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Waterfalls in Georgia

Georgia packs a lot of falling water into a small country. The Greater Caucasus sends glacier melt down steep side valleys in the north, while the wet limestone hills of Imereti, Samegrelo and Adjara are riddled with gorges where rivers drop off cliffs. The result is a wide spread: a 120 m ribbon below Ushba in Svaneti, a three-tiered cascade near Kutaisi, and a 22 m fall you can reach on foot from the Tbilisi sulphur baths.

Most of the falls on this list need only a short walk, and several sit right beside a main road. A few, such as Shdugra and the Ninoskhevi fall in Lagodekhi, are proper half-day or day hikes. Flow changes a lot through the year. Snowmelt and spring rain make April to June the strongest season in the west, while the high mountain falls of Kazbegi and Svaneti peak in early summer and stay reliable into September.

We ranked the list by how rewarding each fall is for the time it takes to get there. Entry is free at almost all of them; the exceptions are the ticketed sites run by the Agency of Protected Areas in Imereti and the Tbilisi Botanical Garden. Fees below are approximate 2026 figures.

Kinchkha WaterfallKinchkha WaterfallPhoto: Paata vardanashvili, CC BY-SA 4.0
1
Imereti · Lakes, Waterfalls & Beaches

Kinchkha Waterfall

The finest waterfall in western Georgia drops in three steps off a limestone wall in the upper Okatse gorge, with a main fall of about 70 m. A stepped path takes you down to platforms facing the spray, and a side trail leads on to the smaller Lomina fall. It sits 15 minutes by car past the Okatse Canyon visitor centre, so the two make a natural pair.

Best months
April to June; thinner by late August
Access
About 1 h 15 min by car from Kutaisi via Khoni, then a short stepped path from the car park
Entry
about 20 GEL (about $7) in 2026; Okatse plus Kinchkha combo about 40 GEL
Read the guide →
Mazeri and Ushba
2
Samegrelo & Svaneti · Nature & Hiking

Shdugra (Ushba) Waterfall

Georgia's most dramatic waterfall pours roughly 120 m down a rock face below the twin summits of Ushba. The path from Mazeri follows the Dolra river up a green valley for about 3 km to the foot of the fall, and fit walkers can climb on to its top. A border police post sits on the route, so the walk feels remote even though it starts in a village with guesthouses.

Best months
Late June to September
Access
About 45 min by car from Mestia to Mazeri, then roughly 1 to 1.5 h on foot each way to the base; passport needed at the checkpoint
Entry
Free
Read the guide →
Gveleti Waterfall
3
Mtskheta-Mtianeti · Lakes, Waterfalls & Beaches

Gveleti Waterfall

Two falls hide in a narrow side gorge of Dariali, a few minutes north of Stepantsminda. The bigger one tumbles 25 to 30 m in two stages into a stony bowl, and the smaller one is passed on the way up. It is the quickest nature walk in Kazbegi and fits easily before or after Gergeti Trinity Church.

Best months
May to October; strongest in June
Access
10 to 15 min drive north of Stepantsminda to the Gveleti bridge, then a steep, rocky path of 1 to 2 h return
Entry
Free
Read the guide →
Makhuntseti Waterfall
4
Adjara · Lakes, Waterfalls & Beaches

Makhuntseti Waterfall

Adjara's best-known fall slides down a wooded cliff right beside the road from Batumi into the mountains, roughly 50 m from top to bottom. A platform lets you stand close enough to get wet, and farm stalls sell honey and cheese at the trailhead. Walk 1 km on to see the Queen Tamar Bridge, a single high stone arch over the Adjaristskali.

Best months
April to June, or after heavy rain
Access
About 40 min by car from Batumi; a few minutes on foot from the roadside parking
Entry
Free
Read the guide →
Lagodekhi National ParkLagodekhi National ParkPhoto: Paata vardanashvili, CC BY-SA 4.0
5
Kakheti · Nature & Hiking

Ninoskhevi (Gurgeniani) Waterfall, Lagodekhi

This 40 m fall is the reward for a forest hike in Georgia's oldest nature reserve, at the eastern tip of Kakheti. The trail follows a stream through beech and hornbeam, with several river crossings on stones and logs. A second route from the main visitor centre leads to the Black Grouse Waterfall if you want a longer day.

Best months
May to October
Access
About 2.5 to 3 h by car from Tbilisi; around 4 h return on foot from the Gurgeniani information point
Entry
Free (register at the visitor centre)
Read the guide →
Balda CanyonBalda CanyonPhoto: Paata vardanashvili, CC BY-SA 4.0
6
Samegrelo & Svaneti · Nature & Hiking

Oniore Waterfall, Balda

Above the village of Balda, north of Martvili, a marked trail climbs through Colchic forest to the Oniore fall and the small Toba cave next to it. The water drops in a tall, narrow column, and you will usually share it with very few people. Combine it with Balda Canyon and Martvili Canyon for a full day in Samegrelo.

