TRANSSIBERIAN
A journey on the world’s longest rail route, should be on every travellers must do list…and what’s more it’s safe, comfortable and affordable.
The Trans-Siberian Railway runs like a steel ribbon right across Russia connecting east to west from Moscow over the Urals, across the magnificent and endless steppe taking in the shore of the world’s largest freshwater lake.
This iconic trip has captured the imagination of travelers, poets, artists, and writers through the years in winter with Siberian snow or the warm and sunlit summer months. Connecting Moscow as far as fabled Vladivostok near the Sea of Japan, or go on perhaps the most interesting route onwards to Beijing, there are plenty of options to ponder over.
There are three major routes on the Trans-Siberian Railway.
The Trans-Siberian from Moscow to Vladivostok: The traditional Moscow-to-Vladivostok route takes seven days to make its 6,152-mile journey. This route crosses the vast depths of Siberia, passing the iconic Lake Baikal before rocking up to Vladivostok, Russia’s easternmost city.
The Trans-Manchurian route Moscow to Beijing, direct: The Trans-Manchurian route will take you directly from Moscow to Beijing, but you’ll miss out on viewing the Mongolian landscape.
The Trans-Mongolian route, Moscow to Beijing, via Ulan Bator: Arguably the most interesting route to take is the Trans-Mongolian route, which not only crosses Siberia but provides a spectacular journey through Mongolia and northern China before arriving in Beijing.
One of the best things about the Trans-Siberian is the opportunity it affords you to see more of Russia than just Moscow and St. Petersburg. All three train routes share the same track between Moscow and Ulan Ude.
There is no need to just sit on a train, alight at some of Russia’s least travelled places to break this section of the journey:
Try Kazan, explore the only surviving Tatar fortress in Russia – the huge Kremlin, designated a World Heritage Site, alongside Europe’s longest river the Volga.
Yekaterinburg, witness the rather soulless church built on the site of the murder of the last Russian royal family (the city’s many pre-Soviet buildings are of greater interest);
Irkutsk, known as the “Paris of Siberia”, which has many neo-classical and wooden buildings, some of them decorated with fantastically ornate fretwork.
No matter what route you take, traveling on the Trans-Siberian railway is one of those rare opportunities you’ll never forget and with invaluable advice we can organise the perfect trip for you.