Most visitors know Adjara only for Batumi and its beaches. But an hour from the sea lies a completely different world — mountainous Adjara: subtropical forests, waterfalls, medieval arched bridges, highland villages and alpine meadows. It's humid, green and quiet, and the food is rich and cheesy. Here's what to see.

Mtirala National Park

Mtirala ("the weeping mountain") is one of Georgia's wettest areas, receiving huge amounts of rain, so its forests are dense and lush. The park is about 30 km from Batumi, near Chakvi.

What to see:

  • a waterfall on the trail from the visitor centre;
  • a small lake where you can take a boat out;
  • Colchic forests of chestnut, beech, rhododendron and boxwood;
  • suspension bridges and eco-trails of various lengths.

The park has a visitor centre, guesthouses nearby and designated camping spots. Bring rain gear — the mountain's name is no accident.

Machakhela National Park

Machakhela is a gorge near the Turkish border in the Khelvachauri area. The park protects relict Colchic forests, and its villages preserve traditional wooden houses and crafts. The gorge is especially beautiful in spring and autumn, and it's quieter than Mtirala.

Makhuntseti waterfall and Queen Tamar's bridge

On the road from Batumi into the mountains, about 30 km out, is Makhuntseti waterfall — tall and powerful, with a small pool at its foot where the brave swim in cold water in summer.

Nearby is a 12th-century arched stone bridge known as Queen Tamar's bridge. Such railing-less bridges are a signature of mountainous Adjara and survive in several places along the Adjaristskali and Chorokhi rivers.

Keda and chkhaveri wine

Keda is mountainous Adjara's wine district, growing the local chkhaveri grape — used for rosé semi-sweet wines — as well as tsolikouri. Several Keda wineries offer tastings and local dishes, making a good stop on the way to Khulo.

Khulo and its cable car

Khulo is a mountain town about 80–90 km from Batumi. Its highlight is a cable car across a deep gorge linking Khulo with the village of Tkhilvana — a short ride with breathtaking views.

Khulo and its surroundings have wooden mosques and old houses; many Muslim Georgians live in mountainous Adjara, giving it a distinctive cultural atmosphere.

The Green Lake

The Green Lake (Mtsvane Tba) is a high-altitude lake near the Beshumi resort. In summer people come for picnics and walks across the alpine meadows.

Beshumi and Goderdzi

  • Beshumi — a summer mountain resort with a cool climate, meadows and wooden cottages, popular with those escaping the coastal heat.
  • Goderdzi — a ski resort on the pass of the same name (around 2,000 m and above). In winter there's plenty of snow and good runs; in summer, meadows, horse riding and views. The Goderdzi Pass road leads into Samtskhe-Javakheti (Adigeni, Akhaltsikhe), shortening the journey between Batumi and Vardzia.

Mountain Adjarian food

The mountain cuisine differs from the coast:

  • borano — cheese melted in butter;
  • sinori — rolls of thin dough with cottage cheese and butter;
  • chirbuli — eggs with tomatoes and walnuts;
  • Adjarian khachapuri — made superbly in the mountains too.

Getting there

  • By car — the most convenient. The road from Batumi via Keda to Khulo is good but mountainous.
  • Minibuses run from Batumi to Keda and Khulo.
  • Taxi/driver — for a one-day circuit of waterfalls and bridges.
  • Tours — many Batumi agencies offer day trips to mountainous Adjara.

A 1–2 day route

Day 1: Batumi → Makhuntseti waterfall and Queen Tamar's bridge → Keda (winery, lunch) → Khulo (cable car) → overnight in Khulo or Beshumi.

Day 2: Green Lake → Goderdzi Pass → down to Adigeni and Akhaltsikhe (Rabati) → Vardzia, or back to Batumi.

Spend a separate day at Mtirala or Machakhela (each 30–40 minutes from Batumi).

When to go

  • May–October — best for mountains and waterfalls.
  • Summer — an escape from the coastal heat.
  • Winter — Goderdzi and Beshumi for skiing; mountain roads can be tricky.
  • Expect rain in any season — Adjara is one of Georgia's wettest regions.

Tips

  • Bring rain gear and waterproof shoes.
  • The Goderdzi Pass may be closed or difficult in the shoulder seasons — check road conditions.
  • Mountain villages often lack ATMs — cash is essential.
  • Respect local traditions: dress modestly in Muslim villages.

In short

Mountainous Adjara means the green forests of Mtirala and Machakhela, Makhuntseti waterfall and medieval arched bridges, Keda's wines, the cable car over the gorge in Khulo, Beshumi's meadows and the Goderdzi Pass. Just an hour from Batumi, it feels like another country. Add at least one mountain day to your beach holiday and you'll see Adjara from a completely different side.