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Georgia: A Journey through Traditions Led by Tasha Vorderstrasse May 21–June 5, 2019 Tbilisi Akhaltsikhe Kutaisi Mestia Ushguli Tbilisi

Georgia: A Journey through Traditions · In Kutaisi, visit the State History and Archeology Museum, featuring a 7th-century BC fertility figurine, medieval weaponry, Georgian manuscripts

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Page 1: Georgia: A Journey through Traditions · In Kutaisi, visit the State History and Archeology Museum, featuring a 7th-century BC fertility figurine, medieval weaponry, Georgian manuscripts

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MIR Corporation: CST #2082306-40. WST #601-099-932. ©2018 MIR Corporation, all rights reserved. Photos: Jeremy Woodhouse, MIR Corporation

Included: All accommodation, hotel taxes • Meals per itinerary (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner) • Arrival/departure transfers for passengers arriving/departing on scheduled start/end days • All overland transportation per itinerary by private vehicle • Special cultural events and extensive sightseeing, including entrance fees • English-speaking Tour Manager throughout the itinerary • Welcome and farewell dinners • Baggage handling at the hotels • Gratuities to the Tour Manager, local guides and drivers • Comprehensive pre-departure packet

Not Included: International round-trip airfare to/from Tbilisi. Our tour operator, MIR Corporation, can assist with reservations • Travel insurance • Meals not specified as included in the itinerary • Personal items such as telephone calls, laundry, excess baggage fees

Air Arrangements: Program rates do not include international airfare to/from Tbilisi. Because of the global nature of our members and patrons, there is no group flight for this program. Information on a recommended flight itinerary will be sent by our tour operator upon confirmation.

What to Expect: This trip is moderately active due to the substantial distances covered and the extensive walking and stair climbing required; parts of the tour will not always be wheelchair accessible. To reap the full rewards of this adventure, travelers must be able to walk at least two miles a day (with or without the assistance of a cane) and stand for an extended period of time during walking tours and museum visits. Flexibility and a willingness to accept local standards of amenities and services are highly recommended, as delays or changes in the itinerary are possible.

Reservations and Payments: Please mail the completed registration form with check (payable to MIR Corporation-Trust) or credit card information to our tour operator, MIR Corporation, to the address on the reservation form. The balance for all land and air costs is due by March 22, 2019, 60 days prior to departure. Payment of balance due is by check or bank transfer only.

Cancellations and Refunds: All cancellations must be made in writing to MIR Corporation and the following cancellation charges will apply: Cancellations received 61 or more days before departure, deposits paid or due in full of $500 per person; those received 31 days to 60 days before departure, 50% of land tour cost per person; those received 30 days or fewer before departure, no refund. Refunds cannot be made to passengers who do not complete the full tour for any reason at all. UC Oriental Institute and our tour operator, MIR Corporation, reserve the right, without penalty, to withdraw the tour announced (i.e., cancel a tour). MIR Corporation reserves the right to decline to accept any person as a participant on a tour, or to require any participant to withdraw from a tour at any time at his/her own expense, when such action is determined by tour staff to be in the best interest of the health, safety, or general welfare of the tour group or of the individual participant, and subject only to the requirement that the recoverable cost of unused services and accommodations be refunded, if any.

Note: Neither UC Oriental Institute nor MIR Corporation accepts liability for any airline cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a non-refundable ticket in connection with this tour. It is recommended that you not purchase international flights until instructed by MIR Corporation.

Single Travelers: We make every effort to match single travelers who request a roommate. However, shared accommodations cannot be guaranteed and a single supplement rate will apply.

Insurance: MIR Corporation can assist with medical/evacuation and trip cancellation/interruption insurance for U.S. residents only.

Responsibility: A detailed statement of limitations and exclusions of liability of UC Oriental Institute and MIR Corporation for loss of property, injury, illness or death will be provided to passengers upon enrollment and is available to prospective travelers upon request. A signed release of liability/assumption of risk agreement is required for trip participation.

Land Program Rate: $6,895 (per person based on double occupancy)

Single Supplement: $1,125

Georgia: A Journey through Traditions

Led by Tasha VorderstrasseMay 21–June 5, 2019

Tbilisi • Akhaltsikhe • Kutaisi • Mestia • Ushguli • Tbilisi

Page 2: Georgia: A Journey through Traditions · In Kutaisi, visit the State History and Archeology Museum, featuring a 7th-century BC fertility figurine, medieval weaponry, Georgian manuscripts

Day-by-Day Itinerary

For more information or to register, contact: Nathan Cox at MIR Corporation

(877) 535-9815 / [email protected]

• Explore the archeological site of Dmanisi, where five 1.8-million-year-old Homo erectus skulls were discovered.

