Transiberian express

[clarkmagpie]

Has anyone done it?
Tips
Experiences?
Do's/ don'ts ?
Costs?

We are making tentative enquires about it so any tips would be great.

Thanks.

[magooagain]

I found this. http://www.seat61.com/Trans-Siberian.htm

[clarkmagpie]

Thanks, makes for interesting reading.
Very helpful

[magooagain]

Yes. I just had a flick through it. Good info so have saved it. You got me thinking now !

[clarkmagpie]

Looks to be a fab trip, something different and lots of new experiences.
We have exactly 14 days from start to finish so looks to be cutting it fine...

[Rollin]

I plan to do this at some point. I've read a few accounts of the trip and every one involved a lot of vodka.

[Dan_1981]

magooagain said:

I found this. http://www.seat61.com/Trans-Siberian.htm

Very interesting read.

Had no idea you could do Lindon - Moscow in 48 hours by train.

[acd80]

My mum is doing it later this year but she's allowing 4 weeks for the various stops and to do some sightseeing in Beijing. However, she is in the position where she doesn't have to return by a certain date so she may extend it even longer (it's well for some!). She's used seat61 as well. From what she's said, visas are a pain (She is an Irish national) and she's gone to a UK company that will sort out everything. Not too sure on total cost but I will ask her when I speak to her next.

[DBSV8]

make sure you book a Lux ( 2 berth )if you want to travel alone together

coupes are 4 berth , if you go this route make sure you book an odd number ( these are lower berths ).

If you dont mind sharing .......Its a lottery you may get A stunning Russian girl as your carriage mate or two Sweaty Russian Cyril Smith lookalikes .

If you are extremley tall , over 6' 3" you will find the lower berths too small.

word of caution : it can get very hot / sweaty in these trains , take a set of comfortable light weight clothes/ slippers to change into once you get on the train , wet wipes / reading material. tea bags ( there is a hot water boiler in every compartment ).

word of caution , keep your wallet with you at all times , if you leave the carriage to go to the restaurant take a travel bag with valubles passport / laptop mobile etc...there are thieves and oportunists who walk between carriages.

before boarding you must show your passport " your passport number and name is printed on the ticket , the guard will keep a copy so if you get drunk or get into trouble be warned .......you can be traced. It also usefull for throwing Drunk Russians off trains

If you travel from London - Berlin - Moscow route , they will Stop in Germany and fit wider undercarriage wheels , Russian tracks are wider than European ones.

Enjoy

[Puggit]

Desperate to do it, and I've even got a Russian friend willing to go along with me.

Only problem is she's extremely pretty and my wife hates me hanging out with my Russian colleagues (with good reason!).

[aponting389]

Ive done the Trans-Siberian from Ulan-Batar (Mongolia) to Moscow... I was really looking forward to it. A friend and I shared a 4 berth cabin with this old mongolian dude who seemed to be smuggling fur boots into russia and kept trying make me his boot mule. I digress, yes, it involved lots of Vodka (the first glass always going skyward and raining down over your bed clothes). It also had to be the most tedious 4 days of my life, bear in mind that most of the track is tree-lined so if your'e expecting glorious views, think again (except the shores of Lake Baikal, that was nice) also you may get unlucky and not have a restaurant carriage hooked up, as we didnt for the first 2 days (very annoying). All in all, i'm glad ive been on it, but would i do it again? no way!