Discover the non-touristic Georgia on this full day trip to the macabre town of Chiatura - once a modern mining town with highest number of cable cars, it resembles a ghost town today with its abandoned mines, empty apartments and decaying Soviet architecture.
The time seems to stand still here and so you can take a ride in one of the last rusty cable cars, overlooking the factories, enjoy the panorama view from the half-abandoned concrete settlements on the hills and see a morbide dedication to Stalin here and there.
On our tour we also visit the country side of Imereti region, that builds a contrast to industrial Chiatura - the ancient holy pillar of Katskhi with a tiny church on top or the rock hew Mgvimevi convent with frescoes from XIV century.
Posted By : Mark R
Irakli was our tour guide and we had a good time with him . He took us to the mining areas and we saw the chronicles of Georgia, church on top of the tower and did cable car tour etc. We really like the tour with him and did not regret this one bit!
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Posted On : 2023-07-04 14:43:35 
Posted By : AngelaneEng
To understand Soviet past in Georgia this is a must do trip. We had a good guide - Irakli a passionate and knowledgeable on the tour . He is also a skilled driver and we are fortunate to have him.
Overall we are happy 😃 with the trip.
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Posted On : 2023-02-08 05:18:51
Posted By : Veronika_C
What an amazing day trip! Unbelievable Katskhi Pillar with a little bonus - there was a wedding party there. We ablosultely loved the Mgvimevi Monastery, purched on a steep rock with amazing interiors. Prepare to climb a few stairs and respect the dress code inside. Guess what? Another wedding party! and I received a belling from the priest. Blast from the (Soviet) past in Chiatura, that is still living and breathing, short but very worthwhile cable car trip. Our tour guide, Zurab, was outstanding, very knowledgeable, caring, with a great sense of humour and excellent driving skills. Great little restaurant for lunch. If you want to see different parts of Georgia, less touristy yet so interesting and beautiful, do this tour!
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Posted On : 2022-10-01 04:37:29 
Posted By : amydc
We had a great day with Levan during our private day tour to Chiatura, the Katakhi Pillar, and Gori. (We substituted Gori for the Chronicles, which we had visited earlier in our trip.)
Levan was a great guide — prompt, easygoing when we wanted to take lots of photos, knowledgeable but didn’t feel the need to fill every second of silence, and with a clean and safe vehicle. He picked a great lunch restaurant, kept 3 of us (with a 30 year age span) awake, laughing, and learning throughout the day, and took great photos of our group.
We had used Real Georgia tours on a previous trip to Georgia, and found them easy to work with, prompt, and reasonably priced. Our experience with Levan left us glad we chose them again.
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Posted On : 2022-07-07 05:00:37
Posted By : iputmylifeonashelf
This was a great trip. The guide was very kind and knowledgeable. Thank you so much for everything!!
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Posted On : 2022-05-15 14:26:06
Posted By : Muhammed_G
Amazing tour..guide Revan is super star and an ultimate guide ..he so friendly and explain each and everything ..5 stars😍
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Posted On : 2022-05-12 12:43:24
Posted By : anoudies
The most comfortable and friendly tour as the first time visiting tbilisi.
The tour guide so informative and competent.
Had great time exploring tbilisi history and receiving recommendation from the tour guide. It wasn't boring tour i highly recommended full of laughter and enjoyment.
Tour guide: George
Tip: wear comfortable shoes, there's small hike and bring water.
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Posted On : 2022-02-16 07:51:23
Posted By : thelonelytraveller5
This tour was like traveling back in time. There is so much history that has been untouched, a rare gem to see. You can see what’s left of Soviet times without glorifying it. Giorgi was my guide and was an absolute joy and extremely knowledgeable. With Giorgi as your guide, you will be sure to get the full history of Chiatura.
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Posted On : 2021-09-30 13:52:48
Posted By : sophiebU8467JJ
This is the most unusual tour we ever had! We haven´t met any other tourists during the whole trip and now I must say they are totally missing out on what we have seen! The town of Chiatura feel like from a different time and the rock monasteries are incredible, nothing like what we´ve seen elsewhere in Georgia!
If you don´t want to see only touristic things, this is a MUST do tour!
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Posted On : 2021-09-28 03:01:34
Posted By : lucymK7497JC
This was a trip like no other in Georgia. Visiting Chiatura was like stepping back in time that gave a taste of what it was like to live and work in the Soviet era. Ancient ski lifts that were operational up until 2019 dot the factory site. Was rather hoping to experience a ride but too late. Magnesium factory which would be seriously condemned in the West still operating and polluting the river running through the town black. (Similar styled, crumbling factories still operate in NW Armenia. producing copper). Interesting cave church and monestery. I was lucky to observe a service. Nice meal in a clean local restaurant with decent toilet! One could wander an old crumbling structure of an old Komsomol camp atop a hill. I was fascinated by the old style Soviet apartment blocks that are unbelievably still lived in and not just in Chiatura but throughout Georgia. Kiaski Pillar was a unique site. The skills taken to build a monastery atop a natural monolith long ago are staggering. Trip was finished with a trip to the Chronicles just outside Tbilisi admidst a lovely sunset. Great for picture taking. Irakli was a great guide. Informative, friendly and very helpful. I recommend this trip from a historical view. Totally different to any other trip!
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Posted On : 2021-07-27 00:54:40
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