The journey taken on the Trans Siberian is one of the most fascinating that you will ever take in your life. Passing through a wealth of countries and spanning many time zones and cultures this is the voyage for the ultimate adventurer! Often taking such a trip like this can seem daunting but with the help of Intourist and their friendly travel consultants it felt smooth and easy.

We chose to travel in a group of six because we thought that it would be the most exciting way to travel, and sharing an experience like that with your friends and loved ones is something that you will never forget! We all chose to travel on the Trans Siberian because we thought that it would make for an unusual Russian holiday and it was something that was new to each of us, and we all finally had time off to do it as a group.

Our Trans Siberian journey started in our hometown of Birmingham and Intourist helped us to arrange regional flights to connect to London Heathrow for our flight later that day to Moscow. It was easier for Intourist to arrange these connecting flights for us as it meant one less thing for us to organise as a group and made the whole experience simpler. Upon arrival to London Heathrow we transferred for our flight to Moscow in plenty of time. We then boarded the flight to Moscow and arrived as scheduled in the Russian capital.

We then transferred to the hotel Cosmos which was recommended by Intourist; this hotel is located on one of Moscow’s main boulevards and is one of the largest in the country. It had everything you would expect from such a large hotel (plus a nightclub and bowling alley!). We chose to dine at the hotels restaurant before retiring to prepare for a day of sightseeing. In the morning we took an excursion to the Novodevichy Convent before relaxing and embarking on some independent sightseeing. On the third day of our trip we had the opportunity to visit the world famous Kremlin grounds and the monstrous Armoury Museum. This concluded our final day in Moscow and later had our first experience with the Trans Siberian railroad as we boarded the train for Irkutsk. We had time on the train to relax and view the beautiful nature that surrounded us. One thing we were all taken aback by was our fellow passengers who were from a variety of cultures and backgrounds, it was interesting socialising with them and hearing their previous Trans Siberian tales.

On day 7 we arrived in Irkutsk and started our stay here with a city tour. This allowed us to get a feel for the city and see the main sights that the city had to offer. Irkutsk is a city that is very different from Moscow in that although both are cosmopolitan; Irkutsk is less well known but equally as mysterious and beautiful. After the city tour we had the chance to see the Open Air Ethnographic Museum which holds a unique collection of monuments dating back to the 17th century. We then transferred to the Legend of Baikal Hotel where we could relax after our long day of sightseeing. On day 8 our sightseeing adventure in Irkutsk continued as we visited the Limnological Museum in Listvyanka. Because we decided to take our Trans Siberian journey during the summer period we had the chance to take a short cruise by motorboat. This helped to bring a little fun into the trip and my friend Cassy had the time of her life! It was something that only the more adventurous members of our group had done before (and that certainly doesn’t include Cassy or me!).

From here we left Irkutsk and boarded the train for Vladivostok. This journey took a few days and we ended up in Vladivostok. This city was so breathtaking and it felt like there was a mix of Asian and European cultures which could be seen in the hotels, architecture and people. After transferring to the hotel we visited the Oceanarium and took a city tour which allowed us to see the city in all of its splendour and glory.

On our final day of our Trans Siberian adventure we were given breakfast before transferring to the airport for our flight back to the UK. We just wanted to write this to show our gratitude to Intourist for helping us to organise this adventure of a lifetime. The customised service that we received from Intourist felt personal and they always gave us their time and advice. If we can organise this adventurous trip then so can you! We have already recommended it to our other friends and family and are looking to go on a Trans Mongolian railway trip in the next few years so that we can visit Beijing. Thanks again Intourist, excellent as always!