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Okatse Canyon, Kutaisi

Okatse Canyon from above: a forested gorge with the river at the bottom between sheer limestone cliffs
Photo: United States Embassy Tbilisi, Georgia, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

The essentials in 10 seconds

Ticket (foreign visitors)
30 GEL from 1 April 2026 (previously 20 GEL)
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Hours
Spring and summer 10:00–18:00, autumn and winter 10:00–17:00
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Time on site
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes.
2 h
With kids
Fine with kids
Georgian citizens
16 GEL
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Children
Under 6 free
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Closed
No weekly closing day per the Agency of Protected Areas; some guides say Mondays
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Weather
Walking trails close in rain and snow
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Where to buy
Visitor centre in Gordi; the ticket is checked at a turnstile before the walkway
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Payment
Unofficial: card or cash in lari at the desk; carry lari for minibuses, jeeps and taxis
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Visitor centre to walkway
≈ 2.3 km through forest, about 30 min on foot, or a local 4x4
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
From Kutaisi
Taxi ≈ 1 hour; marshrutkas via Khoni, 2+ hours
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Address
Gordi village, Khoni Municipality, Imereti
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Coordinates
42.45060, 42.55150YesGo MapGoogleApple

Key facts

780 mhanging walkway along the canyon wall
2 sourcesAgency of Protected Areas of Georgia (nationalparks.ge)Georgia Travel
20–100 mdepth of the canyon
2 sourcesEnglish WikipediaGeorgia Travel
≈ 50 kmfrom Kutaisi, about an hour by car
3 sourcesGeorgia TravelKutaisi TravelGeorgiantour
≈ 2.3 kmpaved forest path from the visitor centre through the Dadiani woods
2 sourcesEnglish WikipediaShowcaves (Georgia Travel: a half-hour walk or a 2 km drive)
20 mcantilevered platform over the gorge at the end of the walkway
2 sourcesEnglish WikipediaShowcaves
≈ 2 kmof the gorge are protected as a natural monument
2 sourcesEnglish WikipediaGeorgia Travel
3–16 mwidth of the gorge; about 4 m at its narrowest near the bottom
2 sourcesGeorgia Travel (3–16 m)English Wikipedia (mostly 3–6 m)
989 stepson a separate 645 m path down towards the river
2 sourcesEnglish WikipediaShowcaves
2007declared a natural monument (Wikidata gives 2011)
3 sourcesEnglish WikipediaShowcavesWikidata
≈ 520 mabove sea level
2 sourcesEnglish WikipediaWikidata
DadianiGordi was a summer seat of the Mingrelian princes; park and palace ruins by the visitor centre
2 sourcesGeorgiantourIndigo

Okatse Canyon tickets and opening hours

From 1 April 2026 foreign visitors pay 30 GEL and Georgian citizens 16 GEL, according to tour operators announcing the new rates. We couldn’t open the Agency of Protected Areas tariff page on 30 October 2026, so treat the price as unofficial. Older sites still quote 17.25 or 20 GEL — those are past rates. Under-6s go free.

The Agency lists the site as open every day, 10:00–18:00 in spring and summer and 10:00–17:00 in autumn and winter. A few guidebooks say it’s closed on Mondays; the official portal doesn’t. If your only free day is a Monday, ring the visitor specialist number shown on nationalparks.ge.

Buy the ticket at the visitor centre in Gordi and keep it — it’s scanned at a turnstile before the walkway. The local 4x4 to the trailhead is paid separately and priced on the spot. Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in Georgia, but carry lari in cash for marshrutkas, jeeps and taxis; card payment at the desk itself is unofficial.

How to get to Okatse Canyon from Kutaisi

Step-by-step directions are below; the map shows where you arrive.

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destinationStreet view

Where are you starting from?

We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.

