MORAL COMPASS: Great Places to Go Where the Going Does Good

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Culinary Travel, festivals & events, food-and-wine travel

Guernsey International Food Festival Set for Sept 23-Oct 2 Celebrates Island’s Gastronomic Heritage

August 20, 2016 MoralCompass

Following the success of 2015’s inaugural Guernsey International Food Festival, the foodie’s paradise is back this September with more exciting culinary indulgences. This festival, taking place from Sept. 23 – Oct. 2, 2016, is a celebration of the island’s rich local produce and gastronomic heritage while paying homage to influences from the international stage.

Jean-Christophe Novelli is the celebrity ambassador, leading events across the island from farmers’ markets to cook-offs, culinary master classes, chef residencies and wine tastings. Two of Guernsey’s finest hotels, The Duke of Richmond Hotel and The Old Government House Hotel & Spa, Guernsey’s only five-star property, will be participating by showcasing the island’s bounty of gourmet food and varied hospitality.

Here are a few highlights of what visitors and guests can expect:

Curry Leaf Café Masterclass Lunch

Saturday, September 24 and Sunday, September 25 from 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Venue: The Old Government House Hotel & Spa

Tickets: $53 including welcome drink and glass of wine with lunch

Head Chef Kanthi Kiran Thamma of Brighton’s Curry Leaf Café hosts a master class lunch in The Old Government House’s Curry Room featuring classic dishes from Kerala and Southern India. While preparing the dishes, Chef Kanthi will answer general questions about Indian cuisine and describe how to re-create similar entrées at home. A three-course lunch serves as the finale, complete with a carefully selected wine pairing.

British Game Gala Dinner featuring Ridgeview Wine Estate and Blackdown Artisan Spirits

Saturday, September 24 at 7:00 p.m.

Venue: The Old Government House Hotel & Spa

Tickets: $92 including dinner and matched wines

Channel Islands Chef of the Year 2016, Simon McKenzie of The Old Government House Hotel & Spa, prepares a gala dinner featuring the best of seasonal game meats. Each dish is perfectly paired with an award-winning sparkling English wine from the Ridgeview Estate, craft spirits from Blackdown Artisan Spirits (both hailing from Sussex), and fine wine from local wine merchant Bucktrouts.

Food Lab Dinner

Tuesday, September 27 at 7:00 p.m.

Venue: The Duke of Richmond Hotel

Tickets: $53 for five courses ($79 including matched wines)

Five producers, five chefs, five dishes. The festival’s most creative dining experience, randomly matching kitchen and production talent for a never-to-be-repeated gourmet meal at The Duke of Richmond.

International Chef Exchange: St. Lucia comes to Guernsey

Thursday, September 29 at 7:00 p.m.

Venue: The Old Government House Hotel & Spa

Tickets: $73 for three courses including matched wines in advance from The Old Government House Hotel

The Cliff at Cap Restaurant is one of the most highly sought-after restaurants in St. Lucia, recently hailed by the New York Times as one of the best restaurants on the island. In one of the Caribbean’s most dramatic settings overlooking the surging Caribbean Sea, the restaurant is under the direction of Executive Chef Craig Jones. His nouveau French West Indian menu elegantly presents the bounty of St. Lucia’s fresh local produce and seafood readily sourced on this tropical island. Chef Craig takes over the kitchens of Chef Simon at The Old Government House Hotel for one night only, treating guests to a mouth-watering three-course dinner with accompanying wine, including some of his Caribbean favorites such as poached lobster ravioli, pan-fried kobe with caramelized plantain and an island-spiced doughnut.

This Chef Exchange is part of a reciprocal agreement where UK chefs swapping kitchens with international chefs across the globe. Old Government House’s Chef Simon will be flying over to St. Lucia for a Taste of Guernsey weekend, taking place on the Caribbean Island in February 2017.

The Guernsey International Food Festival is preceded by Guernsey Cocktail Week from September 16 – 24, 2016. Various venues across the island, including The Old Government House Hotel and The Duke of Richmond, will produce special signature cocktails based entirely on local produce.

