Okatse Canyon

The Okatse Canyon is explored via a metal walkway bolted directly into the limestone rock face. The most striking section hangs suspended about forty metres above the bed of the Okatse River: the floor is a metal grate through which you can see the water moving below, which not everyone finds reassuring. The railings are solid, but the sense of exposure is real. The sound of the water rises before it becomes visible, mingled with the humidity of the forest surrounding the path.

Access begins with about two kilometres of dirt trail through temperate forest — oaks, chestnuts, sizeable ferns — before reaching the start of the Okatse walkway. The full round trip is around four kilometres with no significant elevation change, accessible for most fitness levels. At the end a cantilevered viewpoint awaits with views of the river meander enclosed between vegetation-covered walls.

The infrastructure is recent — the walkway opened around 2016 — and is well maintained. There is a ticket booth at the car park, basic toilets and a couple of food stalls. Entry costs around 15 lari per person (approximately €5). On weekends from June to August the car park fills with vehicles from Kutaisi and the walkway can get congested. On weekdays the visit is noticeably quieter and the forest has a different quality.

The Okatse Canyon holds no significant archaeological remains: its value is geological and natural. The Okatse River has carved the gorge through limestone over thousands of years, creating vertical walls between twenty and forty metres high. The area forms part of the protected zone of Imereti Natural Park, which also includes the Martvili Caves, about fifteen kilometres away. The walkway was built by the Georgian government as part of a series of nature tourism infrastructure projects promoted in the Imereti region during the second decade of the 21st century.

• Canyon walkway The suspended section measures about 780 metres and ends at a cantilevered viewpoint; the highest point is over forty metres above the Okatse River. The metal grate floor lets you look directly down at the water below, which draws most of the photos on the route.
• Canyon access trail Before the walkway, a path of about two kilometres crosses dense forest with climbing plants, large ferns and the constant sound of water among the trees. Non-slip footwear is advisable, especially after rain.
• Okatse final viewpoint At the end of the walkway, the viewpoint shows the canyon meander from above. This is the turning point: you return along the same path, which offers a different perspective on the landscape.
• Martvili Caves About fifteen kilometres away, combinable in the same day. A different canyon, with rowing boats inside illuminated caverns on the Martvili River. Separate entry, also around 15 lari.
• Car park and service area At the entrance to Okatse Canyon there is a ticket booth, toilets and stalls with basic food and drinks. This is the start and end point of the route.

Photo gallery

Okatse Canyon is about 20 km northwest of Kutaisi. There is no regular public transport to the canyon; the most common option is to hire a taxi from Kutaisi for the day — around 80–100 lari — combining the visit with the Martvili Caves. Kutaisi has an airport with flights from several European cities and a train connection to Tbilisi (about 5 hours). By car from Tbilisi it is approximately 3 hours via the E60 motorway.

May and June offer the forest at its best, with cool temperatures in the shade of Okatse Canyon and occasional rain that makes the rock slippery — non-slip footwear recommended —. July and August are the hottest months and the busiest, especially at weekends. September and October have fewer visitors and the forest gradually changes colour. In winter access is restricted or closed due to the risk of ice on the walkway.