Hi everyone! Before we delve into what you’ll need for the Trans-Siberian leg of your epic journey across the planet, we need to clear something up...
Yesterday we sent out our weekly newsletter, and a small part of it may have been a little misleading. Rather than send out another mail and get all spammy, we thought we’d just clear the matter up here. Don’t worry, it's nothing serious! It’s just that although the voting closes on the 30th of September, we won’t be announcing the winner immediately. We will let you know before the votes close exactly when and where you can expect the announcement, but it won’t be immediately after the votes close. Kapeesh? It’s gonna be kinda spectacular and definitely worth the (short) wait.
Anyway, welcome to another Packing Advice Column, where we help you out with what to expect on each leg of the Get Rid Of Me main prize. Today we’re going to be looking at one of the most exciting legs of the trip: the Trans-Siberian Rail journey from Moscow to Beijing. It’s an incredible journey; covering one third of the distance around the planet. You’re going to see some amazing things, but you’ll need to be prepared! There’s a lot to consider, so rather than bore you with an enormous essay; we’re going to outline the main points here, and if you’d like any extra info, check out our page about useful information. This is still rather a long post, but there’s a lot to remember when you’re travelling a third of the way around the globe!
Money
Russia
Russian Rouble - 1 Rouble = 100 Kopeks
The Russian Rouble is exchangeable only in Russia. Notes come in the following denominations: 10, 50,100, 500. Coins are also in circulation and come in the following values: 1, 2 and 5 Roubles and 1, 10 and 50 Kopeks.
US Dollars and Euros are the best currency for exchange. Bureau de Change and ATM machines exist in Moscow and St Petersburg (to a lesser extent in the provinces). Changing traveller’s cheques is cumbersome so avoid if possible and credit cards are rarely accepted outside the main cities.
Russian ATMs allow you to choose to withdraw currency in either Euros or Roubles and sometimes also USD.
Mongolia
Mongolian Tugrik (MNT) 1 Tugrik = 100 Mongo
The Tugrik is non exportable and money changing facilities are available in Ulaan Baatar and sometimes at frontier border points. The best currency to carry for exchange into Tugrik is the US Dollar. Please note that the USD is sometimes the method of payment for optional activities, for example, horse-riding at Terelj NP.
China
Chinese Yuan (CNY) 1 Yuan = 10 Jiao
Pound Sterling, US Dollars, Euro and other major currencies can be converted into Chinese Yuan locally, or you can purchase currency in advance. Previously, there were two types of currency - one for locals, called Renmimbi and one for foreigners which came in Foreign Exchange Certificates.
Thankfully, this old system has now been abolished and both Chinese and foreigners use the same currency known as Yuan.
Climate
Russia
In European Russia, summer days from late May to early September are warm and very long. At midsummer in St Petersburg there is no real darkness. Average temperatures range from 18-25 C. Autumn is brief and by the end of October, winter sets in, bringing with it lots of snow and extremely low temperatures. Spring arrives with a vengeance, heralding the great thaw, in late March and April.
Mongolia
As Mongolia is located in the northern hemisphere, temperatures are not unlike those in Russia and northern China (see below). Summer in Mongolia is short but bright. Expect temperatures in the mid 20s Celsius. Winter is especially cold, so it is important to wear suitably warm clothing and shoes capable of coping with snowy conditions. Due to extreme weather, clients undertaking a Classic adventure at this time of the year will be accommodated in permanent accommodation and not Mongolian gers.
China
China has a great diversity of climates. The northeast experiences hot and dry summers and bitterly cold winters. The north and central region has almost continual rainfall, hot summers and cold winters. The southeast region has substantial rainfall, with semi-tropical summers and cool winters. If visiting the north, pack heavyweight clothing and sturdy boots for a winter visit and lightweight clothing for summer. If visiting the south, mediumweight winter clothing will suffice, along with lightweight cottons for summer.
Time
One of the most disorienting aspects of the Trans-Siberian trip is working out what time it really is! The important thing to remember is that all long-distance trains run on Moskovskaya Vremya or Moscow Time in Russia, the abbreviation for which is MB in Cyrillic or MV in English. It has to be this way in a country that has 11 time zones.
All timetables, station clocks, train clocks and announcements are on Moscow Time. Clocks may have the letters 'MB' underneath - which signify the clock is operating to Moscow Time. Having gotten used to Moscow Time, you'll then have to get used to Mongolia Time and Beijing Time.
Mongolia has 2 time zones, though you'll only pass through one, and China has 3 time zones, though only Beijing Time is used for all trains. To further assist you, take a look at the time guide for stops on the Trans-Siberian route below:
Take a look here for a chart detailing the time zones.
Food on the Trans-Siberian
All the main Trans-Siberian trains have a Buffet/Dining wagon, open generally from around 0900-2100hrs local time. It's a sociable place to meet, hang out, drink beer and eat. The service is provided by whichever country you are crossing. Food is cafe style at reasonable prices. Don't expect an extensive menu though.
Typical meals in the Russian Buffet/Dining wagon include ham and eggs for breakfast, schnitzel and potatoes for lunch or dinner, with soups and salads for starters. The Buffet/Dining wagon also sells beer, Russian champagne, vodka, chocolate and snacks. The Mongolian Buffet/Dining wagon (Ulaan Baatar - Zamyn-Uud only) will invariably offer rice and mutton and other dishes. Whilst the Chinese Buffet/Dining wagon will offer Chinese staples like noodles.
A cart is sometimes wheeled through the wagons with snacks and drinks for sale, too. You can also buy food including fruit and vegetables, from the many vendors on station platforms when the train stops. Watch your waist-line!
Drink
Russians consume an average 12 litres of pure alcohol a year, which is three times the average for the rest of the developed world and also testament to how good the vodka here really is! Russian beer is also very good and inexpensive. Alcohol such as vodka is also popular in Mongolia (a hang-over from Soviet times) and beer is very prevalent in China.
Drink only bottled water, it's inexpensive and available everywhere, as are soft drinks. Tea is very popular in Russia, Mongolia and China. We recommend that you pack coffee and tea bags, there is a Samovar (fire powered kettle/hot water urn) onboard the train, so you can make your own drinks.
So, there’s a quick run-through of what to expect. Don’t forget to keep uploading photos to our Facebook wall for the Travel Photo Fail. And keep those votes coming in everyone!
Good luck,
Team GROM
