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The ultimate guide to waterfalls in Georgia

Whether you need to cool down from the sweltering summer heat or would like to marvel at some of these beauties in the snow, you’ll find the right place to go here! We spent half a year in Georgia to compile the best waterfalls in the country for you. Let us know if you visit one!

Kaghu

A waterfall that fulfills all criteria for “hidden away” except it isn’t because lots of locals hang out there. Drive past Martvili canyon and once you cross the bridge in Gachedili, turn right and head for Balda Monastery. At the monastery, you can park your car and either choose to visit the breath-taking Balda canyon, or walk past the monastery on the left side and follow the trail for Kaghu waterfall. Lots of people drive down the dirt road until the end but we enjoyed the walk along the river very much.

After about 20 minutes you’ll get to the waterfall, a dazzling sight with its water running down the moss-covered rocks. Swimming there is lush after being all hot and sweaty from the walk in the summer heat.

There are quite a few food stalls with tables, you can sit there and have some food or a (lukewarm) beer, or chill directly by the water. If you’re craving more exercises, hike to Tobi and Oniore waterfalls.

Kaghu waterfall (კაღუს ჩანჩქერი) on Abasha river

Tobi and Oniore

These waterfalls definitely deserve to be on the list of best waterfalls in Georgia. Cross the river after Kaghu waterfall and you’re on the trail through the Colchis forest to Tobi and Oniore cave waterfalls. We’ve met an unsettling shepherd in the midst of the forest and then a patch of the trail had simply broken off but you’ll probably be luckier than we were. It’s a circular loop (15km) in theory but the path starting from Balda directly looks much better so you might want to just take it from there and back again without looping via Kaghu. The waterfalls are just impressive, thundering down in the middle of the forest.

This location on Google Maps is not correct!

Oniore waterfall in Samegrelo, Georgia
by Paata vardanashvili / CC BY-SA
Toba cave in Samegrelo, Georgia
by Paata vardanashvili / CC BY-SA

Abhesi

About 500 metres before the entrance to Martvili you’ll see a sign for Abhesi waterfall pointing you left. The waterfall itself, and the pool it creates, are beautiful and excellent for swimming. It comes with a catch though: a power station (?) right next to it that you conveniently won’t see on most photos online. Aydin walked or better said waded through the river up to Martvili Canyon which blessed us with some banger photos but unfortunately also almost broken kneecaps due to the slippy ground and subsequent fall.

Caroline looking at Abhesi waterfall near Martvili canyon

Kinchkha and tiny Kinchkha

Okatse canyon and Kinchkha waterfall (sometimes also called Okatse waterfall) are advertised together but actually a few kilometres apart from each other. Contrary to what numerous blog entries say, there’s no free entrance anymore; it costs 17.25 lari now. As you walk down from the parking lot, you’ll see the ticket booth to your left.

If you continue right, before the booth, you’ll get to a superb swimming spot that even has it’s own little waterfall, and super cool rock formations. We spent two days there and no one was bothered. We put the tent in the meadow to the right of the area where it was mostly out of view and made friends with the numerous stray dogs roaming about.

Nokalakevi hot sulfur spring

This is probably my favourite on our list of best waterfalls in Georgia because it’s so unique. We stumbled upon it by accident when we drove from Kutaisi to Jvari via the back roads instead of Zugdidi. We highly recommend this route if you’re driving from Kutaisi to Mestia via car! You’ll come by Nokalakevi Archeological Museum and this bad boy right after on Tekhuri river (and optionally Nogha Fortress later on).

Park the car by the road opposite the dirt road, don’t attempt to drive down the dirt road to the right. It’s a five minute walk to the spring situated in a little concrete hut. From there, walk down to the river. The hot water is dripping over the edge, creating a hot waterfall before flowing into ice-cold Tekhuri river. The location is found here.

Shdugra (Mazeri)

Shdugra waterfall requires effort but its view is rewarding enough to make up for it! Not only one of the best waterfalls in Georgia but also on of the loveliest day hikes. The hike starts in Mazeri village, details can be found here. We absolutely loved the trail, snaking through meadows with an abundance of wild flowers, past a tiny church and the cute Hiker’s Café. After that, the paths becomes pretty steep all the way through the forest until it reaches the waterfalls so make sure you’re wearing the right shoes and are reasonably fit.

