Khulo

ხულო

A remote mountain town high in upper Adjara reached by winding roads and a dramatic cable car crossing a gorge. It is a gateway to alpine villages, traditional wooden Adjaran houses and the Green Lake.

Things to do

• Ride the Khulo cable car — Take the vintage Soviet-era cableway that dangles high above a deep gorge to the village of Tago, a thrilling and slightly nerve-wracking crossing.
• Visit the Green Lake (Tba Lake) — Hike or drive up to this serene alpine lake surrounded by forested slopes, a peaceful spot popular for picnics in summer.
• Explore Beshumi alpine resort — Head to this highland summer settlement on the Goderdzi Pass with wooden cottages, meadows and cool mountain air.
• See the Goderdzi Petrified Forest — Discover ancient fossilized tree trunks preserved in volcanic rock near the Goderdzi Pass.
• Wander Skhalta Monastery — Visit this 13th-century stone church, the only surviving medieval monument in upper Adjara, set in a quiet green valley.
• Discover traditional Adjaran wooden houses — Walk through mountain villages like Gundauri and Ghorjomi to see the region's distinctive carved wooden homes and balconies.
• Cross old arched stone bridges — Seek out the medieval Queen Tamar arched bridges spanning rivers in the surrounding gorges.

Food to try

• Achma — A rich layered Adjaran pasta-and-cheese dish, boiled and baked with butter, similar to a cheesy lasagna.
• Borano — A hearty highland dish of local sulguni cheese melted in clarified butter, eaten with fresh bread.
• Adjaruli khachapuri — The boat-shaped bread filled with cheese, butter and a runny egg, best eaten fresh in its home region.
• Kaimaghi and mountain dairy — Try the thick clotted cream and fresh cheeses made from milk of cattle grazing the alpine pastures.
• Mountain honey — Sample and buy pure honey harvested from the wildflower meadows of upper Adjara.
• Sinori — A comforting Adjaran dish of thin dough rolled with cottage cheese and butter.

Local customs & good to know

• This is a Muslim-majority area — Upper Adjara has a significant Muslim population, so dress modestly and respect the mosques found in many villages.
• Bring cash and fuel up early — ATMs are scarce and fuel stations limited beyond Khulo, so stock up before heading into remote villages.
• Check seasons and roads — The Goderdzi Pass and Beshumi are best in summer, while heavy snow can block mountain roads from late autumn to spring.
• Accept hospitality graciously — Locals often invite travelers for tea or a meal, and refusing outright can seem impolite, so share a toast if offered.

Nearby

• Makhuntseti Waterfall and Bridge — 23 km
• Mtirala National Park — 34 km
• Abastumani (Samtskhe-Javakheti) — 45 km
• Kobuleti — 48 km