The Trans-Siberian Railway

The first thing to note is that there is no ‘Trans-Siberian Express’… There is though a ‘Trans-Siberian Railway’, the line along which it goes, with three main routings:

Moscow-Beijing via Manchuria
Moscow-Beijing via Mongolia
Moscow-Vladivostok

If you are wondering why these trips are all generically known as the ‘Trans-Siberian’, it is because all three routes use the ‘Trans-Siberian Railway’ - a stretch of track from Ekaterinburg to Ulan-Ude which crosses Siberia. There's something you won't find in every guidebook!

These trips, which have been specifically designed for independent, individual travellers (they are not group trips), vary from ten to nineteen days, and incorporate a whole range of visits and activities, including family stays, nomadic camping in Mongolia and trekking at Lake Baikal.

It's a spectacular journey and one with many options. It’s not just a train journey!

Depending on the trip you choose, included will be many ‘off train’ options, which allow you to spend time off the train in different parts of the countries you are travelling through. These not only break up your journey, but also allow you the opportunity to experience the life, culture and scenery of some of the most remote and interesting parts of the world, in an authentic way. Spend time with the nomads of Mongolia in their traditional Ger Camps, stay overnight with a local family on the shores of the largest freshwater lake in the world, Lake Baikal, a lake the size of England which freezes over in winter! And partake in all manner of activities local to their areas, such as ice-fishing, husky dogsledding, relaxing in the real Siberian saunas, and trips on snowmobiles.

Accommodation on board is in comfortable 2nd class, 4-berth compartments and there are 8 compartments per carriage. The compartments are uni-sex, and depending on how many people you booked with, you may be travelling with other train passengers.

There are restaurant-car services on all international trains - provided by whichever country you're in at the time. Some local trains are also used, which do not have a restaurant car, but you can stock up with goodies before you board. Don't expect haute cuisine! But you can get smoked salmon, and sometimes caviar too, at bargain prices. The champagne ($3 a bottle) makes the perfect accompaniment. Mix-and-match the restaurant car with snacks sold on the platform, and you're there!

The journey is, in short, a unique journey of a lifetime. Travel overland from one continent to another, through seven time zones, via the world’s largest freshwater lake, past the longest and greatest man-made structure ever, The Great Wall of China, and through the coldest place on earth, Siberia, colder than either of the poles.

Experience extremes like nowhere else, on the Greatest Railway Journey in the world.

Trans-Siberian Train Journeys:
	Trans-Manchurian Classic - TS1 TOUR TYPE:  Train Journey LOCAL PAYMENT:  NO LOCAL PAYMENT COUNTRIES VISITED:  Russia - China	10 Days	go>
	Three Capitals - TS2 TOUR TYPE:  Train Journey LOCAL PAYMENT:  NO LOCAL PAYMENT COUNTRIES VISITED:  Russia - Mongolia - China	12 Days	go>
	Snow Train - TS5 TOUR TYPE:  Train Journey LOCAL PAYMENT:  NO LOCAL PAYMENT COUNTRIES VISITED:  Russia - China	14 Days	go>
	Original Trans-Siberian (via Irkutsk) - TS6 TOUR TYPE:  Train Journey LOCAL PAYMENT:  NO LOCAL PAYMENT COUNTRIES VISITED:  Russia	14 Days	go>
	Big Trans-Sib - TS3 TOUR TYPE:  Train Journey LOCAL PAYMENT:  NO LOCAL PAYMENT COUNTRIES VISITED:  Russia - Mongolia - China	15 Days	go>
	Super Trans-Sib - TS4 TOUR TYPE:  Train Journey LOCAL PAYMENT:  NO LOCAL PAYMENT COUNTRIES VISITED:  Russia - Mongolia - China	19 Days	go>