Making Plov, Central Asia’s Favorite Food
Plov is king of Central Asian cuisine. This seasoned rice dish bursts with meat, veggies, currants, and spices – a meal made for happy times, like Navruz. Read More
Navruz: Celebrating Spring in Central Asia and Beyond
Navruz is celebrated from Tashkent to Tehran, London to L.A., Bukhara to Bloomington, from Samarkand to Seattle. It's a joyful time of eating, singing, dancing and celebrating the return of spring and the beginning of a new year. Read More
Postcard from Doug: A visit to Darvaza’s burning gas crater in Turkmenistan
One of the most unusual excursions in Turkmenistan is a spectacle you can witness on a visit to the Kara Kum desert north of Ashgabat. On my last visit to Turkmenistan I had the opportunity to drive up to Darvaza, a burning gas crater set on fire by Soviet engineers in 1971. Read More
Buzkashi: Polo for the Nomads of Central Asia
MIR’s Jake Smith has lived and worked in Central Asia for years, and especially loves Tajikistan – not just for culture, language, and food, but for sports as well. Read More
Urgut Market: Samarkand’s Shopping Secret
The labyrinthine Urgut Market in Samarkand, Uzbekistan appears to be an ordinary covered bazaar selling housewares, clothing and necessities. Read More
Shopping for Souvenirs on the Silk Road
Tour Manager Michel Behar has traveled the world for MIR since 1998, and especially loves Central Asia. Here are his insider tips and shopping recommendations in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. Read More
Trains, Textiles and Travel on the Silk Road
In May 2014, a pair of MIR clients whose wide-ranging interests include textiles and old trains took a trip to the core of the Silk Road on a custom-tailored private itinerary to Uzbekistan. One of them kept a wonderful travel journal. Read More
Why Travel the Silk Road, and Why Now?
The Silk Road was not a single road; it was a far-flung web of lonely camel track routes from East to West and back again. Mother of all road trips, the Silk Road became a conduit for spreading belief systems, architecture, agriculture, music and art to the world. Read More
MIR in the News: Articles about MIR’s Tours Exploring Central Asia, Celebrating Winter in Russia and more
It's always nice when notable publications share news about our tours and destinations. Here are some of MIR's recent mentions in the press Read More
MIR Spotlight: Anvar Nasimov
MIR’S Anvar Nasimov was born and raised in one of the most fascinating places on the planet: Samarkand, Uzbekistan, heart of the Silk Road. Anvar offers his perspective on his country, and the satisfaction he feels in showing travelers the beauty and history of his beloved homeland. Read More
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