Which Trans-Siberian route?

tdp-carol

Which is the best Trans-Siberian route to take? I have heard that there are three possibilites:

the Trans-Siberian proper from Moscow to Vladivostok

the Trans-Mongolian to Beijing

the Trans-Manchurian to Beijing

Which would give the best scenery and the most fun?

RATM

Id say the Trans Mongolian purely because the Gobi desert in Mongolia is well worth a jaunt.
My sister did the Trans Manchurian because she wanted to stop off in Harbin for the Ice Festival in winter. She said the Festival was excellent but later regretted not going through Mongolia, she could have gotten to Harbin from Beijing after Mongolia anyway.

The Vladivostok route is only really for people who want to get the ferry to Japan.

bluedolphin

I haven't actually done any of the routes but I've done some research into it as I'm planning on going next year. I think the Trans-Mongolian is the best option for a traveller trying to see as much as possible. If you want to stay true to the railway, then obviously the Vladivostok route is your option, but if it's more for the experience and whatnot, the Mongolian route is probably best. From Beijing you can trek to Shanghai and take a ferry to Japan from there, if you are interested in that. I'd recommend looking at this site and reading the Trans Siberian Handbook (which goes through all routes) by Bryn Thomas.

Julesie

I'm heading off to Moscow on July 18th to catch the Trans - Mongolian line to Beijing.

From our research it looked like the best line for a traveller going to China. Good scenery and also good chance of meeting up with fellow backpackers.

The Seat 61 site linked to in the previous post is also a goldmine of information. Definitely read everything it has to offer if you are thinking of taking the trip.

tywy

Trans-Mongolian is defo the best route. Did it last summer, had a fantastic time. Mongolia was a definite highlight. Also try and take in St Petersburg if you can!

Delorian

Looking at doing this later this year but have two main concerns I'd love you experienced guys to comment on.

Going for the month of November. Would this be a crazy weather time for Russia? Would I miss out on a lot due to cold and daylight hours?

Looking at going by myself. Would I have to sleep on top of my rucksack with one eye open, praying someone won't try to steal my kidneys?

RATM

Delorian wrote: »

Looking at doing this later this year but have two main concerns I'd love you experienced guys to comment on.

Going for the month of November. Would this be a crazy weather time for Russia? Would I miss out on a lot due to cold and daylight hours?

Looking at going by myself. Would I have to sleep on top of my rucksack with one eye open, praying someone won't try to steal my kidneys?

I did it in the summer and the only thing I regretted was not doing it in winter when everywhere would have been covered with virgin snow. There's something about the very word Siberia that conjures up snow and cold and for me winter would be the best time to go to get the full experience of Siberia.

Regarding safety, get a first class ticket and you'll have a lockable cabin to share with one other person. Its likely they may be a westerner too as they seem to try to put all foreigners together ( or at least about 15 independent travellers on my trip were all put next door to one another, maybe others had different experiences ? )
There is an attendent for to keep an eye on things on each carriage of the train so I'd say once you use common sense there'll be no kidney extractions:pac:

One piece of advice though- beware of an ageing restaurant waiter called Igor insisting that you share his bottle of vodka with him at 7 in the morning over your breakfast; you'll be wankered by 9am. And if some Mongolian traders on the train approach you asking to pretend you own one of the leather jackets they are smuggling then by all means give them a dig out- the paybacks when you get to Ulaan Baatar are well worth it:D

breadmonkey

RATM wrote: »

And if some Mongolian traders on the train approach you asking to pretend you own one of the leather jackets they are smuggling then by all means give them a dig out- the paybacks when you get to Ulaan Baatar are well worth it:D

You're going to have to elaborate on that!

Jimmy81

Quick question for people who have travelled the trans siberian before.

How much did your train ticket cost and who did you book it with, a russian agency or a uk agency?

Thanks.

RATM

breadmonkey wrote: »

You're going to have to elaborate on that!

Ha ha it was nothing really. A bunch of Mongolian traders were smuggling a bunch of leather jackets across the border so when the train pulled up they asked the westerners on the train would they put them in their cabin. Some of us had the cheek to wear them and approached Mongolian immigration officers wearing jackets that were clearly too small for us, they didnt mind and had a laugh with us.
Anyway when we got to Ulan Baatar the traders brought a few of us on the piss; we went to clubs that we would never have found on our own. The payoff was for my mate Andy who ended up bedding one of the traders sisters and experienced a bit of Mongolian lovin'! You should have seen her; it was nothing to be proud of:D

Jimmy when I did it I didnt book any tickets- I just bought them as I needed them at the various stops. I think the whole thing cost around 230 euro to Beijing, others on the same carriage had booked thru a UK agency and forked out nearly 700,Doh!

bluedolphin

Delorian wrote: »

Looking at doing this later this year but have two main concerns I'd love you experienced guys to comment on.

Going for the month of November. Would this be a crazy weather time for Russia? Would I miss out on a lot due to cold and daylight hours?

Looking at going by myself. Would I have to sleep on top of my rucksack with one eye open, praying someone won't try to steal my kidneys?

I went travelled from Vilnius to St Petersburg and then onto Moscow and then to Warsaw by train in January of last year. Now, January is probably colder than November, but it was mighty cold. Most of the time it was -20ish or thereabouts. But, to be quite honest, you can dress up warmly with layers, so I wouldn't let temperatures put you off - after all, people live in these climates and they're surviving! You will lose out a bit on daylight hours though - in January it was getting dark around 15-15:30 and was completely dark by 16-16:30.

The real Russian experience involves snow, though. I mean, you think of Russia and you picture scenes from Dr Zhivago and acres and acres of blanketed snow in a still countryside. You will only get this in winter. I would seriously advise you not to be discouraged by temperatures or daylight hours. Seeing snow purifying the Russian countryside is something you'll never forget. At least I won't, anyway.

brendash

Hi RATM

Reading this blog when I'm suppose to be working! but couldn't help but laugh at your post... funny... Planning on doing the trans-mongolian next year..and I think with the more you read the more undecided one gets about the time of year to go.. Must say that's a hell of a difference in the price of tickets, did you have any bother in booking your ticket as you went along? Did you wait until you got to Russia to book the first leg of your trip?

B