The Old Government House Hotel & Spa is located in the heart of St. Peter Port and offers the finest in five-star luxury. Five minutes’ walk from the picturesque quayside, this hotel is perfectly placed to explore the island and provides guests with a ‘home away from home’ boasting fine dining facilities, the stylish Crown Club , an outdoor heated swimming pool and luxurious Spa and fitness center.

Just up the road is The Duke of Richmond Hotel which offers unparalleled service in peaceful surroundings. Overlooking a quiet park, this elegant property is home to the relaxing Leopard Bar and Restaurant where guests can sit back and enjoy a range of cocktails and expertly prepared dishes, a chic monochrome Residents’ Lounge and an outdoor heated swimming pool complete with sun loungers perfect for glorious Guernsey summer days.

Room rates at The Old Government House Hotel & Spa during the festival start at $260 per room, per night, including full English breakfast, based on two people sharing. Room rates at The Duke of Richmond Hotel during the festival start at $199 per room, per night, including full English breakfast, based on two people sharing.

For details and reservations, contact:

The Old Government House Hotel & Spa at +44 1481 724921 or email [email protected]. Visit online at www.theoghhotel.com.

The Duke of Richmond Hotel at +44 1481 726221 or email [email protected]. Visit online at dukeofrichmond.com.

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bike trips, cycling trips

Pure Adventures Brings Self-Guided Bike Vacations To New World Province of Quebec

Pure Adventures has introduces self-guided bike vacations in Quebec, Canada

SCOTTSDALE, AZ–Pure Adventures announces that its self-guided bike vacations are now being offered in the Province of Quebec. Plus with a favorable exchange rate, a vacation in Canada is more affordable than ever for Americans.

While in the early 1600s the French created the fur trade on Canada’s east coast, subsequent decades of war brought the Brits to power. But Francophiles today appreciate that the Province of Quebec retains a French imprimatur as regards language, food and hospitality. Plus the province offers one of the best organized networks of bicycle pathways and trails anywhere in North America.

Pure Adventures (http://pure-adventures.com/) has a special affinity for all things French and for bicycles. In fact the company pioneered self-guided bicycle tours in France before expanding across the globe. Now an itinerary on this side of the Pond recognizes this province’s privileged French heritage as it allows guests to embrace the hospitality of Quebec at a personal pace, on two wheels.

“The good news for Americans is that the exchange rate for US dollars over Canadian dollars makes it more inexpensive than ever to visit our neighbors across the border,” said Loren Siekman, founder and director of Pure Adventures. “This spring and summer the predicted exchange rate should hover at around $1 US dollar to $1.3 Canadian.”

Explored over seven leisurely days and six nights is a swath of countryside called Saguenay Lac Saint-Jean. This region is accessed by riding east out of Montreal to Quebec City along the St. Lawrence River and then north to Lac St-Jean, Quebec’s third largest lake that creates the Saquenay Fjord, one of the world’s longest, that eventually flows into what becomes the Gulf of St Lawrence.

The rides average 50km daily through this historic playground that includes world-class bike trails that are among Quebec’s most popular cycling routes: Route Verte (Green Route) is a network of dedicated bicycle trails on both sides of the Saint Lawrence River leading to Quebec, and the Véloroute des Bleuets (Blueberry) is another dedicated cycling route around Lac Saint-Jean. Guests also cycle along Chemin du Roy (King’s Highway) enroute to Old Quebec City. (Pure Adventures suggests that guests arrive in Montreal a day before the tour begins so they can walk the cobblestones of Old Montreal.)

The well organized and marked network of 350 km of bike trails allows cyclists to admire the beauty of countless beaches, lakes, rivers and traditional Quebecois villages as they ride. Stops along the way are a must for tastings at microbreweries (Microbrasserie du Lac, La Chouape, Le Coureur des Bois), for samples at cheese-makers (fromagerie Perron and fromagerie Médard) and for smatterings of culture at historic sites. This self-guided tour is a road cycling trip that can also be accomplished by hybrid bike; the entire ride is on paved roads.

Guests enjoy a variety of accommodations ranging from white-washed cottages reminiscent of Brittany or Normandy to dwellings that might once have housed aristocrats. Sometimes guest rooms enjoy views of the lake and at one lodging breakfast is taken in an art gallery. All accommodations have been curated to provide comfort and off-bike access to shops and restaurants along the bicycle route.

