Mestia — Svan Guardians' Cryptogram
Decode the cryptogram etched by Svan guardians in Mestia's ancient towers. Uncover their hidden pact against invaders before the curse claims the valley's secrets forever.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
In the mist-shrouded valleys of Svaneti, the Svans built impregnable stone towers to guard their sacred relics and defy centuries of invaders
Mestia — Svan Guardians' Cryptogram
You are a royal archivist serving Queen Tamar, dispatched to Mestia in the late 12th century.
Your secret mission: decipher an ancient cryptogram left by the Svan Guardians. Your quest
Dive into the heart of Mestia, the historic capital of Svaneti, where medieval towers whisper legends of Queen Tamar and ancient clans.
The story that haunts this land
Your journey begins in Seti Square, or Setis Moedani, the central square of Mestia. For decades, this place has been the main gathering point for locals and tourists alike. Surrounded by medieval Svan towers, this square is the beating heart of Mestia's historic district and a starting point for exploring the defensive towers. It is here that legends blend with daily life, where every stone bears witness to the glorious past of historical Svaneti, under the watchful eye of time's guardians.
Not far from Seti Square, the Sokhiani Tower stands, a stone sentinel erected in the 12th-13th centuries. This Svan defensive tower, approximately 25 meters high, is a typical example of Svaneti's protective architecture, designed to repel invasions. It belongs to the noble Sokhiani family, whose history is documented in local archives. Its thick walls and loopholes tell tales of centuries of vigilance and resilience, stories you will decipher as you approach its foundations.
Your path then leads you to the Transfiguration Church, a Georgian Orthodox edifice built in 1872. Located less than 500 meters from Seti Square, this church features a traditional Svan style. Inside, 19th-century wall frescoes and ancient icons reveal the piety and art of the mountain communities. This place of worship, imbued with spirituality, served as a refuge for souls and a center for cultural preservation throughout the centuries, even during Mestia's darkest historical periods.
Continue towards the Svaneti Museum of History and Ethnography, a pillar of Mestia's heritage preservation. Founded in 1934 and designated a national museum since 1994, it houses Georgia's largest collection of Svan icons, with over 450 pieces dating from the 8th to 18th centuries. Located less than 1 km from Seti Square, the museum also displays artifacts related to Svan towers and traditions. It is here that fragments of history come alive, offering you a deep insight into the customs and beliefs that forged the identity of this region.
The route concludes at the Margiani Tower, a defensive tower of the Margiani clan, built between the 10th and 12th centuries. Approximately 30 meters high, it is one of Mestia's most imposing structures and was restored in the 2010s as part of the UNESCO Upper Svaneti World Heritage preservation. Crossing the Mulkhra River Bridge, an essential passage connecting Mestia's historic districts, you complete your exploration of medieval Svan monuments. You leave with the keys to understanding the cryptogram, an experience that has woven together the threads of Mestia's history and culture, revealing the unique character of Georgia's world heritage.
A game, a guided tour and a heritage guide — all in one
You're not just buying an escape game. You're carrying a living guide — historical anecdotes, forgotten legends, key monuments, hidden architecture — unfolding as you go.
At each stop, places ordinary guides miss — secret façades, sculpted crests, alleys steeped in history.
Every riddle is rooted in a real historical fact or local legend. You leave with dozens of stories to tell.
Learn to read buildings — flamboyant Gothic, Baroque, Art Deco — like a real art historian, while having fun.
Walk through the city like a novel's character — every alley becomes a stage, every square a theatre.
A voice walks with you at every step, tells the story of each place, reads clues, adds a cinematic feel.
Keep access to the guide & game for 1 year. Come back any time, share it with friends.
« You will not leave this city the way you entered it. »
How does it work?
Explore the city on foot solving puzzles based on real historical facts. No locked room — the city is your playground.
No app to download. Play directly from your browser. Guided step by step, at your own pace.
One purchase per phone is enough. Play with family, friends or as a couple — everyone participates.
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears and speaks to you in your language. Golden letters magically write themselves on the wall to reveal the puzzle answer.
Stuck? Progressive personalised hints. The character repeats the puzzle on demand — at your own pace.