• Visit UNESCO-listed Mtskheta, the capital of the early Georgian kingdom of Iberia, including 11th-century Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, its interior decorated in murals, and 6th-century Jvari Monastery.

• Discover the cave-monastery of Vardzia, begun in the 12th century, with frescoes that represent the pinnacle of the Golden Age of Georgian painting.

• Browse the Museum of History and Ethnography, in the UNESCO-listed mountain region of Svaneti, to admire beautifully illuminated gospels, golden altar crosses, and icons of amazingly high quality, all from the 9th to 14th centuries.

• Visit the village of Ushguli, the highest continually inhabited village in Europe at an altitude of 7,218 feet.

Program Highlights

Tasha Vorderstrasse is the University and Continuing Education Program Coordinator and Research Associate at the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago. She received her PhD in Near Eastern Archaeology from the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations in 2004. Her work focuses on the material culture of the Near East, the Caucasus, and Central Asia, and the relationships between these regions and China. She led Oriental Institute trips to Georgia and Armenia in 2014 and 2015.

Tour Leader: Tasha Vorderstrasse

May 28–30 (continued) Akhaltsikhe via Vardzia • KutaisiIn Kutaisi, visit the State History and Archeology Museum, featuring a 7th-century BC fertility figurine, medieval weaponry, Georgian manuscripts and illuminated books, gold treasures, and archaeological discoveries. Discover UNESCO-listed 12th century Gelati Monastery, housing Georgia’s first academy. Akhaltsikhe: Gino Hotel; Kutaisi: Best Western Hotel (3B, 3L, 2D)

May 31–June 3 Mestia • Ushguli • Kutaisi Set out on a gorgeous mountain drive to Svaneti, a remote region of Georgia, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its remarkably preserved medieval watchtowers. Browse the collections at Mestia’s excellent Museum of History and Ethnography, as well as the Architectural Museum, with its examples of 12th century Svanetian architecture. Visit 9th-12th century churches on the way to Europe’s highest continuously inhabited village, Ushguli, set at the foot of Georgia’s highest peak, Mt. Shkhara. Choose from two different hikes in the beautiful surroundings, or explore the village on your own. Drive back to Kutaisi for dinner at a local restaurant. Mestia: Tetnuldi Hotel; Ushguli: Laert Kharkviani Guesthouse; Kutaisi: Best Western Hotel (4B, 4L, 4D)

June 4 Kutaisi • Tbilisi On the way back to Tbilisi, stop at the workshop of a local pottery master in Shrosha, to observe the making of the ubiquitous Georgian qvevris, the 200-to-900-gallon vessels used for 8,000 years in the fermenting and storing of Georgian wines. Back in Tbilisi, gather for a farewell dinner, raising toasts to the end of the journey and enjoying a concert of spine-tingling Georgian polyphonic music. Marriott Tbilisi Hotel (B, L, D)

June 5 Depart TbilisiThe trip comes to an end this morning with transfers to the airport for international departures. (B, schedules permitting)

May 21–22 Depart USA • Arrive Tbilisi, GeorgiaDepart the USA and arrive in Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi, the next evening. Marriott Tbilisi Hotel (Meals in flight)

May 23 TbilisiSet off to explore Tbilisi, accompanied by a local archaeologist. Visit the Simon Janashia Museum of Georgia for a look at some of the country’s most significant archaeological finds, such as treasures from 3,000-year-old burial mounds of the Trialeti culture. Enjoy a welcome dinner featuring traditional Georgian dancing. Marriott Tbilisi Hotel (B, L, D)

May 24 Tbilisi • DmanisiVenture out to Bolnisi to admire what is probably the oldest church in Georgia. Visit the archeological site of Dmanisi, where the 1.8-million-year-old H. erectus skulls were discovered. Marriott Tbilisi Hotel (B, L)

May 25 TbilisiSpend the day in Tbilisi. The red-roofed Old Town, its houses sporting carved wooden balconies, sits beneath the 4th century Narikala Fortress. Check out the Georgian National Center of Manuscripts, which houses thousands of documents, including rare illuminated books and records from the personal archives of key historical figures. A local expert joins the group for lunch. Marriott Tbilisi Hotel (B, L)

