photo: Peter Guttman Classic Western Russia: Moscow ... › ... · and Boris Godunov’s sister. The compound contains a spectacularly beautiful church – Smolensk Cathe-dral –

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Classic Western Russia:Moscow, Novgorod & St. Petersburg

2014

photo: Peter Guttman

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Classic Western Russia:Moscow, Novgorod & St. Petersburg

An Insider’s View of Russia’s Great Cities

Four Departures in 2014 – Cultural Series – 10 Days

May 2-11 • July 18-27 • August 15-24 • September 19-28

This indispensable introduction to some of Russia’s great cities gives an insider’s view of the real Russia,

spotlighting not only the glittering formal palaces and dignified official edifices of the Russian Empire, but

also the magnificent structures of the Moscow Metro, a jewelry and crafts class in historic Novgorod, and

the unforgettable warmth of a meal in a Russian home. This tour will take you through the fascinating

and often turbulent history of Russia's western capitals, highlighting four UNESCO World Heritage Sites

along the way.

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Daily ItineraryDay 1, Friday Arrive MoscowDay 2, Saturday MoscowDay 3, Sunday MoscowDay 4, Monday Moscow • Klin • Tver • NovgorodDay 5, Tuesday Novgorod • St. PetersburgDay 6, Wednesday St. Petersburg Day 7, Thursday St. Petersburg • day trip to Peterhof and PushkinDay 8, Friday St. PetersburgDay 9, Saturday St. PetersburgDay 10, Sunday Depart St. Petersburg



MIR Signature Experiences• Visit Red Square and the Kremlin, heart of Russia and Russian history.• Admire the stunning decor of the Moscow subway stations, with marbled, gilded, and bronzed walls and ceilings.• Drop in at Tchaikovsky’s estate for a private lecture and short piano concert.• Experience Russian hospitality as you toast your hosts’ health during dinner at a private home.• Explore the Usupoff Palace, where the plot to assassinate Rasputin came to fruition.• Wander the classic English country gardens at Pushkin, and applaud the beautiful golden fountains of Peterhof.• Marvel at the fabulous collection of art on display in the world-renowned Hermitage Museum.• Enjoy an opera or ballet performance at one of Russia’s prestigious theaters.

Tour HighlightsMoscow Moscow Kremlin and Red Square (UNESCO World Heritage Site), GUM, Ar- mory Museum, St. Basil’s Cathedral, Novodevichy Convent (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Victory Park on Farewell Hill, Sparrow Hills over-look, Moscow Metro, Izmailova Park, Tretyakov Gallery, dinner in a private homeKlin House Museum of Tchaikovsky, piano concertTver Neoclassical downtown built by Catherine the GreatNovgorod The Detinets kremlin, Yuriev Monastery, Vitoslavlitsy Museum of Wooden Archi- tectureSt. Petersburg Historic city center (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Imperial Porcelain Museum & Factory, Alexander Nevsky Monastery, Tikhvin Cemetery, Church of the Savior on the Blood, boat ride on the canals, Peter and Paul Fortress, Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, Cruiser Aurora, St. Isaac’s Cathedral, Usupoff Palace, Hermitage Museum, Nevsky Prospekt, Kazan Cathedral, Gostiny Dvor, evening at the theaterPeterhof Peter the Great’s estate on the Gulf of Finland, fountains and gardensPushkin Catherine’s Palace, including the world-famous Amber Room

Itinerary

Day One, FridayMoscow

Arrive in Moscow and transfer to a centrally located hotel to check in. This evening, enjoy a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.Meals: D – Marriott Tverskaya or similar

Day Two, SaturdayArrive Moscow

This morning depart on a full day tour of Moscow, the economic and political center of Russia. Founded in 1147 by Yuri Dolgoruky (literally “Yuri of the Long Arms”), Moscow rose to prominence during Mongol domination and eventually became the Russian capital. Eclipsed for 200 years by St. Petersburg, Moscow was restored as a political center after the October Revolution in 1917 and served as the capital of the




Soviet Union until 1991. Moscow today is a booming metropolis, dignified yet dynamic, where ancient churches sit shoulder to shoulder with 21st century financial institutions, and where the new high-rise commercial district of Moscow-City is changing the face of the city forever.

