The Katskhi pillar and Chiatura make the best odd day out from Kutaisi: a 40-metre limestone column with a church on top, and a mining town where Soviet cable cars still cross the gorge. Add the Sataplia caves on the way back and you have a full day on paved roads. This post gives the route, the timing and the car. Collect it at Kutaisi Airport or in the city.
Updated 9 October 2026. Prices and rules checked against our booking system on that date.
Katskhi pillar and Chiatura: the route
Kutaisi to the Katskhi pillar is about 55 km and an hour east on the Zestafoni road, then north. The pillar is a short walk from the car park; the monk who lived on top for years has come down, and visitors cannot climb, but the view from the base and the small church below are the point. Chiatura is 15 km further up the valley. From Chiatura back to Kutaisi via Sataplia is about 65 km, 1.5 hours.
| Stop | What it is | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Katskhi pillar | A 40 m rock column with a 9th-century church on top | 45 minutes |
| Chiatura | Manganese mining town in a gorge, cable cars rebuilt in 2021, Soviet architecture | 1.5 hours |
| Mgvimevi monastery | A cave church on the cliff above Chiatura | 30 minutes |
| Sataplia | Dinosaur footprints, a cave and a glass viewing platform over Kutaisi | 1.5 hours |
Chiatura: ride the cable cars
Chiatura grew around manganese mines and the miners commuted by cable car across the gorge. The old Soviet cabins are retired; the four lines rebuilt in 2021 run in the daytime and cost almost nothing. Ride one up, walk the ridge, come down another. The town is honest rather than pretty, which is why photographers love it. Park by the river in the centre; it is free.
When to go
Any month. The roads are low and paved, so this is the day trip we suggest when the mountains are closed or the coast is cold. In summer, start at Sataplia before it gets hot and do Chiatura in the afternoon. The Kutaisi by car post covers Prometheus cave, Martvili and Okatse, which make a second day.
Which car
| Car | Daily rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota Prius | $35 | Perfect: paved roads, cheap on fuel |
| Toyota Corolla 2015 | $50 | Simple automatic, flat rate |
| Ford Fusion | $55 | Comfort for four |
| Mitsubishi Outlander | $65 | If you continue to Racha or Svaneti afterwards |
Every car above is bookable online from Kutaisi Airport ($120 handover fee per end) or Kutaisi city at the same fee; the prices page has the full list, and rentals of 5 days or more get 5% off from 5 days and 10% off from 10 days on all cars except the Toyota Prius (flat $35), and 15% off from 5 days and 25% off from 10 days on the Mazda CX-3 and Jeep Renegade, applied automatically in the booking form for pickups until 15 December 2026.
Landing at Kutaisi with a day to spare? Tell us your flight and we suggest the loop that fits. Message us on WhatsApp (+995 591 89 60 60) and we will plan a custom route with you: the right car for the roads, pickup and drop-off in different cities, and honest advice on driving times.
Questions about the Katskhi pillar and Chiatura
Can you climb the Katskhi pillar?
No. The ladder is for the monks. You can walk around the base and visit the lower church.
Is Chiatura safe to visit?
Yes. It is a working town with cafes and a market; the cable cars are new and inspected. Keep to the daytime and the centre.
How long is the whole loop?
About 150 km and six to seven hours with the three stops. Add Sataplia only if you have the time; it closes in the late afternoon.
Can I do this on the way to Tbilisi?
Yes. Katskhi and Chiatura are just north of the Tbilisi motorway at Zestafoni, so they fit a one-way day from Kutaisi Airport to Tbilisi; the one-way page has the fee.
The Katskhi pillar and Chiatura are a day of rock, rust and views that most tour buses skip. From Kutaisi it is an hour away in any car.