Okatse Canyon Walk and Hanging Walkway
An easy half-day walk from the Okatse visitor centre at Zeda Gordi: about 2.5 km through the old Dadiani forest park, then 780 m of steel walkway bolted to the gorge side with a lookout platform hanging in space at its end. Around 6 km return and 2 to 3 hours, or less with a 4x4 ride back.
Okatse Canyon walkwayPhoto: georgia.travelThe Okatse River has cut a deep, narrow slot into the limestone of Khoni municipality, and since 2017 visitors have been able to walk along its side on a metal walkway fixed to the cliff. The approach is half the pleasure. From the visitor centre in Zeda Gordi a paved and stepped path leads through the park of the Dadiani princes, who kept a summer residence here, under big old broadleaf trees, before it drops to the start of the walkway.
We grade it 1, the easiest level on our scale. There is no real climb, just a long run of steps near the canyon, and the walkway itself is wide enough for two people to pass and fenced on the open side. What makes people hesitate is height: you look down through the mesh in places, and the final platform hangs out over the gorge. Most visitors cope fine; anyone with strong vertigo can stop before the last section.
Okatse is usually one stop on a longer day from Kutaisi. Kinchkha Waterfall is a short drive further up the same gorge, and Martvili Canyon in Samegrelo is under an hour away, so a driver can link all three. Start at Okatse when it opens to have the walkway nearly to yourself.
Highlights
- The 780 m steel walkway fixed to the canyon wall
- The cantilevered platform over the gorge
- Old trees and paths of the Dadiani summer estate
- Easy to combine with Kinchkha Waterfall and Martvili Canyon
Trail facts
Last checked Oct 2026 by the Maspindzeli team. Mountain conditions change: ask us before you go.
Is this right for you?
Three quick questions for a friendly second opinion. Nothing is sent anywhere.
Stage by stage
| Day | From → to | Distance | Up | Down | Hours | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Okatse visitor centre, Zeda Gordi → Top of the steps above the canyon | ~2 km | ~+30 m | ~−60 m | 0.5-0.75 h | ~600 m |
| 1 | Top of the steps → Viewing platform at the end of the walkway | ~1.2 km | ~+30 m | ~−90 m | 0.5-0.75 h | ~560 m |
| 1 | End of the walkway → Okatse visitor centre | ~2.8 km | ~+90 m | −0 m | 0.75-1 h | ~600 m |
01Visitor centre through the Dadiani parkOkatse visitor centre, Zeda Gordi → Top of the steps above the canyon · ~2 km · 0.5-0.75 h
Show your ticket at the gate and follow the broad path into the old estate forest. It is mostly level, shaded and well signed, with benches and information boards along the way. Some of the biggest trees were planted when the princes still summered here.
01Down the steps and along the walkwayTop of the steps → Viewing platform at the end of the walkway · ~1.2 km · 0.5-0.75 h
A long metal staircase drops to the start of the walkway. From there the path clings to the canyon wall for about 780 m, with the river far below and moss and ferns on the rock beside you. The last stretch leads to a cantilevered platform over the gorge: wait your turn here on busy days, as space is limited.
01Back to the visitor centreEnd of the walkway → Okatse visitor centre · ~2.8 km · 0.75-1 h
Either retrace your steps through the park, which means climbing the stairs you came down, or follow the signs to the jeep stop at the far end and ride back to the visitor centre in a few minutes. Walking both ways makes the full 6 km.
Practical information
Getting there
Zeda Gordi is about 45 km north-west of Kutaisi, around 1 hour by car through Khoni. Public transport is thin: a marshrutka from Kutaisi to Khoni costs only a few lari (roughly 3 to 5 GEL, $1 to $2, in 2026), but the final 15 km from Khoni means a taxi at around 25 to 35 GEL (roughly $9 to $13) one way. Most visitors hire a car with driver from Kutaisi for the day: about 150 to 220 GEL (about $55 to $80) per car in 2026 for Okatse alone, more if you add Kinchkha and Martvili Canyon. A one-way taxi from Kutaisi direct to Zeda Gordi runs around 70 to 90 GEL (roughly $26 to $33).
