Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
country plus a through ticket from Russia to the third country. You can also obtain a
30-day Russian tourist visa, but the process is complicated.
BUYING TICKETS
Book well in advance (especially in summer); in Beijing tickets can be conveniently
purchased and booked in advance in central Beijing from
CITS
(Zhongguo Guoji
Luxingshe;
www.cits.net
;
010-6512 0507; Beijing International Hotel, 9 Jianguo-
men Neidajie)
, for a mark-up.
Monkey Shrine
(
www.monkeyshrine.com
; Youyi
Youth Hostel, 43 Beisanlitun Lu)
in Beijing also arranges trips, and has an informat-
ive website with a downloadable brochure. There's another
branch
(
852-2723
1376; Liberty Mansion, Kowloon)
in Hong Kong.
Abroad, tickets (and sometimes visas) can be arranged through an agency:
Intourist UK
(
www.intouristuk.com
)
Russia Experience
( 0845 521-2910;
www.trans-siberian.co.uk
)
Trans-Sputnik Nederland
(
www.trans-sputnik.nl
)
Vodkatrain
(
www.vodkatrain.com
)
USEFUL WEBSITES
The Man in Seat 61
(
www.seat61.com/Trans-Siberian
)
Reams of informa-
tion on travelling the Trans-Siberian Railway.
» Sheets, pillows and blankets on each berth.
» Lights and speakers out at around 10pm.
» Each compartment is equipped with its own hot-water flask, filled by an at-
tendant.
» Trolleys passing by selling food and drink.
» A rack above the windows for stowing your baggage.
Seats
Soft-seat class
is more comfortable but not nearly as common as hard-seat
class. First-class (
yideng
) and 2nd-class ( e
rdeng
) soft seats are available in