May 26–27 Tbilisi • David Gareja • Mtskheta • Gori Explore David Gareja cave monastery. The monks would heat the sandstone, then pour water on it to break off the cave walls in chunks,creating cells, refectories, storerooms and chapels, which they decorated with their distinctive pastel frescoes. Encounter UNESCO-listed Mtskheta, capital of the Georgian kingdom of Iberia from the 3rd century BC until the 5th century AD. The Orthodox churches built during this period are considered among the finest in the country. After a tasting of Georgian wines in a local restaurant, continue to Stalin’s hometown, Gori, to visit his house-museum. Marriott Tbilisi Hotel (2B, 2L, 1D)

May 28–30 Akhaltsikhe via Vardzia • Kutaisi Depart for Akhaltsikhe via the cave-monastery of Vardzia. On the way, stop at the delightful Phoka nunnery, where the nuns produce many varieties of cheese, honey products, and chocolates. 12th-century King Giorgi III began digging the caves at Vardzia as a stronghold against the Turks, and his daughter, Queen Tamara, completed the complex, transforming it into a monastic center. Explore the newly renovated Rabati, or Old Town, of Akhaltsikhe, originally built in the 9th century. Here, survey the Samtskhe-Javakheti Museum, presenting archaeological, ethnographic, regional cultural, and paleontological exhibits.

Page 3: Georgia: A Journey through Traditions · In Kutaisi, visit the State History and Archeology Museum, featuring a 7th-century BC fertility figurine, medieval weaponry, Georgian manuscripts

Day-by-Day Itinerary

For more information or to register, contact: Nathan Cox at MIR Corporation

(877) 535-9815 / [email protected]

• Explore the archeological site of Dmanisi, where five 1.8-million-year-old Homo erectus skulls were discovered.

• Visit UNESCO-listed Mtskheta, the capital of the early Georgian kingdom of Iberia, including 11th-century Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, its interior decorated in murals, and 6th-century Jvari Monastery.

• Discover the cave-monastery of Vardzia, begun in the 12th century, with frescoes that represent the pinnacle of the Golden Age of Georgian painting.

• Browse the Museum of History and Ethnography, in the UNESCO-listed mountain region of Svaneti, to admire beautifully illuminated gospels, golden altar crosses, and icons of amazingly high quality, all from the 9th to 14th centuries.

• Visit the village of Ushguli, the highest continually inhabited village in Europe at an altitude of 7,218 feet.

Program Highlights

Tasha Vorderstrasse is the University and Continuing Education Program Coordinator and Research Associate at the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago. She received her PhD in Near Eastern Archaeology from the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations in 2004. Her work focuses on the material culture of the Near East, the Caucasus, and Central Asia, and the relationships between these regions and China. She led Oriental Institute trips to Georgia and Armenia in 2014 and 2015.

Tour Leader: Tasha Vorderstrasse

May 28–30 (continued) Akhaltsikhe via Vardzia • KutaisiIn Kutaisi, visit the State History and Archeology Museum, featuring a 7th-century BC fertility figurine, medieval weaponry, Georgian manuscripts and illuminated books, gold treasures, and archaeological discoveries. Discover UNESCO-listed 12th century Gelati Monastery, housing Georgia’s first academy. Akhaltsikhe: Gino Hotel; Kutaisi: Best Western Hotel (3B, 3L, 2D)

May 31–June 3 Mestia • Ushguli • Kutaisi Set out on a gorgeous mountain drive to Svaneti, a remote region of Georgia, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its remarkably preserved medieval watchtowers. Browse the collections at Mestia’s excellent Museum of History and Ethnography, as well as the Architectural Museum, with its examples of 12th century Svanetian architecture. Visit 9th-12th century churches on the way to Europe’s highest continuously inhabited village, Ushguli, set at the foot of Georgia’s highest peak, Mt. Shkhara. Choose from two different hikes in the beautiful surroundings, or explore the village on your own. Drive back to Kutaisi for dinner at a local restaurant. Mestia: Tetnuldi Hotel; Ushguli: Laert Kharkviani Guesthouse; Kutaisi: Best Western Hotel (4B, 4L, 4D)

June 4 Kutaisi • Tbilisi On the way back to Tbilisi, stop at the workshop of a local pottery master in Shrosha, to observe the making of the ubiquitous Georgian qvevris, the 200-to-900-gallon vessels used for 8,000 years in the fermenting and storing of Georgian wines. Back in Tbilisi, gather for a farewell dinner, raising toasts to the end of the journey and enjoying a concert of spine-tingling Georgian polyphonic music. Marriott Tbilisi Hotel (B, L, D)

