Start (or end) of this trip is the ever beautiful MoscowStart (or end) of this trip is the ever beautiful Moscow
On-board
From Moscow you step on the impressive train. The length of the train is somewhat dependent on the season, but more than 20 wagons is not exceptional; so be on time to walk down the long platform looking for the right train set. Characteristic of the Russian trains is that they are well maintained and clean. Your first steps with luggage on board the train which will feel small and cramped, especially if more than one person in the four-seater coupes trying to find their bed and luggage trying to clean up. Although the trains are provided -a greater or lesser degree werkende- air con is not on when the train is stationary. Be prepared for high temperatures in the summer when entering the train. Once this has been on steam, air con to go and is the temperature back to a comfortable height and you can travel with the legendary Trans-Mongolian Express really take off!
Train MoscowRailway station in Moscow
At breakneck speed toward the end of the world
Once the train is once steam, it is also real. During the trip you make every now and then a stop, but usually you rant at a murderous pace on this endless railroad. On board is the perfect place to relax with the best entertainment staring out. Despite the fast pace, the landscape changes very gradually and it is wonderful to see how the golden blond colored birch trees with their bright white stems alternate with sinister pine woods by the sun which a song of Drs. P would not just hurt. Fields of purple heather and yellow flowers, log cabin-style villages and marshy hills; landscape excels in a rustic simplicity and makes you time and place soon forgotten.
The further you get, the more varied will be the landscape. The vastness of Siberia will exceed all expectations and quickly as the train progresses, the villages become fewer and fewer, smaller, but also more colorful. Hansel and Gretel-like wooden houses with rich gardens welcome you in the most remote part of Russia and together with the surrounding grassland idyllic picture.
Depending on the route chosen will Siberia to explore in its entirety with the Trans-Siberian Railway, or just for the three-country trail pass through from Irkutsk on the Trans-Mongolian Express to branch off to the south. If you choose the last option, the landscape has much more in store for you. In one night the area considerably and you wake up with changing views of the gigantic steppes of Mongolia here and adorned with some desolate yurts. Beyond the capital, Ulan Bator, this is exchanged for the arid plains of the Gobi desert. Already produced smash feels quite like you have arrived at the end of the world, but nothing is less true. Once crossed the Chinese border the landscape is much greener, more mountainous and densely bevolkter. The ultimate end is always bustling Beijing law saying that you have gone through all the extremes of this trip!
Siberian landscapesHours of travel through the unchanging Siberian landscapes Mongolian landscapesMongol desolate landscapes Chinese mountainsOf the Siberian plains to the Chinese mountains
train Life
From the moment you enter the train you are in another world. It is the environment in which - depending on the number of trips you make - you'll go the next week. Soon you will also get through that there is a mini-society develops in the train with its own unwritten rules and coupéwetten that you otherwise will learn very quickly.
In terms of entertainment is there to do little more than stare at the slowly changing scenery, read a book or use some other self-brought entertainment. Eating and drinking is done mostly on instant basis - the hot water boiler is your best friend on board. Internet is not to be found in the train and the Russian SIM cards do not seem to work very well on the track, so it's a special present closure of the rest of the world where you voluntarily enters into. Surrender to this rippling sensation and you have the time of your life! Nothing should you rest delicious, have interesting conversations with you enjoyed wagon - in English or just through sign language - and is part of a continuing smash company that will remain eternally.
The hall of the train carsThe hall of the train cars with power sockets, seating and the hot water boiler Trans-Mongolian ExpressFor days, this will be your own little home - with or without Russian nice there!
The train stops occasionally for a long time on the larger drives. At these locations - often with impressive station buildings in pastel shades, equipped with small shops, grotesque squares, mini-Orthodox chapels and much more - so you can get some air gasp and stretch your legs. The best part is that it is often teeming with women who want to sell their food at these stations: hot dumplings, homemade pastries, ice-cold water, smoked fish or delicious fresh fruit, it's for sale on the platforms. This way you can so as to rotate the instant food that you usually most will have on your trip. Keep meanwhile okay departure of train your eye, you can quite easily run on the track, but it is annoying when you have to rush back and rumbles like a very long freight train on this one track!
