New Year’s in Vienna by Private Train

New Year’s in Vienna by Private Train
MIR Corporation / March 9, 2017

Enjoy the pleasures of Old World rail travel as you glide in style on a circular route from Budapest, Hungary, where layer upon layer of civilizations have flowered and faded, and on to a date with a brilliant New Year’s celebration in magnificent Vienna, Austria. Continue through the hip Czech Republic and green and friendly Slovakia, stopping in the medieval city of Kosice, declared a European Capital of Culture in 2013, and ultimately arriving back where you started, in beautiful Budapest. Encounter four countries and five UNESCO World Heritage Sites along the rails as you roll from one fascinating city to the next. Read More

Bulgaria & Romania: Frescoes & Fortresses

Bulgaria & Romania: Frescoes & Fortresses
MIR Corporation / February 7, 2017

Explore the complex history and fascinating culture of Bulgaria and Romania, two East European 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 Transylvanian town.Read More

Essence of the Silk Road by Private Train: Eastbound

Essence of the Silk Road by Private Train: Eastbound
MIR Corporation / October 30, 2015

Roll through the heart of the Silk Road on this riveting rail journey by private train, experiencing seven treasured UNESCO Sites in Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. The journey begins in Ashgabat, capital of Turkmenistan, where gleaming marble monuments are counterbalanced by the ruins of Parthian Nisa and ancient Merv. Continue through the Uzbek Silk Road oases of Bukhara, Khiva and Samarkand, fabled cities of blue-tiled domes and graceful arches. End with a traditional meal in a Kazakh yurt in leafy Almaty, Kazakhstan’s business capital. Read More

Essence of the Silk Road by Private Train: Westbound

Essence of the Silk Road by Private Train: Westbound
MIR Corporation / September 16, 2015

Roll through the heart of the Silk Road on this riveting rail journey by private train, experiencing seven treasured UNESCO Sites in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. The journey begins in leafy Almaty, Kazakhstan’s business capital, with a traditional meal in a Kazakh yurt, and continues through the Uzbek Silk Road oases of Samarkand, Khiva and Bukhara, fabled cities of blue-tiled domes and graceful arches. In Turkmenistan, the ruins of ancient Merv and Parthian Nisa provide a counterweight to Ashgabat’s gleaming modern monuments. Read More

Insider’s Russia: Moscow & St. Petersburg Rediscovered

Insider’s Russia: Moscow & St. Petersburg Rediscovered
MIR Corporation / August 27, 2015

Get to know Western Russia from the inside out. Enter into medieval Moscow and imperial St. Petersburg and follow them through the cataclysm of revolution and war, then perestroika, collapse and rebirth. Enjoy intimate conversations with local people, insider perks like a ballet master class and dinner at a private dacha; and soak up the absolute best of Russian culture at superb museums and theaters. MIR first led trips to Western Russia 30 years ago, when it was still the USSR. To celebrate our 30-plus years of travel expertise, we’ve developed this trip that takes us back to our roots – a real and remarkable Russia. Read More

Essential St. Petersburg

Essential St. Petersburg
MIR Corporation / August 10, 2013

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. Built by Peter the Great as Russia’s Window to the West, St. Petersburg is one of the world’s great cities.Read More

Russian Winter Wonderland

Russian Winter Wonderland
MIR Corporation / July 19, 2013

Nobody loves New Year’s Eve like the Russians do – it’s the most festive holiday of the year, with parties, presents, and champagne toasts. This celebratory tour revolves around New Year’s in glorious St. Petersburg, with Moscow merrymaking and a visit to 12th century Suzdal to round out the festivities, admiring ancient churches and enjoying a traditional sleigh ride.Read More

Russia’s Imperial Capitals & Ancient Villages

Russia’s Imperial Capitals & Ancient Villages
MIR Corporation / July 19, 2013

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.Read More