June 5 Depart TbilisiThe trip comes to an end this morning with transfers to the airport for international departures. (B, schedules permitting)

May 21–22 Depart USA • Arrive Tbilisi, GeorgiaDepart the USA and arrive in Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi, the next evening. Marriott Tbilisi Hotel (Meals in flight)

May 23 TbilisiSet off to explore Tbilisi, accompanied by a local archaeologist. Visit the Simon Janashia Museum of Georgia for a look at some of the country’s most significant archaeological finds, such as treasures from 3,000-year-old burial mounds of the Trialeti culture. Enjoy a welcome dinner featuring traditional Georgian dancing. Marriott Tbilisi Hotel (B, L, D)

May 24 Tbilisi • DmanisiVenture out to Bolnisi to admire what is probably the oldest church in Georgia. Visit the archeological site of Dmanisi, where the 1.8-million-year-old H. erectus skulls were discovered. Marriott Tbilisi Hotel (B, L)

May 25 TbilisiSpend the day in Tbilisi. The red-roofed Old Town, its houses sporting carved wooden balconies, sits beneath the 4th century Narikala Fortress. Check out the Georgian National Center of Manuscripts, which houses thousands of documents, including rare illuminated books and records from the personal archives of key historical figures. A local expert joins the group for lunch. Marriott Tbilisi Hotel (B, L)

May 26–27 Tbilisi • David Gareja • Mtskheta • Gori Explore David Gareja cave monastery. The monks would heat the sandstone, then pour water on it to break off the cave walls in chunks,creating cells, refectories, storerooms and chapels, which they decorated with their distinctive pastel frescoes. Encounter UNESCO-listed Mtskheta, capital of the Georgian kingdom of Iberia from the 3rd century BC until the 5th century AD. The Orthodox churches built during this period are considered among the finest in the country. After a tasting of Georgian wines in a local restaurant, continue to Stalin’s hometown, Gori, to visit his house-museum. Marriott Tbilisi Hotel (2B, 2L, 1D)

May 28–30 Akhaltsikhe via Vardzia • Kutaisi Depart for Akhaltsikhe via the cave-monastery of Vardzia. On the way, stop at the delightful Phoka nunnery, where the nuns produce many varieties of cheese, honey products, and chocolates. 12th-century King Giorgi III began digging the caves at Vardzia as a stronghold against the Turks, and his daughter, Queen Tamara, completed the complex, transforming it into a monastic center. Explore the newly renovated Rabati, or Old Town, of Akhaltsikhe, originally built in the 9th century. Here, survey the Samtskhe-Javakheti Museum, presenting archaeological, ethnographic, regional cultural, and paleontological exhibits.

Page 4: Georgia: A Journey through Traditions · In Kutaisi, visit the State History and Archeology Museum, featuring a 7th-century BC fertility figurine, medieval weaponry, Georgian manuscripts

Day-by-Day Itinerary

For more information or to register, contact: Nathan Cox at MIR Corporation

(877) 535-9815 / [email protected]

• Explore the archeological site of Dmanisi, where five 1.8-million-year-old Homo erectus skulls were discovered.

• Visit UNESCO-listed Mtskheta, the capital of the early Georgian kingdom of Iberia, including 11th-century Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, its interior decorated in murals, and 6th-century Jvari Monastery.

• Discover the cave-monastery of Vardzia, begun in the 12th century, with frescoes that represent the pinnacle of the Golden Age of Georgian painting.

• Browse the Museum of History and Ethnography, in the UNESCO-listed mountain region of Svaneti, to admire beautifully illuminated gospels, golden altar crosses, and icons of amazingly high quality, all from the 9th to 14th centuries.

• Visit the village of Ushguli, the highest continually inhabited village in Europe at an altitude of 7,218 feet.

Program Highlights

Tasha Vorderstrasse is the University and Continuing Education Program Coordinator and Research Associate at the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago. She received her PhD in Near Eastern Archaeology from the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations in 2004. Her work focuses on the material culture of the Near East, the Caucasus, and Central Asia, and the relationships between these regions and China. She led Oriental Institute trips to Georgia and Armenia in 2014 and 2015.

