# Martvili Canyon near Kutaisi > Martvili Canyon is a turquoise river gorge with waterfalls, an hour's drive from Kutaisi. Allow **1–1.5 hours** on site for the 700 m loop. From 1 April 2026 foreign visitors pay **40 GEL**, plus around 20 GEL for the boat (verifying). Open daily from 10:00, until 19:00 in autumn and midnight in summer. Web page: https://yesgo.io/georgia/kutaisi/martvili-canyon - City: [Kutaisi](https://yesgo.io/georgia/kutaisi), Georgia - YesGo score: 22/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 1 h 30 min - With kids: Fine with kids - Ticket (foreign visitors): 40 GEL (from 1 April 2026) - Boat ride: ≈ 20 GEL on top of entry; some tour listings say 30 GEL - Children: Under 6 free; reduced fare for ages 6–18 - Hours: From 10:00; until 18:00 in spring and winter, 24:00 in summer, 19:00 in autumn - Day off: None per the Protected Areas Agency main page (“every day”); its older visitor rules say “except Mondays” - Boat rules: Minimum height 1 m; no boats in rain or snow - Where to buy: Visitor centre ticket desk at the entrance - Payment: Unofficial: card or cash (lari) at the desk; marshrutkas and taxis are cash only - Address: Visitor centre in Inchkhuri village, Martvili Municipality, Samegrelo - Coordinates: 42.45570, 42.37590 - Facts checked: 30.10.2026 ## Key facts - **700 m** — walking loop with two bridges, three viewpoints and an old stone staircase (source: Agency of Protected Areas of Georgia (nationalparks.ge); Georgia Travel) - **300–350 m** — boat stretch of the Abasha River that you can't reach on foot (source: Agency of Protected Areas of Georgia — 300 m; Georgia Travel — 300–350 m) - **45–50 km** — from Kutaisi, about an hour by car (source: Agency of Protected Areas of Georgia — 45 km; Georgia Travel and GoTrip — 50 km) - **≈ 2.4 km** — total length of the canyon — only a short section is open to visitors (source: English Wikipedia — 2,400 m; GoTrip — 2.5 km) - **50–70 m** — depth of the gorge (source: English Wikipedia; GoTrip) - **15–20 min** — length of the boat ride (source: GoTrip; Georgia Travel) - **1 m** — minimum height for children on the boat (source: Agency of Protected Areas of Georgia; Georgia Travel) - **6 people** — per inflatable boat, with a staff paddler on board (source: Agency of Protected Areas of Georgia; Georgia Travel) - **2013** — declared a natural monument (English Wikipedia's text says 2010) (source: Wikidata; Georgia Travel; English Wikipedia) - **Dadiani Baths** — the bathing spot of Samegrelo's ruling family, reached by their old staircase (source: Georgia Travel; English Wikipedia; GoTrip) - **No swimming** — banned throughout the protected area (source: Agency of Protected Areas of Georgia; GoTrip) ## Martvili Canyon tickets and boat ride price From 1 April 2026, entry for foreign visitors is **40 GEL** (16 GEL for Georgian citizens). That comes from a tour operator's notice of the Protected Areas Agency's new tariff; the agency's own tariff page returned an error when we checked on 30.10.2026, so we mark the price as verifying. Blogs from earlier years quote 17.25 or 20 GEL — those fares are out of date. The boat is **paid separately** at the same desk. The same notice keeps it at 20 GEL; some tour listings say 30 GEL. Under-6s go free, there's a reduced fare for ages 6–18, and children must be at least 1 metre tall to board. Paying: Visa and Mastercard work almost everywhere in Georgia, and the visitor centre reportedly takes both card and cash (unofficial). Carry some lari anyway — marshrutka drivers and most local taxi drivers only take cash, and there's little else around the canyon. > **Rain can cancel the boat** The boat is the highlight, and it depends on the weather. Under the Protected Areas Agency's rules boats don't run in rain or snow, and after heavy rain the river rises and the current gets too strong. The walking trail stays open. If the boat is the point of your trip, check the forecast for Martvili rather than Kutaisi and go in the morning. ## Opening hours The canyon opens at **10:00** every day. The Protected Areas Agency portal lists closing at 18:00 in spring and winter, 19:00 in autumn and midnight in summer, when the gorge is lit up after dark. Boats stop earlier — the last one leaves roughly half an hour before closing, and sooner off-season. The same portal's older visitor rules mention a Monday closure, while its main page and Georgia's official tourism site say “every day”. We treat it as open daily and mark that as verifying; if Monday is your only option, ring the visitor centre first. Timing tip: come at opening or after lunch on a weekday. Around midday the tour minibuses from Kutaisi and Batumi arrive and a queue forms at the boat pier. ## How to get to Martvili Canyon from Kutaisi 1. Easiest: a taxi or Bolt from David the Builder Square (the Colchis Fountain) — about 45 km, 50–60 minutes. Agree that the driver waits 1.5–2 hours; finding a car back from the canyon is hard. 2. There is no direct public transport. Marshrutkas to Martvili town reportedly leave from Kutaisi's main bus station next to McDonald's on Chavchavadze Avenue, through the day; the ride takes about 1.5 hours and you pay the driver in cash (unofficial). 3. The bus station isn't the stop by the fountain — take a short taxi ride there from the square. 