Insider's Guide to the South Caucasus: Georgia's Wine Country

Insider's Guide to the South Caucasus: Georgia's Wine Country

The South Caucasus’ Georgia is a veritable Garden of Eden, with fabulous food, music, mountains, Black Sea coast, warm Mediterranean climate, and natural, organic wines. The Kakheti region is especially famous for its wine, with several must-see towns and wineries – along with wine-tastings.

Up-and-Coming Uzbekistan: A Local's 7 Great Reasons To Visit Now

Up-and-Coming Uzbekistan: A Local's 7 Great Reasons To Visit Now

Uzbek native Abdu Samadov has worked with MIR for years, sharing his beloved country with visitors. Abdu offers seven reasons why any traveler should experience Uzbekistan now, before the rest of the world catches on.

Secrets of Samarkand

Secrets of Samarkand

Born and raised in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Abdu Samadov is a true “insider’s insider” on his native country, using his knowledge to guide MIR travelers throughout Central Asia. Here, Abdu offers his insider tips on how to explore the legendary oasis city of Samarkand like a local.

Sounds of the Silk Route: Music of the Karakalpaks (video)

Sounds of the Silk Route: Music of the Karakalpaks (video)

Nukus is tucked into the western desert of Uzbekistan, and capital of the autonomous republic of Karakalpakstan. Here, musicians have long held an important role in Karakalpak society as both singers and storytellers; watch and listen as they perform at the famous Savitsky Art Museum.

Hidden in Poland: A Jewish Family Story

Hidden in Poland: A Jewish Family Story

Karen Treiger, a Jewish traveler from Seattle, is standing with her family at the edge of a hand-dug pit in the forests of Poland, looking down at the place where her husband’s parents hid from the Nazis. With the help of a family of Poles who risked their lives to feed and protect them, her father-in-law, Sam, and mother-in-law, Esther, survived the Holocaust.