The world’s longest and most famous train journey. Crossing all of Russia, the route takes you through a landscape that was previously so impenetrable that it used to be quicker to cross the Atlantic, America and the Pacific than it was to make the overland from Moscow to Vladivostok. Considering there are unlikely to be any other ways you will get to see this vast expanse of territory, this feels like a must for an adventurous traveler
But two things to bear in mind – firstly, the route is not one single train / journey, rather it is a series of trains and with various stops. Secondly, there are three final destinations – Vladivostok, Beijing or Zabaikalsk. This provides a series of combination from where you could go, and the journey I took was from Omsk to Beijing, via Krasnoyarsk, Irkutsk & Lake Baikal, Ulan Ude, Ulan Bator & its surrounding national parks. Its a great adventure and one that can easily be combined with a trip around Central Asia
I’ve written below some Travel Tips for this journey, but my main two tips are: #1. Prioritise Lake Baikal – it is the highlight stop of the journey, and far more fun than the grey city stops of the likes of Omsk and Krasnoyarsk; #2. Finish in Beijing – the Trans-Siberian is know for Moscow-Vladivostok, but it is a no-brainer to travel to Beijing instead. Vladivostok vs Mongolia and Beijing? No comparison
Ulan Ude is one of the main stops on the Trans-Siberian Railway route and, along with similar stops such as Krasnoyarsk and Omsk, is tempting for a stop to break up the journey. My suggestion is to stop at only one as it will give the break you’re looking for and its nice to at least get a brief look at what a central Siberian city looks like. Whilst Ulan Ude is a little nicer than Omsk and Krasnoyarsk, be sure to lower your expectations- none are particularly pleasant and should be way down the priority list when it comes for the highlights to be seen on the railway journey. Save your time instead for getting off at Irkutsk to see the gem of the trip, Lake Baikal and, if travelling the Beijing route, the Mongolian Steppes around Ulan Bator
Specifically for Ulan Ude, it probably makes even less sense to stop off as it is quite close to Irkutsk and and Ulan Bator. Might as well just travel directly
For tips on the overall trans-Siberian Railway experience, including which stops to take, see the travel entry The Trans-Siberian Railway from Omsk to Beijing
Lake Baikal tears up the geographical statistics – at a depth of 1,637m / 5,315ft it is the world’s deepest lake, holding nearly one fifth of the world’s unfrozen fresh water, its catchment area is enormous with 300+ rivers flowing into it, and it is the geological feature that is slowly splitting the Asia continent in two. To top it all, the winters here get so brutal (temperature can drop down to minus 50 Celsius / 57 Fahrenheit) that in January to April even this vast lake freezes to the point that trucks use it as a highway. A key feature in the centre of the world’s largest land mass, it is simply vast and is by far the highlight of a Trans-Siberian trip
#1 Tip – I’ve listed some travel tips below, but the biggest one is to make sure you spend time on Olkhon Island – the serene jewel halfway up the west side of the lake
Krasnoyarsk is one of the main stops on the Trans-Siberian Railway route and, along with similar stops such as Omsk and Ulan Ude, is tempting for a stop to break up the journey. My suggestion is to stop at only one as it will give the break you’re looking for and its nice to at least get a brief look at what a central Siberian city looks like. But lower your expectations- none are particularly pleasant and should be way down the priority list when it comes for the highlights to be seen on the railway journey. Save your time instead for getting off at Irkutsk to see the gem of the trip, Lake Baikal and, if travelling the Beijing route, the Mongolian Steppes around Ulan Bator
For tips on the overall trans-Siberian Railway experience, including which stops to take, see the travel entry The Trans-Siberian Railway from Omsk to Beijing
Omsk is one of the main stops on the Trans-Siberian Railway route and, along with similar stops such as Krasnoyarsk and Ulan Ude, is tempting for a stop to break up the journey. My suggestion is to stop at only one as it will give the break you’re looking for and its nice to at least get a brief look at what a central Siberian city looks like. But lower your expectations- none are particularly pleasant and should be way down the priority list when it comes for the highlights to be seen on the railway journey. Save your time instead for getting off at Irkutsk to see the gem of the trip, Lake Baikal and, if travelling the Beijing route, the Mongolian Steppes around Ulan Bator
For tips on the overall trans-Siberian Railway experience, including which stops to take, see the travel entry The Trans-Siberian Railway from Omsk to Beijing