Tour Leader: Tasha Vorderstrasse

May 28–30 (continued) Akhaltsikhe via Vardzia • KutaisiIn Kutaisi, visit the State History and Archeology Museum, featuring a 7th-century BC fertility figurine, medieval weaponry, Georgian manuscripts and illuminated books, gold treasures, and archaeological discoveries. Discover UNESCO-listed 12th century Gelati Monastery, housing Georgia’s first academy. Akhaltsikhe: Gino Hotel; Kutaisi: Best Western Hotel (3B, 3L, 2D)

May 31–June 3 Mestia • Ushguli • Kutaisi Set out on a gorgeous mountain drive to Svaneti, a remote region of Georgia, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its remarkably preserved medieval watchtowers. Browse the collections at Mestia’s excellent Museum of History and Ethnography, as well as the Architectural Museum, with its examples of 12th century Svanetian architecture. Visit 9th-12th century churches on the way to Europe’s highest continuously inhabited village, Ushguli, set at the foot of Georgia’s highest peak, Mt. Shkhara. Choose from two different hikes in the beautiful surroundings, or explore the village on your own. Drive back to Kutaisi for dinner at a local restaurant. Mestia: Tetnuldi Hotel; Ushguli: Laert Kharkviani Guesthouse; Kutaisi: Best Western Hotel (4B, 4L, 4D)

June 4 Kutaisi • Tbilisi On the way back to Tbilisi, stop at the workshop of a local pottery master in Shrosha, to observe the making of the ubiquitous Georgian qvevris, the 200-to-900-gallon vessels used for 8,000 years in the fermenting and storing of Georgian wines. Back in Tbilisi, gather for a farewell dinner, raising toasts to the end of the journey and enjoying a concert of spine-tingling Georgian polyphonic music. Marriott Tbilisi Hotel (B, L, D)

June 5 Depart TbilisiThe trip comes to an end this morning with transfers to the airport for international departures. (B, schedules permitting)

May 21–22 Depart USA • Arrive Tbilisi, GeorgiaDepart the USA and arrive in Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi, the next evening. Marriott Tbilisi Hotel (Meals in flight)

May 23 TbilisiSet off to explore Tbilisi, accompanied by a local archaeologist. Visit the Simon Janashia Museum of Georgia for a look at some of the country’s most significant archaeological finds, such as treasures from 3,000-year-old burial mounds of the Trialeti culture. Enjoy a welcome dinner featuring traditional Georgian dancing. Marriott Tbilisi Hotel (B, L, D)

May 24 Tbilisi • DmanisiVenture out to Bolnisi to admire what is probably the oldest church in Georgia. Visit the archeological site of Dmanisi, where the 1.8-million-year-old H. erectus skulls were discovered. Marriott Tbilisi Hotel (B, L)

May 25 TbilisiSpend the day in Tbilisi. The red-roofed Old Town, its houses sporting carved wooden balconies, sits beneath the 4th century Narikala Fortress. Check out the Georgian National Center of Manuscripts, which houses thousands of documents, including rare illuminated books and records from the personal archives of key historical figures. A local expert joins the group for lunch. Marriott Tbilisi Hotel (B, L)

May 26–27 Tbilisi • David Gareja • Mtskheta • Gori Explore David Gareja cave monastery. The monks would heat the sandstone, then pour water on it to break off the cave walls in chunks,creating cells, refectories, storerooms and chapels, which they decorated with their distinctive pastel frescoes. Encounter UNESCO-listed Mtskheta, capital of the Georgian kingdom of Iberia from the 3rd century BC until the 5th century AD. The Orthodox churches built during this period are considered among the finest in the country. After a tasting of Georgian wines in a local restaurant, continue to Stalin’s hometown, Gori, to visit his house-museum. Marriott Tbilisi Hotel (2B, 2L, 1D)

May 28–30 Akhaltsikhe via Vardzia • Kutaisi Depart for Akhaltsikhe via the cave-monastery of Vardzia. On the way, stop at the delightful Phoka nunnery, where the nuns produce many varieties of cheese, honey products, and chocolates. 12th-century King Giorgi III began digging the caves at Vardzia as a stronghold against the Turks, and his daughter, Queen Tamara, completed the complex, transforming it into a monastic center. Explore the newly renovated Rabati, or Old Town, of Akhaltsikhe, originally built in the 9th century. Here, survey the Samtskhe-Javakheti Museum, presenting archaeological, ethnographic, regional cultural, and paleontological exhibits.

Page 5: Georgia: A Journey through Traditions · In Kutaisi, visit the State History and Archeology Museum, featuring a 7th-century BC fertility figurine, medieval weaponry, Georgian manuscripts

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he b

alan

ce fo

r al

l lan

d an

d ai

r co

sts

is d

ue b

y M

arch

22

, 201

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0 da

ys p

rior

to

depa

rtur

e. Pa

ymen

t of

the

bal

ance

due

is b

y ch

eck

or b

ank

tran

sfer

onl

y. Sp

ace

is li

mite

d. R

eser

va-

tions

will

be

proc

esse

d in

ord

er o

f rec

eipt

, sub

ject

to

avai

labi

lity.

