Is the Trans-Sib like the Orient Express?
No, that's a deluxe train for tourists - the Trans-Sib isn't. Agatha Christie did not write about the Trans-Sib and it's Murder on the Orient Express, so they say!

No caviar and champagne, then?
Actually there is, and very inexpensive too! Dinner on board is about GBP4/US$6, although caviar is more!

Is the Trans-Sib a Tourist Train?
No, it's a year-round regular working service on Russian, Mongolian or Chinese Railways, and makes no concessions to tourists at all. To make our trips with stops work we utilise a number of different trains. The Trans-Sib is a rail route as opposed to one particular train. If you're travelling to Mongolia you get to experience train #6 the Smugglers Train! Mongolian traders stock up with food, fake Reeboks and cheap electrical goods in Moscow and transport them back to Mongolia, selling or trading as much as they can en route. Sit by the window and watch them in action as the train pulls into the station for a 20 minute stop. Bras, Adidas track suits and the latest in fake designer gear is hung out of the window. The local babushkas all know the train is coming in and are already waiting with tape measures in hand. The down side of this is that every tiny space on the train is jammed full with goods, and if you are sharing a compartment with a couple of traders you could find yourself sleeping next to a microwave. Even this has it's advantages though - that precious space under your bunk could be traded for vodka and caviar! The Mongolians may look fierce, but make the effort and they're great fun. A bottle of vodka and a set of playing cards and you'll have friends for life! Due to the amount of goods on board the Russian/Mongolia border stop can be slooooow. The traders are moving goods around as the border guards inspect the train, and moving them back again once they've gone! We've never had a report of illegal goods being put into travellers bags, and generally the border guards don't check your luggage - they're more interested in the potential bribes from the traders. However, we'd recommend using a little padlock on your bags just for peace of mind. We love the train and think it's one of the funniest parts of the trip, so sit back, relax and enjoy the fun!

Can you hop on and off?
Sorry - (i) the visas are city/date specific (ii) the train is usually full. You MUST set up your stops in advance - we can help you.

But Visas are a nightmare, aren't they?
Needn't be! We do the whole thing, but you can only get a Russian Visa against pre-booked accommodation documents - which we provide. We get the Chinese and Mongolian Visas too, if you are booking those services with us. A more detailed explanation about visas appears further down.

Do I need to book months in advance?
No, 4-6 weeks is the most we'd need to get the visas together. Some trips can be prepared more quickly than that, although there might be express fees from the Consulates concerned. If you want to travel over the peak months (June-Sept) we would recommend booking further in advance to be sure of getting your first choice of dates.

Why is it more expensive if I travel on my own?
We try not to hit solo travellers for supplements, but there are some extra costs we have to pass-on. The main factor is not being able to split the cost of a car, a local staffer or a hotel room in Moscow between two people. However, if two people book together but then want to arrive separately, we will have to pass-on the extra cost of, say, one being met from a flight, but their friend being met at the station by another car; or having to do the visas separately which involves additional courier fees and separate visits to the embassies.

You don't seem to promote the Vladivostok route?
The problem is not the route itself, but what happens next! Vladivostok itself is a small town, quite pleasant, but without much to do. We have great local partners who can fix most things there. However, onward travel is very limited (flights to Tokyo, or Seattle/Anchorage are weekly - also weekly to Seoul but summer only) and very expensive! The ferries to Japan have reduced to only a tiny number of unreliable and expensive sailings per year, and frankly, it's now much better value, and much more reliable, to take the route to Beijing, then onwards by rail (24 hrs) to Shanghai, from which there's a weekly, reliable and lower-priced ferry to Kobe. Compared to Vladivostok, Beijing has much better onward travel connections - both back to Europe or on to Asia, and many at State-subsidised prices, too.

How much money will I need?
Well, the upper ceiling is up to you! Moscow is around London prices, St Petersburg a little less - but after that there is little to buy on the train except meals. Our Siberian stops include all meals, and our Mongolian stops include 2 meals - so it can be cheap if you want it to be. Don't cheat yourself on visiting the Kremlin (GBP7/US$11) or the Hermitage (GBP6/US$10) - do you really need that pizza more than all that culture?