The first stop is UNESCO-listed Red Square and the Kremlin. Red Square with its St. Basil’s Ca-thedral is perhaps the most recognizable symbol of Russia. Designed and built between 1555 and 1561 during the reign of Ivan the Terrible, St. Basil’s was originally painted white. The domes were not pat-terned and colored as they are today until a hundred years later. St. Basil’s is named after Vasily Blaz-henny, the “holy fool” who predicted that Ivan would murder his own son.

Visit the Kremlin, built on the site of Prince Yuri’s hunting lodge and overlooking the Moskva and Neglina rivers. In the mid-14th century, the Russian princes, ruling from the Kremlin, became so powerful that Moscow was named the center of the Russian Orthodox Church. Under the guidance of Ivan the Great, Moscow extended its influence and soon became the seat of Russian political power as well.

Today, the Kremlin remains the center of Moscow and Russian politics. Inside the fortress walls are nu-merous palaces, cathedrals, government buildings and the Armory Museum. Built in the 16th century as a warehouse for the Kremlin’s weaponry, the building was turned into an exhibition hall and museum in 1814. The Armory Museum now houses Russia’s national treasures such as religious icons, Fabergé eggs, a bejeweled chalice belonging to Prince Yuri, and Catherine the Great’s ball gowns.

Next, visit GUM, the famous State Department Store. With its recent renovations and surpris-ing array of upscale contemporary stores, GUM is dramatically different from what it was during the Soviet era.

Following an independent lunch, drive by some of Moscow’s best-known places, including Mos-cow State University on the Sparrow Hills for a panoramic city view; the moving World War II Memorial and Victory Park on Farewell Hill; and a drive along the Sofiyskaya Embank-ment. Stop here at the 16th century Novode-vichy Convent.

UNESCO-listed Novodevichy Convent was founded in the 16th century. This was the convent of choice for noble women forced to take the veil, such as Peter the Great’s first wife

and Boris Godunov’s sister. The compound contains a spectacularly beautiful church – Smolensk Cathe-dral – with icons from the time of Boris Godunov, as well as exhibits featuring paintings, woodwork, met-alwork, embroidery, illuminated books and jewels. Strangely enough, the main attraction of the convent is its cemetery. Such luminaries as Nikolai Gogol, Anton Chekhov, Alexander Scriabin, Vladimir Mayak-ovsky, Constantin Stanislavsky, Sergei Prokofiev, Sergei Eisenstein, Nikita Khrushchev, Raisa Gorbacheva and Boris Yeltsin are buried here, and some of the graves are quite fanciful.

Tonight enjoy an independent dinner.Meals: B – Marriott Tverskaya or similar




Day Three, SundayMoscow

After breakfast, tour a few of the world-renowned Moscow Metro stations, sometimes referred to as “Underground Palaces.” The first Moscow Metro station opened in 1935, and today there are over 150 of them along the 125 miles of track. The stations in the city center are showpieces of Socialist art, fur-nished with statues, frescoes and mosaics, and with marbled, gilded, and bronzed walls and ceilings. The Metro tour culminates with a visit to the enormous Izmailova Park weekend bazaar. Located on the for-mer royal hunting preserve, the huge flea market at Izmailova Park is the best place in Moscow to find deals on a huge variety of Russian souvenirs and crafts, from matrioshka dolls to lacquered boxes, from Soviet memorabilia to watercolors. Whether you’re interested in traditional handicrafts, clothing, jewelry or modern art, Izmailova is the place to go, and opportunities to people-watch abound.

After an independent lunch, conclude the day’s touring at the Tretyakov Gallery. The Tretyakov was founded by 19th century Russian merchant, Pavel Tretyakov, who spent 40 years and much of his fortune collecting and preserving works of Russian art. The history and trajectory of Russian art are displayed here, encompassing pieces from the 11th century to the present, and including mosaics, icons, paintings and sculptures by such artists as Rublev, Repin, and Levi-tan. The collection is rarely seen outside of Russia.