The

enc

lose

d no

n-re

fund

able

dep

osit

of $

___

____

__ (

$500

per

per

son)

to

hold

___

___

plac

e(s)

.

Enc

lose

d ch

eck,

paya

ble

to M

IR C

orpo

ratio

n-Tr

ust

V

isa

M

aste

rcar

d

Am

eric

an E

xpre

ss

D

iscov

er

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

___

Cre

dit

card

num

ber

Exp

date

C

VC

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

___

Billi

ng A

ddre

ss (

if di

ffere

nt fr

om m

ailin

g ad

dres

s)

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

___

Sign

atur

e of

car

dhol

der

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

___

Full

nam

e #1

(as

list

ed in

pas

spor

t)

D

ate

of b

irth

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

___

Full

nam

e #2

(as

list

ed in

pas

spor

t)

D

ate

of b

irth

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

___

Mai

ling

addr

ess

(no

PO b

oxes

ple

ase)

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

___

City

Stat

e/Pr

ovin

ce

Z

ip

C

ount

ry

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

___

Phon

e (H

ome)

(Wor

k/C

ell)

Em

ail

Plea

se in

dica

te y

our

pref

eren

ce:

I

am t

rave

ling

alon

e an

d pr

efer

a s

ingl

e ro

om w

here

ver

avai

labl

e at

the

sin

gle

supp

lem

ent

rate

($1

,125

).

I w

ill s

hare

acc

omm

odat

ions

with

___

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

___

I

wou

ld li

ke t

o sh

are

with

a

Non

-sm

oker

Sm

oker

(sh

ares

are

not

gua

rant

eed)

Inte

rnat

iona

l airf

are

is no

t inc

lude

d in

the

tour

pric

e. In

form

atio

n on

the

reco

mm

ende

d fli

ght i

tiner

ary

will

be

sent

by

our

tour

op

erat

or u

pon

confi

rmat

ion.

Plea

se s

end

me

a re

com

men

ded

air

itine

rary

and

fare

est

imat

e be

twee

n m

y ho

me

city

of _

____

____

____

____

and

Tbi

lisi i

n:

Bus

ines

s cl

ass

Pre

miu

m e

cono

my

clas

s

E

cono

my

clas

s

For

mor

e in

fo, c

onta

ct M

IR C

orpo

rati

on b

y ph

one

(877

) 53

5-98

15 o

r em

ail n

atha

n@m

irco

rp.c

om.

MIR Corporation: CST #2082306-40. WST #601-099-932. ©2018 MIR Corporation, all rights reserved. Photos: Jeremy Woodhouse, MIR Corporation

Included: All accommodation, hotel taxes • Meals per itinerary (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner) • Arrival/departure transfers for passengers arriving/departing on scheduled start/end days • All overland transportation per itinerary by private vehicle • Special cultural events and extensive sightseeing, including entrance fees • English-speaking Tour Manager throughout the itinerary • Welcome and farewell dinners • Baggage handling at the hotels • Gratuities to the Tour Manager, local guides and drivers • Comprehensive pre-departure packet

Not Included: International round-trip airfare to/from Tbilisi. Our tour operator, MIR Corporation, can assist with reservations • Travel insurance • Meals not specified as included in the itinerary • Personal items such as telephone calls, laundry, excess baggage fees

Air Arrangements: Program rates do not include international airfare to/from Tbilisi. Because of the global nature of our members and patrons, there is no group flight for this program. Information on a recommended flight itinerary will be sent by our tour operator upon confirmation.

What to Expect: This trip is moderately active due to the substantial distances covered and the extensive walking and stair climbing required; parts of the tour will not always be wheelchair accessible. To reap the full rewards of this adventure, travelers must be able to walk at least two miles a day (with or without the assistance of a cane) and stand for an extended period of time during walking tours and museum visits. Flexibility and a willingness to accept local standards of amenities and services are highly recommended, as delays or changes in the itinerary are possible.

Reservations and Payments: Please mail the completed registration form with check (payable to MIR Corporation-Trust) or credit card information to our tour operator, MIR Corporation, to the address on the reservation form. The balance for all land and air costs is due by March 22, 2019, 60 days prior to departure. Payment of balance due is by check or bank transfer only.

