Way to Russia Talk Lounge

rieram · Just Starting Joined: 08 Sep 2007 Posts: 2

We are planning a travel accross Siberia with the transiberian during the next chrismas holydays but we are afraid with the temperatures during this season.
Han anyone experience in travelling during these dates. Is it too hard or freeze conditions are assumable with adequate clothes?
Thank you

overseas_expat · VIP Joined: 11 Jan 2005 Posts: 612 Location: Moscow

The train itself, if it is anything like most Russian trains (haven't been on the Trans-Siberian), will be so overheated you will wish for a breath of sub freezing air. Outside it will likely be around around 0 fahrenheit or below. Possibly well below. That's pretty cold.

What happens then, when it's hot inside the train and really cold outside--the windows fog up and freeze. You can't see a thing.

The other problem is that the weeks around the winter solstice, Dec. 21, there isn't any daylight anyway. It's always dark. Some people think only of the Russian cold in winter and forget that in the dead of winter that far north, there isn't any daylight either. This is a problem for those who would like to sightsee. You can't. There's no light.

I'm not sure why people would spend $1000+ dollars on the Tran-Siberian in the dark and cold of Russian winter. It escapes me.

vox16 · WayToRussified Joined: 01 Jun 2006 Posts: 321

UsualSuspect · Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 4:35 pm Post subject: Winter trains..

rieram,
What Expat says. The trains are heated too well. Since I have filthy habits, I used to cool off in the smoking section which generally has hoar frost all through it. One train was so unbearable I had a smoke on a godforsaken platform @ 2:00 a.m. somewhere (Taishet?) wearing only thongs, a t-shirt and shorts. Mind you that was a "speed smoke" Laughing

.

You will have to plan for "both" seasons. Inside the train is warm/hot, outside at night the cold can be plain punishing.

HTH
Usualsuspect

gomer · WayToRussified Joined: 30 Mar 2007 Posts: 430

tmac100 · Frequent Guest Joined: 13 Jul 2007 Posts: 10

It's a shame to spend all that money for trip and then can't see anything unless you go outside and freeze. Would using anti-fog wipes on the windows help or is it too cold for even that to work?[/quote]

Why not sit in front of a TV set with potato chips and a mint julep or beer in your hand and curse at the team that is losing ..?

Folks want information not some opinion about why they WANT to do some travel.

No anti-fog wipes won't work.

Are you from some warm country - like the northern USA? If so, please forgive my incredulity at your comment about the anti-fog wipes. Forget the wipes, you won't be able to carry enough on the train to make them work..

NM · Just Starting Joined: 15 Oct 2007 Posts: 2

Would the weather and the whole nightmares as bad in late Nov?? I and my sis are planning the trip to go to Moscow and St Petersburg as well so with only 10 days I am wondering if it's worth to do the train or simply fly right to the 2 recommended destination along the trans siberia route?

Thanx in advance for any reply.

NM · Just Starting Joined: 15 Oct 2007 Posts: 2

I was referring to Lake Baikal and Mount Altai

RusskiCanadian23 · Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2007 9:52 pm Post subject:

Gyuri_FT · Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 4:33 am Post subject: