Has anybody traveled on the Trans-Siberian Railway? We are looking at Exeter International or National Geographic for the tour. Exeter is quite a bit less expensive but I know they use the same train as Nat Geo. Curious as to the difference between the two tours! Is it a good trip? Is it worth the travel time and cost?

I went on my own and years ago but can comment on the scenery - boring boring and boring the whole way - went to Khaborvosk and boat to Japan- that classic route which at that time was the only one available.

I flew have way Moscow to Irkutsk -believe me the next 3 days or so were very tedious - would never do it again but glad I did it once.

For a great description of such a trip, long before PalQ traveled it, check out Ryszard Kapucinski's Imperium (which is an excellent book all around).

I did London-Moscow-Beijing-Hong Kong via T-S in 1991, and London-Moscow-Vladivostiok-Niigata-Tokyo-Nagasaki in 1998.

Two very different experiences!

Moscow-Vladivostok is 7 days of Siberian steppe, with me the only westerner on the train until Irkutsk and few other people doing the whole distance.

Moscow-Beijing was something of a party, with 50 westerners on board, and varied scenery: Siberia, then a complete contrast, the Gobi Desert with yurts and camels, then another complete contrast, the mountains of China - no getting bored on that trip!

No need for some expensive 'tour' you can just buy a ticket and do it yourself: http://www.seat61.com/Trans-Siberian.htm#plan

I did St. Petersburg - Novgorod - Moscow - Ekaterinburg - Irkutsk - Ulan Ude - Ulan Bator - Datong - Beijing on the Trans-Mongolian route in 2004. I was not bored. I was on regular, used by locals, trains, not the posh tourist-only trains often used by upmarket companies at incredibly high prices. I booked my train tickets and transfers through an Australian company, but today I would check out seat61's link.

See: http://www.wilhelmswords.com/rtw2004/

Palenq, I've dreamt of doing this trip. Are you trying to burst my bubble?

I recommend <i> The Big Red Train Ride </i> by the great Eric Newby. I don't think he went all the way to China, but I highly recommend the book.