The 8 Chiatura & Katskhi Pillar Tours That Earn Their Price

1.Chiatura Tour with Katskhi Pillar & Cable Car Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 95 reviews · 7 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $35Our pick

Travel from Kutaisi to Chiatura with a local guide such as Demo, Tengo, Tango, or Ana. Ride the town’s old cable cars, visit Mghvimevi Cave Monastery and Katskhi Pillar, see Soviet-era buildings and railway sites, and stop for a Georgian lunch. The tour lasts about 7.5 hours and costs $35, with cable cars and lunch extra.

“We are very happy that we chose to attend this tour :) The guide is very friendly and fun to talk to. The tour itself was also really interesting, interactive & exciting. Highly recommend this experience!”

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2.Soviet past – Private day tour to Chiatura, Katskhi pillar and Chronicles

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 29 reviews · 9 to 11 hours (approx.) · from $149

This private 9 to 11 hour trip from Tbilisi takes you to Chiatura’s abandoned cable-car stations, Katskhi Pillar, cave-built Mgvimevi Monastery, and the Chronicles of Georgia. Your English-speaking guide, such as Zurab, Irakli, Levan, Revan, or Maria, drives your private party, shares local context, and recommends a lunch stop.

“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!”

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3.Soviet Story – Private day trip to Chiatura, Stalin’s museum and Katskhi pillar

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 15 reviews · 8 to 10 hours (approx.) · from $20Best value

Leave Tbilisi at 9:00 for a private English-language day trip to Gori, Chiatura, and Katskhi Pillar. Visit Stalin’s birthplace and railway carriage, ride Chiatura’s old cableways, tour the mining museum, walk through abandoned Soviet sites, and eat at a family-run restaurant. Expect a long day, with about six hours on the road.

“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”

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4.Chiatura and Katskhi Pillar One Day Urbex Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 14 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $123

Spend about 12 hours with a local English-speaking guide exploring Mgvimevi Monastery, Katskhi Pillar, and Chiatura’s aging Soviet cable cars. The trip includes a long drive from Tbilisi, a small-group format, and an optional private upgrade with hotel pickup. Guide Alex or Aleksi may lead the day.

“This your was amazing. Aleksy picked us up and made the day all about us. He showed us what we wanted to see and was very polite. He provided us with a lot of cultural and historical information. It was just him and us three so we moved at our place and we're not delayed waiting for others. Thank you again.”

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5.Chiatura. Soviet Past in the present. + Katskhi pillar

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · 8 to 10 hours (approx.) · from $150

Travel from Tbilisi to Chiatura with a private guide such as David or Irakli, seeing Soviet cable cars, mining ruins, and mountain views. Add Katskhi Pillar, a 40-meter limestone monolith, and Mgvimevi Monastery, reached by steps and a tunnel. Hotel pickup, snacks, water, WiFi, and air-conditioned transport are included.

“I took this independent tour and had the privilege of having many interesting and stimulating conversations about Georgia's history with my guide, David. He was friendly, professional and extremely knowledgeable about his country's history. After visiting the geographical marvel that is Katskhi Pillar, we then went to the mining town of Chiatura where we got to view the now-abandoned cable car system. It was a privilege to be in David's company while we discussed the history behind these sights.”

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6.Chiatura Cable Cars & Katskhi Pillar Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · 5 to 7 hours (approx.) · from $30

Travel from Kutaisi to the 40-meter Katskhi Pillar, then explore Chiatura’s mining past, old cable car stations, and a new ropeway line. An English-speaking guide leads the 5 to 7-hour outing in an air-conditioned vehicle with WiFi. Expect free time for photos, a rock-cut convent, and some potentially muddy walking.

“This was a great day tour, definitely recommend. The route was perfect- there was lots to see and explore without too much time spent traveling between locations. It was refreshingly slower-paced despite including many notable sights which was great because we saw a lot without feel rushed. Content consisted of a lovely mix between history, views, culture, and religion. We especially liked that this tour allowed us to see and appreciate many things that we wouldn’t have otherwise. Our guide was welcoming, approachable, attentive, and knowledgeable. Her driving was *excellent* and we felt fully safe and comfortable with her behind the wheel. We actually did 2 tours with Megobari and…”

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7.Day Tour to Georgian sky venice, Soviet city Chiatura

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · 6 to 7 hours (approx.) · from $80

Travel privately from Kutaisi to the Katskhi Pillar and Chiatura with an English-speaking guide. See a 40-meter rock pillar, visit the Chiatura Local Museum, and tour Mgvimevi Monastery, partly carved into stone. Pickup is available from Kutaisi hotels and airports. Guides Shota and Tornike have both led highly praised outings.

“It was interesting travel, we had amazing guide Shota. He showed a lot of beautiful places, told stories, about Georgian life. We are so lucky, to meet Shota!!! Highly recomend, 10/10👍”

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8.Soviet tour of Georgia – Gori, Tskaltubo, Chiatura, Enguri Dam.

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · from $850

Travel by private vehicle from Tbilisi through Georgia’s Soviet-era landmarks, including Stalin’s museum in Gori, Chiatura’s mining town, abandoned sanatoriums in Tskaltubo, and Enguri Dam. The listed price is $850 per person. An English-speaking guide is optional, so confirm the exact route, duration, and guiding arrangements before booking.

“Georgia is one of the best places to explore Soviet architecture. Georgia is home to brutalist architecture like monuments, apartment buildings, abandoned hotels and Soviet hydropower stations. This tours covers it all and it's awesome.”

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