Essential Siberia 2020

photo: Vladimir Kvashnin

! Essential Siberia Rolling Steppe, Lakeshore, and Taiga

Flexible Essential Trip – Classic Private Journey – 7 Days

Your choice of dates, suggested start day: Thursday

Near the shores of UNESCO-listed Lake Baikal, survey the Mongolian, Cossack, Buryat, and Buddhist heritage of southern Siberia, and admire its overwhelming natural beauty. Explore Ulan Ude, capital of the Buryat Republic and center of Buddhism in Russia, and enjoy the unique choral music of the Trans-Baikal Semeiskie in a nearby village of Old Believers. Take a short trip on the legendary Trans-Siberian Railway and continue to Listvyanka, a small town situated on the shore of Lake Baikal. End your journey in cultured Irkutsk, influenced by transplanted Czarist and Bolshevik exiles.

© 1996-2020 MIR Corporation 85 South Washington St, Ste. 210, Seattle, WA 98104 • 206-624-7289 • 206-624-7360 FAX • Email [email protected] 2 Daily Itinerary Day 1, Thursday Arrive Ulan Ude, Russia Day 2, Friday Ulan Ude Day 3, Saturday Ulan Ude • day train to Irkutsk • Listvyanka Day 4, Sunday Listvyanka Day 5, Monday Listvyanka • Irkutsk Day 6, Tuesday Irkutsk Day 7, Wednesday Depart Irkutsk

© 1996-2020 MIR Corporation 85 South Washington St, Ste. 210, Seattle, WA 98104 • 206-624-7289 • 206-624-7360 FAX • Email [email protected] 3 Tour Highlights Ulan Ude Capital of the Buryat Republic, Ivolginsk Datsan, covered market, world’s largest Lenin head, village of Old Believers Trans-Siberian Railway Short section of the world-famous rail line Listvyanka St. Nicholas Church, Baikal Museum, short boat ride on Lake Baikal, authentic banya at the guesthouse Lake Baikal “Sacred Sea” with unique flora and fauna (UNESCO World Heritage Site) Irkutsk Wooden Architecture Museum, Angara River Embankment, Epiphany Cathedral, Znamensky Convent, Church of Our Savior, concert of chimes by master bell-ringer, Regional History Museum

Daily Itinerary

Day One, Thursday Arrive Ulan Ude, Russia Arrive today in Ulan Ude, and transfer to the hotel for check-in and a free afternoon/evening. Dinner is independent this evening. Meals: Independent – Geser Hotel or similar

Day Two, Friday Ulan Ude Ulan Ude is the capital of the Buryat Republic. Formerly called Udinsk, Ulan Ude was founded in the mid 17th century by Cossacks as a winter encampment on the Selenga River. The city later prospered as a major trading post along the tea route between China and Irkutsk. The indigenous people of the region, the Buryats, continuously resisted attempts to infiltrate their culture and traditions. Today, the unique cultural identity, language, and religions of the Buryats make visiting Ulan Ude a fascinating experience. This morning, visit the Ivolginsk Datsan, which is the center of Buddhism in Russia, and was the only functioning Buddhist temple tolerated by the Soviet government. The 14th Dalai Lama initiated construction of the new school for monks and has visited the monastery four times. At present, there are about 30 monks and 100 students. Continue to Ulan Ude’s small city center. Highlights are the covered market, where merchants at small stands sell everything from freshly cut meat to freshly baked bread and sweet rolls; the original merchant center of the city, with its wooden Siberian houses; the trade rows

© 1996-2020 MIR Corporation 85 South Washington St, Ste. 210, Seattle, WA 98104 • 206-624-7289 • 206-624-7360 FAX • Email [email protected] 4 and administrative center; the city’s first stone Orthodox church; and the biggest Lenin head in the world. After an independent lunch, visit a village of Old Believers. Hear their stirring songs in one of the villages founded in the Ulan Ude area around 1764. Rebelling against Patriarch Nikon’s 1652 reforms of the Orthodox liturgy and ritual, the Old Believers fled or were exiled to Eastern Europe and then to Siberia. In their isolated Siberian villages such as Tarbagatay, these groups were able to preserve their 17th century traditions, clothing, architecture, language, and style of singing. In 2001, UNESCO photo: Helge Pedersen added the culture and unique choral music of the Trans-Baikal Semeiskie – as they are called in Siberia – to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.” Enjoy dinner this evening with the Old Believers. Meals: B, D – Geser Hotel or similar

