Taking the Trans-Siberian train has always been my dream. Initially, I decided to travel to Russia mainly for this journey but later did some research and found many more interesting places that this largest country has to offer for a traveller like me.

Table of contents

This was going to be the last leg of my trip to Russia and I  wanted to have a comfortable and relaxing journey. I was not sure if I wanted to take the entire route till Vladivostok but I wanted a stop at Irkutsk to see Lake Baikal. I finally decided to take the 75-hour journey. Soon after getting my visa, I booked my tickets well in advance while I was still in India.

To book train tickets online for travel in Russia, read my post for details.

I was so excited to see what the Trans Siberian train experience would be like. My only concern was how the other person sharing the cabin would be. To my surprise, there was nobody in the cabin for the first day and a few hours after that. I had the entire cabin to myself!

There was a welcome kit that included a chocolate bar, two tea sachets, a refreshing towel, and some mints. A waitress from the restaurant car came to take my order for a meal included in the ticket price. I requested a vegan dinner, which I enjoyed. I also had a good night’s sleep.

Train interiors

It was super clean and all the passengers were provided with 2 pillows, a bedsheet and a blanket. The temperature inside is usually maintained at 28 – 31 degrees Celsius. There was also a travel kit like what you receive in an aircraft. It comes with a dental kit, a comb, slippers, shoe shiner(In case you need one 🙂 ). The cabin itself was spacious with a common table for the 2 passengers. The table was of a good size. It was all carpeted and there were curtains and tassels. The luggage compartment is under the seat. You can easily store 2 suitcases and a bag. There are shelves above the seat. They also provide 2 towels for the journey.

Facilities on the train

Wifi

I loved the wifi provided by the Russian Railways throughout the journey. All you have to do is enter your ticket number or the last 4 digits of your passport number, your train coach and your seat number to get access to the internet. It was indeed very convenient.

Boiling water

There is a Samovar( large kettle for storing boiling water) at one end of the coach. Boiling water was available all the time. This was very convenient to make instant noodles or coffee/tea. In the same area, there is also a sink where you can wash your flasks, plates etc. I also saw a microwave in the area that I hardly used.

 The toilet

It was kept clean throughout. While booking the tickets, I particularly made sure there was a bio-toilet in the coach. There was handwash and enough tissue( you don’t have to carry these with you).

TV

There was a TV in the cabin. I just watched some cartoons for some time. This would be particularly good for two people travelling together or with kids. There were a total of 6 channels(all Russian).

Restaurant car

There is a restaurant car on the train which is a great place for a meal, drink or to simply hang-out. There are a few options for vegetarians marked with a green sign. The prices are not very expensive. I feel one need not carry food for every single meal. You can comfortably enjoy one or two meals here, especially since one meal is included in the ticket price. Additionally, you can purchase snacks and fruits at train stations. I did carry some snacks and a few instant meals in small portions and didn’t go hungry at all.

The charging outlets

For mobiles, cameras inside the cabin were very convenient. There was only one charging point in the cabin but that was enough for 2 people unless you want to be charging your gadgets throughout.

I love the way the seats are allotted on Russian trains. While booking your tickets online, if you are the first one to select a seat in the cabin, the other seat can be occupied by a female. So, if you are a female, another person in the cabin will also be a female. The other person in my cabin was an elderly Russian lady.

Overall, I feel,  travelling in 1st class is a very good option if you are looking for a relaxing trip. Ample space to stretch your legs is something great in the 1st class. You can enjoy the ever-changing landscapes in serenity. It was an experience that I thoroughly enjoyed. While it is double the price of 2nd class, it is worth experiencing it at least once.

How safe is it for a solo woman traveller?

I felt very safe in spite of being the only foreigner in the entire coach. Communicating with other passengers and the coach attendant was a bit difficult but I must thank Google Translate for helping me overcome it. Russians, in general, are very polite, helpful and friendly. Many times, we communicated using a lot of gesticulations :). My concern was about travelling for 75 hours at one go but the days went so fast that I didn’t realize that I had already reached Irkutsk.

I got down at the station and the taxi driver was waiting near the coach. Reached the hotel in about 15 minutes. The dream of travelling by Trans-Siberian was fulfilled and now I am all ready to explore the beauty of Siberia.

Read my post Things to do in Irkutsk to know about my experience in Irkutsk