Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Anyone been on the Transsib?

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Anyone been on the Transsib?

I am considering a trip with the Transsib, train from Moscow to Beijing (although I know it is not the traditional route). Has anyone any experience with such a trip? Are there different trains? How was your trip? Thanks!! Lilli

Try searching www.lonelyplanet.com

Fodorites on the TransSiberian Railroad? Don't think so. Can't imagine there are many four-stars in Irkutsk...

What are you talking about, Tim? This site is filled with people looking for cheap accomodations, staying in hostels and convents, eating on a shoestring, etc. You must have Fodors mixed up with some other website. Sure some posters are four star type people but there are just as many who are budget travelers.

There are three routes: Moscow-Mongolia-Beijing (the Trans-Mongolian), Moscow-Manchuria-Beijing (the Trans-Manchurian) and Moscow-Vladivostok (the Trans-Siberian). There are also trains to Pyongyang in North Korea. For the Moscow-Vladivostok route is only a Russian visa needed, for the Moscow-Manchuria-Beijing is a Russian and a Chinese visa needed, for the Moscow-Mongolia-Beijing route are both Russian, Mongolian and Chinese visas needed. - Train timetable: These timetables have been the same for long time and don't change much. All trains (both trains to Beijing and Vladivostok) are very comfortable, and have restaurant car on board. These are the direct, through trains. Note that there are many intermediate trains that don't run the entire trip. MSK = Moscow time. Moscow - Beijing: Trans-Mongolian: Train 004Z goes on Tuesdays from Moskva (Moscow) Jaroslavlskaja 23:50 MSK, to Beijing 15:33 local time, six nights later. A Mongolian transit visa is required. Trans-Manchurian: Train 020Ch, "Vostok", goes on Fridays from Moskva Jaroslavlskaja 23:40 MSK, to Beijing 05:30 local time, seven nights later. Moscow - Vladivostok: Train 002M, "Rossia", goes on odd-numbered dates from Moskva Jaroslavlskaja 16:27 MSK, to Vladivostok 23:06 MSK six nights later (06:06 local time the following day). - Train fares: There are three types of accommodation - platskartny ("rolling dorm"), kupejnij (sleeping compartment with 4 comfortable beds), mjagkij (expensive sleeping compartment with 2 beds). Only the last two accomodations exist on international trains. Within Russia you can travel as far as Ulan Ude on Russian trains and then switch to an international train if you want to save money or have the experience. The fares listed are for tickets bought at a Russian railway station. It's much more expensive through a travel agency, especially outside Russia. The reasons for the increased costs are several - one someone must go to the train station and actually purchase the tickets and two an extra fee must be paid when tickets are purchased without presentation of one's passport. (see notes below) Moscow - Beijing (2002 fares): The fare Moscow - Beijing is US$200 in kupejnij, $320 in mjagkij (the fares are about the same on both Trans-Manchurian and Mongolian routes with the Trans-Manchurian being a few dollars more for the ticket but the Trans Mongolian requires an additional $30-50 for a Mongolian transit visa.) Moscow - Vladivostok (2002 fares): The fare Moscow - Vladivostok is US$100 in platskartny, $185 in kupejnij, $538 in mjagkij.

Might want to check the US State Department Web site before you go---the Transsib cna be a dangerous trip for the uninitiated, and there are warnings you might want to be aware of.

Great information. Can you take the train as far as Mongolia and fly out from there? I will be in Moscow and then need to be in Mongolia but can not transit China.

Appelrew: Yes you can and would suggest you do a search for MIAT Airlines(www.miat.mn) which is Mongolian. They fly out to Franfurt, Japan and Moscow plus other destinations. I flew out of Ulaanbaatar Octoaber 2002 and caught the Trans Mongolian train (from Beijing) in Urkutsk, Russia and then went on to Moscow. I purchased my ticket right at the railway station for around $300 Canadian First Class (mjagkij). Great great trip.

Wonderful. If you don't mind a few details...how long was the trip between Mongolia and Moscow? From the web site I found it looks like 3 and half days to some point and then you have to make a connection. How is that done? There will be 3 of us and we will be going from Moscow to Mongolia then flying out via Korea.

Appelrew: Have posted this site for you and it has all the departures and times for travelling through the various cites and villages right on to Beijing. There is not much stop-over times and I wouldn`t venture too far from the stations. Hope this helps.

Have a look at: http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com/me...d=0&from=1

Just copy and paste in, it is all continuous. Or go to thorntree.lonelyplanet.com and do a search

Garfield: Have you heard anything more about anyone`s experiences with the new Visa regulations and migration card since they came into effect in November 2002?

This is what has been passed on to me:

"The new migration card is presented to you on the plane. It is numbered and you need to fill it out. There are two parts. One is removed when you pass through immigration. The other needs to be stamped and is collected from you when you leave the country. You will need to have it stamped both in Moscow and while in Petersburg if you are in either of these cities for 72 hours or more, or in any other city.

If you are staying at a hotel, they usually stamp it within a few minutes to hours of checkin. If you are not, then you need to contact the agency that provided the visa support, so that you can arrange for them to stamp it. You will need to arrange to do this on Friday, since by Sunday evening you will already have been in Russia for 72 hours.

They do check the dates and the stamps when you exit."

Thanks Garfield, but it`s not too much different than what was applicable in October when I was there. I had a rental apartment in St. Petersburg for a couple of months and then went to other cities. As long as I didn`t stay for more than 3 days I did not have to have my visa stamped at the local OVIR office. I hate to think what could happen if someone loses that second part of the Migration Card before they try to exit the country. Thanks again for the info.

I agree, I think that it is much like the old paper visa, except that you must fill it out just before you arrive and that a firm departure date must be entered. I also hear that the currency declaration is now $10,000.