Hallo folks,

this is a info-finding thread with regards to the Trans-Siberian (or Manuchurian, Mongolian) Railway. If you've been on it, I'd love to hear from you

- when did you go? (time of year)
- from where to where? did you make stops, where?
- do you already speak russian, chinese or mongolian? can one get by with only english?
- duration of travel
- general experience, advice, information
- what you'd have done differently?
- language, cultural challenges
- visa requirements?
- do you have a blog that captured the experience?

That's all I can think of for the moment

hope to hear from you!

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These go to Eleven.

My boss did it last year in late summer & he said it was a fantastic experience. He went from Moscow all the way to he East coast but did not stop off anywhere as he was time restricted. He went with his dad who speaks some Russian so I can't answer the language question, what I do know is that he raved about it being one of the best trips he had ever done.

Thinking about going on it to Novosibirsk and Lake Baykal next year after I finish my contract in Switzerland. I have a work mate here who is from there and is keen to go home for a holiday possibly around the same time. She's never been to Lake Baykal either.

Thinking about October though which can be a little chilly

would be cool to get a group to go together...my Russian is alright and I've been wanting to do it for a while...

have you looked at,
http://www.seat61.com/
All the train information you will need is there.

I have always wanted to do this trip, stopping off in a few places. perhaps over a month or something....but I am absolutly obsessed with Russia.

If you haven't seen the movie Transsiberian, well worth to get an idea of the train ride alone (the movie itself is fantastic as well, as an aside...)

I'm thinking maybe early summer 2011, might start picking up some russian now. My chinese is fine, no one can tell where I'm from within 15mins, unless I'm wearing my "Singapore is a fine city T-shirt" in which case, one might guess I'm from Malaysia

I'm interested in the trans-siberian and then -mongolian route, would be a chance to visit the mongolian capital too.

Thanks! looks like a very comprehensive site!

I did this 5-6 times.
Some times till Omsk, Baikal, Irkutsk and 2 times up to the marker for kilometer 9,288 at the end of the line in Vladivostok.

It is a lifetime experience.

As I know Russian, it was much easy for me but I believe in case if you dont know the language your journey would be much adventurous than you expect it to be.

I would be happy to help out with any specific question regarding this trip.

I did this 5-6 times.
Some times till Omsk, Baikal, Irkutsk and 2 times up to the marker for kilometer 9,288 at the end of the line in Vladivostok.

It is a lifetime experience.

As I know Russian, it was much easy for me but I believe in case if you dont know the language your journey would be much adventurous than you expect it to be.

I would be happy to help out with any specific question regarding this trip.

This is the postal stamp in Russia which was issued when Trans-Siberian completed its 100 years.

Attached Thumbnails

 

Hi! Thanks for the offer at the moment, i only have questions pertaining to the logistical side of things, I imagine I will have questions regarding specific stops when I've read up more about it.

I do have a couple of questions now:

1. 5-6 times seem an awful number of times. did you like it that much, or was it a mode of transport for you?
2. did you travel in winter? what was it like?

Something to read on your journey:

http://yalepress.yale.edu/yupbooks/b...=9780300141894

An article you might want to read

Yes, I liked it. Every time it was as exciting as it was on first time. But yes, not always I went there as a tourist. Sometime just for work. And the destinations where I got off the train were just not reachable by any other mode of transport.

I traveled in winters. Its too difficult but still manageable.

I found a documentary on YT, thought I'd share, watching Part 1 as I post this, looks interesting enough

SBB now has a package ( rather expensive one too ) here:

http://travel.sbb.ch/index.php?modul...&tid=2&pid=139

I did the route Ulaan Baatar to Beijing Jan or Feb this year (can't remember). I thought it was fascinating (hours and hours of Mongolian country side, completely empty, and then all of a sudden a farmer with livestock in the middle of newhere) and enjoyed the relaxed pleasure of a "luxury" berth all to myself.