This evening dine in the home of a Rus-sian family and experience firsthand the meaning of Russian hospitality.Meals: B, D – Marriott Tverskaya or similar

Day Four, MondayMoscow • Klin • Tver • Novgorod

Get an earlier start this morning and set off out of the capital and towards Novgorod, making two important stops along the way. After a couple of hours on the road, arrive in Klin. On arrival, tour the House Museum of Tchaikovsky including a live piano concert. Pyotr Tchaikovsky, one of Russia’s greatest composers, moved to this estate 55 miles northwest of Moscow for the last year of his life. Well-known for popular pieces such as the 1812 Overture, the ballets Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker, and the opera Eugene Onegin, Tchaikovsky finished his final sym-phony, the Pathetique, at this house – a somber work that was coolly received at its first performance. Tchaikovsky died only six days later amid rumors of suicide, later disproved. The museum includes the composer’s personal effects, memorabilia, photos, manuscripts and recordings of his works. A concert hall in the mansion offers the opportunity to hear the master’s music.

Continue to the city of Tver, about 94 miles from Moscow along the old road to St. Petersburg. As old as Moscow, the trading center of Tver didn’t fare as well over the years; it was burned to the ground twice and captured many times. Tver was the capital of its own principality for 200 years before it finally capitulated to Moscow. When St. Petersburg was established in 1703, Tver became an important way sta-tion on the road between the two capitals.




After a severe fire in 1763, Catherine the Great had the downtown rebuilt along neoclassical lines. One of Tver’s claims to fame was her Putevoi Dvorets, or Travel Palace, where she stopped along the Moscow-St. Petersburg road. Sadly, the palace has fallen into disrepair and is out of commission.

Continue to Novgorod, stopping en route for tea and piroshki.Meals: B, L – Park Inn Veliky Novgorod or similar

Day Five, TuesdayNovgorod • St. Petersburg

Tour Novgorod today before continuing to St. Petersburg. The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Novgorod was one of Russia’s first and most important cities. It was from Novgorod that citizens sent for the Nordic Varan-gians to help create order and were rewarded with the Rurik Dynasty, which ruled from 862 to 1598. Rurik’s successor Oleg, the second Prince of Novgorod, captured Kiev and began the alliance known as the Kievan Rus, the proto-state of Russia.

In 1240 Alexander of Novgorod defeated the Swedes at the Neva River, earning the famous name, Alexander Nevsky. Novgorodian Prince Yaroslav the Wise formulated the first code of law in Russia, and decreed that St. Sophia’s be built here.The city escaped the depredations of the Mongols, who couldn’t get through the swamps surrounding it. However, in World War II Nazi forces occupied Novgorod for two years, and many of its old monuments were bombed and shelled by both sides. Upon recapturing the city, the Soviet government immediately set about restoring the damaged historic buildings. Today a small provincial town, Novgorod includes 40 Orthodox churches, dating from the 11th to the 19th centuries.

Visit Novgorod’s kremlin, also called the Detinets. Built at first of wood, the walls were replaced with stone in the 14th century. Brick replaced the stone in the 15th century, Moscow-fashion, and this is how they were restored after World War II. The focal point of the kremlin is the Cathedral of St. Sophia. The five-domed cathedral is the oldest existing church in Novgorod. Built around 1050 by order of Yaroslav the Wise, it

is one of the earliest stone structures in northern Russia and the first to exhibit characteristic Russian architecture. The remains of Yaroslav and his wife Irina are entombed within. One of the church’s fea-tures is the Magdeburg Gate, 12th century doors cast in bronze, encrusted with bas-reliefs of saints, bishops and even the builders of the gates.

Continue on to the working Yuriev Monastery, with its restored blue-domed church of St. George.Located a mile or so out of town on the shores of Lake Ilmen, it is probably the oldest walled monastery in Russia, dating from 1119.

