From Moscow to Vladivostok by train – the world famous Trans-Siberian route.

By Svetlana Alimova of Go To Russia Travel

For many tourists Russian hallmarks such as the Red Square in Moscow and the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg are just not enough. The famous Trans-Siberian rail-route has long been one of the most popular journeys among adventure-seekers, and for a good reason. Trans-Siberian railway (usually called TransSib in Russia) is the longest continuous rail line on earth, taking travelers on an epic journey of almost six thousand miles (or 9,259 kilometers) over one third of the globe. It crosses the whole continent; starting in Moscow, passing through the European Russia, crossing the Ural mountains which separate Europe and Asia, continuing into Siberian taiga and steppes, and finishing in Vladivostok — the Russian Far East coast on the Pacific Ocean.

During this journey that lasts more than six days, travelers see different landscapes, meet new people, experience different cultures (especially, if you do stopovers along the way), and just enjoy sitting back and watching the land go by.

From the starting point in Moscow, the journey goes through 89 cities: five cities with the population of over one million (Moscow, Perm, Yekaterinburg, Omsk, Novosibirsk), nine cities with the population between 300 thousand and a million (Yaroslavl, Kirov, Tyumen, Krasnoyarsk, Irkutsk, Ulan-Ude, Chita, Khabarovsk, Vladivostok) and 75 smaller cities.

The first major stop at the beginning of the TransSib journey is Vladimir. The city was founded in the year 995, and at one time served as a capital of Russia and as its political, cultural and religious center. It is famous for its unique cathedrals, four of which are on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Nizhni Novogorod – another architectural gem of Russia was founded in 1221. It was a trading center for people from the Orient, Siberia and Turkistan. Formerly named Gorkiy, it was a city housing the country’s political exiles and therefore closed to the outsiders for many years. The city recently opened its doors for visitors and its many well preserved memorials from the 13th and 14th centuries are amazing attractions.

The city of Perm lies about 800 miles east of Moscow on the western slopes of the Ural Mountains, and stretches along both sides of the Kama River. Perm was founded in 1568 as the village Lagoshikha. Since 1756, Perm has been a center for manufacturing military weapons, vehicles and supplies. By 1781, it was established as the administrative center of the northern Urals and gateway to Siberia.

Russia’s third largest city and the capital of the Urals, Ekaterinburg (formely Sverdlovsk) is one of the most developed and advanced regions in Russia. It is rich in natural resources and is a heavily industrialized area. It also boasts a lot of historic landmarks. Ekaterinburg was founded by the first Russian Emperor Peter the Great and was the city where the last Russian Emperor Nickolai II was executed.

Ekaterinburg is also one of the most important Russia’s economic centers and may continue to be so. In 2008, Forbes magazine ranked the city number 59 of the greatest cities of the future. Only two other Russian cities made the list – Moscow (# 14) and Saint Petersburg (# 41)

Another stop some 30 hours into the journey is the city of Tyumen. It was the first Russian town in Siberia and has since become famous for lavish trade fairs and skilled craftsman. The city was considered the richest Russian town in the pre-Soviet era. Today it’s an oil and gas capital.

Five hundred kilometers east of Tyumen lies another important Russian city, Omsk. Omsk was built as a fortress at Russia’s southern border by Peter the Great’s guardsman Ivan Buchholz when in 1716, he and his detachment landed on the shore of the Irtysh river at the place where this powerful Siberian river joins the quiet Om. Thus, came the name of the city of Omsk. Today, Omsk is one of the largest industrial and cultural centers in Siberia.

After almost two days of travel, the TransSib train takes you to the Siberian region’s largest city Novosibirsk. Founded in 1893, Novosibirsk is the third main cultural and scientific center in Russia (after Moscow and St. Petersburg) and is also home to the famous University of Novosibirsk. The city is developing quite rapidly, and is considered to be the capital of Siberia. The area around Novosibirsk and the Altai Mountains holds some incredible nature for the outdoorsmen.

Another magnificent-in-landscape stop enroute to Vladivistok is Krasnoyarsk. The city is steadily becoming one of the most attractive regions in Russia for both Russian and foreign tourists. The region offers a unique combination of beautiful rivers and mountains, clean air, great hunting and fishing, architectural sites and the ethnic culture of the northern nation.

Irkutsk is a major point on the Trans-Siberian/Trans-Mongolian train route because from Irkutsk travelers can go to the world’s deepest lake Baikal. The city has over 600,000 people and is located on the picturesque Angara river. Founded by Russians in 1652 as a major fort beyond the Ural Mountains, it was populated by exiled political prisoners sent by the tsars and communists. Today, the city has a reputation of a college town with many young people attending universities there.

The next city worth having a stopover in is Ulan-Ude. Founded in 1666, it is a capital of the Buryat Autonomous Republic, which in the 13th – 17th centuries was a part of the vast Mongolian Empire. This a classic example of the Eastern influence in Russia. Until 1991 Ulan-Ude was closed to foreigners. There are old merchants’ mansions richly decorated with wood and stone carving in the historical center of Ulan-Ude, along the river banks which are exceptional examples of Russian classicism. The city has a large ethnographic museum which recalls the history of the peoples of the region. There is also a large and highly unusual statue of the head of Vladimir Lenin in the central square, the largest in the world.

Trans-Sib’s final destination is Vladivostok. The locals call it Vladik and the actual name loosely translates into Lord of the East. The city is the largest Russian port by the Pacific ocean and is located less than 100 km east of the Chinese border, and just across the Sea of Japan from the main Japanese island of Honshu.

Sopki, long-dead volcanic hills, give the city layer-cake effect. Buildings rise from different levels and eras. Wherever you walk, you’re going up or down, and it’s a rare moment when you can’t get a glimpse of the sea.

Despite having a reputation of heavily polluted and industrialized city, Vladivostok offers plenty of nature getaways with breath-taking views. Visit the Botanical Gardens and you will walk into the taiga. Explore the hills with dug-in stone forts, and more on nearby Russky Island. And if you want secluded beaches, they are out there too.

Things to remember when traveling to Russia:

FLIGHTS:

Getting to Moscow from the US requires a non-stop 10-hour flight from New York, Atlanta, Washington D.C. or Chicago.

TRAIN TICKETS:

You can book your Trans-Siberian trip on http://www.trainsrussia.com/en/travels

VISAS Travel in Russia has become easier than ever. Remember however that visas are required. And you need a fully licensed travel company like Go To Russia Travel (www.gotorussia.com) to provide the necessary visa support and registration