Mongolia and China are relatively low-cost destinations, although both take the opportunity to try to charge a "western-level" price for attractions of specific interest to foreign visitors. We dedicate a whole page to money questions in our Info Pack which you receive on booking.

Family Stay or Hotel - which do I choose?
Our Family Stays are unique to Russia Experience trips and we would recommend them to all our clients. They give you an insight into how Russians live. Breakfast and evening meal are included so you also get to taste some real Russian food. When choosing family stays our local partners take into account the standard of the accommodation, proximity to a metro station and of course the friendliness and honesty of the family. Whilst some of our families speak fluent English, many do not, but we feel that the other factors are more important. We get great feedback from clients about our Family Stays and often new and lasting friendships are made. We even celebrated a marriage this year! If, however, you want to sample St Petersburg and Moscow's wild nightlife, test the strength of the vodka and party the night away then we recommend you stay in a hotel. This gives you the privacy to sleep off your hangover and indulge it at the Mayak's all you can eat breakfast buffet. It also prevents a situation where our families sit up all night worrying about you. They all have jobs to go to and we would ask you not to stagger in during the early hours, taking out the best china in the process! You also have the option to upgrade to hotels en route.

The stops appear very expensive to me?
They only seem that way. The non-stop fare (only) is regulated by an international agreement which the Chinese stick to and the Russians cannot break (although they want to). Trips with stops are more expensive not because of the huge cost of the accommodation at the stops - but because the ticket-set for the journey costs more.

Is it dangerous in Russia? Do women get hassled?
Not really - the Mafia are not interested in leisure travellers! Levels of sexual aggression towards women are remarkably low in Russia. For a change, it's the men who are the targets - of the highly aggressive Russian hookers!. If the idea sounds amusing, the reality is not. A firm "nyet!" is needed to persuade them to leave you alone. Sleeper trains are unisex, the tradition is that the men "go for a walk" whilst the ladies prepare for bed, then the ladies look the other way whilst the chaps bed-down.

Are there showers on board?
No - the 1st class compartments of Train #4 and #24 have taps with shower heads which are (quite frankly) non user friendly anyway! However, the bathrooms (one at either end of each wagon) have a WC and washbasin, and you can get inventive with a face-cloth or a sponge to keep you smelling sweet! For those who stay over at Lake Baikal there is the wonderful experience of a Siberian sauna, which more than makes up for the lack of showers on board. Each family has their own sauna (usually a wooden building in the garden) and you are not expected to share with anyone.

What are 1st and 2nd class?
The classes on-board are 1st class (2-berth) and 2nd class (4-berth). All our trips are based on 2nd class, but we can upgrade you. There's another difference - certain trains have higher-category status (applying to the whole train, not just 1st or 2nd class), called "firmenny" trains. They have on-board Security, better conditions and newer rolling-stock. 1st class prices vary according to the itinerary and the prices are not necessarily logical! IMPORTANT INFORMATION: There is limited availability in 1st class and during the peak summer months it is difficult to obtain. We cannot always guarantee a place - but we'll try our best. If we cannot get 1st class we can usually offer to buy out a 2nd class compartment to guarantee you privacy. 1st class cannot be confirmed more than 30 days prior train travel dates. Russia Experience uses only "firmenny"-category trains ("higher-category") unless no other is available (in which case we mention this specifically in the itinerary).

But I don't want a guide!
For the last few years we have included Buddy Guides in all of our trips. The feedback from customers is excellent, and even the well travelled staff enjoy spending a day with our guides. Bex's first visit to Moscow resulted in an over the wall climb into Gorky Park to catch the ZZ Top gig for free! We named them Buddies, as that is basically what they are - we lend you a friend for the day. Most of the staff are young and are very knowledgeable about their home town. The itinerary is up to you - if there are places you want to visit they'll take you there, if you want to sit in a bar all day and catch up on the latest club news they'll happily sit with you! They'll help you get to grips with the Metro system, change money and orientate yourself. We usually arrange for the Buddies to spend half a day with you on your first day. If you want to hire them again just speak to them direct and make the arrangements. If you are flying into St Petersburg or Moscow the flights usually arrive late in the day, so our Buddies will arrange to meet you the following day. If you're arriving into Moscow from St Petersburg on the early morning train our Buddies will take you out that day.

