Step off the beaten track and journey deep into Georgia’s Soviet past on this immersive day trip from Tbilisi. This tour is a visual and historical adventure into the haunting beauty of abandoned cities, Brutalist architecture, and surreal urban landscapes — all frozen in time.
We begin our journey early in the morning, departing from Tbilisi and heading west towards the mining town of Chiatura, a city once booming with industry and now rich with Soviet-era decay and mystique. On the way, we can (optional) make a short stop at the peaceful and scenic Mgvimevi Monastery, a cave monastery carved into rock, offering a moment of calm before diving into urban exploration.
Arriving in Chiatura, you’ll step into a world unlike any other — a city built around steep cliffs and deep valleys, connected by an ageing network of Soviet cable cars, many of which still hang suspended in the air. Once a symbol of progress, today they serve as relics of the past, creating a surreal atmosphere that photographers and explorers dream of. We’ll explore abandoned structures, public spaces, and residential buildings that reflect the unique Brutalist and Soviet modernist architecture of the era.
After exploring Chiatura’s forgotten corners, we’ll continue our journey to the western Georgian town of Tskaltubo, On the way, we can(optional) make another stop to Katskhi Pillar, a remarkable religious site perched atop a natural limestone monolith that rises about 40 metres high. It has served as a place of Christian worship and asceticism for centuries. Tskaltubo used to be glamorous health resort during Soviet times. Known for its grand sanatoriums, bathhouses, and palaces built to host the Soviet elite, Tskaltubo now stands in stunning disrepair. Nature has slowly taken over the monumental structures, giving the entire town a mysterious, post-apocalyptic feel. We’ll visit some of the most iconic abandoned buildings, including former spa resorts and government villas, where peeling murals, vast halls, and echoing corridors tell the silent storey of a bygone era.
This experience isn’t just for urban explorers or architecture lovers — it’s for anyone seeking a raw, unfiltered look at the lesser-known side of Georgia. The tour offers countless photogenic spots, eerie silence, and moments that will leave you speechless. It's a chance to witness history in its most visceral form — not curated in a museum, but left out in the open, untouched.
Expect a full-day journey, with guided stops, local insights, and a carefully planned route that ensures both comfort and deep immersion. You’ll return to Tbilisi in the evening, with your camera full and your mind racing from the scenes you’ve witnessed. Please note: A minimum of 4 participants is required for the tour to operate. Solo travellers and smaller groups are welcome to book — if the minimum isn’t met, we’ll contact you in advance to reschedule or offer alternatives.
