How to Visit Tetra Cave (White Cave) near Tskaltubo

Short answer (2026/27): Tetra Cave, locally known as the White Cave, is a karst cave just outside the resort town of Tskaltubo in Imereti. Chalk limestone gives its interior a white colour, it has stalactites and stalagmites, wine is aged inside at a constant 13–14 °C and visitors can taste it, and in the Soviet era it was a training centre for cosmonauts. The easiest way to visit is a private car with driver from Kutaisi, priced per whole car, with free waiting while you are underground. See drivers and live prices on OrbiTrip’s Kutaisi–Tetra Cave transfer page.

Tetra Cave at a glance

Where: just outside Tskaltubo, Imereti
Local name: the White Cave
Inside: white chalk limestone, stalactites and stalagmites
Temperature: a constant 13–14 °C
Wine: aged in the cave, with tastings for visitors
History: a training centre for cosmonauts in the Soviet era
Archaeology: about 15,000 artefacts found, including cave-bear bones and a copper arrowhead
Access: adapted for visitors with disabilities

Facts come from Wikipedia, Georgia Travel, Georgia.to and CBW; checked on 4 November 2026.

Ways to get there compared

Option	Price basis	Door to door	Waiting at the cave	Combine with other caves
Minibus to Tskaltubo	Per seat	No; to Tskaltubo, then a taxi or a walk	You wait for the next service	Another minibus or taxi each time
Taxi app	Per trip	Yes	Usually not included	A new car for every leg
Private car with driver	Per whole car	Yes, from your hotel	Free	Yes, same driver, free stops

In short: shared transport is priced per seat but stops in Tskaltubo, a taxi app works leg by leg, and a private car is priced per whole car with free waiting and free stops at other caves around Kutaisi.

Why visit Tetra Cave?

Most visitors to the Kutaisi area see Prometheus Cave and Sataplia. Tetra Cave is smaller and quieter, but it has a character of its own. Its local name, the White Cave, comes from the chalk limestone that gives the interior its white colour, and stalactites and stalagmites decorate the chamber.

The cave also has an unusual history. In the Soviet era it was a training centre for cosmonauts, and patients with bronchial asthma and hypertension have been treated here for about a century thanks to its special climate. It is an important archaeological site too: about 15,000 artefacts have been found inside, including bones of animals such as the cave bear and a copper arrowhead.

What to see and do

Walk through the white limestone chamber and look for the stalactites and stalagmites. The cave has been adapted for visitors with disabilities, so the visit is easy for most people.

The highlight for many is the wine. The cave keeps a constant temperature of 13–14 °C, ideal for ageing wine, and wine is stored and aged inside. Visitors can taste wine that has matured in the cave, which makes Tetra a good end to a day of caves around Tskaltubo. Bring a light jacket: it stays cool underground all year.

Who should take a private transfer

Staying in Kutaisi: a half-day trip with the driver waiting for free while you visit.
Cave lovers: add Prometheus Cave or Sataplia on the same day with the same driver; stops are free.
Wine tasters: taste in the cave and let the driver take you back.
Staying in Tskaltubo: there is also a Tskaltubo to Tetra Cave route page.
Families and small groups: the price is per whole car, not per person, and a child seat is available on request.
Plans not fixed yet: booking is free, there is no prepayment, cancellation is free, and you pay the driver in cash (GEL, USD or EUR) after the ride.

Practical details

Pickup: from your hotel or any address in Kutaisi; give the exact address when you book.
Book ahead: at least 90 minutes before pickup.
After you book: the driver confirms the request and sends you his contact, so you know who is coming and can message him.
Meeting: the driver meets you with a name sign.
Clothing: a light jacket for the cool cave air and comfortable shoes.
Same price day and night: early or late, the price is the same.
Time: allow about an hour at the cave, more with a wine tasting, plus the drive.

More around Kutaisi

Tetra Cave combines well with the other natural sights of Imereti. See our Tskaltubo spa and Prometheus Cave guide, the Prometheus Cave and Martvili Canyon day trip, the Kutaisi things to do guide and the Tbilisi to Sataplia transfer guide.

Why travel with OrbiTrip

Free stops on the way: caves, viewpoints or lunch.
Free waiting: take your time in the cave.
Free cancellation: change plans without penalty.
Same price day and night: early or late, the price is the same.
Pay the driver in cash: GEL, USD or EUR, no prepayment.
Name-sign meeting: the driver meets you with a name sign.
Child seat on request: mention it when you book.
Book ahead: at least 90 minutes before pickup.
Reliability: For a confirmed booking, your driver is guaranteed to arrive; any necessary replacement driver is at the same price and with your agreement.

Frequently asked questions

Is the price per person or per car?

Per whole car, not per person.

Do I pay in advance?

No. There is no prepayment; you pay the driver in cash in GEL, USD or EUR after the ride.

Can I cancel?

Yes, cancellation is free.

Why is Tetra Cave called the White Cave?

Because chalk limestone gives the interior of the cave its white colour.

Checked on 4 November 2026. Sources: Wikipedia, Georgia Travel, Georgia.to and CBW.

OrbiTrip Georgia — private transfers across Georgia with local drivers. Per-vehicle price shown before booking, no prepayment.