Going on Trans Siberian from Beijing to St Petersburg... Should I go with Vodka train or just buy tickets and book accommodation etc. seperately? Has anyone done the Vodka train?
Hi, I am going from Beijing to St Petersburg on Trans Siberian/Mongolian in September...
i'm 18 and will have just been to South East Asia, Indonesia/Malaysia and NZ - this is the last part of my trip before i fly home from St P.
I want to do a very similar itinery to the vodka train..ideally with slightly more flexibility...however the actual Vodka train is very expensive (£2000) and i feel that if i bought just the tickets (£400 - through RealRussia - any other suggestions?) and then arranged it myself i would be able to it for less.
Few Questions:
Do you think i will still meet young people if i travelled independantly?
Would it be easy to book accommodation?
I would like to stay in a Ger tent..has anybody else done this independantly of the vodka train..costs?
My plan:
I would like to stop at Ulaan Baator (4 days), Lake Baikal, Moscow, St P) any others you would suggest?
Any help/advice would be great...if you have done the Vodka train that would be even better!
Many thanks,
Marcus
Reply to this Hi Marcus,
I have my heart set on doing the train trip from Moscow to Xian via the silk road and Kashgar next year.
Even though I haven't done the train trip yet I would definitely do it independently if I were you. Live a little, get lost and get out there.
All these tour companies over charge way too much on some of their overland journeys. I think if you're willing to go for it by yourself, then I would. Not only will you grow as a person, you meet some local people, maybe speak a new language and meet travelers along the way. Even if you dont meet young people along the way, you will still have a great time.
Im sure you can book hostels, hotels along the way. hotelworld.com
Anyway my plans are getting a train from London to Singapore over 6 months going via Europe, Russia, China, Nepal, India, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore. Im looking at starting this trip of a life time in July 2011. If your around in July and would like to do the train from StP or Moscow, let me know.
Nathan
Reply to this Marcus,
the Transsib is very much a name for the whole line. But there are countless trains along the line, as it is the only railway across the country, serving the locals as pretty much the only way of transportation. There are countless trains along the route all the time, ranging from local trains that only go the next city, to longer haul ones that do maybe one night or a few days, to some long ones that travel all the way from Beijing to Moscow and onwards. Arranging it yourself is as easy to go the train station in any Russian city and buying your train ticket for wherever you want to go next. Do take your time and stop wherever you like. When you are ready to move on, just buy the train ticket for the next leg. I hope this helps in your planning,
Ben
Reply to this 
