The award-winning travel company MIR Corporation is a proud sponsor of the Seattle Asian Art Museum’s Colors of the Oasis: Central Asian Ikats exhibit happening March 15–August 5, 2012. The Seattle-based Central Asia specialists are offering the chance for one lucky museum visitor to win a trip for two to visit Uzbekistan on a small group tour entitled “Silk Route Odyssey: Caravan Across Uzbekistan”. The winner of this fully-escorted, 15-day small-group tour has the option to join a September 14-28, 2012 departure or an alternative tour date leaving in 2013. No purchase is necessary to enter. The contest can be entered during any visit to the Seattle Asian Art Museum between now and July 31, 2012. For contest details please visit www.seattleartmuseum.org/sweepstakes.
“Being able to sponsor such a fantastic Seattle Asian Art Museum exhibit is a great honor for MIR Corporation,” said founder and President Douglas Grimes. “The winner of this Uzbekistan tour will be able to explore the country and see how its landscapes, cities, and cultures inspired the ikats on view in Colors of the Oasis.”
The contest winner and his or her guest will traverse the red sands of the Kyzyl Kum Desert on camelback; overnight in a nomadic yurt camp; attend ceramics and silk workshops; feast on traditional food in a private home; go behind the scenes at the Savitsky Museum of Russian avante-garde art; and explore the architectural wonders of legendary Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Much of the journey is spent traveling by private vehicle across Uzbekistan, from Tashkent and Fergana in the east to Khiva and Nukus in the west and staying in boutique hotels and small private bed and breakfasts.
“Uzbekistan is home to four UNESCO sites and three of the most renowned of the Silk Road oases -- Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva,” said Grimes. “We will take the contest winners through these sites, the incredible Savitsky Museum in Nukus, and the lush Fergana Valley, where Central Asia's silk production began with two cocoons hidden in the headdress of a royal Chinese bride.”
For travelers who would like to accompany the contest winner on this Uzbekistan travel opportunity, space is available on MIR Corporation’s September departure, as well as some of their other fall departures to Central Asia Contact MIR Corporation at 800-424-7289 or email [email protected] with any questions. For contest details, visit the Colors of the Oasis Sweepstakeswebpage. The Seattle Asian Art Museum is located in Volunteer Park at 1400 East Prospect Street in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle, WA.