💧 Kabeni Waterfalls: A Walk Through the Asuretistskali Gorge Next to the Monastery
Before You Go
Kabeni Waterfalls drop through the Asuretistskali gorge, close to the village of Kiketi in the Tetritsqaro Municipality. It's the kind of hike that fits easily into a free day out of Tbilisi: about an hour on the road, forest, water, and a monastery standing right next to it that adds a historical layer to what would otherwise be a purely nature walk.
The spot is well known but small, people tend to come here for a day with friends rather than as a stop on a bigger touring route.
📍 Where the Waterfalls Are and Where to Start
The navigation point is Kiketi village. From there, a trail follows the gorge to the falls, and just a couple hundred metres from the water itself stand the ruins of Kabeni Monastery: in practice, these are two neighbouring stops on the same walk rather than two separate trips.
According to people who've been, there isn't just one waterfall but several, scattered across different stretches of the gorge, and not all of them are visible from the trail at once. Some are an easy walk, others require stepping off the beaten path a little.
🥾 The Trail and What to Know Beforehand
The trail itself isn't difficult, and visitor reviews back that up: it suits an ordinary walk with no special preparation needed. There are a few things worth knowing, though. After rain, puddles and mud form along the path, and closer to the falls there are noticeable changes in elevation, worth taking carefully, especially with kids in tow.
Worth being honest rather than glossing over it: this is a popular spot, and litter left by previous visitors turns up on the trail from time to time. Bringing a bag and picking up what you can leaves the gorge better off.
- From Kiketi, follow the trail along the Asuretistskali gorge, heading toward the sound of running water.
- The first cascades are visible right from the trail, a good spot to stop and rest.
- To see the rest, some visitors step off the main path a little, closer to the riverbed.
- Nearby, just a couple of minutes' walk away, are the ruins of Kabeni Monastery, worth combining both stops into one outing.
- Heading back the same way to Kiketi is the easiest option.
🏛️ What's Nearby: Kabeni Monastery
About a hundred and fifty metres from the falls stand the ruins of the Kabeni monastic complex, a domed church from the era of Queen Tamar, the 12th to 13th century. That's a different story with a different kind of interest, so it's better read separately: in the Kabeni Monastery listing and in the blog piece on the monastery. There's no point unpacking the church's history here, in an article about the waterfalls, the important thing to know is that if you're already heading to the falls, the monastery sits on your way with barely any detour at all.
🚗 How to Get There
From Tbilisi, the drive to Kiketi takes about an hour. That's the main and shortest route to the falls, best to leave the car by the village and continue on foot along the gorge trail.
There's also a longer option, via the town of Kojori and Korogli Fortress: a classic weekend route where you first take in the fortress itself, then descend through the forest to the same falls, and continue through the monastery into Kiketi. It's more interesting if you'd like to combine the walk with another historical site, but it's longer both in time and effort.
Route: From Kiketi to the Falls
The short way, on foot from the village along the gorge to the first cascades.
👨👩👧 Is It Suitable for Kids
Reviews suggest the trail is generally manageable for school-age kids. But near the falls themselves, where the terrain shifts more sharply, it's worth keeping children close and not letting them near the water unsupervised, especially on wet rocks.
What to Pack
📌 What to Check Before You Go
It's worth checking the stream's water level and the trail's condition if you're heading out right after heavy rain, puddles and mud near the end of the route can make the descent unpleasant. If you're planning to combine the walk with the monastery, allow an hour and a half to two hours for the whole outing, no need to rush.
Have you walked to Kabeni Waterfalls? Leave a review on Madloba: tell us how many waterfalls you found this time, whether the trail was dry, and whether it's worth wading in during your season.
Information is current as of July 2026. Check the weather and trail conditions before heading out, conditions at a natural route with no infrastructure can change quickly.
❓ Frequently asked questions
💬 In Kvemo Kartli, in the Asuretistskali gorge, near Kiketi village, Tetritsqaro Municipality. Use the village as your navigation point, then follow the gorge on foot.
💬 According to visitor reviews, there are several separate cascades across different stretches of the gorge, not just one. The exact number depends on how far off the main trail you're willing to go.
💬 They're two neighbouring but distinct sites in the same gorge, about 150 metres apart. The waterfalls are a natural feature, the monastery is a historical one, the ruins of a 12th to 13th century church. It's easy to see both on the same walk.
💬 Yes, the trail is generally easy. But it gets muddy after rain, and there are noticeable elevation changes near the falls themselves, worth some care there.
💬 The trail is generally manageable for school-age children. Near the falls, where the terrain gets steeper, keep kids close.
💬 The short way is by car to Kiketi village, about an hour, then on foot along the gorge. A longer option runs through the town of Kojori and Korogli Fortress, reaching the same falls from the other direction.
💬 In warm weather, some visitors do wade or swim. There's no official swimming infrastructure, so judge the current and water temperature on site.
💬 Yes, it's a popular spot, and litter left by previous visitors does turn up occasionally. Bringing a bag and picking up what you can leaves the trail better off.
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