More tips

  1. Easiest: a taxi or rental car from David the Builder Square (the Colchis Fountain) — about 50 km, roughly an hour. Agree that the driver waits around 2.5 hours and continues to Kinchkha Waterfall.
  2. By public transport: get from the square to Kutaisi’s central bus station; unofficially, Khoni marshrutkas leave from the stand by McDonald’s on Chavchavadze Avenue.
  3. Ride to Khoni, then change to a marshrutka for Gordi — there are only a few a day, so ask locally, or take a short taxi from Khoni. Budget over two hours for the trip.
  4. At the Gordi visitor centre, buy your ticket and choose: walk 2.3 km through the forest (about 30 minutes) or take a 4x4 to the trailhead.
  5. Walk the hanging trail to the platform and return on the upper path. The last minibus back leaves early — check the time in the morning.

Is Okatse Canyon worth it?

Yes, if you like big views and don’t mind walking. The cliff walkway is the most dramatic thing within an hour of Kutaisi, and the forest approach through the old Dadiani estate is lovely in its own right. Count on roughly 5 km on foot in total if you skip the jeep.

It’s less worth it in the rain (the trail may simply be shut), with toddlers who need carrying, or if you suffer badly from vertigo. In those cases Martvili Canyon, with its short paths and boat ride, is the easier pick.

How high is the walkway — and is it scary?

The canyon is 20–100 m deep, per both English Wikipedia and the Georgian National Tourism Administration. The walkway is fixed to a sheer wall well above the river; we found no official figure for its exact height, and unofficial estimates put it at a few dozen metres.

The trail runs one way for 780 m and ends on a roughly 20 m platform jutting out over the gorge; you return on a separate path higher up the slope. There are railings throughout and the footing is solid. If heights bother you, the first hundred metres will tell you whether to carry on — the rest is the same.

What to see

  • The hanging walkway — 780 m of metal decking on the cliff; the bends give the best shots of both the path and the gorge.
  • The viewing platform at the end — it juts out over the drop, and a fixed camera snaps visitors against the canyon.
  • The Dadiani forest path — about 2.3 km of stone-paved trail, shady even in July.
  • Ruins of the Dadiani summer palace and the old park beside the visitor centre — 10–15 minutes if you have energy left.
  • The river itself — turquoise after dry spells, muddy brown after rain.

Okatse vs Martvili Canyon (and Kinchkha)

Okatseyou are hereCliff walkway above a canyonGordi, Imereti30 GEL2–2.5 h with the forest walkAbout 5 km on footTrail closed
MartviliCanyon with a boat rideMartvili, Samegrelo40 GEL≈ 1–1.5 hShort paths and a boatBoat may stop
KinchkhaTall tiered waterfallJust north of OkatseSeparate ticket≈ 1 hTrail and stepsSlippery

Prices are tour-operator figures for the rates from 1 April 2026 — unofficial. Pick Okatse for views from above, Martvili for an easy family outing. With dry weather and time for just one, Okatse is the bigger wow.

Okatse Canyon and Kinchkha Waterfall in one day

They belong together: Kinchkha Waterfall is 5–7 km from Okatse, around 15–20 minutes by taxi. Do the canyon first while the turnstile is quiet, then the waterfall, and head back to Kutaisi or on to Martvili after lunch.

Martvili and Okatse also fit into one day, but only by car or on a tour — minibuses won’t link them in time. Adding Prometheus Cave too makes for a very long day; split it over two if you can.

Before you go: checklist

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Views and nature around Kutaisi compared

Every viewpoint in and around Kutaisi rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.

Bagrati Cathedral4440 minFree23.0 km
White Bridge4420 minFree23.6 km
Motsameta Monastery3940 minFree25.3 km
Gelati Monastery381 hFree24.8 km
Sataplia Nature Reserve311 h 30 min30 GEL, under-6s free18.5 km
Martvili Canyon221 h 30 minEntry 40 GEL, boat ≈ 20 GEL14.4 km
Kinchkha Waterfall221 h 30 min20 GEL for foreign visitors5.0 km
Okatse Canyonyou are here212 h30 GEL for foreign visitors—

Canyons and a waterfall in a day

Morning on the Okatse walkway, midday at Kinchkha Waterfall, afternoon boat ride in Martvili. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and drives.