Can I stay extra nights in St Petersburg and Moscow?
Yes, we can do this very simply, but please remember extra nights must be added PRIOR to Day 1 of your Trans-Sib trip. On all our trips we include two nights as the minimum amount of time most people would want to spend in either St Petersburg or Moscow. Most international flights arrive late afternoon, which gives you very little time to sightsee on your first day. There is so much to see and do in both these cities that we would really recommend a few extra nights if you have the time. Our web site (www.trans-siberian.co.uk) covers these great destinations in more detail.

But I hear there's no food in Russia!
Eating out in St Petersburg and Moscow is great fun, with new restaurants springing up almost daily. Our Info Pack lists our current favourites. If you are staying with our families you will be given a warm Russian welcome, which means heaps of home cooked food. Once on board the restaurant car provides simple but filling food for only a few dollars. At all the major stops babushkas are on the platform waiting to sell you their home cooked goodies. We've bought everything from fairy cakes to a whole cooked chicken! The ladies will accept both dollars and roubles. Taking a supply of sweets and biscuits will make you popular on board. We would recommend taking a supply of tea bags or coffee (don't forget some powdered milk), as there is a constant supply of hot water in the samovas at the end of each carriage.

Will I meet other foreigners?
You will often find other Russia Experience passengers on your train, or in your hotel, especially during the busy summer months. At Lake Baikal the village is very small. Often if there are plans for a picnic or other activities you will be asked if you wish to join up with other clients. Our Mongolian staff will do the same, especially at the Ger camp or if there is the possibility of organising evening entertainment. You are of course under no obligation to do so, but we usually find that as friendships have already been formed on the train people do prefer to link up and impromptu parties are a regular occurrence - our staff like to party too!

If you want to go on a trip to Russia (although not to Siberia or Mongolia) which is a group trip, we are also the organisers behind a completely different kind of trip - BEETROOT BUS, the backpacker bus for Russia! Our Beetroot trips are not related to our T-Sib trips, it's a completely different kind of thing - but might be what you were looking for?

Returning your passports and final documents
We use an overnight courier service to return your passports and final documents to you. The documents must be signed for, although not necessarily by yourself. If you work full time please specify your work address as the delivery address. If you need us to return your passport before the booking is complete (e.g. for other unrelated visas) we are happy to do so, but there will be a charge to cover the extra courier costs. Living outside the UK? Not a problem! We can process visas here in London much quicker than private individuals going to your local Embassies. Courier or secure-airmail your documents to us, and one delivery can do ALL your visas. There will be a charge to courier them back to you. Sorry but we cannot trust ordinary international mail to deliver passports. We usually use DHL who charge approx. 30.00 GBP for deliveries in Europe.

Of course, if you WANT to do your own visa applications, we'll provide you with all the paperwork you need. Please note however that we have no control over any of the Embassies abroad and if you have problems with an akward official we cannot help. Here in London we have a good working relationship with the Embassies.

Normally we aim to deliver travel documents to you 2 weeks before you leave. However, if you have booked late, we might be delivering nearer your departure date than that! You will get (i) An Info-Pack (ii) Vouchers for every stage of the journey, exchangable locally for the services which make-up your trip (ie they "vouch" that you have paid for everything in advance, and specify exactly what) and (iii) an Itinerary. Please note that the train tickets for your journey can ONLY physically be issued in the country where travel begins. This means that if you have (for example) a route which runs Russia-Mongolia-China, our local Russian staff will hand you the tickets through Russia and on to Mongolia... but the Mongolia-China tickets are issued by Mongolian Railways, and will be waiting for you on arrival in Mongolia. We realise that most clients would prefer to have it all "in their hands before they travel" but this is the only workable alternative to that. It works well for the thousands of clients who travel with us!