Day Three, Saturday Ulan Ude • day train to Irkutsk • Listvyanka Early breakfast this morning is followed by departure on the day train from Ulan Ude to Irkutsk. This is a short but interesting segment of the famous Trans-Siberian Railway. Taken in its entirety, the Trans-Siberian Railway is one of the most enjoyable and romantic of all the world’s great train journeys. Though this segment will just give a hint, overall the rail line is one of the longest in the world, stretching more than 5,500 miles from Vladivostok to Moscow. Travel along a scenic stretch of the rail line, chugging westward past remote towns with charming painted houses, and through the taiga with its stands of birch, pine, spruce, and larch. Rail travel is one of the most popular forms of travel in Russia, offering many opportunities to meet Russian travelers. Arrive this afternoon in Irkutsk, followed by a drive to Listvyanka. This little lakeside town began as a fishing outpost; today is it a center for the study of Lake Baikal. Located near the outlet of the Angara River, the town is included in Pribaikalsky National Park. Check into the hotel for an independent dinner and overnight. Meals: B – Krestovaya Pad Guesthouse or similar

© 1996-2020 MIR Corporation 85 South Washington St, Ste. 210, Seattle, WA 98104 • 206-624-7289 • 206-624-7360 FAX • Email [email protected] 5 Day Four, Sunday Listvyanka Enjoy breakfast at the guesthouse this morning, then begin an exploration of this lakeside town and the lake itself. Touring begins with the 19th century St. Nicholas Church, situated 500 meters from the lake and built by a Russian merchant, Ksenofont Serebryakov. According to legend, Serebryakov was saved by St. Nicholas (protector of sailors) while crossing Lake Baikal in a terrible storm, and promised to build a church here. Visit the Baikal Museum with its focus on limnology, the study of the life and other phenomena in fresh water, particularly lakes and ponds. Learn about the origin of Lake Baikal; its characteristics as the oldest and deepest lake in the world; and its species, including some that are found nowhere else, such as golomyanka, a transparent fish; omul, a tasty salmon-like fish; and nerpa, a freshwater seal. Several aquariums at the museum are home to a variety of Baikal fish and crustaceans, as well as a pair of these unique nerpa seals There will also be time for a short boat ride on Lake Baikal, weather permitting. Afterwards, take the optional opportunity to enjoy a traditional banya. The popularity of the banya, or Russian bathhouse, has not diminished with the advent of universal running water. The traditional Russian bath is viewed as the epitome of a healthful experience. A typical Russian bathhouse includes a changing room or vestibule, a room for washing, and a sauna with a wood-fired stove. In large banyas, the dry sauna and steam room may be separate, but in small ones they are one and the same. The bather adjusts the amount of steam by ladling water onto hot rocks. Larger banyas often include a cold plunge pool, so that the bather can move from hot to cold and back again. In both, it is important to beat oneself or one’s neighbor with a branch of birch leaves soaked in water, to stimulate blood flow and release toxins. Meals: B – Krestovaya Pad Guesthouse or similar

