The village of Makhuntseti is located forty kilometers from Batumi and is famous for its large waterfall and one of the medieval arched bridges.
Makhuntseti is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Adjara. Many consider it a must-see. Hundreds of people come every day to see the ancient bridge and the water falling from a height of many meters. And in high season – several thousand.
Makhuntseti Waterfall
The waterfall fully meets the expectations of tourists when they stop in front of this wonderful creation of nature. This is the highest and most picturesque waterfall in Adjara. The water jets, falling from a height of about 40 meters, have hollowed out a bowl at the place of the fall. Sometimes tourists can bathe in it and in the falling water, but this pleasure is only for the strong-willed.
It is always cool near the waterfall because the water falls down from a cliff surrounded by trees on all sides. In addition, the splashes of the cold mountain river significantly refresh the air.
Quite often, tourists think that there is a Batumi waterfall. There are several waterfalls near the capital of Adjara, but most often this name refers to the waterfall in Makhuntseti.
The Makhuntseti waterfall is an excellent background for selfies and regular photos.
Queen Tamar’s Arch Bridge in Makhuntseti
Tamara Bridge is another attraction in Makhuntseti. It is a beautiful stone arched bridge that was built before the 13th century.
Let’s immediately deal with the often mentioned Queen Tamar and her bridges, of which there are more than two dozen in Adjara alone. Of course, there are legends that she rode on each of them, and some were built on her direct orders. But, most likely, she did not even guess about this.
The fact is that the era of Tamar’s reign (the end of the 12th – beginning of the 13th century) is the heyday and power of Georgia. Therefore, everything that was built in the first half of the second millennium is attributed to this era and is named after the great ruler. A bridge can be built either in the 10th century or in the 15th – it will still be named after the queen.
But it is this bridge that has become the most popular. However, deservedly so – it has impressive dimensions: almost 30 meters long and 6 meters high. Despite the fact that the shallow Adzharistskali River runs below, in the summer local kids jump from this height. By the way, be careful not to follow them: there are no railings here. And in wet weather it can be quite slippery.
What else to see in Makhuntseti
In Adjara, people created settlements by clans, so many villages are named after the clan founder. The name “Makhuntseti”, according to legend, came about somewhat differently.
A long time ago, after a large flood, the river washed ashore many trees that were torn from the banks. One of the elderly people living in a neighboring village saw a cluster of excellent building materials and built a wooden house on this site. In Georgian, “mokhutsi” means old (elderly). This is what the house and later the village built by the elderly man were called – “mokhutseti”. Over time, the name changed and became known as “Makhuntseti”.
In Soviet times, it was a settlement of power engineers, because a hydroelectric power station was built on the river. Its spillway can be seen if you cross Adzharistskali on the bridge and turn left from it.
On the opposite bank of the river, upstream, you will see a water discharge. Moreover, on dry summer days, this flow is even more powerful than the main riverbed. The hydroelectric power station is a diversion type station. Water for the operation of the units is taken several kilometers upstream and supplied to the station through a special channel running in the rock. If you drive literally a few hundred meters along the road beyond the village, you will see a huge aqueduct through which water enters the channel in the rock.
Before reaching the aqueduct, on the left on the rock you can see a monument to a man with a gun who is looking towards the Turkish mountains. It appeared here in 2018, for the centenary of Georgia’s independence.
Also noteworthy are the wires stretched over the road and the river. This is a zipline, along which you can fly over Makhuntseti.
Its station is located at the top, then you will be taken there by car, you will definitely be offered this service on the way to the waterfall or in the parking lot. As well as rafting on a kayak, of which there is a huge amount in the season.
Near the waterfall there is a small restaurant and numerous shopping arcades where you can buy honey, wine and souvenirs.
Waterfall and Tamara Bridge in Makhuntseti – how to get there from Batumi?
Parking coordinates: 41.571263, 41.860711
Address: Georgia, Adjara, Makhuntseti village
Makhuntseti village is located 30 km from Batumi, it is a little less than an hour’s drive away.
If you want to go on your own, you can leave from the bus station in Batumi on the 77th minibus. Any that go to Keda or Khulo will also suit you. Some of them will have inscriptions in Russian: “waterfalls” or something similar. But some will have inscriptions only in Georgian. It is better to sit on the right, then out the window you will see not only the rocks along which the road runs, but also the river valley, mountains and beautiful landscapes.
In general, I do not recommend going by minibus. It is usually packed with people, and by agreement between the driver and one of the passengers, it can go to nearby villages and travel all over Adjara. And instead of the expected hour, it can take more than two.
When you find yourself at a bus stop or in a parking lot, the bridge will be next to you, on the right as the minibus moves – you will need to go down to it by the river. And the waterfall is on the opposite side of the road and a little behind. In the summer, there is a dense flow of tourists, and out of season, the waterfall is visible from the road.
If you want to go by taxi, the trip will cost about 50 lari. Be sure to agree that the driver will wait for you for the return trip – most likely, he will also be interested in this.
If you are planning to visit other amazing places in Mountainous Adjara (there is also Machakhela!), then I advise you to rent a car – you will have time to see a lot in a day. There is a parking lot right next to the waterfall, but I strongly advise you not to go there in season.
You can cut off two-thirds of the way on foot, but by car you will have to drive around with numerous tourist buses. In the parking lot at the coordinates I indicated, you will be met by a good-natured old man, he will help you park, take one lari for it, help you leave and even give you a receipt. I don’t know where he got the receipt machine from, but it gives him a solid look)
However, it is best not to go alone, but with a tour! This way you will not only learn much more about the magnificent Adjara, but also visit more locations. Among which, for sure, there will be some secret winery)
If you want an individual tour from Batumi, then contact me, Vitaly Kibitlevsky. Here is my mail: vitkibit@gmail.com. We will spend an unforgettable day together, admiring the amazing views and visiting the most interesting places.
If you want to go with a group, the most exciting excursions can be found at georgia4travel. Go to their website and choose the routes you like.
If you decide to go on your own, then spend a couple more hours and visit Merisi (half an hour’s drive from Makhuntseti). This is simply a paradise in the Adjara mountains! There you can find a magnificent waterfall, and there will be many times fewer people there than in Makhuntseti, which means it will be easier to take the best pictures. Merisi Waterfall attracts with its size, color and coolness at any time of the year. You can get to the waterfall by car, you will need to walk only a few dozen meters.
Waterfall coordinates: 41.569592, 42.026797.
But the most important thing in Merisi is a unique restaurant with the most beautiful view in Georgia! You will find delicious food, warm hospitality and incredible photo locations, including a glass bridge, a free 360 video spinner, swings and a terrace.
Restaurant coordinates: 41.580155, 42.016757
Have a great holiday, friends!
More about Batumi and Georgia:
Best hotels in the mountains of Georgia
Souvenirs – what to bring from Georgia as a gift
The Best Adjarian Khachapuri in Batumi. Top 5 Places
Shekvetili Dendrological Park (48 km from Batumi)
My name is Vitaly Kibitlevsky, I am a tour guide and creator of unique quests in Batumi. If you want to walk around the city with a fascinating storyteller or plunge into an exciting adventure, write to the mail: vitkibit@gmail.com
Find out more about me and my projects here