Best Adventure Travel Companies {On Earth}

Russia and Central Asia have been this outfitter's domain for more than 22 years. In the early days, MIR was almost literally the sole outfitter in the region. Now these countries see more visitors, but not so many that this company's trips don't brim with the authenticity only found among, say, an Uzbek community of carpet weavers and woodworkers or a group of Siberian Old Believers belting out traditional songs.

Signature Trip: Journey Through Central Asia: The Five Stans; trekking; 21 days; Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan

New in 2009

• Name:The Great Silk Road Across China and Uzbekistan
• Destination:China and Uzbekistan
• Duration:19 days
• Price:$7,095