Trans Siberian

The Trans-Siberian railway has a long and exciting (and kind of bloody) history and actually put most of the cities it passes on the map. Tsar Nicholas II officially launched construction of the original railway in 1890, and 26 years later, it was complete: the longest railway in the world.

The railway operates year-round, though we suggest going in the summer (May-September) because of the longer daylight hours. To traverse the Trans-Siberian Railway, you can choose from a number of different trains, classes and packages. Trains that are faster are more expensive. Some packages include specific tours, which sort your stops out for you. Otherwise, you will need to plan your stops in advance, as you cannot purchase a hop-on hop-off ticket. You will need to buy each leg of your trip separately.

Start your journey in the city with candy-striped spires, beautiful Moscow. Of course you must visit the Kremlin, with its opulent buildings and rich history. This is Russia’s ruling fortress, and was home of the Romanovs, then Lenin and Stalin, and is now the residence of Putin and his administration. For art buffs, there is the Tretyakov Galleries, both old and new, which contains a variety of old Russian masterpieces, along with icons of the modernist social realism movement. The Moscow Planetarium is also worth checking out, as it is one of the largest in the world, and has incredible interactive and futuristic displays. Another highlight of Moscow is, of course, its vodka. Less notoriously, the nightlife in Moscow is actually thriving since perestroika, with a strong underground electronic music scene. Check out the many great nightclubs in Moscow, like Solyanka, Powerhouse, Arma17, and Vanilla Ninja, to uncover a whole other side to this city.

After a 2½ hour train ride, you may wish to stop at Vladimir, which is most famous for its four UNESCO-listed Cathedrals, the most notable of which are the Assumption Cathedral and St Demetrius Cathedral. You also ought to visit the Golden Gate. However, though this city has a neoclassical beauty, you probably don’t need to stay here for too long.

Next we head to the border between Europe and Asia, passing through the Ural Mountains, a range that runs north to south through western Russia.

Then you will pull into Yekaterinberg, which is a very popular stop along the railway line. This Soviet-style city is the official capital of the Urals region, and sits right on the border between Europe and Asia. You should check out “The Church on Blood in Honour of All Saints Resplendent in the Russian Land”, where the Romanovs were executed. A more contemporary and bizarre feature of this city is the QUERTY monument, which, as you can probably guess, is a giant stone tribute to computer keyboards. Yekaterinberg has terrible traffic, so it’s best to opt for public transport if you want to go further than your feet will take you. Out of town you can go skiing, or take tours to the Ural Mountains for hiking, rafting, cycling or even caving.

While on the train now, make sure you get a look at the Siberian taiga forests as you pass through. These forests are a highly unique eco-region, and are among the most extensive and pristine natural forests remaining on Earth. The forests become more biodiverse as you head eastward.

Eventually you will arrive in Irkutsk, which was once the capital of Eastern Siberia. It is a small city which, during Decembrist revolt, became a haven for intellectual and creative types, thus resulting in a mix of somewhat ornate old wooden houses, contrasted with the usual stark Soviet apartments. It’s worth visiting The Church of the Cross to see a typically Siberian Baroque building, as well as the Irkutsk Botanic Garden, the Decembrists Museum, and the memorial to Tsar Alexander II, though the real reason we suggest stopping at Irkutsk is to access Lake Baikal. You will want to put aside enough time to really soak in this main attraction of the entire trip.

Lake Baikal is the greatest expanse of fresh water in the world, holding one fifth of the Earth’s fresh water. It is also the deepest lake on Earth. In summer, wildflowers bloom on the shores, while winter turns the lake and its surrounds into a dramatic, striking scene. There are over 2 500 species of animal inhabiting Lake Baikal and its surrounds: this includes brown bears, deer, lemmings, voles, wolves, ermines and sables, as well as numerous birds of prey and an even greater variety of aquatic animals. When you visit the lake, you can enjoy hiking, fishing, and even a traditional Russian banya (similar to a bathhouse or sauna).