  1. Okatse Canyonyou are here2 h · 30 GEL for foreign visitors
  2. 87 min walk from the previous stopKinchkha Waterfall1 h 30 min · 20 GEL for foreign visitors
  3. 260 min walk from the previous stopMartvili Canyon1 h 30 min · Entry 40 GEL, boat ≈ 20 GEL

3 places · about 10 h 47 min with walks · 347 min on foot in total

Go · my route

How to do it right

  • Don’t fancy 2.3 km of forest each way? Take the 4x4 at least for the return — after the walkway, the way back feels longer.
  • A taxi hired for the whole day from Kutaisi, with stops at Kinchkha and Martvili, usually works out better than separate rides.
  • Nervous about heights? Try the first hundred metres — the rest looks the same, and you can turn back at any point.
  • The forest is cooler than Kutaisi in summer, but the walkway is in full sun — bring a hat.
  • Back in town, finish with an easy sunset stroll to the White Bridge.

Questions

How much is the Okatse Canyon entrance fee?

From 1 April 2026, 30 GEL for foreign visitors and 16 GEL for Georgian citizens, per tour operators (unofficial). Children under 6 are free.

What are Okatse Canyon’s opening hours?

Daily, 10:00–18:00 in spring and summer and 10:00–17:00 in autumn and winter. The trail closes in rain and snow.

Is Okatse Canyon closed on Mondays?

The Agency of Protected Areas lists it as open every day, though some guides say Monday is a day off. Call the visitor centre if Monday is your only option.

How do I get to Okatse Canyon from Kutaisi?

Fastest by taxi, about an hour. By public transport, take a marshrutka to Khoni and change for Gordi — allow more than two hours.

How long does Okatse Canyon take?

2–2.5 hours: half an hour through the forest, the walkway and platform, and the way back. About an hour less with the 4x4.

Is there a jeep from the visitor centre?

Yes, local 4x4s run between the visitor centre and the trailhead. The price is set on the spot and paid in cash.

Can I visit Okatse and Martvili canyons in one day?

Yes, by car or on a tour from Kutaisi. Public transport can’t link them in a single day.

Is Okatse Canyon suitable for kids?

Yes, with railings all along and free entry under 6. The total walk is about 5 km, so use the jeep with small children.

Is Okatse Canyon open in the rain?

No — walking trails close in rain and snow. On a wet day, go to Prometheus Cave instead.

Have you been? Was it worth your time?

1 — no, 5 — absolutely

Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.

Sources and fact-check

  • Agency of Protected Areas of Georgia (nationalparks.ge, apa.gov.ge): “Okatse Canyon” — seasonal hours, walkway length, free entry under 6, closure in rain and snow, 30 October 2026
  • FAHU Travel — notice of new rates for western Georgia’s natural sites from 1 April 2026; tour listings from Kutaisi
  • Front News Georgia, 2024 — the previous rise in protected-area fees
  • English Wikipedia: “Okatse Canyon Natural Monument”; Wikidata Q12867786
  • Georgia Travel (Georgian National Tourism Administration): “Okatse Canyon”
  • Kutaisi Travel; Showcaves; Georgiantour; Indigo — canyon, Dadiani estate and access
YesGo editorial team · facts checked 30.10.2026 ·
How we checkedHours, seasons, walkway length, free entry under 6 and the rain-and-snow closure come from the Agency of Protected Areas of Georgia. The Agency’s tariff page returned a 404 on 30 October 2026, so the prices from 1 April 2026 come from a tour operator’s notice and tour listings and are marked as checking; we don’t show the old 17.25 and 20 GEL rates as current. Closing day: the Agency says daily, some guides say Mondays — we show both. The natural-monument year differs (Wikipedia and Showcaves 2007, Wikidata 2011). We found no official height for the walkway itself, so we give no figure. Minibus times and jeep prices vary and are dated, so we leave them out. Other facts are checked against at least two sources.

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White Bridge

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Motsameta Monastery

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Gelati Monastery

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Sataplia Nature Reserve

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1 h 30 min · 30 GEL, under-6s free

Prometheus Cave

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1 h 15 min · 40 GEL, boat +30 GEL

Martvili Canyon

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1 h 30 min · Entry 40 GEL, boat ≈ 20 GEL

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