© 1996-2020 MIR Corporation 85 South Washington St, Ste. 210, Seattle, WA 98104 • 206-624-7289 • 206-624-7360 FAX • Email [email protected] 6 Day Five, Monday Listvyanka • Irktusk Transfer back to Irkutsk today, with touring en route. The first stop is at the outdoor Wooden Architecture Museum, a 166-acre collection of authentic Russian and native Buryat, Evenki, and Tafalar houses and community buildings from the 17th to the early 20th century. The wooden structures were moved here from various Siberian locations, furnished with period appointments and assembled into little hamlets and nomadic camps that demonstrate how people actually lived. Early this afternoon arrive in Irkutsk, which began as a wooden fortress founded by Cossacks in 1661. Fortified and armed to a greater degree than other Siberian settlements, Irkutsk became a staging area for trade convoys and exploring expeditions. By the early 18th century, settlers had already built 13 churches in the town. The Irkutsk area has been a place of exile since Genghis Khan offered it to captives as an alternative to death. Czarist and Bolshevik political exiles from the 18th through 20th centuries ended up bringing culture and education to Irkutsk after their terms of slave labor ended. Today, Irkutsk is a pleasant tree-lined city of near 600,000 on the banks of the Angara River. With some lovely pre-revolutionary churches, universities, a fine botanical garden, and a number of appealing museums, the city is a noted cultural center. The city tour includes a visit to the Angara River Embankment; Epiphany Cathedral, built in 1724; and the Church of Our Savior. Additionally, tour the area of old wooden houses, many with the intricate fretwork surrounding brightly painted window frames typical of local Siberian architecture. Climb to the bell tower of the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and enjoy a concert of chimes by a master bell-ringer, who personally collected all the bells and reconstructed the tower. During Communist times, worship was discouraged and bells were collected; many were melted down for their metal. Next visit the House Museum of the Decembrists. The Decembrists were a group of young officers who had served abroad during the War of 1812 and become advocates of political reform. In December 1825, they, along with some 3,000 followers, refused to swear allegiance to the new czar, Nicholas I. Their uprising was quickly put down, and five of the leaders hanged. The rest were sentenced to forced labor in Siberia. Many of them, with their wives, settled in Irkutsk after their terms were over, and brought with them education and culture.The House Museum of the Decembrists is in the former home of Sergei Volkonsky and his wife, Maria. Meals: B, L – Hotel Central, Hotel Empire, or similar

Day Six, Tuesday Irkutsk Continue exploring Irkutsk today. First visit the Regional History Museum. The museum was founded in 1782, and established a large collection of books, artifacts, and data about the culture of the peoples of Central Asia. In 1854, it came under the auspices of the East Siberian Department of the Emperor’s Russian Geographic Society, and began collecting from all over Siberia. Unfortunately, the museum and its entire collection were lost in the Great Irkutsk Fire of 1879. The people of Irkutsk rebuilt the museum, dedicating it in 1883. Today the museum displays ethnographic artifacts from Siberia, the Russian Far East, and Kamchatka, as well as Korea, China, and Mongolia. Its Central Asia collection is once again large, mainly due to expeditions undertaken by the East Siberian Department.

© 1996-2020 MIR Corporation 85 South Washington St, Ste. 210, Seattle, WA 98104 • 206-624-7289 • 206-624-7360 FAX • Email [email protected] 7 Continue to Znamensky Convent, founded in 1689 and the first –and for many years the largest – convent in the Irkutsk area. The nuns aimed for self-sufficiency, maintaining gardens, herds, an apiary, brewery, mill, fields, poultry, and greenhouses. In 1708, Peter the Great presented the convent with a silver-mounted edition of the Gospels with his inscription, which remains here. In the convent’s cemetery are graves of some of the Decembrists who were exiled and lived out their lives in Irkutsk. The convent was not destroyed during the Soviet period because it was used as an aircraft hangar. This afternoon is free to shop or to pack before the voyage home, and dinner is independent this evening. Meals: B – Hotel Central, Hotel Empire, or similar

Day Seven, Wednesday Depart Irkutsk After breakfast at the hotel, the tour ends with departure transfers to the airport. Meals: B

Flexible Essential Trip – Classic Private Journey Private departures of this land itinerary can begin on the Thursday of your choice in 2020. Please note you will need to depart the U.S. one or two days prior to your tour start date due to airline flight schedule.

Private Journey Prices 2 traveler minimum, from $2,595 per person, twin share Single supplement, from $395 Solo traveler rate, based on single room occupancy $4,350

Hotel Upgrade Prices Hotel upgrade prices depend on the dates/days of travel, and are subject to change based on availability and other factors. Hotel upgrade pricing is based on using the Mergen Bator Hotel in Ulan Ude, the Anastasia Lodge in Listvyanka, and the Sayen Hotel in Irkutsk, or similar hotels. 2 traveler minimum, from $2,895 per person, twin share Single supplement, from $505 Solo traveler rate, based on single room occupancy $4,795 Flexible Essential trip prices may vary by season, start date, and start day, and are subject to hotel availability for your travel dates. Hotel upgrades and additional nights are available on request. Contact us at 1-800-424-7289 for more information.

Your Private Journey Includes • Accommodations as noted in itinerary. See Hotel Upgrade pricing above for upgrade information. All room types, even in upgraded properties, are standard entry-level doubles or twins; please call for room category upgrade pricing and information. • 6 breakfasts, 1 lunch, and 1 dinner (per the itinerary). Most meals are not included so that you may enjoy a chance to experiment on your own. • Restaurant tips for included meals.