You can’t get close to the waterfall (at least we couldn’t) but it’s so massive that it’s better to marvel at it from a distance anyway. As you can see, the view is impressive both ways – towards the waterfall and back into the valley!

Tsalbnari (Mtirala)

An easy hike away through the jungle! I feel like Mtirala National Park is one of the more underrated ones in Georgia because there aren’t that many trails. The tropical feeling you get there is unbeatable though! The park gets its name from the frequent rainfall; Mtirala means crying in Georgian and this place is considered the wettest in the country. The climate brings a big advantage: it’s also accessible in winter so we vote this the best waterfall in Georgia during the cold season.

Start your hike from the visitor centre. It’s a circular route of about 7km and will lead you through the forest to the waterfall, then downwards to a tiny lake where you can swing, and then across Chakvistskali gorge which you can cross in a little cable car that you pull across yourself.

Makhuntseti

We saw the sign on the way to Khulo and decided to check it out. If you’re on the same route, you might as well skip it. The waterfall itself is nice but there are stalls everywhere around it which takes away a lot of the magic.

Makhuntseti waterfall in Adjara
by Kisa_Markiza

Mirveti

Mirveti village is situated at the entrance of Machakhela valley. Not only can you find the waterfall here but also a small Ottoman stone bridge (as you can find quite of few of them in the valleys of this area. Tip: Don’t finish you expedition at the waterfall but continue to explore the gun road (named after the gun making traditions in the valley) and Machakhela National Par, there are many more treats to be found.

Mirveti waterfall in Adjara
by zelyanodzevo

Dashbashi

We’ve only visited Dashbashi in winter so it’ll look even more beautiful during warmer seasons! This place is an absolute highlight in Kvemo Kartli. The walk down into the gorge is steep and can be slippy, especially in bad weather.

We wrote a detailed post about Dashbashi and things to do in the surrounding area, so check it out for more information and to find out how to get there.

Ninoskhevi and Black Grouse Waterfall

Ninoskhevi is the bigger one. The trail starts in Khizabavra. From there it’s a 10km round trip to the waterfall and back, and it’s absolutely worth it. Be careful when using Google Maps for this. The Khizabavra you’ll get on Maps is near Vardzia, not the one in Lagodekhi, so make sure to enter “Khizabavra Lagodekhi”. Also Ninoskhevi Waterfall gives you the trailhead, not the actual waterfall. Gurgeniani’s Waterfall is the one you want. Be aware that you’ll have to cross the river multiple times to reach it.

Black Grouse waterfall is accessible from the visitor center in Lagodekhi National Park. It’s a 9k round trip from there but the trail is easier than the Ninoskhevi one, and there should be bridges for most river crossings although you can never be sure so be prepared to get your feet wet still! With 6m height this one is smaller but you can go for a dip, which will be a blessing on one of Lagodekhi’s scorching hot summer days.

Ninoskhevi waterfall in Lagodekhi
by Ekaterina Nekrasova
Little Ninoskhevi waterfall in Lagodekhi
by Denis Matitsin 500px

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Leghvtakhevi (Tbilisi)

Leghvtakhevi has had quite a few names during the years: Tsavkisiskhevi, Sololakiskhevi and Dabakhana… Until some years ago the historical area of Leghvtakhevi was a parking lot, now it’s one of the most beautiful places in Tbilisi. This blog post tells you more about the development of the are if you’re interested.

Leghvtakhevi waterfall in Tbilisi
by Centuryboy

Apparently Leghvtakhevi means “gorge of figs” and I think that alone is already enough to visit it. It’s also This waterfall seems like an obvious one on our list, situated right at the edge of the National Botanical Garden of the capital of Georgia. You just walk along the river past the bath houses and there it is. However, we had lived in Georgia for three months already before we realised it existed! While you’re in the area, you should also walk around the Botanical Garden. It’s a lovely, quiet park that let’s you forget all the hustle and bustle just outside its gates.