This tour can be arranged for a minimum of two people from now through Oct. 15, 2016. The per person rate, double, is from US$1040 for seven days and six nights of immersion in French culture a la historic villages where the French language is pervasive. For more information please see http://pure-adventures.com/show-tour/181/Canada+Quebec+Bike+Tour

The trip rate includes personal orientations to review the route book and trip details; six nights lodging with breakfasts; luggage transfers; detailed road book with maps, cue sheets and suggestions for visitation and site information as well as restaurant suggestions; pre-travel documentation and information; pre and post travel assistance and travel planning; vehicle transfers to Saguenay and return to Quebec; emergency telephone support to local support staff during daytime office hours; Canadian taxes; bike rental with associated gear (hybrid bikes are included and there’s an option to change to cross/road bikes at no added cost). Custom tours for groups can also be arranged.

For more information on all of Pure Adventures guided, self-guided and supported, self-directed tours, call: 800-960-2221 or 480-905-1235, Email: [email protected], or visit online: http://pure-adventures.com.

Pure Adventures was created to meet North America’s growing demand for high-quality, self-guided cycling tours. Pure Adventures leverages and utilizes local expertise for route development, sites to see, people to meet, where to eat, and shop and experience life as a local would. Pure Adventures award-winning tours are competitively priced and meticulously planned with substantial behind-the-scene support creating a unique combination that makes a bicycle adventure more easily accessible to today’s active traveler.

This company pioneered self-guided tours in Europe in 1994. Tours span Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Scotland, Slovenia, Spain, and Switzerland. Twenty programs are available in the American West. Pure Adventures was recently recognized with a Best of Travel 2015 award by OUTSIDE Magazine for their California tours that elevated that state to the top destination in the category of Best Road Biking.

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heritage travel, Historic Places, Historic Preservation

New UNESCO World Heritage Sites Designated for Germany

On July 17, 2016, the two Le Corbusier houses at the Weissenhof Estate in the Southern German city of Stuttgart were designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, making it the first World Heritage Site for Stuttgart and the 41st for Germany.

As part of a transnational joint application, Stuttgart and destinations in seven other countries applied to have 17 of Le Corbusier’s buildings listed due to the architect’s outstanding contribution to Modernism. The two Stuttgart houses are the architect’s only buildings in Germany and include the Weissenhof Museum, which illustrates the radical change in architecture around the time of the Second World War as well as Le Corbusier’s visionary thinking.

Germany’s other 40 UNESCO World Heritage Sites include the majestic Cologne Cathedral, the expansive Wadden Sea habitat, Classical Weimar and Regensburg’s charming Old Town. They can be explored on eight different themed routes, from natural wonders to architecture to palaces and parks.

For more information about Germany’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites, visit www.germany.travel/unesco.
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family-friendly adventures, walking tours

New ‘Quills and Magic Wands’ Walking Tour for Families Brings Edinburgh’s Literary Legacy to Life

Context Travel, organizer of critically acclaimed walking tours, unveils its new Quills and Magic Wands: Literary Edinburgh for Families tour.

The child-oriented introduction to the literary heritage of the city is led by historian and literary historians specially-trained in working with children. Following a thematic and chronological trail through the city, participants go through a journey that goes from Walter Scott to J.K. Rowling, using age-appropriate, interactive activities to encourage deep engagement with the literary works. Children on the walk are encouraged to read and compose literary works, explore language and delve into carefully selected poems and other texts.

“We are very excited to add this experience to our Edinburgh program,” says Petulia Melideo, Context’s UK and Ireland Program Manager. “Edinburgh is the first UNESCO city of Literature and a great city to visit with children. Our hope is that our young writers will come away with a new love for literature and poetry after having engaged with our experts and having had a go at writing in such an inspiring context.”

The Quills and Magic Wands: Literary Edinburgh for Families tour lasts two hours and is available Mondays through Saturdays. Private tours cost GBP 300 per party. Groups are limited to (6) six participants and are led by a credentialed expert.

