Okatse Canyon is a protected natural monument in Khoni Municipality, in the Imereti region of western Georgia. The Okatse River (the Satsiskvilo in the agency’s own description) has cut it into Upper Cretaceous limestone: according to the Agency of Protected Areas, the canyon is 35 to 50 m deep and on average only about 4 m wide. In places the two walls almost touch and form natural stone bridges; one of them, called Boga, lets you look straight down to the riverbed.
What makes it a place people drive out to is not the depth but the way you see it. Instead of a rim viewpoint, a metal walkway is fixed to the canyon wall for 780 m, and it ends on a platform about 20 m long that hangs out over the gorge.
The hanging walkway, step by step
Everything starts at the visitor centre in Zeda Gordi, where you buy the ticket. The agency describes the route as 6 km, two to three hours, and simple:
- Forest path, 2,300 m. A stone-paved path runs through the Dadiani forest park, past the ruins of the Dadiani castle and a church, to the canyon checkpoint. You can also drive this stretch.
- The hanging walkway, 780 m. From the checkpoint the path leaves solid ground and follows the canyon wall on a metal structure. The agency’s trail notes count 989 steps of metal stairs on this part.
- The panoramic platform. The walkway ends on a platform about 20 m long that projects over the canyon. This is the photograph everyone comes for.
- Back to the checkpoint, 645 m. A stone path returns you to the checkpoint, and from there you walk or ride back to the visitor centre.
The hanging walkway guide covers the stairs, the height and who might find it hard.
Tickets and opening hours
The Agency of Protected Areas sells tickets at the visitor centre. Its fee schedule, checked November 2026:
| Visitor | Ticket |
|---|---|
| Foreign adults | 30 GEL |
| Georgian citizens and residents (ID needed) | 16 GEL |
| Ages 6 to 18 | 5.50 GEL |
| Under 6 | free, but not allowed on the canyon trail |
| Canyon + Kinchkha waterfall, combined | 40 GEL (22 GEL residents) |
The agency’s English-language fee page showed the earlier, lower rates in November 2026; the figures above are from its Georgian fee page.
The fee page lists the visitor centre as open every day, 10:00 to 17:30; the agency’s park portal gives 10:00 to 18:00 in spring and summer and 10:00 to 17:00 in autumn and winter. Plan on 17:00. Walking is not allowed in rain or snow. More detail, including what to bring, is on the tickets and opening hours page.
Getting there from Kutaisi
Kutaisi is the nearest city and the usual base. By road, the shortest way to the visitor centre runs north through Tskaltubo: 42.9 km. In a straight line the canyon is only 25.2 km from the city, which is why phone maps that show “as the crow flies” figures make it look closer than it drives.
There is no direct bus. Minibuses run from Kutaisi to Khoni (27.5 km), and from Khoni it is 21 km on to Gordi, so most visitors without a car take a taxi or a driver from Kutaisi. From Tbilisi, the agency gives 260 km and about three and a half hours to Khoni, then 21 km to the visitor centre. The Kutaisi to Okatse Canyon guide compares the options.
Kinchkha waterfall, 5 km up the road
The Okatse (Kinchkha) waterfall is a separate natural monument above the village of Kinchkha, 5 km by road from the canyon visitor centre and then 2.1 km on a marked foot trail. It falls in three steps from a limestone cliff, the tallest about 70 m. Many visitors pair the two in one morning or afternoon: see the Kinchkha waterfall guide.
Season, weather and closures
The agency runs visits all year and calls April to October the active season. The rule that matters most is simple: no walking in rain or snow, for safety on the metal walkway. Rain can close the walkway in any month, and snow in winter. If the weather looks doubtful, call the visitor centre on +995 595 03 60 47 or +995 595 80 54 55 before driving out. The winter and best-time guide goes through the months.
Safety and accessibility
- Height. The walkway and platform are built over a drop of tens of metres. Both are railed. If you have a strong fear of heights, the platform is the part to think about: it projects out over the gorge, while most of the walkway runs along the wall.
- Steps. With 989 metal steps on the agency’s count, the walkway is not step-free and is not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs. The forest path and the visitor centre are easier ground.
- Children. Under-6s go free but the agency does not allow them on the canyon trail. Older children should be able to manage long flights of stairs.
- Shoes. Wear shoes with grip: the stone path and the metal steps are slippery when damp.
Combining Okatse with Martvili Canyon and Prometheus Cave
Prometheus Cave, Okatse Canyon and Martvili Canyon sit close together on the map: the canyon is 10.7 km from the cave and 12.4 km from Martvili in a straight line, though 24.7 km and 25.7 km by road. A full loop from Kutaisi through all three is about 118 km of driving and fits a long day if you keep to the opening hours. The day trip guide gives the order and the timings, and Okatse vs Martvili Canyon helps if you only have time for one.
Official information
Okatse Canyon is managed by Georgia’s Agency of Protected Areas through its Samegrelo and Okatse natural monuments administration. Its own pages: Okatse Canyon Natural Monument on apa.gov.ge and Okatse Canyon on nationalparks.ge. Fees and hours on this site were checked against them in November 2026.