1. Famous journeys (unit 9)
The Trans-Siberian Railway
Where does the journey start and finish? How long is the journey?
The most legendary route by far is the Trans-Siberian, which goes 9,258 km or 6,152 miles from Moscow to Vladivostok and takes almost eight days. The "Rossiya" ("Russia") train 2 goes from Moscow to Vladivosktok, while train 1 goes the other way. The train stays within Russia the whole time, so you'll only need a Russian visa, but as with the other trains, you'll pass by Lake Baikal, which will be visible from the train for a good half-day
What is the best time of the year to do the journey?
Summer is the most popular time to go, and that's when you'll meet the most Westerners on the trains, but it's also the hardest time to get tickets, and since you can't open the windows on the trains, the heat inside can get pretty brutal. Despite stereotypes, Siberia gets quite hot in the short Russian summer, and the few hours of night-time darkness might be a problem for light sleepers. However, it means that if you want to spend time in Moscow or St. Petersburg the weather will be nice enough to walk around without a heavy jacket. Generally the best times to go are early autumn or late spring, when the weather is still tolerable if not downright nice, and when there are fewer tourists about.
How long does the journey take?
Perhaps one of the most romantic and awe-inspiring journeys is a trip on the Trans-Siberian Railway, a journey lasting about a week which can take you through almost all of Russia, or even onwards through Mongolia or China. However, such as trip needs much preparation, and not only mental preparation for the fact that you won't be able to take a shower for seven days! First, you must choose the route you would like to take (see below), and decide if you want to make the whole journey in one go, or if you have time to stop at several points along the way.
What famous places and sights can you visit on the journey?
In the Trans-Siberian tours through Russia and Mongolia, you can start your Trans-Siberian trip in Beijing or Moscow and join one of our excellent trips, including stops in Mongolia, Vladivostok, Lake Baikal and the Ural Mountains.
Really, I will recommend this journey because I think that this kind of travel (by train) is not habitual, You can visit a lot of countries and interested places with the charm and certain mystery of the train.