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News & Views
Riding the Hula Hula to the Arctic Ocean, by well-traveled authors Don Mankin & Shannon Stowell, offers advice and anecdotes about some of the world's most interesting destinations, including two of MIR's tours. Journey Through Central Asia: The Five 'Stans and the Trans-Siberian Classic Route by Private Train were selected by the Adventure Travel Trade Association as two of the 26 tours highlighted in the book. Journey Through Central Asia: The Five 'Stans Discover a corner of the world little known to Western travelers, journeying along the ancient Silk Road through Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. Stop at beautiful alpine Lake Issyk-kul before heading to Uzbekistan to admire the unparalleled majesty of Samarkand's Registan. Shop for pottery and carpets in Turkmenistan's Tolkuchka Bazaar and visit the ruins of Merv, one of the largest cities in the world for a brief period in the 12th century. Trans-Siberian Classic Route by Private Train Traverse the wide expanse of Russia on this private train tour from Moscow to Vladivostok or the reverse. Roll across 6,000 miles, with expert guides leading the group during train stops in stunning Siberia, fascinating Mongolia, and exciting Western Russia.
National Geographic Traveler has designated MIR's Georgia & Armenia: Mountains & Monasteries as a "Tour of a Lifetime" in its May-June 2008 issue. With a maximum of 12 travelers, the Explorer Series tour is a journey into the spiritual, natural, architectural and culinary heritage of the spectacular Trans-Caucasus countries of Georgia and Armenia. On this active journey, MIR leads travelers deep into the mountainous countries of Georgia and Armenia, rich with fruitful slopes, saw-toothed peaks and unexpected treasures. Meet and interact with local people, staying overnight in village homes in spectacular, steep-sided valleys and taking day hikes past the ruins of ancient fortresses. Survey Yerevan and Tbilisi, sophisticated capital cities with excellent museums, and feel the faith of centuries at medieval churches and monasteries.
MIR's Trans-Siberian Mongolian Route by Private Train journey featured in Town & Country Magazine Town & Country magazine's February, 2008 issue features a great article about a trip on the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express private train from Moscow to the capital of Mongolia, UlaanBaatar-- MIR's Trans-Siberian Mongolian Route. The author, Carolyn Seebohm, was a participant on a custom journey that MIR put together for Princeton and Smith alumni groups in July of 2007, and describes her experiences on and off the grand train. There are two 2008 departures of the 13-day Trans-Siberian Mongolian journey: July 1-13, 2008 (Eastbound) and July 10-22, 2008 (Westbound). Space is filling up, so contact MIR today for more information.
MIR rated one of the "Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth" by National Geographic Adventure Described as "the world's first authoritative rating of adventure travel tour operators," the study scored outfitters on criteria such as Quality of Service, Sustainability, Spirit of Adventure, Education and Client Experience. MIR is proud to have been awarded an overall rating of 91.2 in these categories, with an outstanding 97 in "Spirit of Adventure." As National Geographic Adventure asserts, "When planning the adventure trip of a lifetime, the most important decision isn't where to go, but who to go with." We agree.
Two MIR Corporation Tours Honored as "Tours of a Lifetime" by National Geographic Traveler Honored as "Tours of a Lifetime" these two in-depth experiential journeys go to very different places, but both include MIR's characteristic touch - diving into the cultures and meeting the people of our destinations. Chinese Turkestan & Central Asia
Belarus, Ukraine & Moldova
Changing with every moment that goes by, these three countries should be visited now before the rest of the world discovers them. Join us on this Premier Series venture through Belarus, Ukraine & Moldova.
Join MIR for a Front Row Seat for a Total Eclipse Over Siberia Exclusively in 2008, passengers aboard the July 27 departure of the Siberian Tiger Trans-Siberian Express from Moscow to Vladivostok will experience a total eclipse of the sun from a handpicked Siberian viewing site in Novosibirsk with two minutes and twenty seconds of totality. This 15-day all-inclusive tour on the legendary Trans-Siberian rail route offers a chance to take advantage of the prime viewing spot in Siberia while on the journey of a lifetime across the largest country in the world.
These incredible treasures will soon be on display in National Museum in Tbilisi, Georgia. I highly recommend you don't miss them!
