Needed trip Ideas

Hi,

Are you sure about the Transsiberian trip?

It takes at least 7 days without stops and save for 1-2 days(around Lake Baikal and east from the lake) it's quite a boring trip. I think it's overhyped and there are much more beautiful rail journeys elswhere in the world.

There's lot's to see in Russia. If you have only 3 weeks I wouldn't waste 1 week on the train.

Russia is way too long in the west-east direction. I recommend you a north-south trip taking in some very diverse climates. A trip from Murmansk to Sevastopol is much more interesting than a trip from Moscow to Vladivostok.

Assuming you fly to/from Moscow what about this: Moscow - Novgorod - St. Petersburg - Petrozavodsk(for Kizhi island) - Moscow(Golden Ring) - train + ferry to the Crimea(Kerch, Sudak, Yalta, Bakhciseray, Sevastopol) and fly back to Moscow from Simferopol.

Hi,

There are quite a few things to do and to experience on the Trans-Siberian trip. I assume those who say it's boring either didn't get out the train all 10000 km or hate trains.

Just make sure you get out at significant places to 1)break the journey 2)see different cultures of huge country.

Vladivostok (big port city with an interesting bridge) -> 1 day+2 days train
Ulan-Ude (center of Buddhism of Russia, also home for buryat people related to Mongolians, very nice city) -> 2-3 days
lake Baikal (eastern shore is untouched by western tourists and 2 hours drive from Ulan-Ude) -> 2-4 days depending how full experience you want to get.
...then if you have time take a short trip to Mongolia (another 600km south).... -> 1 day bus+3 or 4 days around UlaanBataar +1 day bus back
Western lake Baikal (Olkhon island is getting more touristy every year, 7 hours drive+ferry, bus from Irkutsk) -> 1 day train+1 day bus+2 or 3 days there
Krasnoyarsk (good national park close to the city, huge dam) -> 2 days train+2 days there
Ekaterinburg, Novosibirsk and Tomsk are not my choice, but people still go there -> 2 days train
Kazan (center of Tatarstan, muslim community and nice mosques) -> 1 day + 1 day train
Moscow (no comments) -> 3 or 4 days
St.P (no comments) -> 3 or 4 days.

PS That is of course not counting the experience on the trains!

You may visit the Urals, such as the city of Perm, Solikamsk, Kungur, Yekaterinburg, Nizhny Tagil, Nevyansk. Some call it a local analogue of the "Golden Ring", but with a different flavor. The culture of this place is based on the mining and manufacturing industry. For example, this is not the Tsar Cannon in the Moscow Kremlin, but in Perm, where it was created. Also, there is a reasonably interesting old architecture and great nature. Train from Moscow to Perm takes 20-22 hours, Ekaterinburg - 27-30 hours, flight 2-2.5 hours. All these cities are well connected by railways and buses.
http://rusio.info/the-urals/

Hello everyone! Im living in Irkutsk, so if you need any advice about the city or surroundings including lake Baikal - feel free to ask. Im looking for practicing my english and cultural exchange. I dont use facebook or twitter, so if you need help or advice you can write me on e-mail - d_m_itriy@mail.ru If you encounter problems with translation from russian - feel free to write me, ill try to reply ASAP. Actually, me and my wife would like to have a cup of cofee with an english speaker - our english skills are deteriorating without practice here(

Considering your trip there might be a flight from Irkutsk to Olkhon island in summer. This will save at least 3 hours each way for you, though im not sure about luggage limits.

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