Prometheus Cave

Inside Prometheus Cave the air stays around 14 °C all year and smells of damp rock. The temperature does not change between summer and winter, so a light jacket is necessary in any month. The tourist path covers just over a kilometre of the nearly 11 km of the total system, lit with coloured spotlights — blues, oranges, greens — that some find overly theatrical but which at least allow you to see the formations without a personal torch. The walking tour lasts between 60 and 75 minutes.

The formations are dense and varied: in the Hall of the Amorini and the Hall of Stone Flowers the columns reach several metres, and the ceiling in some sections is completely covered with stalactites. In more remote sectors white aragonite crystals appear, growing at unexpected angles, unlike conventional formations. The constant sound of water dripping and running through the inner channels accompanies the entire visit.

At the end of the standard tour there is the option to navigate about 400 metres by boat along the underground Kumistavi River, which adds about 20 minutes and an additional cost of around 15 GEL (approx. 5 EUR) per person. General admission is around 20-23 GEL (6-8 EUR) for adults. In high season Prometheus Cave receives large groups; Tuesday and Wednesday mornings outside of July and August are the quietest times.

Prometheus Cave, also known locally as Kumistavi mghvime (the cave of Kumistavi), was known to the inhabitants of the Imereti region for centuries, but was systematically explored and mapped during the Soviet era. The name Prometheus — the Titan who according to Greek mythology was chained somewhere in the Caucasus as punishment for giving fire to humans — was assigned for tourism purposes in more recent times. Development work for visitor access began in the 1980s; the current lighting and the navigable section were added in the 21st century as part of a tourism development plan promoted by Georgian authorities for the Imereti region.

• Hall of the Amorini The first large hall with calcite columns and rock curtains hanging from the ceiling; the density of formations and coloured lighting are at their peak here.
• Underground lake A small still stretch of water that reflects the stalactites on the ceiling. The silence and cold are felt most intensely at this point.
• Kumistavi River (navigable section) Option to travel about 400 m by boat along the channel draining the system. Paid separately; in high season it is worth asking about availability on entry.
• Aragonite formations In various sections of the tour, branching white crystals appear growing at oblique angles, different from classic stalactites.
• Hall of Stone Flowers Columns up to several metres tall formed by the joining of stalactites and stalagmites; one of the most photographed spaces on the circuit.
• Exterior exit towards Kumistavi The visit ends through a different opening from the entrance, which gives a real sense of the system's extent and offers views over the forested valley.

Photo gallery

Prometheus Cave is about 20 km northwest of Kutaisi, near the village of Tskaltubo. Frequent marshrutkas run from Kutaisi to Tskaltubo (30-40 min), and from there a taxi covers the rest in about 10 minutes. In tourist season direct minibuses run from the centre of Kutaisi. Kutaisi International Airport is about 25 km from the cave.

The interior temperature of Prometheus Cave remains around 14 °C throughout the year, so bringing a warm layer is advisable in any season. May, June and September combine good public transport access with fewer organised groups. July and August are the busiest months. The damp floor can be slippery; shoes with grip are better than sandals.