Hello there,
As the title explains i just started planning a trip for 2018-19 from Eastern Europe to SE Asia and can't really decide what would be the best time of year to start. It's really soon so I can't provide all the necessary info but a rough itinerary would be like that :
1. Poland + Baltic (1 month)
2. Russia (1 month)
3. Mongolia (2 weeks)
4. Beijing, Shanghai (2 weeks)
5. Philippines-Indonesia-Malaysia (2 months)
6. Cambodia (2 weeks)
7. Vietnam (1 month)
8. Laos (2 weeks)
9. Finally if my budget is ok for that im going to try a Himalayan trek in Nepal. If not I will spend some beach days in Thailand and back to Europe.
So the tricky question is when to start. An important part of this trip for me is definitely visiting Siberia. Most people do the trans mongolian in summer but I would love to experience the unique beauty of this place during winter, plus this would fit perfectly for SE Asia (I will be there Dec-March). My question is if it's possible to visit siberian nature (besides major cities) around Nov-Dec. Same question goes for Mongolia. Another thought is to do the trip in opossite way ( starting around Dec from SE Asia and visit Mongolia-Siberia around April) but to be honest winter in Siberia is something I really want to experience if it's possible plus if I will manage to fund also my Himalayan trek this has to be done around May so it fits better to my original itinerary. That's it for now... any info, question or suggestion is really welcomed !
Yes you can experience nature in a Siberian winter if you bring suitable thermal clothing including substantial boots. Was passing Irkutsk some years ago in late December and found places to visit around Lake Baikal. (-35 C, though if you want ice on lake you'll have to come later.) Mongolia much less appealing around that time IMO. Think frozen mud on brown wasteland.
Consider problem of getting rid of gear. I found it necessary to abandoned multiple old sweaters and even boots on way south through China.
Thanks for replying! Yeah already thought how to deal with clothes. So do you think it would be better to skip Mongolia and spend these 2 weeks in another place southern?
Well, don't miss stopping in Ulan Bator for two or three days and see the reopened Gandon monastery, which is somewhat reminiscent of Tibet and a good introduction to Asia. I think you could leave put the expensive visits to tourist gers aside and just tour the suburbs a bit. But yes, spend more time farther south.
Hi
It is good to start in spring in Poland, next to Baltics - Tallinn - Sillamae (town from Soviet era, Stalinist architecture), Kuremae monastery, Narva-Joesuu sea resort - Narva (castle, Russian border).
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