The best day trips from Kutaisi
The best day trips from Kutaisi are Prometheus Cave and Martvili Canyon to the north-west, and Gelati Monastery, Motsameta and the spa town of Tskaltubo closer to the city. Kutaisi is the main city of western Georgia, in the Caucasus, and it makes a better base than many visitors expect: most of the sights below are within easy reach, so days out can be relaxed rather than rushed.
The city itself is worth a few hours too. Bagrati Cathedral stands on a hill above the Rioni river, and the market and the old streets around the centre give a good sense of everyday life in the west of the country. With a private guide, all of this fits around your group's pace and interests.
Every tour from Kutaisi is private, for your group only, and every route can be changed. Our guides work in English, Russian and Georgian, and you travel in a vehicle chosen for your group and the roads ahead, from a sedan to a minivan or microbus, or an off-road vehicle for the mountains. We set the pace for the people travelling, so families and older travellers get shorter walks and more comfortable stops. We can also arrange accommodation in Kutaisi or along the way, entrance fees and meals, or leave them to you.
Western Georgia is green for a reason: it rains more than the east, so a light waterproof is worth packing whatever the season.
Prometheus Cave and Martvili Canyon
Prometheus Cave and Martvili Canyon are the two most popular trips from Kutaisi, and they combine easily into one day.
Prometheus Cave
Prometheus Cave, near Tskaltubo, is a large limestone cave system with a walking route through a series of chambers full of stalactites, stalagmites and underground rivers, lit to show off the formations. Paths and steps make it accessible to most visitors, though it is cooler inside than out, so bring a layer. It suits families and anyone who has not been inside a cave of this scale before.
Martvili Canyon
Martvili Canyon is a narrow gorge on the Abasha river with turquoise water, waterfalls and mossy limestone walls. Walkways run along the top, and boat rides go up into the canyon itself when conditions allow. The noble Dadiani family once used it as a private bathing spot. It is a short, scenic walk that suits all ages.
Nearby Okatse Canyon, with its cliff-side walkway, and the dinosaur footprints at Sataplia are easy to add if you want a fuller day.
Gelati, Motsameta and Tskaltubo
For history close to the city, the classic day combines Gelati Monastery, Motsameta Monastery and the old spa town of Tskaltubo.
- Gelati Monastery, founded by King David the Builder in the early twelfth century, was one of the great centres of learning in medieval Georgia. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its mosaics and frescoes are among the finest in the country.
- Motsameta Monastery sits on a cliff above a bend in the river, a short drive from Gelati, and is one of the most photographed churches in western Georgia.
- Tskaltubo was a famous Soviet spa resort. Some of its grand sanatoriums still operate, while others stand abandoned, which makes the town a fascinating stop for photographers and anyone interested in Soviet history.
This day suits travellers who enjoy history and architecture, and it is gentle enough for older travellers.
Arriving at Kutaisi airport
Kutaisi International Airport handles many of Georgia's low-cost flights, and we collect travellers there at any hour. Send us your flight number on WhatsApp and we will plan your pickup around it.
You can go straight to your hotel, or turn the drive into your first day of sightseeing with a stop at Prometheus Cave, Martvili Canyon or Gelati. Many people landing in Kutaisi are heading elsewhere, and we run private transfers from the airport to Tbilisi, Batumi or the mountains. See our airport transfer page for more, or our tours from Batumi if the coast is your next stop.
Kutaisi as a gateway to Racha and Svaneti
Kutaisi is the natural starting point for the mountains of western Georgia, because both Racha and Svaneti are far closer to it than to Tbilisi.
Racha
Racha is a quiet mountain region north-east of Kutaisi, known for its forests, its semi-sweet Khvanchkara wine, Shaori Lake and the eleventh-century Nikortsminda Cathedral with its carved stone facades. It sees far fewer visitors than the better-known regions.
Svaneti
Svaneti, high in the Greater Caucasus, is famous for the medieval defensive towers of Mestia and Ushguli, glaciers and some of the best walking in Georgia. The road climbs past the Enguri Dam, and the higher sections are best tackled in an off-road vehicle, which we arrange where the route calls for one. Svaneti is best as a trip of several days rather than a single one.
Both regions are mountain country, so if a road or trail is closed, your guide reroutes to something worth seeing. For a car for several days, see our private driver service, and our list of the top 10 places to visit in Georgia has more ideas.