Best months
May to October
Access
Roughly 75 min from Kutaisi by road to Balda, then a trail of about 6 km (around 1.5 h) to the fall
Entry
Free
Read the guide →
Dashbashi CanyonDashbashi CanyonPhoto: Paata vardanashvili, CC BY-SA 4.0
7
Kvemo Kartli · Nature & Hiking

Dashbashi Canyon Waterfalls

On the volcanic plateau near Tsalka, streams spill over the rim of a deep basalt gorge in a series of white threads. A 1.8 km trail from Dashbashi village drops to the main fall and the river, and the glass Diamond Bridge spans the canyon overhead. It is the closest dramatic waterfall scenery to Tbilisi.

Best months
May to October
Access
About 1 h 40 min by car from Tbilisi; roughly 1 h return on a steep trail from the village
Entry
Free (glass bridge ticketed separately, about 49 GEL (about $18) in 2026)
Read the guide →
Mtirala National ParkMtirala National ParkPhoto: Philipp Weigell, CC BY 3.0
8
Adjara · Nature & Hiking

Mtirala National Park Waterfall

The Tsablnari loop in Mtirala, one of the rainiest corners of Georgia, ends at a waterfall pouring into a pool where people cool off in summer. The 7 km circuit crosses the Chakvistskali gorge and passes a zip line. It is the easiest way to walk in the Colchic rainforest within an hour of Batumi.

Best months
May to October
Access
About 1 h by car from Batumi to the Chakvistavi visitor centre, then an easy 7 km loop of 3 to 4 h
Entry
Free (zip line about 15 GEL extra)
Read the guide →
Leghvtakhevi Waterfall
9
Tbilisi · Lakes, Waterfalls & Beaches

Leghvtakhevi Waterfall, Tbilisi

A 22 m fall in the middle of the capital, at the head of the Fig Gorge behind the sulphur bath domes. A paved path takes you there in about 10 minutes, past cliffs below Narikala Fortress. It is small, but few capitals let you swap traffic noise for falling water this quickly.

Best months
March to June, or after rain
Access
10 min walk from Abanotubani; 20 min from Freedom Square
Entry
Free
Read the guide →
Machakhela National ParkMachakhela National ParkPhoto: Paata vardanashvili, CC BY-SA 4.0
10
Adjara · Nature & Hiking

Mirveti Waterfall, Machakhela

At the entrance to the Machakhela valley south-east of Batumi, a short path leads to the roughly 20 m Mirveti fall. It makes a good first stop before you head up the valley to stone arched bridges and villages inside Machakhela National Park. The road follows the Chorokhi river toward the Turkish border.

Best months
April to October
Access
Under 1 h by car from Batumi; a short walk from the valley road
Entry
Free
Read the guide →
Tbilisi National Botanical GardenTbilisi National Botanical GardenPhoto: dare, CC BY-SA 2.0
11
Tbilisi · Nature & Hiking

Tbilisi Botanical Garden Waterfall

Deep inside the National Botanical Garden, a stream drops beneath an arched stone bridge built in 1914. The walk up the gorge from the gate below Narikala takes about 30 minutes through shady woodland. Pair it with Leghvtakhevi for an easy two-waterfall afternoon in Old Tbilisi.

Best months
April to June and October
Access
15 min walk from Freedom Square to the gate, then about 30 min uphill inside the garden
Entry
about 4 GEL (about $1.50) in 2026, possibly more
Read the guide →
Tips from your host
  • Go in spring or after a spell of rain in the west: by late August Kinchkha, Makhuntseti and Leghvtakhevi can shrink to a trickle.
  • Rocks around every fall stay wet and green all year, so wear shoes with real grip rather than sandals.
  • Plan Kinchkha with Okatse Canyon and Martvili Canyon on one day from Kutaisi; the ticketed sites close at about 17:30.
  • Carry your passport for Shdugra, the Truso area and other walks near the northern border, where police posts check IDs.
  • Lagodekhi and other national parks ask you to register at the visitor centre before you hike; it takes a few minutes and is free.

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Waterfalls in Georgia, privately

Any date, any group size. Private guide, transport, horses and camping gear if needed.

Ready-made tourKutaisi Canyons Day Trip1 day · from $110 pp (sample)
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Waterfalls in Georgia: FAQ

What is the most beautiful waterfall in Georgia?

