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Canyon · Gachedili, Martvili Municipality, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti

Martvili Canyon

მარტვილის კანიონი

A limestone canyon on the Abasha river near Gachedili, with a walkway along the water and short boat trips through the narrow section.

Where it is

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Open Martvili Canyon on the XTOUR map. Directions are available there.

42.4572, 42.3769

Why go

Martvili is the canyon people picture when they picture Georgian canyons: turquoise water between mossy limestone walls, a walkway at the level of the river, and an inflatable boat ride through the narrowest part. The canyon runs about 2.4 kilometres and sits low, around 210 metres, which is why it is green and humid in a way the higher canyons are not. The boat is the reason most people come and also the part most worth understanding before arriving: it is short, it is weather-dependent, and it is the first thing suspended when the river is high. Going for the walkway and treating the boat as a bonus is the way to avoid a wasted drive.

Getting there

About 5 km from Martvili town on a surfaced road, and roughly 34 km in a straight line from Kutaisi — further by road. There is a car park and a managed entrance; the walkway and the boat launch are reached on foot from there.

Best time to visit

Late spring to early autumn. Midsummer is busiest and the queue for the boat is the limiting factor.

Through the year

River level governs the boat: high water after rain or snowmelt suspends it, and the walkway is slippery in the same conditions. The canyon is at its most photogenic in the green months.

Safety

Wet limestone and wooden decking are slippery, and the water is cold and moving. The boat operates at the site's discretion and is suspended when the river is high.

Base yourself nearby

Town and Nature Base

Martvili

Martvili is a small town in Samegrelo surrounded by limestone canyons, waterfalls, forested river valleys, historic churches and some of western Georgia's most distinctive Megrelian food traditions.

City

Kutaisi

Kutaisi is one of Georgia’s oldest cities and the cultural heart of Imereti, combining medieval monuments, lively markets, bridges over the Rioni, distinctive western Georgian food and easy access to caves, monasteries, canyons, spa towns and wine country.

Getting here

How to get to Martvili Canyon

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  1. By air

    Fly into Kutaisi International Airport (KUT).

  2. By road

    Continue from Kutaisi International Airport by road.

    32.4 km · straight-line distance; driving distance and time differ

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Vehicle

Accessible by standard car

An ordinary hire car reaches this on made roads. No special vehicle is needed.

  • · Made roads the whole way

Road last checked 2026-09-10.

A description of the road, not an assurance about your trip. Conditions change with weather and season.

Arrival airport

Kutaisi International AirportKUT

32.4 km · straight-line distance; driving distance and time differ

Kutaisi International is the practical arrival airport for the canyon — around forty-five kilometres by road on surfaced roads. Batumi is further and the road is slower, which is why Kutaisi is the primary hub rather than the merely nearer one.

Ways to book this trip

Products that genuinely visit this place and can be used from where you are starting. Booking happens on the provider's own site.

  • Guided tour · skygate

    Martvili Day Trip

    A guided day trip taking in Martvili Canyon. Check the current itinerary and booking details on SkyGate.

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