French, English, German, Spanish, Italian + 27 other languages auto-translated by AI.
Want to go deeper?
Places tied to your adventure — optional entries, totally up to you · per person
The Route
8 stages through the city
The gameplay: AR, camera, hidden clues
At each stop, open your phone camera: an augmented reality character appears on the façade and speaks your language. Hunt the clue — it materializes as golden letters on the real wall or floats in front of you. When you find it, the phone vibrates, an AR chest opens and reveals your answer fragment. 8 stops, 8 clues to find with the camera, 1 final code.
The stops on your route are a surprise. You'll discover them one by one, guided by your phone, starting from the meeting point.
How does it work with a group?
One phone = one team. Pick the number at checkout (1 to 10).
Solo, or a group sharing the screen. One team, one code.
Family, couple, or 2-3 teams competing. Each phone has its own code and its own score.
Friends, bachelor/bachelorette, small office outing — each their own code, each plays at their own pace. Tiered pricing then €6 flat per phone from the 6th.
- ✓All codes are independent — play at the same time OR separately, each team advances at its own pace.
- ✓Leaderboard between your teams + global game leaderboard — each score appears in the public ranking.
- ✓More than 10 phones or need a personalized quest? Discover custom tours.
Ready to live this adventure?
Get my code · 12€No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒 Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
Practical info
Why this route?
Secret Architecture
Delve into the details of Svan towers and decipher their structural enigmas.
The Forgotten Alphabet
Reconstruct a secret alphabet used by Svan master masons.
Guardians of Knowledge
Discover the role of builders' brotherhoods in preserving Svan culture.
The past is read in the shadows cast by ancient stones.
A saying of the Svan builders
9 features nobody else has
OddballTrip combines gamified play, augmented reality and AI. All our competitors deliver 1 or 2 of these angles. We deliver all 5.
AR treasure chest
A golden chest floats in front of the monument. Tap → opening animation → reveals a secret message.
AR narrator character
Point your phone at the façade: a knight, witch, monk, sailor, detective or ghost appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language with their dedicated ElevenLabs voice (each character has their own unique voice) — your living guide.
Magic golden letters
At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's the puzzle answer. An unforgettable visual effect.
Written + audio narration
Every puzzle available as text AND voice-over: read at your own pace or listen eyes-free while walking. Great in groups and for accessibility.
360° radar + vibration
A mini-radar shows the target even behind you, and the phone vibrates when you aim in the right direction.
Heritage storytelling
Every puzzle weaves in real historical facts (architecture, era, anecdotes). You learn by playing — like a gamified audioguide.
Progressive AI hints
3 levels of AI-generated help: vibe → where to look → answer format. You're never stuck.
AR selfie memento
At the end of the game, capture a selfie with OddballTrip banner + mascot, shareable on Instagram, TikTok.
Zero app to install
PWA technology: open the link, it plays in your browser. Same quality as an app, no App Store hassle.
Frequently asked questions
Q01Do I need to download an app?
No, never. You get a link, you click, it plays in your browser. That's the point of a PWA: same as an app, without the hassle.
Q02Does it work offline?
GPS yes (handled by your phone). Maps yes (tiles cached). AI and hints need an intermittent 4G connection.
Q03How long does a game take?
1 h 30 to 2 h 30 depending on your pace. The timer runs but only for the leaderboard — you play at your own tempo.
Q04What happens if I'm stuck?
You get 3 levels of hints per puzzle (increasing penalty). If truly stuck, you can skip the step (45-min penalty but you keep going).
Q05What's the age range?
From 12 without an adult, from 6 with an adult reading puzzles. Works for families, couples, friend groups, companies.
Q06What if my city isn't in the catalogue?
Pre-register or contact us — we'll email you as soon as your city is live.
Q07What is augmented reality exactly?
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language. At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's your answer. After each puzzle solved, a treasure chest floats in front of you. Seeing is believing.
Avis des aventuriers
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Your turn to play
Dive into the heart of Mestia, the historic capital of Svaneti, where medieval towers whisper legends of Queen Tamar and ancient clans.
1 purchase = 1 phone. Play several on the same device.
No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
🪙+24 TripCoins granted with your booking
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