Okatse Canyon

ოკაცეს კანიონი

A deep, narrow canyon traversed by a dramatic cliff-hugging metal walkway suspended high above the river. The trail through forest and along the rim delivers thrilling views for hikers.

Things to do

• Walk the suspended cliff walkway — Traverse the dramatic metal path bolted to the canyon wall, hovering up to 140 meters above the Okatse River.
• Hike the forest approach trail — Follow the roughly 2.5-kilometer path through beech and hornbeam forest from the visitor gate to reach the canyon's cantilevered walkways.
• Reach the viewing balcony — Stand on the circular observation platform jutting over the gorge for the most vertigo-inducing panorama of the ravine below.
• Visit Kinchkha Waterfall — Detour to the nearby multi-tiered waterfall and its viewpoint platforms, an easy add-on to the Okatse route.
• Explore Okatse Waterfall — Descend the steep trail to the base of the tall Okatse Waterfall for a cooling forest-and-cascade experience.
• Photograph the canyon rim — Catch morning light along the exposed rim sections where the river carves deep through mossy limestone.
• Combine with Prometheus Cave — Pair the canyon trek with the vast stalactite chambers of nearby Prometheus Cave in Tskaltubo district.

Food to try

• Imeretian khachapuri — The round, cheese-filled bread native to the Imereti region is the definitive local starter, softer and flatter than other versions.
• Ojakhuri — A hearty skillet of fried pork and potatoes seasoned with garlic and herbs, ideal fuel after the hike.
• Elarji — A stretchy cornmeal-and-cheese porridge from western Georgia, eaten hot and gooey.
• Ghomi with sulguni — A thick maize porridge served with melting local sulguni cheese, a Megrelian-Imeretian staple.
• Homemade Imeretian wine — Sample locally produced Tsolikouri or Krakhuna wines, often poured from a family qvevri near the villages.
• Churchkhela — Grape-must-coated strings of walnuts sold at roadside stalls make a portable trail snack.

Local customs & good to know

• Arrive early and check opening hours — The canyon operates seasonally with timed entry, and the walkway can close in bad weather or winter, so verify before traveling.
• Hire or join a guide at the gate — Entry is via a guided or ticketed group from the visitor center in Gordi village, and a shuttle covers part of the forest road.
• Wear proper footwear — The trail is uneven, often muddy, and steep in places, so sturdy shoes are essential for the metal walkway and forest paths.
• Respect village hospitality — Locals in Gordi and nearby villages are welcoming; a polite gaumarjos toast if offered wine goes a long way.

Nearby

• Prometheus Cave — 11 km
• Martvili Canyon — 13 km
• Tskaltubo — 14 km
• Sataplia Nature Reserve — 20 km