Loco

Taking the Trans-Siberian express a challenging and inspiring way to get from the mighty and powerful West to the, um... mighty and powerful East! At its quickest, it's possible to get from London to Beijing in ten days flat. At it's slowest, it's several intriguing months that you'll never forget.

Travelling to Asia all the way from London by train is probably the most fascinating journey of cultural discovery that it's possible to undertake in today's world. From the consumption-driven bustle of the streets of London, to the vast expanses of the Mongolian desert, the shifts in landscape and social structures are nothing short of extraordinary. In an age when thousands of British tourists fly to Thailand every year, it may be an anti-climax to arrive on the beach for a full-moon party surrounded by other Westerners, but taking the rail route is certain to make you think, if nothing else.

Getting to Russia

There are lots of options for getting the train through Europe to Russia, with the main routes into the country going via Helsinki to St. Petersburg or into Moscow via Belarus (you'll need a transit visa). You can also get a bus into the country via one of the Baltic countries (Lativa or Estonia). Exploring Eastern Europe within an Inter-rail pass is a great way to start a Trans-Siberian trip and make your once in a lifetime adventure even more epic. For lots of ideas, visit the Inter-rail pages.

To Irkutsk, and beyond!

Once you're in Russia it's time to soak up the enigmatic charm of the fascinating country and prepare to cross thousands of miles of continent. The Trans-Siberian line runs from St. Petersburg in the North down through Moscow and then East into vast swathes of Siberian pine forest. On reaching Irkutsk you are confronted by the largest volume of freshwater in the world, Lake Baikal.

A few hours down the road at Ulad Ude, the route splits into two:

• Continue East to Vladivostock and boats to Japan or South Korea
• Head south for Mongolia, China and all of South Asia

Booking

There are various ways to book this epic journey, and how you do it depends on whether you want security or cheapness. The initial journey through Europe can be booked via our tickets section, with an inter-rail pass often being the cheapest option.

For trains within and beyond Russia, Vodkatrain offer ease of booking and interesting itineraries. Alternatively, you can always take your chance and get tickets along the way, and this is likely to be cheaper. The more flexible you are the better.

On the blog

Read about Emily and Verity's trip as they went all the way to India by train. Coming soon we'll be featuring a full account of Trans-Siberian trips, including video footage and full photo galleries.