After lunch at a local restaurant, visit the Vitoslavlitsy Museum of Wooden Architecture. This open-air museum has a collection of 22 traditional wooden homes, churches and other typical buildings




from the 16th to 18th century. Authentic artifacts and everyday possessions of Novgorod peasants fur-nish the structures.

Continue to St. Petersburg with arrival in time for independent dinner and hotel check-in.Meals: B, L – Hotel Helvetia or similar

Day Six, WednesdaySt. Petersburg

This morning, begin an exploration of Russia’s cultural capital, St. Petersburg, often described as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Its miles of canals, laced together with graceful bridges set amidst 18th century buildings, have earned it the name “Venice of the North.” Conceived by Peter the Great and designed by his favorite European architects, St. Petersburg was meant to be Peter’s link to the west-ern world. A convergence of art and soul, the city survived the calamitous 20th century with its reputa-tion as a storehouse of Russian culture intact. Some of the world’s most radiant artworks hang in its mu-seums, and some of the world’s greatest performers, writers and musicians have walked its streets. The historic center of St. Petersburg has been added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.

Following breakfast and a brief orientation, visit the Imperial Porcelain Museum. Founded in the mid-18th century, the Imperial Porcelain Factory is the oldest porcelain factory in Russia. It produces tea and coffee sets and a wide variety of porcelain figurines. An on-site museum traces the evolution of this fac-tory and the porcelain industry in Russia from the mid-18th century to the present.

Next visit the Alexander Nevsky Monastery. Surrounded by walls and moats, this important monas-tery, or lavra, was founded by Peter the Great on the site of Alexander Nevsky’s victorious battle over the Swedes in 1240. The focal point of the monastery is the neoclassical Holy Trinity Cathedral. Built from 1776 to 1790, the regal structure has a columned portico, large central dome and two bell towers.

Renovation status permitting, pay a visit to the cruiser Aurora. Built between 1897 and 1900, Aurora survived the Russo-Japanese War in which most of the Russian fleet was sunk. Later it was used on the Neva River for cadet training, and fired the shot (a blank) that signaled the Bolsheviks to charge the Win-ter Palace during the 1917 revolution. While Leningrad was under siege in WWII, the Aurora’s guns were used on the city’s front lines.

Finally, weather permitting, take a boat ride on St. Petersburg’s canals. Board a boat at one of St. Pe-tersburg famous bridges for a cruise of the city’s canals. Learn about the pre-revolutionary buildings along the embankments as the boat cruises the waterways that originally drained the swamps of Peter the Great’s capital. Enjoy the breezes and see the sights from a unique perspective.

Dinner this evening is at the hotel restaurant.Meals: B, D – Hotel Helvetia or similar

Day Seven, ThursdaySt. Petersburg• day trip to Peterhof and Pushkin

Touring this morning begins with a trip to Peterhof. Peter the Great built his estate, Peterhof, on a ridge by the Gulf of Finland 19 miles outside of St. Petersburg. The former imperial residence is surrounded with extensive parks and gardens intended to rival Versailles, complete with an array of gilded statues, magnificent palaces and gravity-fed fountains.




Peter’s famed fountains are Peterhof’s main attraction. Over 150 glistening, gilded, sculpted marble, granite and limestone fountains and cascades adorn the Lower Park. The gravity-fed collection pools inPeterhof’s Upper Garden discharge their waters nearly 50 feet down to the Lower Park’s cascades and jets, creating enormous force and powering fountains all over the park.

After lunch at Peterhof, head south to Pushkin, or Tsarskoye Selo (Czar’s Village), the location of one of Russia’s greatest cultural attractions, Catherine’s Palace. Explore the palace, originally built in 1717 by Catherine I. In 1752, famed architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli enlarged and embellished the palace, extend-ing the facade to its current grandeur. The estate and palace buildings were almost completely destroyed by the Germans during WWII, but they have been carefully and expertly restored into a brilliant architec-tural monument.

