where does the baikal amur mainline stop?
The Baikal Amur Mainline departs the Trans-Siberian line from Tayshet a little east of Krasnoyarsk at the western end going all the way to the ocean in the east at Sovetskaya Gavan. However the main stops on a BAM trip that will start in Krasnoyarsk and finish in Vladivostok are Bratsk, Severobaikalsk, Tynda and Komsomolsk on Amur, from where a connecting line is taken to the pleasant city of Khabarovsk back on the Trans-Siberian line.
why travel the bam over the trans-siberian?
The BAM passes through a wild, thoroughly off the beaten track part of Siberia and the Russian Far East, through towns and cities that time seems to have left in the Soviet era. This is what makes it such a fascinating rail journey. You will see none of the more Westernised Russia found along the Trans-Siberian but instead get an insight into a more planned, Soviet system and its vast and slightly bonkers level of ambition. If you are interested in seeing the Russia of 30 years ago then then BAM is for you. Do note though that almost all BAM trips including the ones here start and finish on the Trans-Siberian so you can experience the best of both these lines.
Our BAM tours are less about the sights and more about the people and history who exist along this lifeline of a railway. However, we also feel that some of the most dramatic scenery along the railways in Russia can be found along the BAM in particular between Severobaikalsk and Tynda. The Northern end of Lake Baikal is spectacular and much wilder than the Southern end more usually visited.
when is the best time to travel the bam?
We feel the September to November is the best time to experience the Baikal Amur Mainline. September and the first half of October will deliver some autumn colours and reasonable weather whilst the second half of October and November will be more wintery and atmospheric but without the real cold of a BAM winter. The summer months are less popular mainly due to mosquitos which can plague much of the route.
HOW DO WE GET STARTED ORGANISING a bam tour?
Below you will find two tour options, one Eastbound and the other Westbound. As well as the BAM both tours also include Moscow, Ekaterinburg, Krasnoyarsk, Khabarovsk and Vladivostok and the combination of these stops and the BAM make for a truly epic rail adventure across Russia. We can also tailor this trip though so please don’t hesitate to ask for any changes. Then, the best thing to do is contact us by phone on +44 020 8816 8925, email or the form below so we can start planning your BAM adventure!
