Kinchkha Waterfall, Georgia: How to Get There, Prices & What to See Nearby
Kinchkha Waterfall in Imereti near Kutaisi: how to get there by car, current ticket and combo prices, the zipline, the trail, and the thermal springs nearby.
Kinchkha Waterfall sits in the Khoni Municipality of Imereti, roughly 55 km northwest of Kutaisi, and a car is the only way to reach it: no public transport runs to the village of Kinchkha. It is a three-tier cascade, with the main drop falling 70 metres. The site is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00, and an adult ticket costs 20 GEL for foreign visitors, 12 GEL for Georgian citizens and residents.
What Kinchkha Waterfall Actually Is
Kinchkha is a cascade of three tiers in the gorge of the Satsiskvilo River, on the edge of the Askhi limestone massif. The first tier drops 25 metres, the second and main one 70. The third forms lower down, where the tributary meets the Satsiskvilo; sources put its height anywhere between 20 and 35 metres. Together they make one of the largest waterfalls in the country.
The waterfall lies at 843 metres above sea level and takes its name from the nearby village of Kinchkha. Its official designation is Okatse (Kinchkha) Waterfall, which is why people regularly confuse it with Okatse Canyon in neighbouring Gordi. They are two separate sites, 5 km apart.
In spring, once the snow melts, all three tiers run at full strength. In summer there is less water, but the main drop reads clearly along its whole height: white rock, a thin ribbon of water. Light hits the cliff face during the first half of the day and the gorge falls into shadow later on. Come before noon.
The place is noticeably quieter than Martvili Canyon and far less hyped than Prometheus Cave. August still brings crowds to the platforms, but nothing like the queues at Martvili.
Getting There: Car Is the Only Real Option
There is no public transport to Kinchkha, and no marshrutkas serve the village. Khoni is the last town with any transport links; from there it is a taxi or your own car.
Route from Kutaisi: Kutaisi → Khoni → village of Kinchkha. Around 55 km, one to one and a half hours. The stretch from Khoni to the waterfall is 26 km and takes about 40 minutes.
The road is paved, but the final kilometres past Gordi climb in tight switchbacks with blind corners. Any ordinary car will make it. On the way back down, keep it in a low gear, or your brakes will be tired by the bottom.
A taxi from Kutaisi for the day, with one more nearby stop thrown in, runs roughly 70–100 GEL. Agree the price before you get in, since nobody here uses a meter. If your Western Georgia route runs over several days, renting usually works out cheaper than hiring a driver each time: the daily rate does not change with the number of stops you make. You can pick up a rental car through MY.DRIVE.
The Trail and the Viewing Platforms
A marked trail of 2.1 km runs from the ticket office to the waterfall, about 25 minutes each way. A metal walkway with viewing platforms is built along the cliffs. Walking it is easy, but the return leg climbs, and that is the part that costs you, not the descent.
Spray reaches the platforms constantly, even on a dry day. I had my phone back in my pocket within about two minutes and ended up wiping the lens before every shot. The walkway is slippery in those stretches. Trainers with real grip beat sandals here.
Tickets and Opening Hours
Entry is paid. Since 2019 the site has been fenced, given a ticket office, and fitted with platforms along the cliff face.
| Category | Price |
|---|---|
| Children under 6 | free |
| Children and teens 6–18 | 5.50 GEL |
| Georgian citizens and residents | 12 GEL |
| Foreign visitors | 20 GEL |
| Zipline | 40 GEL |
The 12 GEL rate requires an ID proving citizenship or residence permit. The waterfall is open daily, 10:00 to 18:00, year-round.
From 1 April 2026 the Agency of Protected Areas introduced combined tickets covering several sites at once. The combinations that include Kinchkha:
- Okatse + Kinchkha: 22 GEL for residents, 40 GEL for foreign visitors
- Martvili + Kinchkha: 22 and 50 GEL
- Martvili + Okatse + Kinchkha: 38 and 80 GEL
- Prometheus + Martvili + Kinchkha: 38 and 90 GEL
Single-site tariffs were revised alongside the combo launch, so the numbers at the desk may differ from published ones. Work out whether a combo pays off on the spot, once you know your route for the day.
Bring cash in lari. The card terminal at the ticket office is unreliable, and the zipline has its own desk.
The Zipline Over the Gorge
The cable runs directly over the gorge with the waterfall in view. A ticket costs 40 GEL, is bought on site, and is not included in the entrance fee. It operates Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00–18:00: the zipline is closed on Mondays, even though the waterfall itself is open.
If you are travelling with kids or with anyone unenthusiastic about flying over a drop, skipping it is fine. The platforms show you the whole waterfall anyway.
Thermal Springs on the Tekhuri
The springs commonly paired with Kinchkha in day trips are not next door. These are the Tekhuri sulphur springs near the village of Nokalakevi, over in Samegrelo, roughly 40–45 km from the waterfall and about an hour's drive. Budget a separate hour and a half to two hours, or the day will not add up.
The water surfaces scalding, up to 70–80 °C, runs down travertine deposits and mixes with the freezing Tekhuri. Visitors build the pools themselves out of river stones and adjust the temperature by moving them around. There is no infrastructure at all: no changing rooms, no café. Access is free.
The detail that decides your timing: in spring floods and after heavy rain the river rises and submerges the pools completely. Late summer and early autumn are the comfortable months for bathing. Bring a towel and swimwear, since there is nowhere to buy either.
What to Bring
A windbreaker or light rain jacket. It is always colder and wetter by the water than it looks from the car park.
Cash in lari. Ticket office and zipline: terminals do not always come through.
Shoes with grip. The metal walkway is slick under the spray.
Water and a snack. The café on site is small and queues up in season.
A towel, if the springs are on your plan for the day.
When to Go
Spring, April–May. All three tiers at full power, fresh greenery, thin crowds. Roads are patchy after winter.
Summer, June–August. Less water, but the main drop is visible along its full height. Long daylight makes three sites in a day realistic.
Autumn, September–October. Comfortable temperatures, gold in the mountains, few visitors. For bathing on the Tekhuri this is the best window of the year, with the river running low.
Winter. The waterfall stays open, but the climb past Gordi can be snowed over or iced. Go with four-wheel drive and proper winter tyres. Summer tyres have no business up there.
What Else Is Nearby
Okatse Canyon. 5 km from Kinchkha, about 15 minutes. A hanging trail above a 140-metre drop. Note that it is another 2.2 km on foot each way from the Gordi visitor centre to the canyon entrance, and the trail closes to visitors in rain or snow for safety.
Martvili Canyon. Around 35 km, with boat trips on turquoise water between the cliffs.
Prometheus Cave. Around 50 km, the country's largest developed cave, complete with an underground river.
All three fit into one long day by car if you leave Kutaisi by nine in the morning. Those are exactly the routes the combo tickets are built for.
The Short Version
Kinchkha is a three-tier cascade at 843 metres, a little over an hour from Kutaisi, with a 2.1 km trail and platforms along the cliffs. Adult entry is 20 GEL for foreign visitors and 12 GEL for residents; the zipline is a separate 40 GEL and closed on Mondays. No public transport comes here, so it all comes down to a car: your own, a rental, or a taxi at 70–100 GEL for the day. The Tekhuri thermal springs do fit the route, but they are another 40 km towards Samegrelo, so plan that leg in advance.
