Most travel is about getting to a destination, and if the route itself is pleasurable, it is an unexpected bonus. Rarely do people undertake a journey for its own sake, to a place they probably have no real desire to see no less. Vladivostok in this case.
The world’s longest continuous railway across Siberia will take you on a cultural, historical, and scenic journey of epic proportions. Beginning in Moscow and traveling more than 6,000 miles to the eastern seaport of Vladivostok, travelers on the Trans-Siberian Railway can step back in time in several historic cities and towns along the way. The railway remains one of the main transportation routes within Russia, and although there are plenty of foreign travelers aboard, most are Russian citizens, making this still an authentic experience.
Making it Happen
Most travelers begin their journey in Moscow and travel east to Vladivostok, but the reverse trip is possible. The non-stop, one-way journey takes about 7 days, but with stopovers and side trips, the adventure can be extended for weeks. In fact, many people are content riding the rails in bits and pieces, never actually completing the full 6,000 miles.
The trains that run regularly are comfortable, but not luxurious. You are given a berth and bedding in one of three sleeper classes. First class offers the most spacious accommodations, with two passengers to a cabin, while third class puts 6 people in open cabins, dormitory style, which will be more crowded in western Russia and around the big cities. There are washrooms and toilets along the corridors and a restaurant car with tasty meals. The train also stops for about a half hour every 3 to 4 hours and the train platforms are always full of vendors selling fresh vegetables, fruit, cheese, and prepared foods. For a more extravagant trip, and a price tag to match, you can choose to book a rail cruise on a Golden Eagle Luxury Train that completes the trip with stopovers in fifteen days.
If you you don’t want to simply sit back and watch the scenery, hop off the train and tour some of the incredible sites along the way. Yekaterinburg is a major city just inside Asian Russia that pays homage to the royal Romanov family that was murdered here in 1918. Aside from this tragic history, it is a colorful and vibrant city with beautiful architecture. Another must see is the capital of Siberia, Irkutsk. This city has been a trade crossroads between Russia and China for centuries and tells the tale with incredible architecture, museums, and events. This is also the gateway city to Lake Baikal, the deepest and clearest lake in the world, known as the "Pearl of Siberia," with 27 islands to explore and a dramatic shoreline that encompasses quaint villages, rugged cliffs, and rolling hills.
A journey on the Trans-Siberian Railway is a fantastic opportunity to mingle with local Russians while embarking on one of the last great adventures of the modern age. This is undoubtedly the most important railway on earth, and one that every true globetrotter must ride at least once.
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