The fully restored Amber Room has been years in the making. The wall coverings of amber panels, created in the time of Peter the Great, were taken by the Nazis during the Second World War and never recovered. The beautifully crafted amber panels we see today were recreated from photos and descrip-tions of the originals, and have become one of the highlights of the palace.

Dinner this evening is independent. Meals: B, L – Hotel Helvetia or similar

Day Eight, FridaySt. Petersburg

After breakfast this morning visit the Peter and Paul Fortress, one of the first structures in St. Peters-burg. Peter the Great laid the cornerstone of the earthen fortress on Hare Island in May 1703, intending it to be used to repel a Swedish invasion. After the Swedes capitulated, the fortress was transformed into a prison in 1718. Among its prisoners were Peter the Great’s son Alexei, who opposed his reforms.

After strolling the grounds of the compound, visit the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, considered the heart of the fort. Starting with Peter the Great, all the Russian czars except Peter II and Ivan VI were entombed in the Cathedral. On July 17, 1998 the remains of Nicholas II and his family were returned from Ekaterinburg and laid to rest alongside the other members of the Romanov Dynasty.

Continue on to the magnificent Church of the Savior on the Blood. The Church of the Savior on the Blood was built on the spot where Czar Alexander II was felled by a bomb in 1881, and was commissioned in the style of St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow by his son and successor, Alexander III. Just off Nevsky Pro-spekt on the Griboyedov Canal, the emblematic cathedral with its blue and green patterned domes has become a symbol of St. Petersburg. The interior walls and cupolas are covered in fine mosaics of Biblical scenes, and four jasper columns mark the spot where the czar fell.




After an independent lunch continue on to view St. Isaac’s Cathedral, the last neoclassical structure built in the city. St. Isaac’s took 40 years to complete. Czar Alexander I awarded the project to the inex-perienced winner of a competition, a young French architect named Auguste de Montferrand. The beauti-ful design was fraught with problems, and construction was halted for years while these were solved. New technology had to be invented to build the massive structure. The 48 red granite columns around the lower part of the building each weigh 110 tons, and the upper columns around the rotunda weigh 67 tons apiece. The dome is covered with 220 pounds of gold, and the interior columns faced with lapis laz-uli and malachite.

Next, set off for the lovely Usupoff Palace. Although the palace looks ordinary from the outside, its interior is exquisite, with a marble staircase, crystal chandeliers, gilded candelabras and magnificently painted ceilings. Owned before the revolution by the very rich and powerful Usupoff family, the palace has its own miniature theater. This is the place where the plot against the sinister Rasputin came to frui-tion.

The remainder of the afternoon is yours to explore St. Petersburg on your own. Upon request, your guide can suggest churches, museums, local art galleries or an open-air market for additional sight-seeing or shopping opportunities. This evening, schedules permitting, get to-gether for a ballet or opera perform-ance at one of St. Petersburg’s renowned theaters.Meals: B – Hotel Helvetia or similar

Day Nine, SaturdaySt. Petersburg

Today visit the Hermitage Museum. The Winter Palace, part of the Hermitage ensemble, was built in 1754-62 as the principal home of the czars, and was lav-ishly rebuilt in 1839 after it was destroyed by fire. Originally a small private palace

gallery begun by Catherine the Great with the purchase of 255 paintings from Berlin, the Hermitage to-day houses one of the largest museum collections in the world. The grand double entry staircases and fabulous rooms with their inlaid floors and gilded woodwork are works of art in themselves.

After an independent lunch, time can be spent independently exploring the Hermitage; or choose a walk-ing tour of Nevsky Prospekt, the three-mile-long avenue considered the backbone of St. Petersburg. Stop at Gostiny Dvor, the city’s oldest and largest shopping center, and the Kazansky Cathedral, an effort by Alexander I to duplicate the Vatican.

Tonight celebrate the journey with a festive farewell dinner.Meals: B, D – Hotel Helvetia or similar




Day Ten, SundayDepart St. Petersburg

Following breakfast, the tour concludes with a transfer to the airport.Meals: B

Dates for 2014 – Four Departures – Cultural SeriesThe land itinerary is scheduled to operate on the following dates. Please note you will need to depart the U.S. one day prior to the tour start date due to airline flight schedules.

