. Shoulders and knees should be covered if you want to step inside Martvili Monastery.
Can we add Prometheus Cave?
Only if you drop one of the canyons, as the day is already full. A better plan is to pair this trip with our Kutaisi caves and monasteries day, which covers Prometheus, Sataplia, Gelati and Motsameta.
Can we start from Batumi instead?
Yes, but Martvili is about two and a half hours from Batumi, so the day grows to eleven or twelve hours. We usually suggest a night in Kutaisi or Tskaltubo instead.