Founded by National Geographic writer Paul Bennett and designer Lani Bevacqua, Context Travel is a network of English-speaking scholars and professionals, including art historians, writers, architects and gastronomes, who organize and lead walking seminars in thirty-seven (37) world cities, including: Florence, Rome, Venice, Naples, Milan, Paris, London, Dublin, Edinburgh, Madrid, Barcelona, Berlin, New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Washington, D.C., Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, Cartagena, Istanbul, Athens, Beijing, Shanghai, Vienna, Prague, Budapest, Amsterdam, Milan, Dublin, Tokyo, Kyoto, Hong Kong, Vancouver, Montreal, Melbourne, and Sydney. A certified B Corporation, Context Travel was named one of the fastest-growing American companies in 2011 by Inc Magazine. Travel + Leisure has called Context one of the top European tour companies for its innovative approach to travel and the depth of its programs. To learn more about Context, visit the website at: www.contexttravel.com.

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bike trips, cycling trips, hiking

Ciclismo Classico Introduces New Week-Long Cycling, Hiking Tour of Nova Scotia

(Arlington, MA) – Ciclismo Classico has unveiled a new week-long cycling and hiking tour of Nova Scotia. Guests will enjoy scenic rides and hikes amid pristine beaches, marshland, quaint villages, and beautiful vineyards.

Highlights include absorbing the region’s history at UNESCO World Heritage Sites; cycling a variety of picturesque paved roads and trails; wildlife viewing opportunities; exceptional local cuisine and fresh seafood; and four-star accommodations. This intermediate cycling tour averages 29 miles per day. Prices start at $2,795 and the departure date is set for September 19-25, 2016.

“Quiet coastal roads, delicious local food, colorful fishing villages and fertile farmland combine to make Nova Scotia a hidden gem for cyclists,” said Ciclismo Classico Founder Lauren Hefferon. “There’s no bonding experience like hitting the pavement or a well-maintained trail and digging into scallops, fresh lobster and other fresh seafood at the end of the day.”

For more information, visit http://ciclismoclassico.com/trips/nova-scotia-bike-tour/.

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Adventure Travel, Africa, Wildlife travel

andBeyond Matetsi Private Game Reserve Opens Near Victoria Falls

The &Beyond Matetsi River Lodge opened near Victoria Falls on August 1, following an extensive multi-million dollar rebuild. Situated in a 123,500-acre private wildlife concession on the Zambezi River, the lodge is set to provide the most luxurious accommodation and most unique wildlife experiences in the area.

&Beyond Matetsi River Lodge consists of two camps of nine suites each, including a family suite at each camp. With one camp fully open and operational on August 1, the remaining camp is scheduled to open in September.

Highlighting the area’s cultural heritage, Matetsi is decorated with traditional abstract carvings of wood and stone, and features a strong copper theme in homage to the mineral riches of the region. The lodge boasts a generous Safari Shop and state-of-the-art gym, as well as a massage sala and conference facility. A 66-foot-long rim flow swimming pool stretches along the river’s bank.

A sole-use private villa, &Beyond Matetsi River House, adds exclusive accommodation for private groups of up to eight. The four-bedroom villa boasts its own kitchen, indoor and outdoor dining areas, a private veranda overlooking the Zambezi, a swimming pool and its own fire pit. It comes with a dedicated guide, private vehicle, chef and butler.

Located on one of the largest wildlife concessions in the area and boasting extensive river frontage, &Beyond Matetsi offers the most rich and exclusive game viewing experience in Victoria Falls. Guests are in for exceptional game drives led by highly trained &Beyond guides, including consistent sightings of zebra, giraffe and buffalo, as well as the big herds of elephant that Matetsi is justly renowned for. Wild dogs and hyena are spotted on a regular basis and large prides of lion have made the reserve their home. Cheetah, and leopard, as well as the elegant sable and roan antelope are also among the species seen at Matetsi.

“Having originally been involved in the conversion of the Matetsi concession from wildlife hunting to photographic safaris, we are very excited to be relaunching Matetsi to the world,” says Joss Kent, &Beyond CEO. “Not only does this well-loved reserve offer an outstanding guest experience for its stunning location on the banks of the mighty Zambezi River, but it also allows them the opportunity to tour the world-famous Victoria Falls in true &Beyond style, using our own vehicles and guides. The lodge itself will without question also set a new standard in Zimbabwe and at Victoria Falls.”

