CAN I INCLUDE THE TRANS-SIB IN A ROUND-THE-WORLD AIR TICKET?
Yes! Even though it's the longest surface trip in the world, Bridge The World has the deals with airlines that make this possible - with the widest range of routings, great fares, and no penalties for including a surface sector on your journey.
CAN I BREAK MY TRANS-SIB TRIP EN-ROUTE?
Yes! Bridge The World has Trans-Sib itineraries featuring a wide range of en-route stops in Siberia and Mongolia, in addition to local services in Moscow and Beijing at the beginning and end of the route. You need to have your stops pre-defined in order to meet the visa requirements - this isn't a hop-on-hop-off service!
I'VE HEARD THAT THE VISAS ARE A NIGHTMARE?
Although they're not a nightmare, the processes are time-consuming and extremely burocratic. That's why Bridge The World offers a no-charge visa handling service for the Russian and Mongolian visas - all you pay is the fee you'd have paid at the Consulate Visa Desk anyhow, but without the hours of queueing! In the case of the Russian and Mongolian visas, this can save you taking two days for each Consulate - one to lodge the application, the second to collect it. By filling in the forms we supply, and giving us a few photographs, and lending us your passport for about 3 weeks, we can reduce the hassle factor to 0 - and save you some time and money too. All this for no extra charge.
By the way, with years of experience in these trips and paperwork so perfect it would bring a smile to the face of the most jaded Official, Bridge The World passengers have a 100% success rate for getting the visas required. Nyet problema, as they say in Russia!
ISN'T IT BORING SPENDING A MONTH ON A TRAIN?
Aha, you've been listening to the Great Trans-Siberian Myths! The journey-time non-stop Moscow-Beijing is only one week. Of course, it's more fun to break-up that journey with some stops in Siberia and Mongolia, but even our classic itineraries with both Mongolia and Siberia included come-in at around two weeks. During the summer months, you can also take a Gobi Jeep Trip to see the ancient camp of Genghis Khan, buddhist monasteries, and stay with Mongolian nomads. That might all still sound boring to you, of course...
SUPPOSE I WANT TO SEE MORE BEFORE OR AFTER MY TRIP?
No problem. We can offer more extended stays in Moscow before your start on the Trans-Sib. If you want to go to St Petersburg first, then we can fix that for you, along with the air-routing, the accommodation you'll need to make the visas work, and the overnight (8 hours) train to Moscow - plus an amended visa to cover all of that. And for those with in-depth interests, we can offer other Russian cities like Novgorod, Vladimir and Suzdal. Once you have arrived in Beijing you can opt to do your own thing entirely... or choose from a range of options which extend from a simple "arrival accommodation" option through to a trip extention via Beijing, Xian (and the Terracotta Army), and Guangzhou to Hong Kong.
WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS LIKE ON BOARD?
Most passengers travel in Second-Class Sleeper - comfortable 4-berth sleeper compartments. A padded mattress, pillow, blanket, a small towel and ultra-fresh starched linen are provided - many people like to take an additional (larger) towel. There is constant hot water to make your own tea, coffee or soup. There are two toilets in each wagon, one at either end - there are usually around 30 passengers in a wagon, plus two wagon-attendants who keep order and clean-up.
You can pay a supplement (varies according to route chosen) to travel in First-Class, broadly the same, but with only two people to a compartment - important if you want a higher level of privacy. There is not really an improved level of decor or furnishings, but wagon staff are slightly more attentive, and there are fewer co-passengers sharing your loo.
CAN YOU REALLY GET ANYTHING TO EAT ON BOARD?
The days of food shortages on board are long over! These days you will find a reasonable selection of local dishes. Don't expect gourmet cuisine - it's broadly "superior cafeteria" food, with a heavy emphasis on soups, salads, cutlets, chicken and potatoes. Vegetarians won't be stunned by a wide choice, but there is usually something - and staff are fairly amenable to rustling-up something not on the menu, even if it's only mushroom omelette (our staff, who have done the trip themselves, include at least one vegetarian).
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