Prometheus Cave

The route starts from the visitor centre, with groups departing every 20–30 minutes. The 1,400-metre trail passes through six halls: Argonauts, Kolkheti, Medea, Love, Prometheus, and Iberia. Each hall is lit with coloured lamps set to classical music – stalactites and stalagmites shift from red to blue. Ceilings reach up to 20 metres; in some spots you can see petrified waterfalls and stone curtains. Humidity inside sits at 96–98%, and surfaces glisten with moisture. Underfoot is a concrete walkway with railings, slippery in places.

At the end of the route the group splits: some climb stairs to the exit, others board a boat on the underground Kumi River. The boat ride takes 10–15 minutes through a narrow, lit tunnel with ceilings just 2–3 metres above. Boat tickets must be purchased at the ticket office in advance – they are not sold at the river. The exit is not at the same location as the entrance; a free shuttle takes you back to the visitor centre.

In summer the cave is a welcome escape: it can be +35–40 °C outside while staying a steady +14 °C inside. In winter the contrast is less dramatic, but the cave operates year-round. Tours are conducted in Georgian, Russian, and English – the guide moves quickly, so stay near the front of the group.

Scale – 22 km of explored passages, 6 halls open to tourists, 1,400 m walking route

Age – the cave formed 60–70 million years ago in the Sataplia-Tskaltubo karst massif

Temperature – constant +14 °C with 96–98% humidity year-round

Boat ride – 10–15 minutes on the underground Kumi River through a lit tunnel

Lighting – coloured illumination with classical music across all six halls

Infrastructure – paved trail with railings, free shuttle from exit to entrance

The cave was discovered in 1984 when Soviet geologists were surveying karst systems near Tskaltubo. By the late 1980s several halls and an underground river had been explored, but after the USSR collapsed all work stopped. Throughout those years, a local guard named Giorgi Tkabladze protected the cave from vandals – without pay, accompanied only by his dog.

Rehabilitation began in 2007 with new infrastructure and detailed surveys. The cave officially opened to visitors in 2011 and was named Prometheus Cave – after the Titan chained to a rock in the Caucasus for giving fire to humans. A statue of Tkabladze and his dog stands at the exit. To date, 22 halls have been discovered, but only six are accessible to tourists; the rest remain under exploration.

From Kutaisi (20 km, 30–40 min):

– Taxi (Bolt/Maxim) – 15–20 GEL (~$6–7) one way

– Round-trip taxi with waiting + Sataplia – 35–50 GEL (~$13–18)

– Shared minibus (marshrutka) to Tskaltubo (1–2 GEL), then taxi 8 km to the cave – 5–7 GEL

From Tbilisi (240 km, 3.5–4 hours):

– Rental car via the highway through Zestaponi

– Marshrutka from Didube station to Kutaisi (15–20 GEL / ~$6–7, 3.5 hrs), then taxi

– Organised day tours – often combined with Martvili Canyon

From Batumi (140 km, ~3 hours):

– By car via Samtredria

– Taxi ~100–120 GEL (~$37–44)

On site: 2-minute walk from the parking lot to the visitor centre. Free shuttle from exit back to entrance.

Season: The cave operates year-round. Inside it's always +14 °C regardless of outside weather. In summer (June–August) the contrast with the heat above ground makes the visit especially refreshing.

Time of day: Morning (10:00–11:00) – fewer tourists, shorter wait for a group. On summer weekends the queue can reach 30–40 minutes.

Duration: 1–1.5 hours for the tour + 15 minutes for the boat. Including travel from Kutaisi and back – half a day.

Avoid: Summer weekends (July–August) – maximum crowds. Mondays – the cave is closed.