Trans-Siberian tours
Q: What is the cost of upgrading to twin-berth on the train?
A: the cost of upgrading on the entire journey is AUD $1600 per person.
Q: How much is a single supplement in the hotels?
A: The cost of single room upgrade for the entire journey is AUD $2149.
Q: If I travel alone, do I have to pay the single supplement?
A: If travelling on your own we will team you up with another passenger of the same sex and similar age in the hotels. If we cannot do this we will upgrade you at our expense.
Q. Why do you not include the meals on the trains and how much do they cost?
A. We do not include the meals on the train because we feel it is too regimented and, as you are not exercising, you do not need so much food. Meals on the train are wholesome and cheap (around US$8-10) and delicious. Cheap snacks can also be purchased at the numerous stops.
How much spending money do I need for the entire trip?
Because almost everything is included, we would suggest an amount of 600 Euros per person as being ample for the whole month-long journey.
Do I need vaccinations for this journey?
No vaccinations are mandatory on this route but we would recommend you seek advice from your doctor. Tetanus should certainly be up to date.
What is the climate like at the various times of year?
The climate varies greatly along the route, depending on the time of year. For detailed information, please visit the following website: CNN weather
Do I need to buy a lot of expensive clothing for the Christmas trip?
On the Christmas trip we would recommend that travellers buy thermal underwear and boots in Australia. Coats, hats, scarves and gloves can be bought very cheaply in the Silk Market in Beijing at the start of the trip. Alternatively, you might look up your skiing friends and borrow!
Do I have to fly straight home from Helsinki?
We encourage and arrange for travellers to return home from any city in Europe that Singapore Airlines services. All we ask is that you nominate a city and a return date before you leave Australia. These dates can be changed, however, and the ticket is valid for one year. 'Add-ons' are relatively inexpensive and easily organised.
How much is an extra night’s accommodation in Helsinki?
The cost of an extra night in Helsinki in twin accommodation is AUD $132 per person. In single accommodation it is AUD $182.
I have been to Beijing before. Can I join the tour late and avoid this section?
It is no problem to fly into Beijing later and join the tour prior to the departure for Mongolia. We can advise on the saving depending on which night you join.
I want to end the tour in St Petersburg. Is this possible?
Again this is not a problem. We can easily arrange a flight out of St Petersburg, or indeed, Moscow.
I have heard that visas are difficult to obtain. Is this the case?
A Russian visa is very difficult to obtain but because we arrange all the paperwork there is no need to worry. We also organize the Chinese and Mongolian visas. However, we do require your passport three months before departure in order to process the visas.
A lot of companies have many expensive optional extras on their tours. Do you?
We don’t believe in a lot of expensive ‘optional tours’. We have ‘road tested’ numerous optional tours and shows on this route and the relatively few we offer are those we genuinely feel offer outstanding value for money.
Is the water safe to drink en-route and what is the general standard of hygiene?
We err on the side of caution on all our tours and advise travellers to drink only bottled mineral water. This is easy to obtain everywhere. The standard of hygiene is surprisingly high along the entire route.
Is it possible to have a shower on the trains?
Although there are 'officially' no showers on the Trans-Mongolian and Trans-Siberian routes, because we are friends with many of the conductors on the trains we can often organise one on request. However, we cannot always guarantee it. Please also note the washrooms are spacious and there are two per carriage. Hot water is always available so keeping clean is not a problem!
I have heard that some trains in Russia and China are of a terrible standard.
Yes, trains in Russia, Mongolia and China are not always of the same standard and some are very poor. We schedule our tours around the timetables of the very best trains in these countries.
What is security like on the train?
Security is first class on the trains. On the Trans-Siberian express there are two permanent security guards. However, we still urge basic precautions such as locking your compartment when visiting the dining car.
What is the standard of the hotels?
We choose our hotels for their central locations, which we believe is very important. They are generally 3-4 star quality (or better), comfortable, clean and all with en-suites.
What currency do I need to take?
Both Euros and US dollars are easily changed into the local currency in every country en-route. Euros are probably more popular now which is why we encourage you to take your cash in this currency.
Are there any ATM machines en-route?
ATM machines are to be found in Beijing, Irkutsk, Ulaan Baatar, Moscow, St Petersburg and Helsinki. They usually dispense cash in the local currency only. However, some also dispense Euros and US dollars.
Do you recommend travellers cheques?
Travellers cheques can be changed in the hotels in Beijing and St Petersburg. Elsewhere it is often difficult and time-consuming to get them changed. We therefore do not recommend bringing travellers cheques as your principal source of funds.
Are there internet facilities en-route?
All the hotels we use have internet facilities. There are also many internet cafes in the near vicinity of the hotels offering cheaper access.
Do mobile telephones work?
Telstra mobiles work throughout the entire journey except at our Dugana camp in Mongolia and on some parts of the train journey. Optus mobiles will work everywhere except Mongolia. You will need to ensure you have global roaming. Contact your server for further details.
How much should we tip the guides and porters?
There is no need to tip guides or porters as this is included in the tour cost.
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