Kinchkha Waterfall from Kutaisi: views and pools

Kinchkha is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in western Georgia: the water drops in several tiers down a tall, layered limestone wall, and turquoise pools gather beneath the ledges. The waterfall hides in the gorge of the Okatse River, and people usually see it together with the neighbouring canyon.

Why the waterfall is famous

Kinchkha sits in the Khoni Municipality of Imereti, in the gorge of the Okatse River. It is a cascade: the water runs down the limestone in several steps - the upper one around 25 metres, the main drop around 70 metres, and the lower one around 20. Because of its total height, Kinchkha is considered one of the largest waterfalls in western Georgia.

Main cascade of Kinchkha Waterfall down a tall, layered limestone wall — The main cascade drops down the tall, layered limestone wall of the gorge. Photo: Paata vardanashvili / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

What gives the place its special beauty are the pools: beneath the ledges the water collects into round basins with a distinctive turquoise-green colour. It is the combination of white jets, dark layered rock and bright pools that makes Kinchkha so photogenic.

Kinchkha Waterfall falling into a bright turquoise pool — Beneath the ledge the water collects into a bright turquoise basin. Photo: Paata vardanashvili / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

What to see and how a visit works

A trail leads from the car park down to the cascades: it descends into the gorge, and along the way the views open up onto the main drop, then onto the lower tiers with their pools. The water is at its fullest in spring and early summer - that’s when the waterfall is most powerful. In summer the flow is weaker, but the descent is easier and the turquoise of the pools shows up better.

Turquoise pool beneath the Kinchkha cascade, seen from the trail above — From the trail the pool opens up below - this is where the turquoise of the water shows best. Photo: Paata vardanashvili / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Lower tier of Kinchkha Waterfall with a green pool and fallen trees — The lower tier: a calm green pool among the rocks and fallen trunks. Photo: Paata vardanashvili / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

What to keep in mind when visiting

The main thing is the descent and climb along the trail: in places it is steep and slippery, especially after rain, so you’ll want comfortable, non-slip shoes. The last stretch of the road to the car park is unpaved and can be tricky for an ordinary car in wet weather. Bring water, and if you plan to go down to the pools, bear in mind that the water is cold and the rocks are wet.

A small step of Kinchkha Waterfall over the rocks in the gorge — In the gorge the stream runs in steps over the rocks - it can be slippery near the water. Photo: Paata vardanashvili / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Nearby

People usually see Kinchkha together with Okatse Canyon and Prometheus Cave, using Kutaisi as a base for the trip. It’s easier to get around the sights of Imereti by car - for how to rent one, see the car hire section; more places are in the things to see section.

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