Amazing Experiences You Can Only Have in Georgia

Amazing Experiences You Can Only Have in Georgia
MIR Corporation / February 14, 2019
South Caucasus

The bounteous country of Georgia in the South Caucasus is a heaven-on-earth kind of place. Georgia has everything a traveler could want. Now is the best time to travel to the Republic of Georgia. It’s gaining steam as a must-see destination thanks to an ever-expanding list of travel expert recommendations and acclaim. Go see it for yourself before this under-the-radar destination hits the big time. Check out this list of 5 wonderful experiences you can have in the gorgeous and welcoming country of Georgia. Read More

Award-Winning Writer (and MIR Tour Host) Authors New Pocket Guide on Delicious Georgian Breads

Award-Winning Writer (and MIR Tour Host) Authors New Pocket Guide on Delicious Georgian Breads
MIR Corporation / February 14, 2019
South Caucasus

Travel and food writer Carla Capalbo has published the first of a planned series of lightweight, small, pocket-style guides on Georgian food and wine. Perfect for carrying in a pocket or daypack, these little guides are available in Georgia as well as in the U.S. In Georgian Khachapuri & Filled Breads, she introduces 10 of Georgia’s most delicious breads from different regions of the country. Carla has worked hard to make her recipes accessible to anyone, even if the exact ingredients can’t be found. Preparing and baking a few of these recipes is almost as good as being in Georgia – almost. Read More

Six Reasons a Three-Year Multi-Entry Russian Visa is Right for You

Six Reasons a Three-Year Multi-Entry Russian Visa is Right for You
MIR Corporation / January 25, 2019
Russia

A little gets you a lot when it comes to Russian visas, but a little more gets you a lot more when it comes to a unique visa that not everyone knows about – the best-value, extremely generous, three-year validity, multi-entry, stay half-a-year-at-a-time visa that the Russian Embassy currently offers. Interested? Here’s what you need to know… Read More

Doug’s Travel Picks: 10 Places to Visit in 2019

Doug’s Travel Picks: 10 Places to Visit in 2019
Douglas Grimes / January 22, 2019
2019 Travel Ideas

No matter how many times I’ve explored MIR’s diverse and dynamic slice of the globe, I’ve always found myself surprised and excited to see how these once-overlooked destinations have evolved since we first began organizing tours. Every year has brought new discoveries and more reasons to return again and again, whether it’s new and noteworthy hotel openings, hidden gems, outstanding cultural opportunities, or unique and memorable experiences you won’t find anywhere else. It’s not easy to narrow down a list of travel recommendations to a manageable number, but I’m giving it a whirl in honor of a brand new year. From the majesty of Moscow's Kremlin and Red Square to the rugged mountain ranges of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, here are 10 of my personal picks for the most intriguing and exciting places to visit in the year ahead. Read More

Why 2019 is the Best Time to Travel to Uzbekistan

Why 2019 is the Best Time to Travel to Uzbekistan
Mariana Noble / January 17, 2019
Silk Road

Uzbekistan is already extremely appealing, with its domed mosques and madrassahs clad in vivid ceramic tiles, and with the endemic hospitality of its culture. But now, after a first-ever International Tourism Forum, Uzbekistan is gearing up to raise the level of comfort, accessibility, and amenities for the more than 5 million travelers expected in 2019. There were a lot of exciting firsts in Uzbekistan in 2018 and a few marvelous updates already set for 2019 - all of which make now the best time to travel to this fabled land. Special Offer: For a limited time, new bookings on select small group departures to Uzbekistan can save up to $300 per person. Read More

8 Take-Aways on Uzbekistan from a First-Time Visitor

8 Take-Aways on Uzbekistan from a First-Time Visitor
Marisa Dodd / January 17, 2019
Silk Road

Marisa Dodd, Assistant Tour Specialist at MIR, recently returned from her first trip to Uzbekistan – a country she had long dreamt of visiting. Her experience made a lasting impression. She was surprised to discover how smooth, comfortable, and safe the trip felt, for a wide variety of reasons. Find out some of the things she found most surprising from her travels through Uzbekistan. Special Offer: For a limited time, new bookings on select small group departures to Uzbekistan can save up to $300 per person. Read More

What Has Happened to Uzbekistan?

What Has Happened to Uzbekistan?
Fred and Sharon Lundahl / January 16, 2019
Central Asia

Fred Lundahl spent 30 years serving in U.S. embassies abroad with the Foreign Service. He fell in love with Central Asia, and still travels there every couple of years. His import store in Langley on Washington State’s Whidbey Island, Music for the Eyes, is filled with exotic treasures personally collected from foreign lands, especially the Silk Road countries of Central Asia. Fred and his wife Sharon recently returned from a trip to Uzbekistan with fascinating observations on how much it has changed in the last few years. Special Offer: For a limited time, new bookings on select small group departures to Uzbekistan can save up to $300 per person. Read More