Way to Russia Talk Lounge

mariann_stra · Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2005 3:14 am Post subject: moscow-beijing summer 2006

hi i`m a norweigan citizen and im thinking about taking a trip from moscow throug mongolia and ending up in beijing, and i was wondering how much time is recommended to use on this trip, the best stops, and the best places to go...
should i book accomandation in adwance or just for the first night, im thinking about the terms to get a visa..
and can i get a visa to mongolia and china when im in russia or should i get in adwance?

WayToRussia · Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2005 5:29 pm Post subject:

You don't need to book accommodation if you get your visa support, at least if you get it through this site. Technically you have a hotel already booked (that's why you pay $30) but you don't have to stay there.

Regarding the trip, check out http://waytorussia.net/TransSiberian/Route.html

I would definitely recommend to stop in St. Petersburg, Moscow and Irkutsk and go to B&B or camping at lake Baikal (best is Olkhon island or a bit more rought -- the shore on the side of Buryatia -- 3 hrs from Ulan-Ude).
If traveling 4 days by train frighten you, break your journey for a couple of days in Novosibirsk or take a flight from Moscow to Irkutsk which will cost about the same as 2nd class train ticket (if you're less than 25) with Sibir (S7) or Aeroflot.

If you have more than a month (and you can do it if you get a business visa, which can be valid for 3, 6, 12 months), then I would recommend you to stop in Ekaterinburg and Krasnoyarsk as well as visiting the Golden Ring towns and Novgorod.