Can I get into hot water in Russia?
Not always! Soviet Central Planning decided that hot water at home was everyone's right - and provided it municipally, from vast boilerhouses. Almost no office-buildings, hotels, or private homes have independent boilers, and are only plumbed to accept hot water piped-in for the whole locality. However... when the system "goes-out", as it can do, no-one has any hot water. The system is routinely closed-down for maintenance for a few weeks in the summer, and there's not a lot you can do. One hotel we visited in Novosibirsk replied - when asked if there was hot water - "who the bloody hell do you think you are? hot water, indeed!". Luckily the situation in major cities is a bit better but even so, absence of hot water is a certainty which will hit a few clients in the summer months. It's part and parcel of travelling in Russia, unfortunately.

Why are your prices all in British Pounds?
Most of our clients pay by credit card (we take VISA + MASTER + JCB) and under UK Banking Law, the only currency in which we can charge cards is GBP. If we quoted prices in another currency, there would always be problems when we charged your card, that the amount would be slightly wrong due to currency fluctuations.

How can I make my travel funds take me further?
A small number of our trips are available in a "stripped-down version", which we call our "Lite" trips. On these every single frill is pulled-out, and you get just the basic accommodation and travel only. The "Lite" approach won't work with all our destinations - some of them are only accessible by using the local transportation and backup our "regular" trips include automatically. Frankly you would be nuts to go to Mongolia - for example - without going into the Steppe... it would be as stupid as visiting New York without ever going to Manhattan. But where we CAN make a superbudget version work, we've done so!

Are you just a bunch of sad train nuts?
Not really! It just happens that train travel is a very convenient and natural way to see our favourite destinations - with the especial lure of the Trans-Sib, the world's most famous train, joining many of them up!

Are you a reputable company?
We've been in business since 1994, and have thousands of satisfied clients, many of whom have rebooked with us. We are a UK Limited Co, and are subject to public scrutiny. We are fully insured for public and professional liability in accordance with EEC Law. We hold independent insurance which guarantees the financial security of our clients, which meets all requirements of EEC Law on the provision of travel services. We are recommended by leading guidebooks and travel magazines. The Russian and Mongolian Consulates recommend our services. We are a member of The Ecotourism Society - this does not mean that we are "policed" by them (this is not the way they work anyhow), instead it means that we aim to reach the standards for Ecotourism Companies which the Society has developed.

Can I buy "just the visa" from you?
Sorry, no. We act as your visa-sponsors whilst in Russia, and have to make a legal statement that we are providing your whole itinerary for you - which must be the case in reality. We can't break this rule, or we can be closed-down and have our licences taken away. Anyone else who says they can do this for you is breaking the law - and also putting you at risk, since you will be too. Remember that getting the visa is only Step 1. Step 2 is registering it in Russia after arrival (which we do automatically). If you can't register your visa, you face fines on the border when you leave. All our customers get no-charge accelerated Visa Administration for Russian, Mongolian and Central Asian visas included as part of the service! (the visas themselves are not free, although our service is - see below for visa prices, which vary according to your nationality.

Can I buy "just the ticket" from you?
The problem with this (see the para above!) is that you must register your visa within 72 hours of arrival. If you arrive off a flight and jump straight on the train (a) you miss seeing Moscow, which isn't a crime, but ought to be! (b) you won't be registered - so somewhere around Novosibirsk, your status in the country becomes illegal. Staying a night in Moscow before your trip gets you a registration stamp and everything is so much easier!

Also, tickets are only issued in the country of origin. As well as registering you our local staff also meet you to deliver the train tickets.

Can you help me stay with my friends in Russia?
I'm sorry but we cannot help with this. Basically, what you are supposed to do, is get your friends to send you an Izveschenie (a kind of official invitation which has been legalised by the local visa authorities in their town or city), with which you can get a visa yourself from the Russian Consulate.