Mike, you may not be finding out what you would like to find out over on Oz but maybe asking in North East Asia or Eastern Europe branches will get you more re the Trans Siberian.

Take it from someone who lives in Moscow - bring your own warm clothing. Whilst Moscow isn't so bad in the winter (I spent most of the last winter wearing thermals, a t-shirt, and a hoody, much to the shock and horror of my clients/friends! it rarely hit -10 so...), I would dare to say that Yakutsk is going to need a hell of a lot more! incidentally, I'm supposed to go there in December for a business trip and have been advised that even eye protection is necessary for such cold!

There isn't really a second-hand market in Russia at all for some bizarre reason (I believe that they think second-hand = bad) so it's strongly advised you bring what you can or shop in Moscow before you board the Trans-Siberian.

As for the time zone thing, trains are scheduled according to Moscow time, but as long as you know which time zone you are in, you'll be fine. Yakutsk is only 6 hours ahead so it's not so bad!

Being pedantic; if you take the Trans-Siberian Railway, you won't be stopping over anywhere near Mongolia as it doesn't go in that direction (It goes via Vladivostok). If you want to go to Mongolia, you'll need the Trans-Mongolian or, possibly, the Trans-Manchurian as you might be able to get into Mongolia from Manzhouli (Don't know whether this can be done for sure. I've never been to Manzhouli). But it doesn't appear to be far from the border.

Can't help with your main question.

I'll just get my coat.....

Oh!! Apropos the "proof of stay" bit. Easily got around. create an itinerary and book rooms on websites that allow free cancellation, get your visa, cancel the lot and do your own thing.

Hi, I've worked with another operator - the Grand Trans-Siberian Express. It's an operation run by a German guy. I have only good things to say about them. The setup is a bit different, with stays in hotels at the destinations along the way. Waggons and standards are much more basic than the other luxury alternatives, and as you can understand prices are also different. I would say it's a more genuine experience.

The website looks like it was from 1996, which it probably is. But as I said, I recommend them. I put up some pictures from my trip with them, there are maybe a few glances of the train interior there.

Hi, I'm planning to do this trip and am electing to do it in comfort so will travel on a private train. As far as I can see there are three private trains.

A private train??? I don't think so.

Before I begin: just let me say that I have never been to Russia and know nothing about the trains there. But I do know a good deal about Chinese trains and would be staggered to discover tat there was any such thing as a private train other that the North Korean on that Kim Kong Il used to turn up in.

What I think you are talking about is taking a private tour (Rather than going with a group) on one of the three existing public train routes that link China and Russia (The Trans-Siberian, the Trans-Manchurian and the Trans-Mongolian.... Where "Imperial Russia, Tsar's Gold and the Golden Eagle" come from, I have no idea. Maybe that's just what they call them in Russia). I've looked, briefly, at your website and this seems to be what it's saying.

I'm planning a trip from the UK to Hanoi in Vietnam by land via Russia and China.

So first, I would reccomend re-evaluating whether you want to go to China at all. If you havent booked your train or applied for a visa, I would consider taking the trans-siberian to Vladivostok rather than the trans Manchurian to Harbin. From Vladivostok fly to Hanoi, with a transfer wherever. Added bonus, you wont need to get an expensive Chinese visa. Save China for a time when you have more time to explore and make up for the high visa fee. Also get to see it when it isn't lunar new year.

My dates are pretty fixed that I expect to arrive in Hanoi around the 2nd of Feb. This means I will be traveling from Harbin to Beijing on the 31st,then on to Nanning and then on to Hanoi, arriving on the 2nd Feb. I have my reasons for these dates, so I can't change them really.
I know it can be very busy around this time, and I'm currently trying to weigh up whether I should just fly from Beijing to Hanoi to avoid any issues, but at the same time, I feel like I'm cheating the last part of my journey.

I'd fly, particularly the Beijing to Hanoi segment. Even if it takes you a whole day waiting at the airport due to flight delays, it's better than trying to get a train ticket.

How bad is it really, this is what I'm trying to weigh up. The new year is the 5th,but how far before this will it be unbearable? I'm just looking for honest opinions, as some websites say its possible, others say forget it....

Cities start clearing out in force about 2 weeks before the date of new years, with some variability depending on what day of the week new year actually falls. Train tickets will be very difficult to get from mid January on until March.

Cities wont be in total shut down until probably the 2nd of Februray. Until then, you'll still be able to find most restaurants are open and tourist sites will not be mobbed. Apart from long distance travel, things will be more or less normal.

You CAN see NL from all over Greenland, but note that ( wonderful) South Greenland is South of the polarcircle, even South of Iceland, so the experience is much better around an north of the polarcircle i.e. Sisimiut,, Illulisat and first of all Kangerlussuaq.
Note ALL towns and settlements in Greenland except one is at the coast = for and often cloudy = NL not visible even if it is “on”

Kangerlussuaq is the exception with more than 250 days/ year without clouds ( that is why the main airport is there). Therefore Kangerlussuaq is THE PLACE for NL. ( there are places in siberia etc that equally fine, not they are not as extremly easy accessible as Kangerlussuaq.

And yes since the airlines that connects Greenland are not the same as those doing the worldwide connections you must ( if not being on flexlible ticket and not keen of buyin nex ticket) put in min 24 HRS + in Copenhagen or Reykjavik on your way back outside summerseason ( Best to do it all year). You must also be aware that’s you may lose a day on the way up or at domestic trips ( but they will be free)- that’s the conditions if visiting Arctic as well as many other places