Our first Eastern Europe and Russia Travel poll gave a clear result : 40% of you think that crossing Russia on the Trans-Siberian railway is your dream trip in this region. Whether it's a love of classic train travel, the allure of crossing seven time zones, or a passion for Russian culture and history, there are plenty of planning details to consider when making a Trans-Siberian escapade.
East to west, or west to east?
The most common tourist route using the Trans-Siberian in fact follows only part of the classic route. Many travelers begin in Moscow and take the Trans-Sib to Ulan Ude, before following the Trans-Mongolian route and finishing up the journey in China. A magical trip too, of course, but a real Trans-Siberian crossing should find you at the eastern edge of Russia in Vladivostok. Or should you start in Vladivostok and finish up in Moscow, or move on up to St Petersburg? The choice is yours, and it depends a little on your preference for comfort versus adventure. As a general rule, most organized tour groups travel west to east: if you start in the east you're more likely to be the only foreigners in your carriage and this gives you plenty of chances to share snacks and card games with the locals.
Non-stop or stopovers?
One continuous journey across Russia usually takes a full week - a distance of over 6000 thousand miles. Consider this carefully: seven days of rocking along on train tracks, with a two- or three-times daily chance to stretch your legs at a longer stop. If you have the time, my personal preference is to make at least two stops along the way. The must is a stop at Lake Baikal, the world's deepest lake, most probably at the village of Listvyanka, and possibly combined with a stay in the nearby city of Irkutsk. Other possibilities include Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk or Omsk, each with a combination of museums and cultural attractions - blended between the stark Soviet-era concrete apartment blocks - to give you an insight into Russian life away from the really big cities.
More information:
the ever-informative Man in Seat 61 (his site is a must for all train travel research) has plenty of details to help you with Trans-Siberian decision-making.
