Travelling on the Trans-Siberian Railway, through Russia, Mongolia and China is one of the greatest and oldest train journeys on earth.
Request a Brochure
China, Russia & Central Asia
Japan
Indian Subcontinent
Audley can offer a variety of options for traversing this vast country by train, from the luxury of the GW Golden Eagle to an enjoyable trip shared with ordinary Russian people aboard a scheduled public service.
Run by enthusiasts of rail, this private train is equipped with a high level of facilities, boasting excellent dining and sleeping arrangements as well as ensuite bathrooms or wet rooms in each cabin. Travelling along the original route from Moscow to Vladivostok (vice versa), dipping into Mongolia for a taste of this vast unexplored country. The GW train is very comfortable, with en-suite cabins available, and all meals provided on board being of a very good standard. There is a bar car, and lectures and entertainment are provided on board. The train stops at points of interest along the way, whilst you are taken with the rest of the passengers, to see the local sights. Later in the day the you reboard the train and continue on your journey. Your fellow passengers on board will be other tourists, mostly from the UK, US or Australia.
The public trains are the ones used by Russian people to get about. Very few have any en-suite facilities, with carriages having a toilet and washroom at each end. This is kept clean on the journey by a carriage attendant who also provides tea and coffee and checks tickets etc. There is a restaurant car on most trains, which serves food of a reasonable standard. First class compartments have two berths in them, while second class compartments are the same size, with two additional upper berths. The public trains stop at each station for a limited amount of time, so to see anything of the stops on the way, you need to get off the train, stay a night or two in a hotel before continuing on a different train. Your fellow passengers on board will be Russians (or Chinese/Mongolians) travelling around the country to visit relatives, go on holiday or on business.
The Tsar's Gold is a privately operated train offering a range of cabins along the classic route from Moscow to Beijing (and vice versa). Travelling via Mongolia and crossing the Gobi desert, this route sees the most varied scenery. There are excellent dining arrangements with cabins ranging from shared four person cabins with shared shower facilities to spacious cabins with full ensuite bathrooms. You essentially live on the train for the duration of the trip, with the train stopping at points of interest along the way. The train then waits for you whilst you are taken in small groups of around 20 people to see the local sights. Your fellow passengers on board will be other tourists, mostly from Western Europe, who have come to enjoy one of the greatest rail journeys in the world in style.