The six-day journey on the Trans-Siberian Railway from Moscow to Vladivostok is the longest train route in the world. Passing through over 140 Russian cities, past terrain from forests to mountains to the Siberian taiga, it offers a once-in-a-lifetime experience for intrepid travelers. And, depending on your budget and how much control you want over your trip, there are three main ways to make this epic journey – on a regular tour, a luxury tour, or by simply traveling independently. What are the pros and cons of each of these approaches?
Traveling Independently
If you want maximum control over your itinerary, you can always book your trip independently. Whether you want a non-stop journey or one that includes any of the dozens of Trans-Siberian railroad stops along the route, planning your own trip gives you the freedom to decide the way to see Russia that best suits you. Bear in mind, though, the Russian Railway doesn’t allow for spontaneous stops – you must plan your journey in advance, with a separate ticket for each city you plan to visit. That complication, though, can be well worth it to experience some of the fascinating cities you’ll find along the way.
When booking this way, you’ll travel on either the branded Rossiya (#001/002) or the #061/062 non-branded train. As it makes significantly fewer stops, the non-branded train is the faster option, making the trip about a day faster than the Rossiya, though it is an older train with fewer amenities. The Rossiya, while not as sleek as some Russian trains, has been modernized over the years though still lacks common amenities such as showers.
Your cheapest option for booking tickets is through the official website of the Russian Railway, RZD. Be warned that, even though there is an English version of the site, the process can be confusing for those not already familiar with the Russian rail system. An easier option, albeit with a small markup, is to use a third-party agency, which usually offers a significantly smoother booking experience. This can be especially helpful when planning multiple stops, where you have little room for mistakes.
A Trans-Siberian Tour on a Regular Train
If completely running your own trip seems too daunting, then consider one of the many options for organized tours on the regular trains:
- Highlights on the Trans-Siberian – this 14-day/13-night tour takes you through Russia, Mongolia, and China, from Moscow to Beijing
- 5 stars – East to West – this 15-day journey runs from Beijing through the cities of Ulaanbaatar, Irkutsk, and Yekaterinburg before ending in Moscow
- Trans-Siberian through Russia-Mongolia-China – a 16-day tour starting in Moscow and proceeding through Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Irkutsk, then on to Ulaanbaatar and Beijing
- Journey of a Lifetime – another 16-day trip from Moscow through Yekaterinburg, Krasnoyarsk, Irkutsk, Ulaanbaatar, and ending in Beijing
- Trans-Siberian 3 in 1 – the shortest of the tours at only 10 days, taking you from Moscow through Yekaterinburg and ending in Irkutsk
- Great Russia by Train – a 12-day journey takes you the full length of the Trans-Siberian, from Moscow to Irkutsk and finally to Vladivostok
- Trans-Sib – four cities – a 14-day trip through four of Russia’s key cities: Moscow, Yekaterinburg, Irkutsk, and Vladivostok
While tours like this cost more than booking your own itinerary, they allow for a much less stressful trip, with travel and hotel arrangements and the Russian visa invitation taken care of, as well as some of the meals and tickets to attractions. Note that these tours use regular trains with limited amenities, do not offer toilets in the compartments, and with no showers on board.
And while the tour is more structured than planning your own, trip, you can still customize stops, dates, and what extra tours you want to create your own unique adventure. You also get the benefit of a guide, providing expert local knowledge and helping shepherd you smoothly through your visit to each location. Your Trans-Siberian railroad tour options include the following:
- Moscow
- Yekaterinburg
- Krasnoyarsk
- Novosibirsk
- Irkutsk
- Lake Baikal
- Ulan Ude
- Vladivostok
A Luxury Trans-Siberian Train Tour
But if you’d rather experience the Trans-Siberian railway as a luxury trip, here are two options for luxury tours:
- Imperial Russia
Taking you from Moscow all the way to Beijing, with stops on the Trans-Siberian route at Kazan, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Irkutsk, Lake Baikal, and Ulan-Ude (as well as a Mongolian stop in Ulaanbaatar), this 16-day tour is run by RZD, the state railway company, and runs twice each summer.
This tour runs on an opulent luxury train, Imperial Russia, which features showers in all cars, VIP cabins with a private toilet and shower, and elegant restaurant and bar cars. The train also hosts a doctor, 24-hour attendants, and English-speaking tour managers, and offers 1st Class, VIP, and business class bookings.
Included in the tour are train tickets, accommodations at 5-star hotels (and one night in a yurt in Mongolia), coffee, tea, and water on the train, transfers, lectures, and guided tours. Note that these are group tours, not private, meaning you will share the experience with other travelers. Consequently, dates and stops cannot be customized as on other tours.
- Golden Eagle
The most luxurious train on the Trans-Siberian, the Golden Eagle is privately run, and runs once a year to coincide with Ulaanbaatar’s Naadam National Festival. The train travels from Moscow via Kazan, with additional stops in Novosibirsk, Irkutsk, Lake Baikal, and Ulan-Ude before arriving in Ulaanbaatar
Each cabin on the Golden Eagle includes a private bathroom, towels, bathrobes and slippers, and complimentary toiletries from L’Occitane. Certain cabins also have double beds, while the Imperial cabins also have a seating area and minibar. An on-board doctor and 24-hour attendants are also present on the train for your convenience.
Luxury tours on the Golden Eagle are significantly more expensive than the other two methods of travel on the Trans-Siberian, costing about twice as much as bookings on Imperial Russia, though obviously, it offers a more opulent journey – essentially a rolling five-star hotel. Tour amenities include hotel accommodations, meals, group tours, transfers, luggage porterage, coffee, tea, and water on the train.
Note that, unlike Imperial Russia, the Golden Eagle terminates in Ulaanbaatar. If you desire to include China, particularly the Chinese capital, as part of your journey, you will need to book that additional travel independently.
What’s the best way to experience the Trans-Mongolian?
Whether you’re an adventurous soul eager to plan every detail of your own trip, or you’re ready to pull out all the stops for a luxury excursion, there is an option on the Trans-Siberian Railway that meets your needs. But consider that the best answer may be a compromise – a tour on a regular train, giving you, on the one hand, a customizable itinerary, a menu of tours to select from, and the benefit of expert local guides and English-speaking support while offering options for just about any budget.
