Surviving A Trans Siberian Railway Trip

There are still some epic railway journeys available to the modern discerning traveller, and one of the best remains the Trans Siberian Railway. As the railway is so long and covers so much area, your trip is going to require plenty of planning to maximise your adventure. One of the best places to start is using the wealth of information freely available online with websites such as The Lonely Planet Thorn Tree Forum, or Trip Advisor. There is plenty to do so best to get started early.

What Is Your Route Going To Be?

One of the first things to organise is which route you are going to do and at which end of the railway you are going to start. The route options indicated in the Trans Siberian railway map are;

• The Trans Siberian– Only going through Russia from Moscow to the city of Vladivostok

•  The Trans Mongolian– This network travels from Moscow to Beijing, via the capital of Mongolia - Ulaanbaatar

• The Trans Manchurian– Travelling from Moscow, Russia to Beijing, via Chinese Manchuria

Whichever route you decide to take, there is going to be far too much to see and do to get it in with just one trip. Now, you are going to have to decide on what is important to see and do.

Planning Your Itinerary

You can get some excellent information on the forums and travel websites on what is possible and what is not when travelling, sometimes there is just not enough time, so you need to make the most of it when you can. Make sure that you allow for a couple of rest days when filling your schedule and prioritise the things that you want to see and do first.

Packing For Your Trip

Depending on the time of year that you are going to be travelling, you could end up passing through a variety of different climates. You will need to research all of your stops and see what the expected weather is going to be when you arrive. Doing this will allow you to plan your holiday wardrobe and ensure that you are always dressed for the part. As well as clothes, there are other essentials that you should take with you;

• First Aid Kit 
• Emergency SIM card with calls and data enabled
• Drinks and snacks
• Entertainment – books, laptop, Kindle,tablet 
•  Power Bank/Charging Device
• A translation device or phrase book
• A full toiletry kit including wet wipes

Although you are going to be able to purchase things on your travels, there are often long gaps between train stops and not always time enough to get off and buy what you need. Making sure that you are prepared for any eventuality will allow you to ensure that you will have a brilliant trip, no matter what it throws at you, including a dodgy stomach!

Take your time in planning and preparing for your trip and make sure that you have everything that you will need to stay comfortable. A trip of a lifetime such as this will assuredly leave you with many happy memories for a very long time to come!