With the lodge situated in close proximity to the World Heritage Site of Victoria Falls, a complimentary tour of the Falls is included in the rate for a stay of two nights or more at &Beyond Matetsi River Lodge. The activity is an interpretive tour accompanied by an &Beyond guide, and includes the opportunity to explore the paths around the Victoria Falls Park, visit the Livingstone statue, and learn about how the Falls were created. Afterwards, guests enjoy a decadent high tea at the Victoria Falls Hotel.

Extensive planning and reserve management has taken place on the concession for almost two years, encouraging wildlife to thrive in this ideal riverside location. As part of the ambitious project, 14 new waterholes have been created on the reserve, using strategically placed troughs and solar pumps. Additional pumps were placed at existing boreholes to ensure a steady water supply. A new network of roads has opened up the reserve for game drives, while bush clearing programs have limited the encroachment of fast-growing plant species, increasing the habitat for plains game.

The wildlife population has also benefitted from increased security efforts, with both armed National Parks staff and privately sourced employees being utilized for anti-poaching patrols.

For more information, or to book log on to www.andBeyond.com or contact your preferred travel specialist.

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small ship cruising

Variety Cruises to offer Small-Ship Sailings in Iceland Beginning in June 2017

July 20, 2016 MoralCompass

*The dramatic landscape of Iceland. Variety Cruises is introducing small-ship sailings in Iceland beginning June 2017 © 2016 Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com*

New York, NY — Beginning in June 2017, Small ship cruise line Variety Cruises is now offering Iceland: Journey in the Land of Fire & Ice, a week-long yacht cruise of the Nordic island nation. Defined by its dramatic volcanic landscape of geysers, hot springs, waterfalls, glaciers and black-sand beaches, Iceland is a nature lover’s paradise. Sailing on the elegant M/Y Callisto, the newest addition to Variety Cruises’ fleet of yachts, up to 35 passengers will discover a fascinating country with amazing rugged landscapes and old legacies of Viking and Norse conquerors.

On the first day of the program, travelers take the Ring Road to reach Godafoss Waterfall – the Falls of the Gods – and continue to Lake Myvatn, Namarksard and Dimmuborgir, all fine examples of the volcanic world with lava fields, boiling and steaming mud pools, steam vents and craters.

Arriving in the almost-Arctic fishing town of Siglufjordur the next day, travelers enjoy a walking tour through the city with stops at the Herring Museum and the Folk Music Center. On the third day of the program, the cruise reaches Isafjordur, a large fishing port in Westfjords, known for its rich cultural heritage and merchant’s homes dating from the 18th century.

In Bildudalur, travelers visit the town and the Sea Monsters Museum and then continue to sail around the Westfjords coast line and past the grand Latrarbag cliffs, which rise 450 meters over the sea. Reaching Borgarnes, travelers have the option to visit Deildartunguhver, Europe’s most powerful thermal spring, as well as the Barnafoss Waterfalls. Stop in Reykholt, once one of the intellectual centers of the island, before continuing to the Westfjords.

At Heimaey Island, the Pompei of the North, travelers discover a community which almost disappeared during a 1973 eruption that buried 400 homes and visit two volcanoes and the Eldheimar Geological Museum. The cruise rounds out in Reykjavik, the capital city that offers a renowned nightlife and music scene as well as a multitude of art and history museums.

Iceland: Journey in the Land of Fire & Ice will be available for $2650 – $3890, depending on cabin class. For more information, visit www.varietycruises.com/english/home/cruiseCalendar/Iceland/40 .

Variety Cruises, one of the world’s largest small ships cruise companies, has been offering passengers worldwide a total yachting experience since 1949. Their fleet of 12 fully-owned vessels varies in size from 4 to 36 cabins. Their yachts and staff provide an intimate and relaxed environment for the discerning travelers as they visit well known and less traveled ports of call, including Seychelles, Greece, Turkey, the Adriatic Sea, Spain, Portugal, the Canary Islands, the Cape Verde Archipelago and Costa Rica & Panama, featuring a Canal crossing. Fine locally-flavored cuisine, exciting itineraries and personalized service are just a few of the things that have made Variety Cruises the choice for the ever-growing number of travelers looking for distinctive small ship cruise experiences. For more information, visit www.varietycruises.com

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Cultural Travel

Seattle-based Tour Operator Satisfies Interest in Travel to Iran

July 20, 2016 MoralCompass

Cuba may have been 2015’s “it” destination, but 2016 has seen Iran taking its turn at the international forefront. Since economic sanctions were lifted in January, intrepid travelers and media outlets have buzzed with excitement over Iran’s fabulous bazaars, amazing archaeological sites, and unfailingly warm and friendly people.

