Martvili Canyon
A turquoise river between limestone walls, with boardwalks and a short boat ride — Samegrelo's most visited natural site.
- Time needed
- 2 h
- From Tbilisi
- 310 km · 4:30
- Road
- Paved
- Car needed
- Economy class
- Season
- All year
- Entry
- ~20 ₾ + ნავი ~15 ₾
Martvili Canyon was cut by the Abasha river through limestone and runs for roughly two kilometres. Its defining feature is the colour of the water: dissolved limestone gives the river a milky turquoise tone that is most intense on a sunny day once the spring flood has passed.
Historically this was a bathing spot for the Dadiani princes of Mingrelia, and the pool they had carved into the rock is still visible. The site is now run by the Agency of Protected Areas and is properly developed: wooden walkways are fixed to the canyon walls, with footbridges and viewing platforms along the way. For an additional fee there is a short inflatable-boat ride, roughly 300 metres through the narrowest section.
What a visit involves:
- A boardwalk along the canyon with several viewpoints
- Small side waterfalls dropping in from tributary gullies, fullest in spring
- The boat trip — brief, but the only way to see the walls from water level
Most people spend an hour and a half to two hours here. Nearby are the Balda and Gachedili canyons, both considerably quieter, which combine well with Martvili into a single day. Together they make Samegrelo worth a stop rather than just a stretch of road on the way to Svaneti or the coast.
Gallery
Practical advice
Come early or after mid-afternoon: between 11:00 and 15:00, especially on summer weekends, the queue for the boat can reach half an hour or more. Wear shoes with grip, as the boardwalk gets slippery after rain. You will get wet in the boat, so put your phone in a waterproof pouch. There is parking, a toilet and a cafe at the entrance. In early spring the river runs high and muddy and the boats sometimes do not operate at all, which is worth checking before you plan around it.
How to get there from Tbilisi
Martvili is about 310 km and four and a half hours from Tbilisi. Take the E60 west through Gori, Khashuri, the new Rikoti tunnel section and Kutaisi, continue toward Samtredia and then turn north to Martvili. The motorway part is good asphalt throughout, and the final 20 km is a narrow but entirely sound regional road. An economy car is perfectly adequate. Fill up in Kutaisi or Samtredia; there is fuel in Martvili town too, but the choice of stations is limited. The turn-off is signposted and easy to follow.
Click a marker for details. Coloured lines are ready-made road trips.
Nearby places
CanyonOkatse Canyon
A metal walkway pinned to the canyon wall high above the river, beyond the Gordi forest.
CavePrometheus Cave
A karst cave near Tskaltubo with lit halls, stone waterfalls and an underground boat ride.
WaterfallKinchkha Waterfall
A cascade waterfall roughly a hundred metres high above Okatse, at the end of a gravel road.
Booking and enquiries
This site is informational — there is no online payment. Call or email us to book.