© 1996-2020 MIR Corporation 85 South Washington St, Ste. 210, Seattle, WA 98104 • 206-624-7289 • 206-624-7360 FAX • Email [email protected] 8 • Services of experienced English-speaking local guides, drivers, and other staff. • Arrival and departure airport transfer. MIR will arrange for travelers to be met upon arrival and seen off on departure, whether we make your air arrangements or not, provided that you arrive and depart on the tour start/end dates in the tour start/end cities. • Ground transportation throughout itinerary by private vehicle (type of vehicle depends on the size of your party). • Day train ticket from Ulan Ude to Irkutsk, seated class. • Guided sightseeing tours and entrance fees as outlined in the itinerary. • Complete pre-departure information including detailed packing list, reading list, Touring with MIR handbook with country-specific information, maps, and travel tips. • Final document packet including luggage tags, final updates, and more.

Not Included • International airfare or taxes /fuel surcharges. • Meals not specified as included in the itinerary. • Single supplement charge, if requested or required. • Optional banya experience in Listvyanka • Baggage handling. • Items of a personal nature (phone calls, email, laundry, alcohol, excess luggage, etc.) • Gratuities to local guides and drivers. • Visa/passport fees, airport departure fees. • Expenses incurred as a result of delay, modification, or extension of a tour due to causes beyond MIR’s control. • 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.

Flexible Essential Trips – Classic Private Journeys Flexible Essential Private Trips are compact, well-designed private tour itineraries – researched and ready to book on the dates you choose. They work perfectly as brief overviews of a country or as effortless extensions to group tours – great for solo travelers, couples, or private parties who prefer to travel independently but appreciate a savvy, pre-designed program. Flexible Essential Trips feature most of the inclusions of our escorted small group tours with just a few exceptions: Tours are led by local MIR guides, without an additional tour manager; fewer meals are pre-planned, so you can eat where and when you want; and baggage handling and gratuities are left to your discretion.

2021 Flexible Essential Trip – Classic Private Journey – 7 Days At the time of writing, the land itinerary for this program next year is projected to be generally as depicted for this year. Please call if you’re ready to book now. Private departures of this land itinerary can begin on the Thursday of your choice in 2021. Please note you will need to depart the U.S. at least one day prior to your tour start date due to airline flight schedules.

Private Journey Prices - 2021 2 traveler minimum, from $2,695 per person, twin share Single supplement, from $495 Solo traveler rate, based on single room occupancy $4,450

Hotel Upgrade Prices Hotel upgrade prices depend on the dates/days of travel, and are subject to change based on availability and other factors. Hotel upgrade pricing is based on using the Mergen Bator Hotel in Ulan Ude, the Anastasia Lodge in Listvyanka, and the Sayen Hotel in Irkutsk, or similar hotels. 2 traveler minimum, from $2,995 per person, twin share Single supplement, from $525 Solo traveler rate, based on single room occupancy $4,895 Flexible Essential trip prices may vary by season, start date, and start day, and are subject to hotel availability for your travel dates. Hotel upgrades and additional nights are available on request. Contact us at 1-800-424-7289 for more information.

Important Notes: Is This Trip Right For You? While the accommodations are generally comfortable, they will vary from tourist class hotels in Ulan Ude and Irkutsk to a guesthouse/lodge in Listvyanka. It is important to keep in mind that parts of Siberia may not be up to the standards North American travelers expect. Services are improving; nevertheless, you may encounter problems with plumbing, bureaucratic service, poor road (or off-road) conditions, unpaved sidewalks, uneven surfaces and steps, the availability of public restrooms, and the variety of locally available foods. You will travel in some areas which, relatively speaking, have seen few travelers, and the infrastructure is not yet fully developed. While this program is designed to be comfortable for travel in this region, it is rated as rigorous touring due to the daily walking involved, the length of some overland rides, and the overall shortcomings of the tourism infrastructure. This itinerary features a significant amount of touring on foot. Some attractions are only accessible via steep staircases with tall uneven steps. Elevators are not a given throughout the program. Train stations feature steep staircases and may require relatively long walks to the departure platform. Trains themselves have small quarters, heavy doors, and steep steps and thresholds. You will have to carry your own baggage in train stations and on and off the train. Passengers may encounter

© 1996-2020 MIR Corporation 85 South Washington St, Ste. 210, Seattle, WA 98104 • 206-624-7289 • 206-624-7360 FAX • Email [email protected] 10 problems getting on and off trains; there may be low platforms, steep steps, and/or gaps between the platform and the train. Every effort has been made to make the information in this schedule accurate. However, trip itineraries are always subject to change. We will do our best to inform you in advance of any changes, but due to the nature of travel in this part of the world, this may not always be possible. Only those willing to accept these conditions should consider joining this program.

