The world’s longest and most famous train journey. Crossing all of Russia, the route takes you through a landscape that was previously so impenetrable that it used to be quicker to cross the Atlantic, America and the Pacific than it was to make the overland from Moscow to Vladivostok. Considering there are unlikely to be any other ways you will get to see this vast expanse of territory, this feels like a must for an adventurous traveler.
But two things to bear in mind:
- Firstly, the route is not one single train journey, rather it is a series of trains and with various stops. This gives you variety but also has implications for tickets (see tips below).
- Secondly, there are three final destinations – Vladivostok, Beijing or Zabaikalsk. The classic is Vladivostok, but the most wow is ending in Beijing via Mongolia.
I first experienced this travelling from Omsk to Beijing – via Krasnoyarsk, Irkutsk & Lake Baikal, Ulan Ude, Ulan Bator & its surrounding national parks – and it is a stellar journey for any adventurer. Plus it can easily tag on a Central Asia trip.