I have`nt done the trip myself yet - but i was looking into it last year....when i wanted to go then(but did`nt).
I first started looking at the organised trips/packages etc...the voidkatrain one is 1600 euro for 21 days right?
The package deals attracted me first due to my lack of knowledge about Russia, a bit of fear and uncertainty i guess - and the language barrier also.But the cost!Wow!So i read up more and more, until the whole place seemed more familiar and less threatening...knowing how cheap rail travel is over there, i`d rather go this route and buy them myself....
So i have the visa sorted out - a business visa which does me for 3 months.
I`m staying in hostels/budget accomadation - averaging around 20 euro per night(i`m having trouble with Moscow when it comes to this though!).
I`ll be training it around the place, starting in St. Pete(after i come from Sweden/estonia by ferry/train of course), going to Archangelsk, back to Moscow and on the trans-siberian stopping off here and there all the way to Ulan Ude, spending 3 weeks camping there, onto Vladivostok to chill out and THEN all the way back to Tallinn/estonia by train.
I`ll be buying train tickets myself at stations going from one place to the next.
Travelling either Kupe or Platzkart(for the shorter jaunts) - these are like 2nd/3rd class/beds: From Tallinn to St pete this will be approx 20 euro.
From St Pete to Archangelsk(WAY up north!) - not sure!About 30 euro i reakon.Then back to Moscow, another 20 maybe.From Moscow to Irkutsk its 50 euro i`ve been told, or about 60/70euro if stopping off along the way, which i`ll definately be doing!
And from Irkutsk to Ulan Ude is 200 or so rubles(6 euro!).And from Ulan Ude to Vladivostok its...well i`m not TOTALLY 100% sure about the prices but you get the idea, i reakon 20 euro would do that jaunt too.
So roughly 170 euro for that.
Then coming back from Vlad to St Pete - cheaper as Archangelsk won`t be included...approx 150 total?
So...thats my rough estimate of the whole lot!I`d rather do it this way also as its more of a challange/rewarding, i like doing things myself, and i might pick up some of the language!
Anyone who HAS done this trip already....if i`m totally offf the mark here concerning my estimates, please tell us!!!
Thanks.
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