Getting back
The walkway ends on a side road above the gorge, and you can either walk back through the forest the way you came or ride a local 4x4 that waits at the far end and runs visitors back to the visitor centre for a small fee, in 2026 roughly 5 to 10 GEL ($2 to $4) per seat, or 30 to 50 GEL ($11 to $19) for the whole jeep. Many people walk out and ride back. If you came by taxi, agree a pick-up time at the visitor centre, as cars for the return to Kutaisi are scarce late in the day.
Water
Drinking water and a small cafe are at the visitor centre. There is nothing to buy on the forest trail or the walkway, so carry 0.5 to 1 litre per person, more on a summer afternoon.
Phone signal
Good at the visitor centre and in Zeda Gordi. Usually fine on the forest trail; it can drop for short spells on the walkway itself, deep in the gorge.
Nearest help
Visitor centre staff and rangers patrol the route and can call for help. Dial 112 for ambulance or police. The nearest clinic is in Khoni, about 25 minutes by car, and Kutaisi has full hospitals about an hour away.
Permits
No permit is needed, but this is a ticketed natural monument managed by Georgia's protected-areas agency (APA). In 2026 a foreign adult pays about 30 GEL (about $11), locals less and teenagers (6 to 18) about 5.50 GEL. For about 40 GEL (roughly $15) you can add Kinchkha Waterfall on a joint ticket. Nobody under six may enter the trail. Gates normally open daily from 10:00 until about 17:30, and late arrivals may be turned away well before then; in rain, snow or storms the walkway is shut. Pay at the visitor centre before you set off.
Gear and safety
What to bring
- Trainers or light walking shoes with grip; the steps and metal grating are slippery when damp
- Light rain jacket: western Georgia is wet and showers come quickly
- Sun hat and water in summer
- Cash in GEL for the 4x4 ride and the cafe; cards usually work for tickets
Stay safe
- The walkway is closed in rain, snow and strong wind. On a doubtful day call the visitor centre or ask your driver before you set off.
- Children under six are not admitted; hold older children's hands on the steps and the platform.
- Keep to the walkway and fenced paths; the canyon edges in the forest are unfenced in places.
- People with heart conditions or a strong fear of heights should think twice about the final platform.
- Shorter: walk to the end of the walkway and take the 4x4 back, about 3.5 km on foot and 1.5 hours.
- Longer day: add Kinchkha Waterfall, a quarter of an hour by car higher up the gorge, with a stepped path down to viewpoints facing the 70 m main fall (combined ticket about 40 GEL in 2026).
- Full canyon day from Kutaisi: Okatse in the morning, Kinchkha, then Martvili Canyon in the afternoon.
- Rainy day: when the walkway is closed, Prometheus Cave near Tskaltubo is open in any weather and about 45 minutes away.
Emergency number in Georgia: 112. Tell your guesthouse your plan before you set off.
Places on and near the route
Okatse Canyon Walk and Hanging Walkway: FAQ
How long does the Okatse Canyon walk take?
Allow 2 to 3 hours for the full 6 km there and back from the visitor centre, including time on the walkway. If you ride the 4x4 back from the far end, it takes about 1.5 hours.
How much is the Okatse Canyon ticket in 2026?
From 1 April 2026 the adult rate for foreigners went up to about 30 GEL (around $11); a joint ticket including Kinchkha Waterfall is about 40 GEL, and young people aged 6 to 18 are charged roughly 5.50 GEL. Fees change, so confirm at the ticket desk.
Can I get to Okatse Canyon by public transport?
Only partly. Minibuses link Kutaisi with Khoni, and a taxi covers the remaining stretch to the canyon. A driver from Kutaisi for the day is far simpler and lets you add Kinchkha and Martvili.
Is the Okatse walkway suitable for children?
Children aged six and over are allowed and usually love it. Under-sixes are not admitted to the trail, so families with toddlers often visit Kinchkha or Martvili instead.
Last checked Oct 2026 by the Maspindzeli team. Mountain conditions change: ask us before you go.
