💧 Kinchkha Waterfall in Imereti: Cascades, Blue Lakes and the Tallest Waterfall in Georgia

Kinchkha Waterfall is one of the few natural sites in Georgia that carries an official designation: it's listed in the country's Red Book of Natural Wonders. The reason is straightforward — it's the tallest waterfall in Georgia, with the main cascade dropping over 80 metres.

Kinchkha is in Khoni Municipality, Imereti, a few kilometres from Okatse Canyon. Both are on the same river: the Okatse rises on the Askhi massif, carves the canyon as it descends, then breaks into cascades. Most visitors come to both in one day, and the distance between them makes that easy.

But the two places feel very different. The canyon is about a trail, a suspension bridge, height and the claustrophobia of walls just four metres apart. Kinchkha is about sound — the roar you hear before you see anything — then mist, cold air and the colour of the lakes below.

💧 What Kinchkha Actually Is

Kinchkha is not one waterfall in the conventional sense but a series of cascades on the Okatse River. As the river moves down the limestone plateau, it drops in stages. The main one falls over 80 metres and is what people mean when they say Kinchkha.

Up close, the waterfall is first of all a sound. The roar carries well before the water comes into view. Then mist, a drop in temperature, and finally the white column of water against dark rock. It moves a lot of air.

The site is listed in Georgia's Red Book of Natural Wonders — an informal but meaningful classification for places selected by rarity, scale and visual impact.

🌊 The Blue Lakes

Below the main cascade, the river slows and pools. The lakes have an unusual colour: turquoise or blue-green depending on the light, with the white limestone floor clearly visible through the water. In direct sunlight the water appears to glow from below.

Swimming is possible and worth it on a warm day, but the water is cold year-round. The river feeds from mountain springs, and even in August it takes a moment to adjust. The floor is stony, so stepping in carefully makes sense.

For photographs, the first half of the day works better: the sun hasn't yet moved behind the surrounding rock face, and the water gets more direct light.

🚗 Getting There

Kinchkha is in Khoni Municipality, a few kilometres from Okatse Canyon. There's no direct minibus to the waterfall.

From Kutaisi by car: about 45-50 minutes. Take the E60 highway towards Khoni, then follow signs towards Gordi. Navigation apps work for most of the route, but the last stretch to the waterfall specifically can be inaccurate — ask at the Okatse Canyon visitor centre or locally.

Taxi from Kutaisi for a full day is the easiest option if you're visiting both Kinchkha and Okatse Canyon.

From Tbilisi: roughly 280 km, about three hours.

📅 When to Go

The waterfall runs year-round, but spring and early summer are when it's most powerful. May and June bring snowmelt from the mountains, and the cascade is noticeably wider and stronger during this period.

In summer there's less water, but the lakes are warmer for swimming. July and August are the busiest months — arrive in the morning to get ahead of the larger groups.

Autumn is quiet and the surrounding forest turns yellow. The lakes are colder, but the atmosphere more than compensates.

In winter the roads can be difficult and the Okatse Canyon visitor centre may not be open.

🗺️ Combining with Okatse Canyon

Kinchkha and Okatse Canyon are a few kilometres apart in Khoni Municipality. By car, 10-15 minutes between the two points. Starting with the canyon makes practical sense: the 6 km trail takes 2-3 hours and involves more physical effort; the waterfall and lakes work well as a slower afternoon stop.

If you're doing both, leave Kutaisi early. A full morning at the canyon, then Kinchkha after lunch, fits comfortably in one day. The full canyon guide is at Okatse Canyon: Suspension Bridge and Trail.

Have you visited Kinchkha? Leave a review on Madloba: tell us how cold the lakes were, whether the waterfall was as impressive as expected, and whether visiting separately from the canyon is worth it.

Information is current as of June 2026. Check road conditions and weather before travelling.

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