The short answer: Mountain Adjara is the green, steep country that rises straight behind Batumi, along the Acharistskali river and its side valleys. The easy part is close to the coast: the Makhuntseti waterfall and the arched stone Queen Tamar bridge are about 30 km (45 minutes) from Batumi, and with Mirveti and a village lunch in the Machakhela valley they make a relaxed day. Further up are the wine villages of Keda, the mountain town of Khulo (about 85 km) and the Goderdzi pass at 2,027 m, which is a longer trip and, for the pass itself, a summer one.
The lower valley: Makhuntseti and the Queen Tamar bridge
The road inland from Batumi follows the Chorokhi and then the Acharistskali. A viewpoint just outside the city looks down on the two rivers meeting, one usually greener than the other.
At Makhuntseti the waterfall drops down a mossy cliff right beside the road; sources give its height as anything from 30 m to about 50 m, but either way it's one of the tallest in Adjara. A short walk away, the Queen Tamar bridge crosses the Acharistskali in a single high arch of stone. It is about 20 m long and traditionally dated to the 12th century, the time of Queen Tamar, although, like most of Adjara's arched bridges, the name is tradition rather than a record. It was built without cement, and you can walk over it.
Adjara's stone bridges
Makhuntseti's is the most visited, but Keda municipality alone has several medieval arched bridges built without mortar, including the Dandalo, Pirveli Maisi and Tsaniaris bridges. They were part of old trade and mule routes through the mountains. Most are a short walk from the road, and they are at their most photogenic when the river is full in spring or after rain.
Mirveti and the Machakhela valley
Near the Turkish border, the Machakhela river runs down a quiet side valley south of the main road. At Mirveti an iron footbridge sways over the river, and a 10-minute walk leads to another waterfall. The Machakhela valley is known for family restaurants that cook Adjarian food: borano (cheese melted in butter), sinori (cheese-and-yoghurt pastry rolls) and the boat-shaped Adjarian khachapuri with an egg in the middle. A long lunch here is part of the point of the day.
Keda: Adjara's wine villages
Keda, about 41 km and 55 minutes east of Batumi, is the centre of Adjara's small wine scene. The two local grapes are Tsolikouri, for dry whites, and Chkhaveri, made as a delicate pink or light red, both suited to the valley's warm, wet climate. Ancient rock-cut wine presses have been found in villages around Keda, and a number of family cellars now receive visitors as part of the regional Adjarian wine route. It's a gentler, less formal style of tasting than in Kakheti, and it fits well into a day around the waterfalls. Tastings need arranging ahead.
Khulo: the upper valley
About 85 km from Batumi, Khulo is the main town of upper Adjara, with wooden houses, terraced hillsides and summer pastures (yaylas) above. It is known for the Khulo–Tago cable car, built in 1985, which crosses the gorge in one 1,720 m span without a single support tower. Check before you go: as of the last check the old cable car was out of service for restoration, with no reopening date given.
The Goderdzi pass
Above Khulo the road climbs to the Goderdzi pass, at 2,027 m, and crosses into Samtskhe-Javakheti towards Adigeni, Zarzma monastery and Akhaltsikhe. It is one of Georgia's most scenic mountain crossings, with alpine meadows and views over the ranges, and near the pass is the Goderdzi Petrified Forest, a natural monument of fossilised tree trunks preserved under ancient volcanic ash.
- Season: the crossing is usually passable by ordinary car from about June to October, and closed by snow for much of the winter.
- Road: parts of the road, particularly between Khulo and Zarzma, have been unpaved and rough; outside summer a high-clearance 4x4 is recommended.
- Winter: on the Adjara side, the Goderdzi ski area is a resort from about December to mid-April, with its deepest snow usually from late January to early March.
Crossing the pass makes a long but spectacular link between Batumi and Akhaltsikhe or Vardzia. It needs a full day and a flexible plan, and we only route it in the summer months.
When to go
- May to October: the main season for the lower valley. After heavy rain the waterfalls are at their fullest; in a dry August they are thinner.
- June to October: the only months to plan on crossing the Goderdzi pass.
- Autumn: the valley's forests turn colour in October and November, but Adjara is wet, so bring a rain jacket.
- Winter: the lower valley is reachable, but it's rainy and the days are short; Goderdzi is for skiing.
Practical notes
- Paths near the waterfalls are wet and slippery; wear shoes with grip.
- The Mirveti footbridge sways; small children should hold an adult's hand.
- Mountain roads above Keda are narrow and winding, and signal can be patchy.
- For the seaside sights, the Botanical Garden and Gonio, read our guide to Batumi beyond the beach.
Seeing Mountain Adjara with us
The Mountain Adjara private day trip from Batumi takes about 6.5 hours with short drives and short walks: the river confluence, Makhuntseti waterfall and the Queen Tamar bridge, the Mirveti footbridge and waterfall, and a two-hour family lunch with wine in the Machakhela valley. It runs from May to October, and in the other months on request. It doesn't go as far as Khulo or Goderdzi; for those, or a summer crossing of the pass to Akhaltsikhe, build your own route. If you're coming from Tbilisi, the Western Georgia and Black Sea private tour, 6 days ends in Batumi and can swap its Gonio day for Mountain Adjara. All come with your own car and English-speaking driver-guide. See each tour page for the current price. Nothing to pay now.
Sources
- Visit Batumi, "Makhuntseti ancient arched bridge": visitbatumi.com; "Makhuntseti Waterfall": visitbatumi.com
- Georgia Travel, "Keda, the winemaking centre of Ajara": georgia.travel
- Visit Batumi, "Khulo–Tago cable car": visitbatumi.com
- Georgia.to, "Goderdzi Pass": georgia.to
- Agency of Protected Areas, "Goderdzi Petrified Forest Natural Monument": apa.gov.ge
- Budget Georgia, day tours from Batumi (Mountain Adjara route): budget-georgia.com
Last checked: September 2026. The Goderdzi road and the Khulo cable car change from year to year; we check both before you travel.