May 2-11, 2014July 18-27, 2014August 15-24, 2014September 19-28, 2014

Package Prices4-16 travelers, $4,695 per person, twin shareSingle Supplement $850

Land Tour Includes• Shared accommodations in superior tourist class hotels in central locations.• 9 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 4 dinners per the itinerary. A few lunches and dinners are not included so that you may enjoy a chance to experiment on your own.• Restaurant tips for included meals.• Services of an experienced, English-speaking MIR Tour Manager with local guides at specific sites.• Arrival/departure transfers. MIR will arrange for all travelers to be met upon arrival and transferred to the airport on departure whether we make your airfare arrangements or not, provided you arrive and depart on the tour start/end dates in the tour start/end cities.• Transportation throughout itinerary by private coach, van, or car (type of vehicle depends on group size).• Guided sightseeing tours and entrance fees as outlined in itinerary.• Special events, excursions and cultural performances per the itinerary.• Baggage handling where available.• Gratuities to local guides and drivers.• Complete pre-departure information including detailed packing list and reading list.• Assistance booking your custom flight arrangements (on request; please note that international airfare is not included in the land tour cost).• Touring with MIR handbook with country-specific information, maps, and travel tips.• Customized visa application and instruction kit (please note, visa fees are not included in the tour price).

• Final document packet including luggage tags, final updates, and more.

Not Included• International airfare – available through MIR; please call for rates.• Meals not specified as included in the itinerary.• Alcoholic beverages.• Gratuities to tour manager.




• Single supplement charge, if requested or required.• Items of a personal nature (phone calls, laundry, etc.).• Visa fees.• Travel and trip cancellation insurance.

Interested in travel insurance?To learn more about all the benefits of purchasing a Travel Guard travel insurance plan, please visit www.travelguard.com/mircorp or contact Travel Guard at 1.877.709.5596.

Cultural SeriesMIR’s Cultural Series programs feature some of our most distinctive tour concepts and include uncom-mon and educational experiences, including visits to small towns and villages outside the major urban ar-eas and capital cities. All trips feature comfortable, well-located hotels.

Important Notes: Is This Trip Right For You?While the accommodations we utilize are superior tourist class, please keep in mind that some aspects of the tourism infrastructure in Russia are not up to the standards North American travelers expect. Serv-ices are improving in the region; however you may encounter problems with bureaucratic service, road conditions and availability and quality of public restrooms. This itinerary features a significant amount of touring on foot. Many streets and sidewalks are uneven, and some attractions are only accessible via steep staircases. Museums generally do not have elevators.

We believe that this program is designed to be as comfortable as possible for travel in this region. It is rated as rigorous touring because of the daily walking involved, the length of some bus rides and the overall shortcomings of the tourism infrastructure. To reap the full rewards of this adventure, travelers must be able to walk at least a mile a day, keeping up with fellow travelers. Flexibility, a sense of humor and a willingness to accept local standards of amenities and services are essential components to the en-joyment of this trip.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this schedule is accurate. However, trip itineraries are always subject to change. We do our best to inform participants in advance of any changes, but, due to the nature of travel in Russia, this may not always be possible.

Are You Prepared?A Travel Guard travel insurance plan can help cover your vacation investment, offset expenses from travel mishaps and provide you with emergency travel assistance. To learn more about all of the benefits of purchasing a Travel Guard travel insurance plan, please visit www.travelguard.com/mircorp

WeatherMoscow and St. Petersburg are wonderful cities to visit any time of the year. In the spring, expect tem-peratures 45-65 degrees Fahrenheit in Moscow and a touch cooler in St. Petersburg. July and August bring a range 55-70 in both cities and October temperatures are cooler to cold, with highs in the mid-40s in both cities. Rain is possible year round.


