Okatse Canyon: the cliffside walkway and how to get there

Okatse is a canyon in Imereti known not for its water but for its walkway: a metal cliffside path is fixed along the sheer limestone wall, and in one spot a viewing platform juts straight out over the void. Walking along it above the green gorge is what people come for.

Why the canyon is famous

Okatse is a natural monument, an erosion canyon of the Okatse River roughly 20 to 100 metres deep. Its slopes are covered in forest and a river runs along the floor, but the main attraction here is man-made: a suspended cliffside walkway fixed to the sheer canyon wall. Viewing platforms are set out along it, and the most striking is a balcony jutting forward over the drop.

How a visit works

A visit starts from the entrance and the visitor centre near the village of Zeda-Gordi. First you walk along a forest road - it takes a while, but it sets the mood for the walk. Then the suspended walkway itself begins: it follows the canyon along the wall, now hugging the rock, now stepping out over the void, and leads to the viewing platform above the drop. The route is one-way and railed.

What to keep in mind when visiting

The main thing is that this is, after all, a walk: you have to cover a fair distance through the forest to the walkway and back, so you’ll want comfortable shoes and some time to spare. The walkway itself runs above a drop - bear that in mind if you’re afraid of heights or going with children. In rain the surface gets slippery, and in hot weather bring water: there’s little shade on the open stretches.

Nearby

Okatse is easy to combine in a single day with Kinchkha Waterfall, the Sataplia reserve and Prometheus Cave - all of them close to Kutaisi. More places are in the things to see section.