MIR Corporation has long-standing love for this country and captivating culture, which they’ve developed over 15 years of leading group and private tours throughout the region.

With Iran ready to seek out deeper connections with the U.S. and the rest of the world, there’s never been a better time to visit than now. Here are 8 reasons why:

A Fascinating & Ancient History: Iran is home to one of the oldest civilizations on earth, with a history that can be traced back more than 2,500 years. UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Persepolis, the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid kings, and the ruins of Pasargadae, founded by Cyrus the Great in the 6th century BC, remind visitors of Iran’s vast history and influence.

Extraordinary Art & Architecture: Some of the most extraordinary architectural sights can be found in Isfahan, including Imam Square, the picturesque bridges over the Zayendeh River; and the Masjid-e Jameh. Beloved Iranian poets Hafez and Saadi are honored in Shiraz. The modern art collection at Tehran’s Museum of Modern Contemporary Art features works by many of the greatest 20th and 21st century artists.

Fabulous Food: Rich, hearty stews, fluffy mounds of rice scented with saffron, and delightfully herbaceous salads and sides grace Iranian dinner tables with exotic scents and tastes. Traditional Persian dishes such as fesenjan (a sweet and tangy stew of chicken or duck simmered in a pomegranate and walnut sauce), gormeh sabzi (a green stew made with kidney beans, lamb and handfuls of fresh herbs) and bademjan (a savory eggplant and tomato stew) are some of the standout favorites to try.

Cultural & Ethnic Diversity: Azeris, Kurds, Lurs, Turkmen, Baluchi and Arabs are just some of the many different nationalities coexisting with Persians today. Though Islam is the dominant religion in Iran, Christianity and Judaism have had a long and important history here. Today, Christianity is the nation’s largest religious minority, and Iran also has one of the largest Jewish populations in the Middle East, outside of Israel.

Bustling Bazaars: Isfahan is renowned for its gorgeous blue tiles and ceramics; Kerman for its hammered copper crafts and richly woven carpets and tapestries; and Yazd for its textiles. Metalwork, scarves, leather bags, jewelry, art, picture frames and inlaid wood are some of the other local handicrafts you might find.

Romantic Gardens: Iran harbors over 6,000 recorded species of ferns and flowering plants. Gorgeous trees, ferns and flowers can be found in the beautifully tended gardens of many of Iran’s major cities. Nine of the country’s classical Persian gardens have been designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Natural Beauty: Iran is home to an amazingly varied and awe-inspiring terrain. The central part of Iran is extremely arid with salt lakes and vast stretches of desert. The Caspian coastline is lush and subtropical. In between, the country is dotted with soaring mountain peaks, forests, fertile green valleys and coastal islands. Iran also has some of the most diverse wildlife on the planet, including the Asiatic cheetah and the Persian leopard. Over 500 species of birds call this country home, including flamingos, cranes and the endangered Egyptian vulture.

The Warm & Welcoming Iranian People: Iranians have a centuries-old tradition of hospitality. Even during the last decade’s tensions between the governments of Iran and the U.S., the people of Iran continued to be welcoming and hospitable to visiting Americans. On the whole, MIR travelers are surprised and pleased with the overwhelmingly warm reception they receive.

MIR Corporation (the name means “peace” and “world” in Russian) has specialized in Russia and neighboring countries since 1986. Offering scheduled and custom journeys to Russia, along the Trans-Siberian and across the Silk Route, MIR’s Seattle-based experts design imaginative trips that take travelers far from the familiar and work closely with local affiliates. MIR has twice been named one of National Geographic Adventure’s “Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth,” and is a preferred operator for museum, alumni and special interest organizations across the country. http://www.mircorp.com.

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