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International AirfareMIR’s in-house, full-service air department is available to assist with your air travel needs. Check with MIR before booking air on your own, as we are happy to research and compare the best fares available through multiple channels. Airfare varies depending on a wide variety of factors, such as dates of travel and seasonality, seat availability, special airline promotions, how restrictive ticket changes are, how long the fares can be held without purchase, routing considerations such as stopovers, and more. Tour dates are based on the land tour only. Our preferred carriers for this tour are Lufthansa, Swiss Air, and Aero-flot, as they offer convenient itineraries and competitive rates from multiple cities across the U.S. to Western Russia.

Please call us at 800-424-7289 to discuss air options and routings for this program, and to request a quote for your specific plans and dates of travel. We will be happy to put together a no-obligation sug-gested air itinerary and estimate for you at your request.

VisasA Russian visa is required for this tour. Extensive pre-tour paperwork is necessary to obtain a Russian visa. MIR will provide you with the necessary applications and instructions. The current price of the Rus-sian visa for U.S. passport holders, based on standard processing time, is $243. Visa prices are always sub-ject to change.

Pre and Post-Tour OptionsMIR can arrange an extended program in St. Petersburg, Moscow, the Baltics or Central Europe before or after your tour.

Also Nearby...For more tours to this region, you may want to check out:

Flexible Essential Trips – Classic Private JourneysEssential Crimea (New), 10 days. Take a remarkable stroll through history around Ukraine’s lush Crimean Peninsula, hanging like a jewel into the balmy Black Sea. Roam from an ancient Scythian kurgan to Chekhov’s house, from the Tatar palace of Bakhchysaray to the home of the Black Sea Fleet, from a Genoese fortress in Feodosiya to Yalta, where the fate of post-war Europe was decided.

Essential Russia, 7 days. A compact and compelling survey of Russia’s political capital, Moscow,and its cultural capital, St. Petersburg, this tour communicates the character of Western Russia in asuccinct and meaningful series of experiences.

Essential St. Petersburg, 7 days. St. Petersburg, home of the czars and their courts, is a rich repository of extravagant palaces, brilliant museums and renowned theaters overflowing with music and dance. Its fashionable boulevards and serene canals glisten in the “White Nights” of summer and dazzle on sunny winter days.

Essential Baltics, 7 days. Take an overland survey of the Baltic capitals, Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn, exploring the centers of their UNESCO-listed Old Towns. The hearts of these cities feature cobbled streets, red-tiled roofs and robust old churches and fortress walls. Admire the lush farms and winding rivers between the cities, and pay visits to important rural sites like Lithuania’s Hill of Crosses and Latvia’s baroque




Rundale Castle.

Essential Ukraine, 8 days. Ukraine is the new borderland between Europe and Russia. Explore this resilient region influenced by Polish princes, Cossack hetmen, Turkish khans, Russian communists and Ukrainian poets and nationalists.

Essential Poland, 6 days. On this focused tour, visit four Polish UNESCO sites in six days – Warsaw’s Old Town, Krakow’s Historic Center, the Auschwitz/Birkenau camp and the Wieliczka Salt Mine.

Essential Balkans, 12 days. Visit seven Balkan countries in twelve days on this compact overlandjourney through history. A remarkably complex region, the mountainous Balkan Peninsula is fascinating, diverse and incredibly beautiful.

Small Group ToursA Chronicle of Russian Cuisine and Culture (New), 10 days. This delectable new journey, led by a passionate local foodie, lets you eat your way through Russia’s greatest cities, Moscow and St. Petersburg, while taking care to touch on all the definitive cultural sites . You will learn that Russian cuisine goes far beyond borscht and blini. Meet famed chefs for hands-on cooking classes and dine in a smorgasbord of restaurants, family homes, and a country dacha, where home-cooked cuisine and traditional Russian culture come together.

Russia’s Imperial Capitals & Ancient Villages, 11 days. Discover where Russian art, architecture and culture began. In between the urban centers of Moscow and St. Petersburg, experience the Russian countryside. The oldest and loveliest churches in Russia, Sergiev Posad’s wooden crafts and Fedoskino’s glowing lacquer boxes all put a shine on Russia’s Golden Ring.

