If you are looking for an adventure for your next holiday, a Trans-Siberian Railway Tour may be exactly the type of holiday that you are searching for. The Trans-Siberian Railway is not just one railway line connecting Moscow and Vladivostok but is actually a collection of many different railways.
This allows for easy transportation and allows you to explore some of the least popular tourist destinations for Western travelers. With the railway running at around 5,700 miles, it is the longest railway in the world. This means that you are going to have to plan your trip carefully, to make sure that you are able to take in all of the sights that you wish to see.
- Ulaanbaatar
- Ural Mountains
- Kazan
- Krasnoyarsk
- Lhasa
With so much to see and do on a Trans Siberian railway, you will need to plan your itinerary carefully and make sure that you make the most of your time.
Ulaanbaatar, the Gateway to Mongolia
Ulaanbaatar is the capital city of Mongolia, and in recent years has had a mining boom which has woken what was once a sleeping little city, up to be an up-and-coming thriving city. The city is a mixture of skyscrapers and traffic jams, with all of the pollution that comes along with progress.
Just a short journey outside of the city will take you into the countryside where the pace of life is a lot more laid back. The stunning scenery will take your breath away and it is much easier to feel isolated in this vast land of plains and horses. The Land of the Eternal Blue Sky will definitely leave you with some lasting memories of your visit.
Ural Mountains
It is easy to travel to Ekaterinburg on the Trans Siberian railway tours as it is a major destination for many tourists. That being said, it is still relatively easy to get off the beaten track and find yourself in personal tranquillity. There are many places offering home-stay in the little villages that you find throughout this region.
This means you can hike during the day and fully appreciate the incredible scenery and also enjoy the local hospitality of an evening. This area is popular with tourists, but you can still go long times before seeing fellow tourists if you stay away from the more traditional routes and villages.
Kazan
The often-overlooked city of Kazan is the capital city of the Republic of Tatarstan. Here you will find a rich mix of both Christians and Muslims leaving side by side, peacefully, which adds to the rich culture of this vibrant city. You will see some fantastic architecture in both the Mosques and Cathedrals, which help to show off this city’s’ rich history, which is why it is sometimes referred to as Russia’s third capital city.
Krasnoyarsk
Krasnoyarsk is located between Ekaterinburg and Irkutsk and is a prosperous city which is often used as a jumping-off point to travel to the Republic of Tuva. This makes the city very overlooked as most people just go through it. If you visit Ekaterinburg or Irkutsk then, there are many similarities, but if you go direct to Krasnoyarsk then, you will appreciate the area much more.
A short drive out of the city will take you to the beautiful Stolby Nature Reserve, or you can travel down the Yenisey River. Krasnoyarsk is definitely worth a stopover so that you can explore for a few days, and you will not be disappointed when you see some of the views!
Lhasa
Lhasa is the gateway to Tibet and here you will see similarities in the traditions with the Russians and also the Chinese. The journey can be hard for some people due to the high altitude, but for a truly memorable holiday, you can visit Mount Everest Base Camp. You can go by road from Lhasa and travel through the base camp and continue on to Kathmandu.
The scenery in the part of the world is mind-boggling beautiful and you will definitely not regret taking a diversion on your Trans-Siberian adventure.
These Russian places are truly sights to see but don’t forget that the Trans-Siberian Railway also passes through China and there are literally millions of sights to see in this big country! China tours with the railway will be your best bet to see a few spectacular stops.
There are two routes to visit China on the Trans Siberian Railway. Westerners traveling to China can use either the Trans-Mongolian line or the Trans-Manchurian line. The first stop which is nearest to the Chinese border is Zabaikalsk then Manzhouli. This is China’s busiest port of entry. The next stop is Hailar which has always been known as the “Pearl of the Grasslands” and the gateway between China and Russia. Another stop is the industrial city of Harbin with all its charming but simple architecture. Harbin is also known for its annual Ice Festival. Finally, the last stop is Beijing, China’s capital city and site of the 2008 Summer Olympics.