Return to Irkutsk to get back onto the train and head for Ulan Ude. This town is surprisingly sunny for Siberia, and has quite a mix of ethnic groups and architecture, but you will begin to feel that you are entering Asia. This town is predominantly Buddhist, and some of its main attractions include the vibrantly colourful Ivolginsky Datsan, a Buddhist monastery which, surprisingly, was founded in Stalin’s time, and the Rinpoche Bagsha Buddhist centre, which has an incredible view of the surrounding landscape. Guides are good for places such as this, because they will know what to do in the temple and ensure you follow customs. While in Ulan Ude, don’t miss the world’s biggest Lenin head, Arbat street (which is great for people-watching) or the local Buryat cuisine which is dominated by various dumpling dishes.

Next on the railway you will reach Chita, where you can divert to either east to Vladivostok, or south to Beijing (which would actually mean you are taking the Trans-Mongolian line). Vladivostok is recommended if you are passing through to Japan or Korea, while Beijing is obviously a good connection to the rest of China, or South-East Asian countries like Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand.

Trans-Siberian ending

If you are headed east to Vladivostok, you can stop at Birobidzhan (which is probably only recommended if you are either Jewish or particularly interested in Jewish culture, as most of the sights are religious) or Khabarovsk, a place that really loves its winter sports. Khabarovsk is set alongside the tranquil Amur River, which really is a key feature of the town, lined with shops, monuments and parks. In summer the Rive Promenade evolves into a lively nightspot, with bars, live music, and party boats. The Ice Fantasy Festival runs from January until spring thaw, with a dazzling array of ice sculptures on display in the town centre. For history buffs, you may want to investigate the “Khabarovsk Territorial Museum”, which details Russian and Soviet history, and even includes a small section on Gulags, one of which was somewhere out of Khabarovsk.

If you are taking the eastern route, Vladivostok will be your final destination: and the beautiful train station itself is such a lovely place to end your Trans-Siberian journey. Lonely Planet describes Vladivostok as “Russia’s San Francisco”, with its hazy mountains and bays, and the distinctive Golden Horn Bridge. The city only opened for tourism in 1992, as a result of perestroika, and now has a whole host of museums as well as military and political monuments, so if you’re a humanities geek, brace yourself. Visit Sportivnaya Harbour for ocean views, Golden Bay where the Pacific Fleet is parked, and Ploshchad Bortsov Revolutsy, the main city square.

Trans-mongolian ending

If you are headed south into China, we suggest you stop at Harbin, particularly if it is winter, so you can check out the world-famous Harbin Snow Festival (link to WHM page on this) and China’s Snow Town. Harbin is covered with thick glittering snow and ice for up to half the year, and is known for its frozen beauty. Harbin is also part of UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network because of its music, and it is certainly worth attending the Harbin Summer Music Concert if you are there in early August. Other attractions include the Siberian Tiger Park, the Sun Island Park, and the opulent Volga Manor.

Next, head for Ulaanbaatar, the sprawling capital city of Mongolia. There are many places of Buddhist significance to visit, including the Gandan monastery, home to five thousand monks, the Choijin Lama monastery, which has now been preserved as a museum, and, as a day trip out of town, the surreal and ancient Edene Zuu monastery. Ulaanbaatar also has a surprisingly good nightlife, with many beer gardens and nightclubs specialising in electronic music- though it’s best to try and befriend a local, to show you the way through the night scene.

After Ulaanbaatar you will cross the Gobi Desert, to reach Beijing, your final destination on the Trans-Mongolian Railway. China’s massive capital blends old and new: sometimes seamlessly, sometimes jarringly. As well as the well-known tourist attractions- the Great Wall, the Art District, the Forbidden City- there is much to be discovered in Beijing, and the best way to do this is by bike. You can get a fixie for about $50 AUD, and because there are bike lanes on almost every street, this is a really good way to get around the city like the locals do. Enjoy a whole spectrum of flavour, from really rustic street food under a bridge or in a tunnel, to specialty coffee in hutongs (narrow alleyways distinct to China and especially Beijing).  And, if you’re keen to keep moving through Asia, why not check out our Asia Round Trip journey?