Georgia, the Caucasus · CHIATURA & TSKALTUBO SOVIET TRIPS
Cable cars over a mining gorge, a monk on a limestone pillar, spa palaces going quietly green. The 15 below cover which sanatoriums are enterable, whether the Katskhi pillar is included and how long the drive from Kutaisi runs.
Day trip from Kutaisi to Chiatura: Katskhi Pillar, cave monastery, cable cars and viewpoints, plus station and theatre, guided from $19.
“Tenko is a great guide. He is very friendly and knows many things about Georgian history and culture. The driver knows his profession. He drives very well. We had a great day.”
A 5-hour Soviet urbex-style walk through Tbilisi’s brutalist monuments, photo stops, and off-center architecture, guided in English for $54.
“If you’re interested in the Soviet past of Tbilisi/Georgia and Brutalist architecture in general, this tour is definitely right for you! David was a great and very competent guide - thank you! :)”
Private northern Armenia day trip from Tbilisi, UNESCO monasteries, Akhtala frescoes, Soviet-era stops, and a family lunch with English guide.
“Our tour guide Mariam was very energetic and actively told us about history along with important nuances of Georgian and Armenian culture :) Definitely will recommend this tour with her”
4-hour group tour from Kutaisi to Tskaltubo’s abandoned sanatoriums, thermal springs #6 and #8, and the eerie old train station.
“Always a good trip with Budget Georgia. They know what they are doing and have great guides.”
Kutaisi to Chiatura day trip: Katskhi Pillar, cave monastery, optional cable car views, English guide. $35.
“I highly recommend this tour. Our tour guide Demo was very good, had a vast knowledge of history and culture, answered all our questions and showed us cool places around the city. He is originally from Chiatura, so its more like a good friend showing us their home town. He didnt rush through the journey, gave us enough time to see the places and take photos. Thanks to Demo, we had a nice day exploring Chiatura.”
Private half-day tour of Tbilisi highlights, churches, Narikala views, cable car, flea markets, and food hall stops, with pickup included.
“Excellent tour to explore Tbilisi & have an illustrative overview about the main attractions of the city with high services level in term of transportation, guide service & information, tour itinerary & time management, etc., I highly recommend their services to anyone looking to explore Tbilisi with ease and style, thanks to elevenregions company, namely Mr.Giga for all the support, special thanks for the great guide Mr.Timo for the nice day”
Brutalist Tbilisi tour by car, from the Ministry of Highways to the Chronicle, plus cable car history and Soviet neighborhoods for $75.
“Tbilisi's brutalist architecture tour was fascinating, unveiling the city's Soviet history. Alex, our guide, was wonderful—his passion and knowledge enriched every moment. His engaging storytelling made the tour both educational and enjoyable, leaving a lasting impression of Tbilisi's unique urban character.”
Small-group Northern Armenia day trip from Tbilisi with UNESCO Haghpat, Akhtala and Sanahin, plus a family lunch, for about $49.
“We enjoyed the small group tour to Armenia there were only six guests on our trip and the vehicle was a Toyota Landcruiser vehicle which was perfect for the trip, we visited a couple of heritage sites, enjoyed a delicious village lunch and the tour guide was very knowledgeable and helpful !”
Cable cars, Soviet-era mining towns, and the 40-meter Katskhi pillar plus Mghvimevi convent, on a small-group day trip from Kutaisi.
“The day was absolutely amazing. Ana is one of the best tour guides I’ve ever met. I was together with a friend, she brought us around, explained history and cultural info about Georgia (a really underrated country in my opinion). She was also fun to spend the day with, it just flew. We told her we didn’t manage to visit some places the previous day and she proposed us to do it with her. A full day tour became a mega full day tour, but we enjoyed every single bit of it. She showed us interesting places and she also tailored the tour to our needs and interests.”
A small-group brutalism walk in Tbilisi, visiting Soviet-era monuments and an abandoned museum, plus the skybridge at 70 meters high.
“Khatuna è stata super professionale e competente, conosce benissimo gli aspetti del brutalismo, dell'architettura modernista e sovietica in generale. Scelta delle tappe ottimale in funzione del percorso. Lei inoltre si è rivelata una persona molto alla mano, scherzosa e critica quando necessario. Complimenti!”
A 5-hour Soviet Tbilisi tour with a private guide, hotel pickup, and offbeat stops like Stalin’s underground printing house and Nutsubidze Skybridge.
“We weren’t quite sure how this tour would go, but it was easily the best of 3 we did in Georgia. Our guide was knowledgable, engaging and also gave us space to take our pictures. From the start at the printing factory and being given stories of some of the communist party members that you pass by and who still spend time at the sight, through to a decaying but wonderful looking museum and onto a rusty high-rise gangway between residential tower blocks this was a blast.”
Half-day tour from Kutaisi to Tskaltubo’s abandoned Soviet spas: Medea, Metallurgist, Spring N6, and Stalin’s bathhouse.
“Great information peovided. Flexibility and friendliness. Lovely tour! Thank you Ana for this tour!”
10-hour private day trip from Tbilisi to Chiatura cable cars and the Katskhi Pillar, with a 40m monk-led monastery stop.
“We had a super guide called Aleksi he was charming, informative and nothing was to much bother which my husband used extensively as he kept getting him to stop for photos!”
A private Soviet past day tour from Tbilisi to Chiatura cableway stations, Katskhi Pillar, Mgvimevi cave monastery, and Chronicles.
“It’s has definitely been one of a kind experience that allows me to see different sides of Georgia. My guide Maria is very knowledgeable and helpful. Almost feel like travelling with friends. Highly recommended especially for who want a more cultural experience or avoid the beaten path!”
Private day trip from Tbilisi to Chiatura, Stalin sites in Gori, old cableways, Katskhi pillar, and lunch, $20.
“Ropeways and views in Chiatura are very nice. The town still has a Soviet feel while Tskaltubo is a special place as well with awesome abandoned buildings. I saw many of them and they are in very poor condition although very interesting. Thank you”
The mountains, the wine belt, the old stones and the water — pick the kind of day you want.