Bulgaria & Romania: Frescoes & Fortresses, 16 days. Explore the complex history and fascinating culture of Bulgaria and Romania, two Balkan countries whose rugged terrain and consequent isolation have helped preserve their heritage. Discover the luminous frescoes of the painted monasteries, breathe in the fragrance of the Valley of the Roses, and spend an afternoon visiting with villagers in a tiny Transyl-vanian town.

Belarus, Ukraine & Moldova, 16 days. Traverse a little known region that has changed hands from its earliest history. Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova are three of the least-frequented and least familiar coun-tries in Europe. Time slowed drastically here after the devastation of WWII, but these beautiful countries are emerging from the shadows.

Conditions of ParticipationYour participation on a MIR Corporation trip is subject to the conditions contained in the 2014 Tour Reservation Form and Release of Liability and Assumption of Risk Agreement. Please read this document carefully and contact us with any questions.

Cancellation and Refund PolicyPayment Terms: Non-refundable deposits are accepted by check, Visa, MasterCard or American Express. Final land payments may be made by check or credit card for reservations made directly with MIR. If booking through a travel agent, please contact your agent to find out what form of payment they accept. (MIR can accept final payment from travel agents by agency check only.) Air fares are subject to change until ticketed; payment policies vary by carrier.




If you cancel your trip, please notify MIR in writing. Upon MIR’s receipt of notice the following charges apply to land tours (policies for air tickets, custom group trips vary).

MIR Small Group ToursCost of cancellation, if received: 61 or more days prior to departure, deposit due or paid in full of $500; 31-60 days prior to departure, 50% of land tour cost; 30 days prior to or after trip departure, no refund.

ReferencesWe encourage you to speak directly with satisfied past travelers. Please request a list of references.

Why MIR?Regional knowledge is crucial to the success of any trip to our corner of the world. MIR combines de-tailed information about geography and infrastructure, history and art, language and culture, with the depth of knowledge that comes only from decades of regional experience. You may wonder how we dif-fer from other tour operators…

Destination SpecializationMIR focuses exclusively on the exceptional region at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. This area has been our overriding passion since 1986; we don’t do the rest of the world. Our hard-earned expertise gained over the last 27 years can take you from end to end of the largest country in the world – Russia – and to all of its neighbors. We specialize in travel to Siberia, the Silk Route, St. Petersburg & Beyond. Our destinations include: Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, the Baltics (Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia), the Balkans (Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia, Kosovo, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina), Central Asia (the five ‘Stans), Iran, the South Caucasus (Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan), Mongolia, China, Tibet and Central/East Europe (Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Romania).




27 Years of ExperienceA travel company doesn’t last 27 years in the business without a solid track record. MIR has helped thousands of individuals achieve their travel goals. Our dedication and experience have earned us their trust and the trust of many well-respected institutions. Today MIR is the preferred tour operator for mu-seum, alumni and special interest organizations across the country.

Recommended & RespectedMIR has twice been rated one of the “Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth” by National Geographic Adventure. Several of our tours have won awards in top travel publications, such as Outside magazine and National Geographic Traveler. Our trips have been featured in books like Riding the Hula Hula to the Arctic Ocean and 1,000 Places to See Before You Die.

More Questions?Please feel free to call us with questions at 1-800-424-7289, 8:30am-5:30pm Pacific Time.

MIR Corporation85 South Washington Street, Suite 210Seattle, WA 98104800-424-7289, 206-624-7289Fax 206-624-7360 [email protected]

Sellers of Travel: Washington#601-099-932, California# 2082306-40© Photos: MIR Corporation, Martin Klimenta , Jim Beers, Barry Goldsmith, Julia Dudley, Helge Pedersen, Peter Guttman




http://www.mircorp.com

http://www.mircorp.com



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photo: Peter Guttman Classic Western Russia: Moscow ... › ... · and Boris Godunov’s sister. The compound contains a spectacularly beautiful church – Smolensk Cathe-dral –