Many travellers pick Kinchkha near Kutaisi for its three-step cascade and easy access, while hikers rate the 120 m Shdugra fall below Ushba in Svaneti highest for its setting. If you only have a day trip from Tbilisi, Gveleti in Kazbegi is the most rewarding.

What is the tallest waterfall in Georgia?

Figures vary between sources, but Shdugra (also called the Ushba Waterfall) near Mazeri in Svaneti is usually given as around 120 m, making it the tallest regularly visited fall. Kinchkha's main drop is about 70 m.

When is the best time to see waterfalls in Georgia?

April to June is best for the lowland and foothill falls of Imereti, Samegrelo and Adjara, when snowmelt and spring rain are at their peak. High mountain falls in Kazbegi and Svaneti are easiest to reach from late June to September.

Are there waterfalls near Tbilisi?

Yes. Leghvtakhevi is a 10 minute walk from the sulphur baths and the Botanical Garden has its own fall. For bigger scenery, Dashbashi Canyon is about 1 h 40 min away by car and Gveleti, near Stepantsminda, about 3 hours.

Do I have to pay to see waterfalls in Georgia?

Most are free. Kinchkha is ticketed at about 20 GEL (about $7) for foreign adults in 2026, and the Tbilisi Botanical Garden charges a small entrance fee. National parks such as Lagodekhi and Mtirala do not charge for entry but ask you to register.

Can I visit Kinchkha Waterfall without a car?

There is no public transport to Kinchkha or nearby Okatse. Most people come with a driver or a private day tour from Kutaisi, which also lets you add Martvili Canyon on the same day.

Can you swim at Georgian waterfalls?

Swimming is not allowed at the managed sites such as Kinchkha, and the water is cold everywhere. In Mtirala National Park many visitors take a summer dip in the pool and lake at the end of the Tsablnari loop.

Which waterfall is best for families with small children?

Makhuntseti and Leghvtakhevi need only a few minutes on foot. Gveleti is short too, but the path is steep and rocky, so hold small hands near the falls.

Last checked Oct 2026 by the Maspindzeli team. Mountain conditions change: ask us before you go.

Tours that visit them

Okatse CanyonOkatse CanyonPhoto: Paata vardanashvili, CC BY-SA 4.0
1 day
Day TripsMountains & Nature

Kutaisi Canyons Day Trip

Two of western Georgia's limestone gorges in one private day from Kutaisi: the cliff walkway at Okatse, the tiered Kinchkha Waterfall nearby and a short boat trip on the turquoise Abasha inside Martvili Canyon.

Easy to moderate · DT-01Gfrom $110 pp
KedaKedaPhoto: G.N., CC BY-SA 3.0
1 day
Day TripsMountains & Nature

Adjara Highlands Day Trip

Swap the beach for the green valleys behind Batumi: Makhuntseti Waterfall and its medieval stone bridge, a home-cooked lunch with Chkhaveri wine in a Keda family cellar, and an afternoon walk in the chestnut woods of Machakhela National Park.

Easy · DT-01Ffrom $150 pp
Ananuri FortressAnanuri FortressPhoto: Vadim Tolbatov, CC BY-SA 3.0
1 day
Day TripsClassic & Culture

Kazbegi Day Trip

One long, scenic day up the Georgian Military Highway: Ananuri Fortress, the 2,379 m Jvari Pass and a 4x4 ride to Gergeti Trinity Church under Mount Kazbek.

Easy · DT-01Bfrom $140 pp
KutaisiKutaisiPhoto: Kober, CC BY-SA 3.0
8 days
Hiking & TrekkingAdventure

Svaneti Trek: Mestia to Ushguli

Walk the well-loved four-day route from Mestia to Ushguli, village to village and over the Chkhunderi Pass, sleeping in family guesthouses with a mountain guide leading the way.

Active · HK-08from $1,600 pp
Metekhi ChurchMetekhi ChurchPhoto: Alexxx1979, CC BY-SA 4.0
10 days
Classic & CultureMountains & Nature

Grand Tour with Svaneti

A ten-day crossing of Georgia from the capital to the coast, taking in Kakheti's wine cellars, an overnight at Kazbegi and three nights up in Svaneti, based in Mestia with a day out to Ushguli.

Moderate · CL-10from $2,050 pp
Old Tbilisi (Kala)Old Tbilisi (Kala)Photo: Alexxx1979, CC BY-SA 4.0
9 days
AdventureMountains & Nature

Georgia Photography Tour

Nine days planned around the light rather than the clock: blue hour over Old Tbilisi, sunrise on Gergeti Trinity Church, the Chaukhi peaks above Juta, the tower villages of Svaneti under Shkhara and harvest-time vineyards in Kakheti.

Moderate · AD-09from $1,830 pp

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