LOCATION: 35 km away from Batumi, 330 m above the sea level.

SEASON: Summer, Autumn.

Since 2012, Machakhela Valley has a National Park status. In 19 km south to Batumi there’s a turn, and 3 km route will bring us from there to the Valley. So, it is just 3 km away from the main automobile road. It’s 10 km distance from the beginning of the Valley to Tskhemlara Bridge. Tourists can walk or ride horse or bicycle in the villages.

There are centuries-old arch bridges in Machakhela Valley, the biggest of them being Tskhemlara Bridge (length - 25 m, width - 2 m); here one can also visit fortresses, churches and monasteries, maranis (wine cellars) built by the limestone and satsnakhelis (wine squeezers), which belong to the various historic periods. Several legends about Queen Tamar are associated with Machakhela Valley.

In the old times, there was number of rich smitheries in the valley. Along with the family and agricultural tools, they were forging colds and firearms. At the junction of Chorokhi and Machakhela Rivers there is a monument of "Machakhela" gun; here, in Zemo Chkhutuneti Village, is located rich with the exhibition items Machakhela Ethnographical Museum; in Machakhela Valley the tourists might be interested in famous Machakhela honey and its manufacturing technologies.

Machakhela National Park is located at the administrative border of Khelvachauri and Keda Municipalities, in Machakhela River Valley. Its purpose is ensuring conservation of unique biological and landscape diversity, long term protection of Colchic forests' ecosystem, environmental security, and development of tourism and recreational activities in the natural environment. Machakhela National Park is the part of environmental corridor, which links together protected areas of south-west Georgia (Mtirala National Park and Kintrishi Protected Areas) and north-east Turkey (Jamil Biosphere Reserve).

SIGHTSEEING: Chkhutuneti fortress, Tskhemlara bridge, Machakhela historical and ethnographic museum - Now called the Chkhutuneti (Machakhela) museum, Kokoleti bridge, Chrheri bridge, Nearby you can also visit: Machakhela Gun monument.

ACTIVITIES: Become familiar with traditional rules of cattle breeding, poultry raising, vegetable growing and bee keeping, hunting, fishing, traditional ways of cooking local dishes, hiking, camping, horse-racing, and visiting historical and cultural sites In addition, learn about the history of creating gun "Machakhela" as well as the popular national trades of knitting, embroidery, wickerwork with baskets and long baskets, wine making and vodka brewing (seasonal).

TRANSPORTATION:

• Mini Buses "Batumi-Zeda Chkhutuneti" leaves from Boni market every day at 16:00, 19:00; Price: 2 Lari.
• Mini Buses "Batumi-Chikuneti" leaves from Tbilisi square at 11:00, 14:00, and 17:00; Price: 2 Lari.