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Reading Lists

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Take a Deep Dive into Your Destination

MIR recommends reading up before you leave home. The more informed you are about your destination, the more enriching your experience will be. 

Central Asia

Central Asia and the Silk Road

  • Khiva, Uzbekistan. Photo credit: Ana Filonov
  • The ruins of Merv in Turkmenistan. Photo Credit: Michel Behar
  • Zenkov Cathedral, Almaty, Kazakhstan. Photo credit: Liz Tollefson
  • Yurts in Tash Rabat, Kyrgyzstan. Photo credit: Jered Gorman
    • Khiva, Uzbekistan. Photo credit: Ana Filonov Khiva, Uzbekistan. Ana Filonov
    • The ruins of Merv in Turkmenistan. Photo Credit: Michel Behar The ruins of Merv in Turkmenistan. Michel Behar
    • Zenkov Cathedral, Almaty, Kazakhstan. Photo credit: Liz Tollefson Zenkov Cathedral, Almaty, Kazakhstan. Liz Tollefson
    • Yurts in Tash Rabat, Kyrgyzstan. Photo credit: Jered Gorman Yurts in Tash Rabat, Kyrgyzstan. Jered Gorman

    Central & East Europe

    East Europe

    Central Europe

    Belarus and Moldova

    Bulgaria

    Poland

    Romania

    Ukraine

    • Targu Mures at night, Romania. Photo credit: Martin Klimenta
    • Polish hand-painted eggs. Photo credit: Polish National Tourist Board
    • Golden spires in Kiev, Ukraine. Photo credit: Michel Behar
    • A farmer slows his horse near Chisinau, Moldova. Photo credit: Joanna Millick
      • Targu Mures at night, Romania. Photo credit: Martin Klimenta Targu Mures at night, Romania. Martin Klimenta
      • Polish hand-painted eggs. Photo credit: Polish National Tourist Board Hand-painted eggs in Poland. Polish National Tourist Board
      • Golden spires in Kiev, Ukraine. Photo credit: Michel Behar Golden spires in Kiev, Ukraine. Michel Behar
      • A farmer slows his horse near Chisinau, Moldova. Photo credit: Joanna Millick A farmer slows his horse near Chisinau, Moldova. Joanna Millick

      The Baltics

      Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania

      • Tallinn's brightly-lit Viru Street at night. Photo credit: VisitEstonia.com
      • The sun sets over the rooftops of Riga, Latvia. Photo credit: Peter Guttman
      • Hill of Crosses, Lithuania's place of national pilgrimage. Photo credit: Brian Seifipour
      • Lookout tower near Kuressaare Fortress on Saaremaa Island, Estonia. Photo credit: Martin Klimenta
        • Tallinn's brightly-lit Viru Street at night. Photo credit: VisitEstonia.com Tallinn’s brightly-lit Viru Street at night. VisitEstonia.com
        • The sun sets over the rooftops of Riga, Latvia. Photo credit: Peter Guttman The sun sets over the rooftops of Riga, Latvia. Peter Guttman
        • Hill of Crosses, Lithuania's place of national pilgrimage. Photo credit: Brian Seifipour Hill of Crosses, Lithuania’s place of national pilgrimage. Brian Seifipour
        • Lookout tower near Kuressaare Fortress on Saaremaa Island, Estonia. Photo credit: Martin Klimenta Lookout tower near Kuressaare Fortress on Saaremaa Island, Estonia. Martin Klimenta

        The Balkans

        Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia

        • View of Dubrovnik's bay in the Old Town. Photo credit: Martin Klimenta
        • Patricia Schultz, author of 1,000 Places to See Before You Die, snaps a picture in Apollonia Archaeological Park in Albania. Photo credit: Michel Behar
        • Bay of Kotor, Montenegro. Photo credit: Joanna Millick
        • Old Bridge in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Photo credit: Chris Lira
          • View of Dubrovnik's bay in the Old Town. Photo credit: Martin Klimenta View of Dubrovnik’s bay in the Old Town. Martin Klimenta
          • Patricia Schultz, author of 1,000 Places to See Before You Die, snaps a picture in Apollonia Archaeological Park in Albania. Photo credit: Michel Behar Patricia Schultz, author of 1,000 Places to See Before You Die, snaps a picture in Apollonia Archaeological Park in Albania. Michel Behar
          • Bay of Kotor, Montenegro. Photo credit: Joanna Millick Bay of Kotor, Montenegro. Joanna Millick
          • Old Bridge in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Photo credit: Chris Lira Old Bridge in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Chris Lira