Cancellations and Refunds: All cancellations must be made in writing to MIR Corporation and the following cancellation charges will apply: Cancellations received 61 or more days before departure, deposits paid or due in full of $500 per person; those received 31 days to 60 days before departure, 50% of land tour cost per person; those received 30 days or fewer before departure, no refund. Refunds cannot be made to passengers who do not complete the full tour for any reason at all. UC Oriental Institute and our tour operator, MIR Corporation, reserve the right, without penalty, to withdraw the tour announced (i.e., cancel a tour). MIR Corporation reserves the right to decline to accept any person as a participant on a tour, or to require any participant to withdraw from a tour at any time at his/her own expense, when such action is determined by tour staff to be in the best interest of the health, safety, or general welfare of the tour group or of the individual participant, and subject only to the requirement that the recoverable cost of unused services and accommodations be refunded, if any.

Note: Neither UC Oriental Institute nor MIR Corporation accepts liability for any airline cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a non-refundable ticket in connection with this tour. It is recommended that you not purchase international flights until instructed by MIR Corporation.

Single Travelers: We make every effort to match single travelers who request a roommate. However, shared accommodations cannot be guaranteed and a single supplement rate will apply.

Insurance: MIR Corporation can assist with medical/evacuation and trip cancellation/interruption insurance for U.S. residents only.

Responsibility: A detailed statement of limitations and exclusions of liability of UC Oriental Institute and MIR Corporation for loss of property, injury, illness or death will be provided to passengers upon enrollment and is available to prospective travelers upon request. A signed release of liability/assumption of risk agreement is required for trip participation.

Land Program Rate: $6,895 (per person based on double occupancy)

Single Supplement: $1,125

Georgia: A Journey through Traditions

Led by Tasha VorderstrasseMay 21–June 5, 2019

Tbilisi • Akhaltsikhe • Kutaisi • Mestia • Ushguli • Tbilisi

Page 6: Georgia: A Journey through Traditions · In Kutaisi, visit the State History and Archeology Museum, featuring a 7th-century BC fertility figurine, medieval weaponry, Georgian manuscripts

Plea

se m

ail t

he c

ompl

eted

reg

istr

atio

n fo

rm w

ith c

heck

(pa

yabl

e to

MIR

Cor

pora

tion-

Tru

st)

or c

redi

t ca

rd in

form

atio

n to

M

IR C

orpo

ratio

n, 8

5 S

Was

hing

ton

St. S

uite

210

, Sea

ttle

, WA

981

04. T

he b

alan

ce fo

r al

l lan

d an

d ai

r co

sts

is d

ue b

y M

arch

22

, 201

9, 6

0 da

ys p

rior

to

depa

rtur

e. Pa

ymen

t of

the

bal

ance

due

is b

y ch

eck

or b

ank

tran

sfer

onl

y. Sp

ace

is li

mite

d. R

eser

va-

tions

will

be

proc

esse

d in

ord

er o

f rec

eipt

, sub

ject

to

avai

labi

lity.

The

enc

lose

d no

n-re

fund

able

dep

osit

of $

___

____

__ (

$500

per

per

son)

to

hold

___

___

plac

e(s)

.

Enc

lose

d ch

eck,

paya

ble

to M

IR C

orpo

ratio

n-Tr

ust

V

isa

M

aste

rcar

d

Am

eric

an E

xpre

ss

D

iscov

er

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

___

Cre

dit

card

num

ber

Exp

date

C

VC

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

___

Billi

ng A

ddre

ss (

if di

ffere

nt fr

om m

ailin

g ad

dres

s)

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

___

Sign

atur

e of

car

dhol

der

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

___

Full

nam

e #1

(as

list

ed in

pas

spor

t)

D

ate

of b

irth

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

___

Full

nam

e #2

(as

list

ed in

pas

spor

t)

D

ate

of b

irth

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

___

Mai

ling

addr

ess

(no

PO b

oxes

ple

ase)

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

___

City

Stat

e/Pr

ovin

ce

Z

ip

C

ount

ry

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

___

Phon

e (H

ome)

(Wor

k/C

ell)

Em

ail

Plea

se in

dica

te y

our

pref

eren

ce:

I

am t

rave

ling

alon

e an

d pr

efer

a s

ingl

e ro

om w

here

ver

avai

labl

e at

the

sin

gle

supp

lem

ent

rate

($1

,125

).

