WHICH WAY TO GO?

NEWS & VIEWS FROM THE RAILS

THE DIFFERENT TRANS-SIBERIAN ROUTES

Just how many Trans-Siberian railway routes are there. Well, that can be up for argument as there are variations within some of the main routes as well as more obscure tracks like the BAM (Baikal-Amur Mainline) that runs nearly 500 miles north of the Trans-Siberian mainline in Russia’s far east.
blog route map

The Trans-Mongolian is the most popular

Let’s focus on the three main routes travellers take. The first and by far the most popular taken by The Trans-Siberian Travel Company clients is the classic Trans-Mongolian route from Moscow to Beijing via Ulaanbaatar. It is the shortest at 7,621 km but the popularity derives more from the section of the trip through Mongolia allowing even people who are transiting to get a taste for this stunning and remote country. In fact, most people allow time to stop off in Mongolia to experience a night or two in the grasslands sleeping in a traditional Mongolian ger. 

Original Trans-Siberian running Moscow to Vladivostok

We find that the second most popular is the original Trans-Siberian line from Moscow to Vladivostok. This is the longest single train ride in the world and a must for any rail enthusiast - 9,258 km of railway magic! The route never leaves Russia and is a great way to get to or from Japan as Vladivostok has decent connections by ferry or plane with Tokyo.

The less ridden Trans-Manchurian

The final of the three main tracks is the Trans-Manchurian which also runs the Beijing to Moscow route but misses Mongolia (and why would you want to do that!?) The only real advantage of this route is the opportunity to stop off in Harbin to see the spectacular Ice and Snow Festival held each January into February and one of China’s most spectacular sights and well worth wrapping up warm for!

the rarely travelled baikal amur mainline or bam

The final route is the Baikal Amur Mainline which runs about 400 km north of the Trans-Siberian from Tayshet just to the east of Krasnoyarsk to Sovietskya Gavan - all in all  4,324 km (2,687 miles) long. This little travelled route is actually one of the prettiest with some beautiful scenery north of Baikal and we are one of the few companies which offer trips along it.
Whichever route you choose a genuine Trans-Siberian experience awaits you -  trip so full of adventure and the unexpected and deservedly one of the world’s great overland journeys.

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BROWSE RECENT POSTS

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