Traveling the Trans-Siberian Railway

An increasing number of people are becoming bored with the monotony of air travel and seeking more adventurous journeys.

The Trans-Siberian Railway certainly qualifies on that count. Trains run from the Russian capital of Moscow to the Chinese counterpart Beijing, a journey of 5,623 miles passing through Mongolia.

Another branch of the line continues east to the Russian port city of Vladivostok, but most travelers choose to head south to Mongolia and eventually Beijing. The joys of slow travel may be lost on some people, but the Trans-Siberian is a place to discover them.

Between the two important capital cities lie a number of attractions which merit a stop in Russia. First is the city of Kazan, capital of the largely Muslim province of Tatarstan. Next up is Yekaterinberg, a charming city which sits on the frontier between Europe and Asia.

From here, it’s a long journey across the steppes to the city of Irkutsk, which serves as a gateway to Lake Baikal, the deepest lake in the world. It goes without saying, many visitors also choose to stop off in Mongolia, a fascinating country which is hard to fit into other travel itineraries.

After Mongolia, it’s a comparatively short hop to Beijing, where you can rest up from your journey or use the Chinese rail system to visit other cities such as Xian, home to the Terracotta Army.

The trip comes highly recommended as the gradual changes in landscape and culture will give you a real appreciation for the distances you are covering. Rub shoulders with Russian soldiers traveling to deepest Siberia, or merchants from both countries taking goods to their market of choice.

Although it’s rare for your fellow railway passengers to speak English, you end up spending so much time together you will become proficient in improvised sign language by the end of your trip. The cabins are far from luxurious, aside from first class, but it’s an adventure that everyone who considers themselves a keen traveler should embark on if they get the chance.