4. In Martvili, take a taxi for the last 5 km or so to the visitor centre in Inchkhuri, about 10 minutes. Walking takes around an hour along the road. 5. Driving: the road from Kutaisi is paved and there's free parking at the entrance. Don't leave valuables on show. 6. Buy entry and the boat at the visitor centre desk together. Afterwards, [Okatse Canyon](https://yesgo.io/georgia/kutaisi/okatse-canyon) is about 45 minutes away by car. ## Is Martvili Canyon worth it? Yes — if you take the boat and combine it with something else. The colour of the water, the mossy walls and the waterfalls seen from the river are the real reason to come, and the ride takes you into a part of the gorge the trail can't reach. Be realistic about the scale. This is a small canyon: the trail is a 700-metre loop and most people are done in an hour or so. If you've seen big canyons in Turkey or the Alps, it won't feel grand. Without the boat — on a rainy day, say — an hour's drive each way for the trail alone is hard to justify. That's why most travellers pair it with Okatse Canyon and [Kinchkha Waterfall](https://yesgo.io/georgia/kutaisi/kinchkha-waterfall), or with [Prometheus Cave](https://yesgo.io/georgia/kutaisi/prometheus-cave), and make a full day of it from Kutaisi. ## What to see - The walking loop above the river — 700 metres with two bridges over the gorge and three viewpoints. - The turquoise Abasha: the colour is brightest on sunny days in the dry season, when the water runs clear. - Waterfalls in the middle of the canyon — visible from the viewpoints, best from the boat. - The **Dadiani Baths** and the limestone staircase the ruling family used to reach the water. - The boat stretch: 300–350 metres in an inflatable between sheer walls. A helmet and life jacket are included. - Moss-covered cliffs and hanging roots over the water — the shot most people come for. ## About the canyon The Abasha River cut this gorge through limestone. It runs for about 2.4 km and is 50–70 metres deep; in places the walls come so close that the trees almost meet above the water. Only a short section is open to visitors. The **Dadiani** princes, who ruled Samegrelo, kept a summer residence here and bathed in the canyon — their stone staircase still leads down to the water. Palaeontologists have found Late Cretaceous fossils in the area, including dinosaur footprints. The canyon became a protected natural monument in 2013 and was later fitted with bridges, viewpoints, a pier and a visitor centre. Officially it's the Gachedili Canyon Natural Monument; in guides and on maps it's simply Martvili Canyon. ## Best time to visit May to October is the best window. In spring the river is full but cloudier and colder, and boats are cancelled more often after rain. Summer is the busiest season. September and October are our pick — fewer people and calm, bright water. Rain doesn't close the trail, but the steps and bridges get slippery and the boats stay tied up. In winter the canyon is open but muted, and boats run only now and then. Swimming is banned throughout the protected area, even on hot days. Locals swim at nearby Balda Canyon instead, about 15 minutes' drive away. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] Checked the Martvili forecast — no rain means boats run - [ ] Leaving early enough to reach the desk before midday - [ ] Cash in lari for the marshrutka and taxis - [ ] Shoes with grip — steps and bridges can be wet - [ ] Kids are over 1 m tall, if we're taking the boat - [ ] Taxi driver will wait for the return - [ ] Decided what's next: Okatse, Kinchkha or Prometheus Cave ## Martvili vs Okatse vs Prometheus Cave | | Martvili Canyon | Okatse Canyon | Prometheus Cave | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | What it is | Turquoise river, waterfalls, boat | Hanging walkway along the cliff | Lit cave with an underground river | | Where | Samegrelo, near Martvili | Imereti, near Khoni | Kumistavi, near Tskaltubo | | From Kutaisi | ≈ 1 h | ≈ 1 h | ≈ 30–40 min | | Time on site | 1–1.5 h | 1.5–2 h | ≈ 1.5 h | | In the rain | No boats | Slippery trail | Indoors | | Best for | Getting on the water | Anyone fine with heights | Anyone fine with steps | The classic day from Kutaisi: Martvili in the morning, then Okatse and Kinchkha Waterfall, about 45 minutes apart. On a wet day, swap the canyons for Prometheus Cave. ## Water and nature around Kutaisi compared Places by the water around Kutaisi rated by YesGo. - [Colchis Fountain](https://yesgo.io/georgia/kutaisi/colchis-fountain) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 15 min · Free - [White Bridge](https://yesgo.io/georgia/kutaisi/kutaisi-white-bridge) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Free - [Motsameta Monastery](https://yesgo.io/georgia/kutaisi/motsameta-monastery) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 40 min · Free - [Prometheus Cave](https://yesgo.io/georgia/kutaisi/prometheus-cave) — YesGo score 23/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · 40 GEL, boat +30 GEL - [Martvili Canyon](https://yesgo.io/georgia/kutaisi/martvili-canyon) — YesGo score 22/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Entry 40 GEL, boat ≈ 20 GEL - [Kinchkha Waterfall](https://yesgo.io/georgia/kutaisi/kinchkha-waterfall) — YesGo score 22/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · 20 GEL for foreign visitors - [Okatse Canyon](https://yesgo.io/georgia/kutaisi/okatse-canyon) — YesGo score 21/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · 30 GEL for foreign visitors ## Two canyons and a waterfall in one day Martvili and the boat in the morning, the Okatse cliff walkway in the afternoon, Kinchkha Waterfall next to Okatse on the way back. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers. 1. [Martvili Canyon](https://yesgo.io/georgia/kutaisi/martvili-canyon) — YesGo score 22/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Entry 40 GEL, boat ≈ 20 GEL 2. [Okatse Canyon](https://yesgo.io/georgia/kutaisi/okatse-canyon) — YesGo score 21/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · 30 GEL for foreign visitors 3. [Kinchkha Waterfall](https://yesgo.io/georgia/kutaisi/kinchkha-waterfall) — YesGo score 22/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · 20 GEL for foreign visitors ## Good to know Martvili Canyon, Gachedili Canyon and Abasha Canyon are the same place. Martvili Monastery (Chkondidi) is a separate sight in Martvili town itself. Balda Canyon nearby is a different gorge where swimming is allowed. Okatse Canyon is in neighbouring Imereti and has a cliff walkway instead of a boat. ## Tips - Get there for the 10:00 opening — the pier is nearly empty before midday, when the tour groups arrive. - Buy the boat ticket at the desk with your entry; there's no ticket sale at the pier. - Six people share a boat and a staff paddler does most of the work; helmet and life jacket are provided. - Keep your phone on a strap or in a pouch — there's spray on the boat and the river is unforgiving. - From Batumi or Tbilisi, stay a night in Kutaisi rather than doing it as a long day trip. - The trail has steps and bridges — use a baby carrier rather than a pushchair. ## Questions ### How much is the Martvili Canyon entrance fee? From April 2026, 40 GEL for foreign visitors. The boat is extra, around 20 GEL. Under-6s are free. We're still verifying these prices. ### Is the Martvili Canyon boat ride worth it? Yes — it's the main reason to come. It takes 15–20 minutes and goes into a part of the gorge you can't see from the trail. ### What are Martvili Canyon opening hours? Daily from 10:00: until 18:00 in spring and winter, 19:00 in autumn and midnight in summer. Boats stop about half an hour before closing. ### How do I get to Martvili Canyon from Kutaisi? Taxi or Bolt is easiest, about an hour. There's no direct bus: marshrutkas reportedly run from the main bus station by McDonald's to Martvili town, then it's a 5 km taxi ride. ### How long do you need at Martvili Canyon? 1–1.5 hours covers the trail and the boat. Add a couple of hours for the drive there and back from Kutaisi. ### Can you do Martvili and Okatse canyons in one day? Yes, it's the most popular day trip from Kutaisi. They're about 45 minutes apart by car, and Kinchkha Waterfall is close to Okatse. ### Can you swim in Martvili Canyon? No, swimming is banned in the protected area. Nearby Balda Canyon has spots where it's allowed. ### Is Martvili Canyon good for kids? Yes, under-6s go free. Children need to be at least 1 m tall for the boat, and the trail has steps, so skip the pushchair. ### Does the boat run in the rain? No. Boats don't go out in rain or snow, and they may stay closed after heavy rain while the river is high. ## How we checked Boat rules (minimum height 1 m, no boats in rain or snow, six per boat), the 700 m trail, the 300 m boat section, the swimming ban, the visitor centre address and the ticket desk come from the Agency of Protected Areas portal and are marked official. Hours and the day off conflict: the portal's main page gives seasonal hours “every day” (18:00 in spring and winter, 24:00 in summer, 19:00 in autumn), an older rules page says “except Mondays”, Georgia Travel says daily until midnight and a 2026 blog says 18:00 in summer — so hours and the no-day-off status are marked verifying. The agency's tariff page returned a 404 on 30.10.2026; the 40 GEL entry fee from 1 April 2026 comes from a tour operator's notice, the 20 GEL boat from the same notice and the previous tariff (Frontnews, Georgia Travel), and 30 GEL from some tour listings — all verifying. The protection date differs (2013 in Wikidata and Georgia Travel, 2010 in English Wikipedia's text), so we show both. Marshrutka routes and pick-up points are unofficial; judgements on this page are YesGo's own. ## Sources - Agency of Protected Areas of Georgia, National Parks of Georgia portal (nationalparks.ge): Martvili Canyon, Guide, 30.10.2026 - FAHU Travel notice of new prices for Georgia's natural sites from 1 April 2026, 20.02.2026 - Frontnews: Entrance fees to Georgia's protected areas increase — the previous tariff rise - Georgia Travel — Georgian National Tourism Administration: Martvili Canyon; Visiting Martvili Canyon, 2024 - English Wikipedia: Gachedili Canyon Natural Monument; Wikidata Q87458885 - GoTrip: Martvili Canyon guide — tickets, boat tours and transportation, 2024 - Sakhva Travel: Martvili Canyon, 2026 --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.