          The Middle East

          Iran

          Saudi Arabia

          • An Iranian gem, Isfahan’s Imam Square. Photo credit: Devin Connolly
          • Sharing photos, laughter and friendship in Iran. Photo credit: Lindsay Fincher
          • Buraydah camel market, Saudi Arabia. Photo credit: Annie Lucas
          • Nakhal Fort in Oman. Photo credit: Desert Adventures
            • An Iranian gem, Isfahan’s Imam Square. Photo credit: Devin Connolly An Iranian gem, Isfahan’s Imam Square. Photo credit: Devin Connolly
            • Sharing photos, laughter and friendship in Iran. Photo credit: Lindsay Fincher Sharing photos, laughter and friendship in Iran. Photo credit: Lindsay Fincher
            • Buraydah camel market, Saudi Arabia. Photo credit: Annie Lucas Buraydah camel market, Saudi Arabia. Annie Lucas
            • Nakhal Fort in Oman. Photo credit: Desert Adventures Nakhal Fort in Oman. Photo credit: Desert Adventures

            Mongolia, China, Tibet

            Mongolia

            China

            Tibet

            • Horsemanship from generation to generation at Mongolia's Naadam Festival in Ulaanbaatar. Photo credit: Helge Pedersen
            • Temple of Heaven in Beijing, China. Photo credit: China National Tourist Office
            • Monks in Lhasa, Tibet. Photo credit: Russ Cmolik & Ellen Cmolik
            • Ride a camel at the edge of the Taklamakan Desert. Photo credit: Andrew Barron
              • Horsemanship from generation to generation at Mongolia's Naadam Festival in Ulaanbaatar. Photo credit: Helge Pedersen Horsemanship from generation to generation at Mongolia’s Naadam Festival in Ulaanbaatar. Helge Pedersen
              • Temple of Heaven in Beijing, China. Photo credit: China National Tourist Office Temple of Heaven in Beijing, China. China National Tourist Office
              • Monks in Lhasa, Tibet. Photo credit: Russ Cmolik & Ellen Cmolik Monks in Lhasa, Tibet. Russ Cmolik & Ellen Cmolik
              • Ride a camel at the edge of the Taklamakan Desert. Photo credit: Andrew Barron Ride a camel at the edge of the Taklamakan Desert. Andrew Barron

              South Caucasus & Turkey

              Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia

              Turkey

              • A capella singers perform traditional Armenian songs at Geghard Monastery of Garni. Photo credit: Michel Behar
              • The Flame Towers alight in Baku, Azerbaijan. Photo credit: Peter Guttman
              • Baking fresh bread in a ceramic oven call a tone. Photo: Martin Klimenta
              • Stone steps lead to an ancient mosque in Turkey. Photo credit: Inga Belova
                • A capella singers perform traditional Armenian songs at Geghard Monastery of Garni. Photo credit: Michel Behar A capella singers perform traditional Armenian songs at Geghard Monastery. Michel Behar
                • The Flame Towers alight in Baku, Azerbaijan. Photo credit: Peter Guttman The Flame Towers alight in Baku, Azerbaijan. Peter Guttman
                • Baking fresh bread in a ceramic oven call a tone. Photo: Martin Klimenta Baking fresh bread in a ceramic oven call a tone. Martin Klimenta
                • Stone steps lead to an ancient mosque in Turkey. Photo credit: Inga Belova Stone steps lead to an ancient mosque in Turkey. Inga Belova

                Russia

                Western Russia

                North Caucasus

                Siberia & the Russian Far East

                • St. Basil's in Moscow, Russia. Photo credit: Jonathan Irish
                • Golden splendor of Catherine Palace near St. Petersburg, Russia. Photo credit: Jonathan Irish
                • Ballerina at the famed Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg, Russia. Photo credit: Meaghan Samuels
                • Photographing Lake Baikal, Russia. Photo credit: Martin Klimenta
                  • St. Basil's in Moscow, Russia. Photo credit: Jonathan Irish St. Basil’s in Moscow, Russia.St. Basil’s in Red Square, Moscow (Russia). Photo credit: Jonathan Irish
                  • Golden splendor of Catherine Palace near St. Petersburg, Russia. Photo credit: Jonathan Irish Golden splendor of Catherine Palace near St. Petersburg, Russia. Jonathan Irish
                  • Ballerina at the famed Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg, Russia. Photo credit: Meaghan Samuels Ballerina at the famed Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg, Russia. Meaghan Samuels
                  • Photographing Lake Baikal, Russia. Photo credit: Martin Klimenta Photographing Lake Baikal, Russia. Martin Klimenta

                  Rail Journeys

                  Trans-Siberian Railway

                  • All Aboard the Golden Eagle train! Photo credit: Helge Pedersen
                  • Cabin attendants on the train. Photo credit: GW
                  • Enjoy a Trans-Siberian train ride along the shores of Lake Baikal. Photo credit: Jamshid Fayzullaev
                    • All Aboard the Golden Eagle train! Photo credit: Helge Pedersen All Aboard the Golden Eagle train! Helge Pedersen
                    • Cabin attendants on the train. Photo credit: GW Cabin attendants on the train.
                    • Enjoy a Trans-Siberian train ride along the shores of Lake Baikal. Photo credit: Jamshid Fayzullaev Enjoy a Trans-Siberian train ride along the shores of Lake Baikal. Jamshid Fayzullaev
                    • “Cheers” on the Golden Eagle train. Helge Pedersen

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