Ukraine's New Wave
Revolution is nothing new here, and as I travel through the country, I feel a part of this latest wave in Ukraine's long and colorful history. Kiev's delicious clash of architecture sets the scene for the country's quickening pace-the Stalinist towers behind Byzantine cathedrals, Tsarist palaces next to art nouveau townhouses. Beyond the capital's creative buzz, I find refuge in the simple beauty of the Ukrainian countryside - a land of sweeping wheat fields and open skies that is home to the millions who've just inspired the rest of the world. Do you know? Kievan Rus: Russian and Ukrainian civilizations originated from the prosperous kingdom of Kievan Rus, the main trading post between the Vikings and Greek Byzantium from the 8th until the 11th century. Massandra Winery in Crimea: Through war and revolution, Massandra's granite wine cellars have preserved the private collections of both Tsar Nikolai II and Joseph Stalin. In December 2004, 250 bottles of the Tsar's private label were auctioned at Sotheby's, with a single bottle fetching £2,990. Chersonesus: Christian Orthodoxy made its way into Ukraine-and Russia-at Chersonesus, a Greek city-state on Crimea's Western coast founded in 528 BC. Prince Vladimir was baptized here in the 10th century to win the hand of the Byzantine Emperor's daughter and seal the alliance with his empire.
Siberian Traditions
Field Notes: Uzbekistan
Past travelers to Central Asia know the amazing power of the people there: warm, welcoming, friendly, open. On your first visit, give yourself the outlook of a returning visitor and make your first trip your second.
MIR is proud to introduce you to the PANTERRA ADVENTURE ALLIANCE.
For recommendations for travel specialists in adventures around the globe, please ask us about PANTERRA. You're in good company!
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In November of 2007, MIR Corporation was included in National Geographic Adventure's first-ever 
Two of MIR's core journeys, 
MIR has finalized our 2008 small group and private rail tour offerings!
Like
many of you, I find that a return visit to a favorite region is a welcome opportunity
to reconnect with old friends and make new contacts. In December, I returned to
the Caucasus nations of Azerbaijan,Georgia and Armenia on a research and development
trip during which I had the opportunity to enjoy a wonderful behind-the-scenes
look at some incredible archaeological findings.Together with recent Rolex award
grant recipient and director of the National Museum of Georgia, Dr. David Lordkipanidze,
I explored the archaeological finds from two significant sites in the country,
Dmanisi and Vani. Dmanisi sits on a bluff between two rivers, and here fossils
of the first hominid species to leave Africa, including four 1.8-million-year-old
crania, have been found. The dig site of Vani has turned up a wealth of artifacts
from the Colchis culture dating from the 8th to the 1st century B.C.: Colchain
pottery,exquisitely crafted golden jewelry, imported Greek luxury items, graceful
bronze sculptures and a vast array of funerary pieces have been found here. Last
season the site yielded a new grave with around 300 gold items from the 4th century
B.C.
On
the street, I watched the tired protestors in military fatigues strip down the
tents and carefully fold away the orange banners - every item has become a historical
artifact. They seemed sad to leave: after demonstrating for two months on Kiev's
Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square), the struggle ended with the exuberant
inauguration of a lawfully-elected president in Ukraine. Kiev's jubilant mood
is contagious to visitors and the party continues day and night. Strangers are
still smiling at each other, sporting orange scarves, orange ribbons and orange
clothing. Orange is in, and won't be going out of fashion anytime soon - it's
the symbol of overcoming oppression through togetherness, announcing Ukraine to
the rest of the world. 
A Siberian shaman beats his drum and chants an ancient song. With a raven's wing, he fans the smoke from a small fire toward circling dancers dressed in ceremonial costumes stitched together from skins and feathers.
My first
trip to Uzbekistan was an absolutely brilliant experience; my second blew the
first away. The first was full of must-sees and souvenirs, while the second resonated
far beyond those things. Conversations with merchants, lunch at an outdoor café
with local workers, a photo of two construction workers by the Registan. These
made my second so much better than my first. It is possible for even the first-time
visitor to get the details and depth of experience that the returning traveler
gets: be an actor, and simply don the attitudes and mindsets of the veteran. Simply
put, act like you've been there before.
MIR
has teamed up with four other individual companies and created a travel alliance
rooted in a common philosophy.
