I got thinking this week about all the other possibilities for long train trips around Russia and its neighbors, and even down into China.
A colleague this week made me green with envy as he described the Trans-Mongolian trip he and his father are planning for later in the year. On top of that, I've been teaching a bunch of wonderful Chinese students who keep enticing me to visit various parts of China. And all of that made me think of all the different possibilities for taking trains around Russia.
It's not just the Trans-Siberian. In fact, most people don't actually take the Trans-Siberian route, even when they say they do - it's the one that goes all the way to Vladivostok. The most popular trip is in fact the Trans-Mongolian, which "turns right" after Lake Baikal (if you're coming from Moscow) and heads down through Mongolia. This is a trip I've never done, but really, really want to. Do you think my colleague might take me instead of his father? But in fact, when I researched the possible routes further, I dug up another itinerary which I would really love to do - the Crimean Express through Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine. Oh, if only there was more time and more money! In the meantime you can get some planning tips with this week's article on Train Trips Around Russia.