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 Please read the U.S. Department of State’s Travel Advisory regarding travel to Russia here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/russia-travel-advisory.html If you are not already enrolled in STEP, Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, a free service to enroll your trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate, please consider enrolling. For more information: https://step.state.gov/step/

Weather Depending on your weather preferences, Siberia is quite enjoyable in summer when temperatures are relatively reliable through the region, and Lake Baikal is at its finest. For others, Siberia in wintertime is amazingly beautiful, as Lake Baikal freezes solid and ice sculptures adorn every town and city. In summer, rain is not likely, but definitely possible. Summer (June-August) temperatures during the day typically range from 75-95 degrees Fahrenheit, and can be in the 40s and 50s at night. However, Siberia is an expansive region with dramatic climatic shifts. The arctic tundra (northern Siberia) is the coldest part of the region and has a short but vigorous summer. In southern Siberia, summers can be hot with temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit. In the summer, expect a wide variety of weather conditions and be prepared for the heat or cold rainy days. Please remember, weather at all times of year has an element of the unpredictable. This information comes from weatherbase.com and is based on data from previous temperatures on record. It is always advisable to check with weatherbase.com closer to your departure date for current conditions and forecasts for the specific region you will be visiting.

International Airfare MIR’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. Routing possibilities include roundtrip travel to Moscow, with connections on S7 Siberian Airlines into Irkutsk and out of Ulan Ude. An overnight stop in Moscow may be necessary depending on where you fly from; longer stays in Russia before or after the tour, or combinations with Mongolia/China programs can also be easily arranged.

© 1996-2020 MIR Corporation 85 South Washington St, Ste. 210, Seattle, WA 98104 • 206-624-7289 • 206-624-7360 FAX • Email [email protected] 11 Please call us at 1-800-424-7289 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 suggested air itinerary and estimate for you at your request.

Visas At the time of writing, U.S. passport holders require one visa for this tour: Russian. You may also need a visa for any additional country you fly via to join the tour. An estimate of current visa costs for U.S. passport holders, based on standard processing time, is $312. Your exact visa fees may differ as visa costs can depend on a number of factors, such as state of residence, processing time, and return shipping. Visa fees are always subject to change. At the time of writing, the Russian Embassy is offering U.S. passport-holders three-year multiple-entry visas at the same price as single- or double-entry visas (the $312 estimated above). Travelers who need to expedite their processing may not have the same option of getting the multi-entry visa at the single-entry visa cost. Please call for information. Standard visa processing in the Russian visa section is ten to fifteen days for this tour. Travelers should prepare to be without their passports for that amount of time. If you plan to travel extensively in the time leading up to your MIR tour, you may need to obtain a second valid passport or use expedited processing, depending on your plans. Please contact us with any questions you may have regarding the timeline for visa processing. Extensive pre-tour paperwork is necessary to apply for this visa, which requires an overseas approval authorization to be issued prior to submission of your application materials to the Embassies/Consulates. A valid passport with six months validity from the end of the tour is also required. In the past some travelers have made their own visa arrangements instead of using MIR’s preferred provider for their visa processing; either using their own visas service or attempting to process directly with the embassies/consulates. We strongly recommend you discuss it with us before choosing an alternate visa processing method, to help avoid difficulties and visa problems. In the event that you plan to process visas without going through MIR’s preferred provider, please contact us first so we can pass you detailed instructions with critical trip-specific information.

Pre- and Post- Tours MIR can arrange for a pre- or post-tour extension in Western Russia (Moscow and St. Petersburg) or Eastern Russia (Vladivostok or Kamchatka). MIR can book hotels, make train reservations, book local or regional flights, etc. Call us for more details.