I w

ill s

hare

acc

omm

odat

ions

with

___

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

___

I

wou

ld li

ke t

o sh

are

with

a

Non

-sm

oker

Sm

oker

(sh

ares

are

not

gua

rant

eed)

Inte

rnat

iona

l airf

are

is no

t inc

lude

d in

the

tour

pric

e. In

form

atio

n on

the

reco

mm

ende

d fli

ght i

tiner

ary

will

be

sent

by

our

tour

op

erat

or u

pon

confi

rmat

ion.

Plea

se s

end

me

a re

com

men

ded

air

itine

rary

and

fare

est

imat

e be

twee

n m

y ho

me

city

of _

____

____

____

____

and

Tbi

lisi i

n:

Bus

ines

s cl

ass

Pre

miu

m e

cono

my

clas

s

E

cono

my

clas

s

For

mor

e in

fo, c

onta

ct M

IR C

orpo

rati

on b

y ph

one

(877

) 53

5-98

15 o

r em

ail n

atha

n@m

irco

rp.c

om.

MIR Corporation: CST #2082306-40. WST #601-099-932. ©2018 MIR Corporation, all rights reserved. Photos: Jeremy Woodhouse, MIR Corporation

Included: All accommodation, hotel taxes • Meals per itinerary (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner) • Arrival/departure transfers for passengers arriving/departing on scheduled start/end days • All overland transportation per itinerary by private vehicle • Special cultural events and extensive sightseeing, including entrance fees • English-speaking Tour Manager throughout the itinerary • Welcome and farewell dinners • Baggage handling at the hotels • Gratuities to the Tour Manager, local guides and drivers • Comprehensive pre-departure packet

Not Included: International round-trip airfare to/from Tbilisi. Our tour operator, MIR Corporation, can assist with reservations • Travel insurance • Meals not specified as included in the itinerary • Personal items such as telephone calls, laundry, excess baggage fees

Air Arrangements: Program rates do not include international airfare to/from Tbilisi. Because of the global nature of our members and patrons, there is no group flight for this program. Information on a recommended flight itinerary will be sent by our tour operator upon confirmation.

What to Expect: This trip is moderately active due to the substantial distances covered and the extensive walking and stair climbing required; parts of the tour will not always be wheelchair accessible. To reap the full rewards of this adventure, travelers must be able to walk at least two miles a day (with or without the assistance of a cane) and stand for an extended period of time during walking tours and museum visits. Flexibility and a willingness to accept local standards of amenities and services are highly recommended, as delays or changes in the itinerary are possible.

Reservations and Payments: Please mail the completed registration form with check (payable to MIR Corporation-Trust) or credit card information to our tour operator, MIR Corporation, to the address on the reservation form. The balance for all land and air costs is due by March 22, 2019, 60 days prior to departure. Payment of balance due is by check or bank transfer only.

Cancellations and Refunds: All cancellations must be made in writing to MIR Corporation and the following cancellation charges will apply: Cancellations received 61 or more days before departure, deposits paid or due in full of $500 per person; those received 31 days to 60 days before departure, 50% of land tour cost per person; those received 30 days or fewer before departure, no refund. Refunds cannot be made to passengers who do not complete the full tour for any reason at all. UC Oriental Institute and our tour operator, MIR Corporation, reserve the right, without penalty, to withdraw the tour announced (i.e., cancel a tour). MIR Corporation reserves the right to decline to accept any person as a participant on a tour, or to require any participant to withdraw from a tour at any time at his/her own expense, when such action is determined by tour staff to be in the best interest of the health, safety, or general welfare of the tour group or of the individual participant, and subject only to the requirement that the recoverable cost of unused services and accommodations be refunded, if any.

Note: Neither UC Oriental Institute nor MIR Corporation accepts liability for any airline cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a non-refundable ticket in connection with this tour. It is recommended that you not purchase international flights until instructed by MIR Corporation.

Single Travelers: We make every effort to match single travelers who request a roommate. However, shared accommodations cannot be guaranteed and a single supplement rate will apply.

Insurance: MIR Corporation can assist with medical/evacuation and trip cancellation/interruption insurance for U.S. residents only.

Responsibility: A detailed statement of limitations and exclusions of liability of UC Oriental Institute and MIR Corporation for loss of property, injury, illness or death will be provided to passengers upon enrollment and is available to prospective travelers upon request. A signed release of liability/assumption of risk agreement is required for trip participation.

Land Program Rate: $6,895 (per person based on double occupancy)

Single Supplement: $1,125

Georgia: A Journey through Traditions

Led by Tasha VorderstrasseMay 21–June 5, 2019

Tbilisi • Akhaltsikhe • Kutaisi • Mestia • Ushguli • Tbilisi