Transiberian Railway Journey?

Question

Has anyone travelled on the transiberian journey from Moscow, Russia to Beijing, China? Or, does anyone have any advice or tips for travelling there, good websites etc?

Ta!

Answer 1

Hi,

Yes, 2 years ago I took the Trans-Siberian Express from Moscow to Irkutsk then Lake Baikal, where I jumped on the Trans-Mongolian Express to Beijing ...

It's important to plan it so you have several stopovers...

The most popular ones (in Russia) are
* Yeketerinburg (where the Romanovs were killed and buried)
* Irkutsk
* Lake Baikal (worlds largest and deeepest freshwater lake with 20% of the worlds fresh water in it!)

plus maybe Omsk or Novosibirsk

I've put the links to the LP Thorntree below so you can start there with some reading and ask for up to date advice and help.

Also, check out the site Seat61.com - he's a worldwide train travel expert, and his Trans-Sib page is well worth a look.

I've put the good sites for accomodation and excursions in Irkutsk and Lake Baikal too ... but you will need to get more info from the LP Thorntree.

It would be a good idea to go in third class if you're travelling alone, as 2nd class and first class can either be boring, with only other couples, or scary, if you go in a cabin with three strangers ...

But be prepared, 3rd class really is like a huge dormitory with everyone in it together... great fun tho - all night drinking games, all night backgammon tournements in 5 dialects and languages !

I'd recommend you try and do at least 3 stopovers (or 4 if possible), and believe me, Lake Baikal is a must... at all costs, make sure you take the Circum-Baikal train, which is known as the Tzars Golden Buckle, because building in bankrupted Russia :)

I hope that gets you started, it's a magnificent journey taht you will never forget...and the cheapest long-distance train in the world too...

Make sure you NEVER get of the train for supplies without your passport, money, and phrasebook ....

Also, unless you're fluent in Russian, I'd suggest you at least learn the Cyrrilic alphabet so you can see what the signs mean, it will help you a lot.

Happy Trails

Philip

Answer 2

Jellicoe is confusing the transsib with another train, I think it is the one that goes to Kathmandu. The highest railway summit is in the Himalaya mountains.

There is actually no such thing as "the Transsib", especially not to China. The original train line ended somewhere on the east coast opposite of Japan. The actual route the train takes has changed over the years.

But nevermind, the Transsib is one of the most travelled train routes in the whole world.

It is true that the scenery can be a bit boring, which is why you get off the train to sightsee. Riding a train all the way from Moscow to Beijing may sound exciting, but after 3 days of uninterrupted travel you easily tire of it. A lot of people get off the train in Ulan-Bataar in Mongolia or at Irkutsk. Yet I like taking a more southern "silk" route through Central Asia, entering China from Kazakhstan near Urumqi. (See www.seat61.com for the route. The site has all the info on getting from London to Beijing by train.)

Another tip: You can easily have a travel agent arrange all the tickets from home. But it is a lot more fun to buy the tickets as you go for a lot less money.

To compare: From Europe to Beijing you pay around 700-1000 USD for second class if you get the tickets through a travel agent. Buying the tickets yourself in Moscow will cost you around 200 USD for third class, more if you get off the train often.

Personally I've found train travel in Russia to be a lot more fun in third class - it is exactly what you expect from a train journey in Russia. Vodka in waterglasses, workers with smelly socks chewing garlic, drunks singing songs in Russian and being very friendly. Sometimes a bit too friendly for western comfort, but what the heck!

BTW, knowing some basic Russian will help a lot. It is practically essential if you intend to buy the tickets yourself or want to get off the train in a town along the way for a day or two.

BTW, the cheapest way to get from Europe to Beijing is via Transsib is either by "EuroDomino Russia" or a "Serbian Star Ticket" (any other "Star Ticket" will do too).

Answer 3

The Trans-Siberian railway runs between Moscow and Vladivostok. It does not go to Beijing. It takes 8 days to do the trip. Its not luxurious like the Orient Express, but the carriages are a little better than standard ones.

Answer 4

The Trans-Siberian railway hits the highest railway summit in the world. You are not allowed to take fizzy drinks on board because they explode and passengers often need oxygen at various points along the route. It is therefore a very tiring journey with surprisingly boring scenery..

Answer 5

I'm told it is actually incredibly boring.