Irkutsk and Lake Baikal It was another early start 4am Moscow time 10am local (all trains on the Trans Sib route run on Moscow time). We were met by our transfer to Lake Baikal the largest freshwater lake in the world. We were staying in the very sleepy village of Listvyanka at a hotel (can't remember the name of) that just doesn't fit in with the scenery. Now Lake Baikal is supposed very beautiful and picturesque, I suppose it is, well what I could see as when ...

Trans Mongolian Railway: Moscow to Irkutsk Day 1 Tony, Sam, Steve and I said our goodbyes to Frank and Verena and headed to Moscow train station, first port of call was the supermarket to stock up on instant noodles, instatnt potatoes, snacks and drinks (including the obligatory Vodka - I am pleased to say that I have taught the guys to drink a shot of vodka followed by a shot of fruit juice) for the four nighs train journey to Irkutsk. My first impressions of...

The train arrived bright and early in Moscow at around 7am (almost minus Sam who was still on the train when it left the platform - fortunately for him the attendant got the driver to stop the train). I can safely say that we were all knackered as the carriage attendant woke us up at around 6am. Now being a bunch of tourists we all thought that it would be a good idea to go make our first stop Lenin's Mausoleum, again Russians are funny about opening hours so we ...

Trans Mongolian Trip St Petersburg After a long and exhausting trip from Tbilisi I finally arrived in a baking St Petersburg, it wasn't as hot as Georgia but there was a distinct lack of air conditioning as Russia was and still is I believe experiencing quite an unusual and hot summer. On my second day and first full day in Russia I had to check out of my hotel room as I was supposed to be sharing with another girl in the tour group, Verena. However the Russia...