Also Nearby... Flexible Essential Trips – Classic Private Journeys 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 a succinct and meaningful series of experiences. Essential Tibet, 8 days. Fly to the holy city of Lhasa high on the Tibetan Plateau. Admire the treasures of Tibetan culture on the “Roof of the World” and respond to the atmosphere of centuries of Buddhist practices.

© 1996-2020 MIR Corporation 85 South Washington St, Ste. 210, Seattle, WA 98104 • 206-624-7289 • 206-624-7360 FAX • Email [email protected] 12 Essential Central Asia, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan,13 days. Explore the markets, mosques and minarets of oasis towns on the fringes of the Kyzyl Kum and Kara Kum deserts. Here spiritual beliefs were the greatest commodities to flow along trade routes, and civilizations blossomed amidst austere natural beauty.

Small Group Tours Siberian Odyssey: Legends of Lake Baikal & Tuva, 13 days. Explore South Siberia, a remote and atmospheric land where mounted Scythians thundered across the steppe long ago. Meet the Buryats of UNESCO-listed Lake Baikal and the Tuvan and Khakass people, whose Mongolian neighbors imbued them with Buddhism, shamanism and khoomei, or throat-singing. Remote Russia: Yakutia & Kamchatka, 14 days. Explore the remote corners of Russia, including the wild Kamchatka Peninsula, uneasily perched on the Pacific Ring of Fire, and Yakutia, a challenging northern frontier known for mammoths and diamonds. Visit the steaming Valley of the Geysers in Kamchatka, as well as the Kingdom of Permafrost in Yakutsk.

Mongolia to Moscow: A Trans-Siberian Railway Adventure, 17 days. Travel on regularly scheduled Trans-Siberian trains over a dramatic and variegated route that offers limitless opportunities to meet the diverse local people — Mongol, Buryat and Russian. Experience the rolling green hills and nomadic traditions of Mongolia, and Siberia’s UNESCO-listed Lake Baikal and endless taiga forest on your way to the booming capital, Moscow. The July departure features Mongolia’s Naadam Festival. Mongolian Explorer: The Gobi Desert & Beyond, 14 days. Mongolia: the name conjures up images of vast grasslands, wind-swept steppe and endless sky. Here, an empire built on horseback galloped across the continents, leaving behind the names Genghis and Kublai Khan. Siberia & Mongolia: Spirits and Nomads, 16 days. Beautiful and exotic, Siberia and Mongolia are worlds away from the traditional beaten path. Explore the Mongolian capital, Ulaanbaatar, then fly to the red sands of the Gobi Desert. Celebrate a local Naadam Festival, far from the glitz and ruckus of the capital. In Siberia, take to the waters of great Lake Baikal, the oldest and deepest lake on earth, and ride a section of the fabled Trans-Siberian Railway.

Conditions of Participation Your participation on a MIR Corporation trip is subject to the conditions contained in the 2020 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 Policy Payment 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.) Airfares 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): Flexible Essential Tours

© 1996-2020 MIR Corporation 85 South Washington St, Ste. 210, Seattle, WA 98104 • 206-624-7289 • 206-624-7360 FAX • Email [email protected] 13 Cost of cancellation, if received: 61 or more days prior to departure, deposit due or paid in full of $750; 31-60 days prior to departure, 50% of land tour cost; 30 days prior to or after trip departure, no refund.

References We 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 detailed 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 differ from other tour operators…

Destination Specialization MIR 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 three decades 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 (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania), the Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Slovenia), Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan), the South Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia), Turkey, Mongolia, China, Tibet, and Central/East Europe (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia).

30 Years of Experience A travel company doesn’t last more than 30 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 museum, alumni and special interest organizations across the country.

© 1996-2020 MIR Corporation 85 South Washington St, Ste. 210, Seattle, WA 98104 • 206-624-7289 • 206-624-7360 FAX • Email [email protected] 14 Recommended & Respected MIR 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 such as 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 Corporation 85 South Washington Street, Suite 210 Seattle, WA 98104 800-424-7289, 206-624-7289 Fax 206-624-7360 [email protected] www.mircorp.com Sellers of Travel: Washington#601-099-932, California# 2082306-40 © Photos: MIR Corporation, Helen Holter, Helge Pedersen, Martin Klimenta, Vladimir Kvashnin