Khadori (Pankisi)

Khadori waterfall is at the end of Pankisi Gorge (although it’s less of a gorge and more a valley). According to Georgian sources you can drive all the way to the waterfall which means you should by no means attempt to do so. Leave your car at the last village, Dzibakhevi, and stop overnight just a couple of kilometres from the waterfall at Pankisi Camping, run by two female entrepreneurs who want to bring tourism to Pankisi Gorge. We suggest to visit this place as soon as you can as there are plans to build a new power plant in the valley in the near future.

Khadori Waterfall in Pankisi Gorge
by Yasuhiro Kojima / CC BY-SA

Samcvera Waterfall

Sooo this is not a natural waterfall but rather a man-made waterfall. Nevertheless we’re mentioning it because you can go for a swim if you get too hot on your way to Kutaisi, and its surroundings are nice. Plus, you can have a good look at the Georgian Manganez factory passing through Zestafoni if you’re into intimidating, abandoned-looking industrial buildings.

Samcvera waterfall, Imereti, Georgia
Samcvera waterfall, Georgia
by DMO Imereti

Shareula/Tkhmori Waterfall

This is a magical little place in Racha. Swimming is possible! While you’re in the area, ask locals where to find Znakvi waterfall as it looks absolutely stunning on this video. It should be on Znakura river, somewhere around, you might have guessed it… Znakva village. Oh, and then ask for Bareuli waterfall. And please tell us what you’ve found out.

Shareula waterfall, Rachs, Georgia
by Giorgi Vatsadze

Waterfall of Love

It gets its name from being vaguely heart-shaped. This blog post shares a lovely legend about how it got its name. It’s about half an hour from Shareula waterfall by car so you can combine a visit to them.

Waterfall of Love
by Giorgi Nikolava

Agara waterfall

We don’t know what it’s called so we’re naming it after the monastery nearby. We recommend a hike from the closest village Uraveli to the supercool abandoned Agara monastery complex, and continue to the waterfall from there. This route takes you through Uraveli gorge, past the Enteli stone man monument and Baiebi fortress built into a cliff. Highly recommended but go there in spring as it dries up in summer! For more suggestions on what to do in the are, check our post about Samtskhe-Javakheti.

Intsira Waterfall

Highly recommend this one if you’re heading towards Svaneti. It’s located close to Jvari, near Chkvaleri village. You’ll walk along a dirt road and then along the path through the forest. Shortly after it gets steep and you’ll have to scramble, so dress accordingly. Also be prepared for water pipes following the entire trail, somewhat disturbing the off-the-grid feeling. Trekking in the Caucasus has all the deets for the hike.

Intsira waterfall in Svaneti
by grannyogrimm

Gveleti Waterfall

Gveleti Chanchkeri means Snake’s waterfall. Located close to Kazbegi, it’s one of the most popular waterfalls in Georgia, and also one of the most accessible ones. The trail starts at Gveleti village and makes for a 4km round trip that is so simple, Trekking in the Caucasus created a new difficulty level for it – “very easy”. You can also visit the smaller waterfall while you’re there.

Big Gveleti waterfall in Kazbegi
Small Gveleti waterfall in Kazbegi
by rchphoto

Tears of Guro

The road to Shatili is so terrifying that I’m not surprised they called this one Tears of Guro, or Guros Natsveturebi. Crappy jokes aside, it might have something to do with the former village Guro, which is now abandoned, after the forced Soviet resettlement and a landslide blocking access.

Tears of Guro
by Giorgi Nikolava

I can’t pinpoint the exact location anymore but there is only one road going to Shatili and the Tears of Guro are right on it, you can’t miss it. Below you’ll find the point where the road descends into Arghuni gorge and where the gorge where Guro is located branches off to the left.

Don’t go there just to see the waterfall. Khevsureti is a fascinating place and probably my favourite area in Georgia. Blog post coming soon!

Which one’s your favourite? Have you been to any? Do you know any more that we must hear about? Questions, questions, questions – please let us know!

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