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| Site inaugurated on the 8th March 2004! |
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Route Options Travellers crossing Siberia have a choice of three routes: the TransSiberian, TransManchurian and TransMongolian.
Costs How much you pay for a trip on the longest railway line depends on the level of comfort you demand, the number of stops you wish to make along the way and the amount of time you’re prepared to put into getting hold of a budget ticket. Although the cheapest ticket for rail travel from Moscow to Beijing or vice versa (and purchased in these cities) currently cost arround US$200, this price does not reflect what you’ll end up paying for your trip.
There are several major costs to add on: getting to your departure point and getting back at the end of your journey, accomodation in Moscow and the rest of the cities, food, vodka, parties, etc. ;-)
Depending in what you are planning to do, allocate between US$2000-4000 for the overall trip expenses!
Warning! No regular train service under the name of “Transsiberian Express” exists. Instead, Russians and Chinese identify their trains by a number (‘Train No. 19’, from Beijing to Moscow).
“Transsiberian”, “Transmongolian” and “Transmanchurian” are, however, convenient terms for the routes across Siberia and between Moscow and Beijing.
The service which runs from Moscow to Vladivostok is train No 2, also known as the “Rossiya”. Running from Vladivostok to Moscow it’s train No 1. The services which run between Moscow and Beijing are usually identified only by their numbers. Hotel costs The price and value of hotel rooms in Russia varies wildly: some hotels have a dual-pricing system and charge foreigners more than Russians. (Unfortunately this is also common in Museums and the like).
This increase in hotels can be as much as three times the local price so what may be excelent value if you could pay Russian prices becomes absurdly bad value as far as you’re concerned. Although ‘foreigner’ prices are quoted in this book, do not be surprised if they are not the same as what you are offered in the hotel. You will almost certainly be offered the most expensive room first: ask for something cheaper.
Moscow and St. Petersburg are the only places with five-star hotels (US$350 or more a night) although there are a number of TransSiberian cities which have good good four-star hotels, for example Vladivostok.
Most visitors stay in the former Intourist hotels. A room with attached bathroom will cost US$50-100 for a single or US$70-120 for a double. Independent and backpacker travellers go for the cheapest hotels. A basic room with attached bathroom is US$10-25 for a single or US$20-30 for a double. Breakfast is sometimes included in the price.
Guest-houses and Homestay are also interesting options. It might cost about US$20-35 a night including meals.
Breaking your Journey Most people will want to break their journey and stop off along the way (it is highly recommended!). This is a good idea not only because it gives you a chance to get off the train, stretch your legs and, most importantly, have a shower but also because some of the places you pass through are well worth exploring; you won’t learn much about life in Siberia by looking through a train window.
If booking through an agency, plan your stops carefully; it’s too late to decide to break your journey once you have started on your trip. If you travel independently, however, you can just buy train tickets as you go along and stop off whenever and wherever you like.
If your trip starts in Moscow it’s usually necessary to spend one night there, but you’d need several days to see just the main sights. A side-trip to St Petersburg is highly recommended. At the other end of the rails, it’s worth spending several days in Beijing.
Along the routes, Irkutsk and Ulan Bator are the most popular places to stop off at. Irkutsk is the eastern capital of Siberia and 64km from Lake Baikal, the world’s deepest freshwater lake. Staying at Listvyanka, right by the lake, is recommended (be aware of the mosquitoes!) as is a visit to Ulan Bator, the capital of Mongolia. Ulan Ude is worth a stop for the Buddhist monastery nearby. Khabarovsk is surprisingly pleasant and Yekaterinburg is interesting. There’s also Novosibirsk, the huge capital of Western Siberia, the pleasantly-situated city of Krasnoyarsk and Vladivostok, the eastern railway terminus.
Russian cities look best and feel most “Russian” under a layer of snow. If, however, you want to spend time in any Siberian city, you’ll probably find it more enjoyable to go in the late spring, summer or autumn, where there is more to do.
In Siberia, the heaviest snowfalls and coldest temperatures (as low as – 40ºC in Irkutsk and some of the other towns the train passes through) occur in December and January. From late January to early April the weather is generally cold and clear. Spring comes late and then the warmest months are July and August, when it is warm enough for a swim in Lake Baikal.
In Moscow the average temperature is 17ºC (63ºF) in summer and – 9ºC (+16ºF) during winter.
Tourist season The tourist season rus from May to the end of September reaching its peak between mid-July and early September. In the low season, between October and April, some companies offer discounts on tours; you’ll also find it much easier to get a booking for the train at short notice at this time.
Group tours or independent travel? Group tours Many visitors to Russia travel in organized groups. Going with a tour group takes all the hassle out of travelling. Most tours are accompanied by an English-speaking guide from the moment you arrive in Russia right up until you leave the country. Being part of a group also means that because everything is prearranged, there isn’t much room for doing your own thing. Check here for tour companies.
Semi-independent travel This is currently the most popular way for foreigners to travel on the Trans-Siberian: using a specialist agency who makes the accommodation and train bookings, thereby providing visa support which enables you to get a Russian tourist visa. Once you are in Russia, you’re usually on your own. Some agencies also offer guides who meet you and help you organize your time in that city. . Check here for tour companies and locally-based organizations.
Fully independent travel These days, getting a tourist visa for Russia is no longer difficult. You must obtain confirmation of hotel booking in Russia with a registered tourist company to present with your visa application. There are various hotels/organizations that can do this for you. Check the list here.
Although few Russians outside the largest cities speak English and tourist infrastructure is limited, this shouldn’t put you off. Russians are very friendly and you can easily learn some basic Russian to h elp communication. Travelling independently is not difficult and is the best way to get a true insight into the “real” Russia and its people.
After all, this is exactly what we did! ;-)
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