Prepared by Sakhva Travel Georgia Guide, a tours and travel platform for Georgia. Sakhva Travel office: 14 Merab Kostava St, Tbilisi.
Tour on this topic: Canyons of Western Georgia from Tbilisi — from ₾180
What kind of canyon
Over thousands of years the Okatse river has cut a gorge more than 100 m deep into the limestone. The walls are covered with forest and moss, and the water roars below.
The canyon is part of a protected area: the tourist trail opened in 2017, with a visitor centre and parking.
The hanging walkway
From the visitor centre in the Dadiani park forest you walk about 2 km along a forest road, then the metal walkway fixed to the rock begins. Underfoot is a grating, and through it you can see the bottom of the canyon.
At the end is a cantilevered platform projecting over the drop. If you are afraid of heights, you can stop earlier. There and back takes about 2–2.5 hours.
Kinchkha Waterfall
A 10-minute drive from Okatse is Kinchkha Waterfall, about 70 m high. A trail with viewing platforms leads to it. It is worth adding on the same day.
How to get there
From Kutaisi — about an hour by car via the village of Gordi. There is no public transport to the entrance. From Tbilisi it is 4–4.5 hours one way, so the canyons are usually seen with a night in Kutaisi or on a tour of western Georgia.
Tips
Shoes with a good grip, water and a rain jacket — the weather in Imereti changes quickly. The best months are May to October; in the off-season check whether the walkway is open.
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