Prometheus Cave (Kumistavi): what to see and how to visit

Prometheus Cave (Kumistavi) is the best-known cave in Georgia: long halls with flowstone, stalactites and dramatic lighting, and below them an underground river that you can travel along by boat if you wish. It is named after Prometheus - the Titan who, according to the myth, was chained to a rock in the Caucasus.

Why the cave is famous

Prometheus Cave is in Imereti and part of the Sataplia-Tskaltubo karst massif; the nearest major city is Kutaisi. It is a large system: its total length is around 11 km, and it has 22 halls. Six of them are open to visitors, and the developed route along the walkways is about 1,800 metres. Underground, the route descends to a depth of around 80 metres.

Georgian cavers explored the cave back in the early 1980s, work to develop it as a tourist attraction began in 1985, and in its current form - with walkways, lighting and infrastructure - it opened on 26 May 2011. The cave was granted the status of a protected natural monument in 2007.

Inside: the route and the underground river

Inside the cave there are easy walkways with railings and lighting that picks out the shapes of the formations - stalactites hang from the ceiling, stalagmites and columns rise from the floor, and coloured light washes the halls in blue, green and pink. The route is done as a group with a guide.

In the lower part of the cave runs an underground river - part of a large water system, around 30 km of which has been explored. At the end of the route, when the water level allows, you can take a boat; this is a separate option that depends on the season, so it’s worth checking whether it’s available on the spot.

How to get there

The cave is in the Tskaltubo Municipality, near the resort of Tskaltubo and Kutaisi. From Kutaisi it’s an easy drive - by car or on a tour - in about half an hour, and the visit is easy to combine with other places in Imereti: a monastery, canyons and the thermal springs. At the entrance there’s a visitor centre, where the tours start.

What to keep in mind when visiting

The cave is cool and damp all year round, even in the heat of summer, so bring a warm layer and comfortable, non-slip shoes - the walkways are wet in places. The visit is guided only, on a timetable: it’s best to check the session times, ticket price and the cost of the boat in advance, especially in high season.

Nearby

Close by, on a hill outside Kutaisi, stands the Gelati monastery, and to the west lie the green gorges of Martvili Canyon. It’s easier to get around the sights of Imereti by car - for how to rent one, see the car hire section. There’s a ready-made plan for the west in Imereti: canyons and caves, and the region’s base is Kutaisi. More places are in the things to see section.