Trans Siberia Gap Year

Travel Trans-Siberia on your gap year. Ideas for gap year travel to Trans-Siberia.

Trans-Siberia gap year - Gap year programmes in Trans-Siberia

The Trans Siberia, (often referred to as the Trans Siberian), is one of the great railway journeys of the world. Strictly speaking the Trans Siberia railway line is located in Russia, running from Moscow in western Russia to Vladivostock on Russia's southeast tip. However, it is possible to continue your journey on the Trans Siberia down through Mongolia and China by linking up with the Trans Mongolian railway line when the Trans Siberia reaches the eastern edge of Lake Baikal (the largest lake in the world, holding an incredible 20 per cent of the earth's fresh water). In order to avoid confusion, the continuation of the journey through Mongolia and China is often still referred to as being the Trans Siberia.

Russia is the world's largest country and travelling on the Trans Siberia railway allows travellers to cover vast distances on land whilst enabling them to check out some of the remotest places on earth at the same time. The Trans Siberia is a unique experience. A diverse range of people from all over the world travel on the Trans Siberia, but the Trans Siberia definitely shouldn't be confused with the Orient Express! The Trans Siberia is a scheduled, regular rail service used by backpackers and locals alike. Travelling on the Trans Siberia is a genuine real travel experience, not an organised ‘creature comforts' tour created solely for tourists. Spending your time on the Trans Siberia you are almost certain to strike up friendships with other travellers and you will also meet local people going about their everyday lives. If you are planning to travel or volunteer in Mongolia or China on your gap year or career break the Trans Siberia is a fantastic alternative to flying there. The Trans Siberia will take much longer to get you to wherever you are going, but will reward you with some unforgettable experiences of a lifetime.

One of the great things about the Trans Siberia is that travelling on it is extremely flexible. You can choose to travel on just certain parts of the Trans Siberia route, (just as far as Mongolia for example), and you can also travel on it in both directions. For example you could travel out to China on the Trans Siberia railway and then fly back, or you could choose to fly straight out to China first and then travel on the Trans Siberia for your return journey. Real Gap's ‘The Trans-Siberian Railway - Take the Vodkatrain' programme takes all the hassle out of arranging travel on the Trans Siberia by sorting out your rail ticket and accommodation and also giving you as much assistance as possible with the necessary paperwork - organising visas, etc. The emphasis of Real Gap's Trans Siberia programme is very much on organising your travel on the Trans Siberia without turning the experience in to a regimented ‘package' style tour.

When you travel on the Trans Siberia with Real Gap it most certainly isn't a ‘hand held' experience - while you are on the train, you travel in a small group with other backpackers without a tour guide or leader. When you arrive in to your city destination, our local city guides, or ‘honchos' will meet you. These honchos live in the city (so they know it inside out) and are basically on hand to help in any way they can and generally give you any tips or advice you may need - from how much a taxi fare should cost to where the best places to eat or drink can be found. The Trans Siberia honchos aren't on any commission to take you to any particular places and they let you set the itinerary you want. When you travel on the Trans Siberia you only have so much time in each place and the honchos help maximise this time by giving you the benefit of their local knowledge and helping out with any necessary arrangements.     

Real Gap offers three different routings on the Trans Siberia railway:

If you just want to travel in Russia on the Trans Siberia railway line then the best option is Real Gap's ‘Rasputin' option. This takes you on a six-day journey along a section of the Trans Siberia line between St Petersburg and Moscow.

If you also want continue the Trans Siberia through Mongolia and Russia there are two options. The ‘Ghengis Khan' is a 14-day journey travelling along a section of the Trans Siberia from Moscow to Beijing, whilst the ‘Vodka Train' is Real Gap's most comprehensive Trans Siberia programme - a 21-day journey from St Petersburg to Beijing. On the Mongolia sections of the Trans Siberia, travellers stay in traditional Mongolian ‘ger' tents - one of the many unique highlights of travelling on the Trans Siberia.

If you have any questions regarding travelling on the Trans Siberia, possible routings or travel dates for example, feel free to call one of Real Gap's team of expert travel advisers who will do all they can to answer any questions you have.

Trans-Siberia gap year - Gap year programmes in Trans-Siberia

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