Alternative Georgia: Day Trip to Chiatura from Tbilisi
45 EUR
Step off the beaten track and discover a different side of Georgia on a day trip to Chiatura – a former mining city full of forgotten wonders.
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Available in
- English,
- German,
- Russian
Hello, I’m Maria, a private travel guide in Georgia. Tbilisi became my home 6 years ago and ever since then I’ve been exploring every corner of the country, taking the craziest routes and making unforgettable memories.
I became a guide not because I had to, but because I really wanted to share my passion for Georgia with visitors. It’s still my dream job! Travelling has taught me that we’re all different, and that’s why I create tailor-made tours for each of my guests.
I love showing visitors another side of Tbilisi, the one that you won’t find in the guidebooks. For example, I know the city’s socialist architecture well, from grand buildings and monuments to abandoned cable car stations, and am always finding beauty in decay.
I also love introducing people to the food scene beyond the fancy restaurants: typical diners where office workers eat, a small fast food spot that all local kids love, and an old restaurant that’s still popular today.
Read moreHighlights
- Take a ride in Chiatura’s cable cars aka ‘flying coffins’
- Visit a hidden cave monastery
- See the incredible Katskhi pillar
- Admire brutalist architecture
- Discover forgotten places
Description
Once a splendid Soviet industrial city, Chiatura is now almost abandoned. The rusty cable cars run through the gorge, connecting residential areas with the mines.
The apocalyptic atmosphere of Chiatura, with its concrete brutalist architecture and panoramic views from the hills, creates a unique morbid charm that captivates anyone who visits. It’s no wonder the BBC and National Geographic have covered this special place!
During our tour we’ll take a ride in Chiatura’s ‘flying coffins’, enjoy the city’s Stalinist architecture, visit a hidden cave monastery, and see the Katskhi pillar – an unusual stone pillar with a small church on top.
Read moreWhat’s included & not included
- Hotel pick up and drop off
- Enthusiastic local guide
- Transfer in a comfortable private car
- Drinking water
- Lunch
- Souvenirs
Meeting point
Please meet me in front of Dunkin Donuts / Gloria cafe (Pushkini street 5) (Liberty Square)
Pickup options are available for private tour bookings.
Reviews from travellers (2)
I approached the cable car ride with some trepidation, but it all worked fine. I would not have missed this for anything. Added extras included a very worthwhile visit to what would have been the cultural centre for the city, a performing arts theatre in a rather sophisticated style that linked bauhaus with art moderne. Although it is also worn down to the bone, the theatre continues to host intermittent musical & theatrical performances.
Bookends to the tour, the remarkable cave monastery and the Katskhi pillar, round out a very full, and fulfilling day.
All this is hosted by lively, whip-smart and very knowledgeable Maria, whose energy and passion for Georgia, and perhaps especially this aspect of its past, present and future, make this unusual tour one out of the box.
Don’t miss it,
This operator has 50 reviews for other tours
Highly recommended!
The way Maria operates, communicates with her customers, shows and tells the stories about Tbilisi is a sounding A++ in our book.
We sincerely thank you Maria for a truly relaxing, wonderful and spectacular tour of a tiny part of Georgia.
We will surely ask you again to show and tell us about other parts of the country in the near future.
A great tour
So, after flying into Tbilisi on Saturday afternoon, a nice stroll through Tbilisi on Sunday was considered a great way to get a better understanding of the city, defined landmarks and soak up the incredible history and culture of Georgia.
The booking and attention to detail is professional (multiple emails, personal text message from Maria) before you arrive, provides a nice degree of comfort about your booking.
The tour itself is absolutely first class, Maria loves Tbilisi and is incredibly knowledgeable of its history.
You feel as if a good friend is showing you around...Maria is a huge asset to the company and a fabulous individual.
Simply - this tour is the first tour you MUST complete before looking further afield for other tours outside Tbilisi.
- Full refund if you cancel up to 72 hours before the tour
- No booking fees
- Pay by credit card or PayPal