Longer stops Trans-Mongolian ExpressDuring longer stops will deflate the train out to get some fresh air and store in fresh food trader PermTrader in Perm Fresh bread, fruits and vegetables are available everywhere at stationsFresh bread, fruits and vegetables are available everywhere at stations trader PermTrader in Perm Trans-Mongolian Express: fresh merchandiseFresh merchandise at stations The track you just cross: But always watch you walk back to your timely trainsetThe track you just cross: But always watch you walk back to your timely trainset
The longest stops do with the Trans-Mongolian Express on the border crossings between Russia and Mongolia and Mongolia and China. Often you first need to hand in your passport in someone with a big hat (rule: the bigger the hat, the more important one), then you are to go quite some time, though there is relatively little experience in this desolate stations . Once back in the train compartment is controlled: visa check, passport check, baggage check, police check, checkmetinfraroodwaarniemandietsvansnapt check and so on. If everything appears to be correct and the train starts moving again, will be just the whole party just across the border to start again, but for the other country. So, you've quickly a large half a day with delicious sweet red tape. Something, incidentally definitely part of the charm of this country, so you just to surrender is the best thing you can do!
Mongolia border crossing RussiaBorder crossing between Mongolia and Russia Train desolate landscapesDesolate landscapes on train stations
About provodniks and provodnistas
Each carriage has multiple sleeping compartments, two toilets and a sink with hot water boiler. One that for you, your traveling companions and the environment ensures the provodnik (male) or provodnista (woman). Although they can sometimes surly eyes, they provide generally very good for their palace. You then at 7 o'clock in the morning wakes up because the cute rug in your cabin needs a vacuuming, you should only increase the sale. They are also the ones who prepare the train for arriving at a station: closing the toilets for entering a city, opening the doors and - to a greater or lesser extent - convene as the train is going to leave. they also have their own booth stock up on food, drink and other practical matters stand, so if you have forgotten something and insist need, it is always for sale!
Once you get in the train will take the provodnik or provodnista your ticket for no apparent reason (knowledge of English is limited). This, however, you'll just get back just before you approach your final destination. Sometimes they will walk past your cabin, something quickly in Russian rattle and then you leave in total bewilderment. No point, they probably know well that you understand nothing about it and it is a mere formality that they have to present something. In general, they seem also to entertain or to the barely-Russian speaking tourists. As long as you vodka or Sovetskoye shampanskoye but grabbing your cabin, not in the hallway, there is nothing wrong and they are mostly laugh!
The Trans-Mongolian Express one changes the guard and you get no light half-surly Russian ladies, but still only Chinese men to take care of the train. Honesty to say that this is not the most scrupulously clean part of the train journey will involve, but overall it is still doable.
Providnik and provodnistaProvodnik and provodnista; your best friends in the train Provodnista in OmskProvodnista in Omsk
Practical issues
While it is relatively easy to adapt to life in the Trans-Mongolian Express and are generally self-explanatory, there are some helpful tips to make life on board just a little easier.
So it is very nice to know that all times indicated terms vertek- and arrival of the train, both in the train and on your tickets, are in Moscow time. Because you continuous calculation is crossed so many time zones different, so this is much easier, just be good to know if you somewhere once have to get your train! Furthermore beforehand known how long the train will stop on every station. In the small villages is often just two minutes, but in the larger cities may take 30 minutes and stop as you so all the time to stretch out our legs and what to buy fresh food! The exact train times are simply online to find.
Once you get in the train you get a clean set of sheets and a small towel from the provodnista, which you can do throughout the train. Sometimes even include a small mini set with a toothbrush and wetwipe the extras, but this is not always the case. Anyhow, it is useful to have a supply of these wetwipes, travel washcloths etc. along. The small sink in the toilet is not really suitable for an extensive wash, so to freshen up somewhat in the sometimes quite hot trains is nice!
Each train is also equipped with power outlets (same type as in the Netherlands), but there are often only a few exist. The hero of the train so you are quickly if you have a power strip or multi-USB charger in your pocket!
Trans-Mongolian Express: your own trainSometimes you see your train ride
Why the Trans-Mongolian Express?
Once you're on board once you venture into a completely different world. Without you knowing rant you through different time zones you pass evocative places like Omsk, Novosibirsk and Irkutsk, and you get a small glimpse into the lives of real Russians. If you decide to travel to China with the Trans-Mongolian Express, you have immediately a whole new experience by visiting two completely different countries. It is a wonderful way of getting to you - although the long distances in the train do might suggest otherwise - will not be bored. If you want you can of course get out as often as possible and thus this trip is full to fill your needs. The Trans-Mongolian Express still feels like a real original, old-fashioned way of travel and this wonderful feeling you will only retain but on board. Dream yourself while gazing at the endless landscapes towards the end of the world and step aboard the Trans-Mongolian Express!
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