Trans-Siberian Railway Holiday

It's become a rite of passage for seasoned travellers looking to tick one more thing off their must-do list but a trip on the Trans-Siberian railway is more of a pleasure than a pilgrimage. The idea of spending six days on a train may strike fear into the heart of anyone who has been on an overcrowded commuter train on a hour-long journey home but fear not, with numerous cities to stop off along the way then the experience will be more rewarding than gut-wrenching.

The 900 kilometres of the Trans-Siberian route makes it the longest in the world, running from the imperial splendour of Moscow through the vast entrails of Russia - across the spectacular Ural mountains, and through the Siberian wilderness - before pulling in to the Far East city of Vladivostok.

Those wanting to go the whole hog can savour the Trans-Siberian delights from start to finish - just be warned there is little onward transportation from Vladivostok, especially if you're travelling on a budget. Otherwise, the Trans-Mongolian route whisks you from Moscow, through the Siberian plains to Mongolia's capital Ulan Baataar, through part of the Gobi desert and onto Beijing. But if Mongolia holds little appeal then take the direct route from Moscow to Beijing on the Trans-Manchurian route.

Once onboard your train of choice then there's little reason to confine yourself to your cabin. Once you've tired of gazing of the natural beauty of the passing landscape then simply plonk yourself down in one of the many communal areas and before long you'll have found yourself a group of new friends regardless of language barriers. If you have a death wish, you could even join high-spirited Russians determined to while away the hours with a bottle of local vodka - or ten.

But when the rolling motion of the train starts to turn your stomach, hop off for a few days in one of the many cities en route. After about of day of travelling, you'll reach the modern city of Ekaterinburg in the Ural region which boasts the usual array of diversions and a few beaches around the nearby lakes.

A further day's travel will take you to Novosibirsk, the unofficial capital of Siberia and the third biggest cultural and scientific centre in Russia. The Ob Sea offers a chance to join locals in taking a quick dip or make the trek to the Altai mountains for trekking in spectacular scenery.

Heading on you'll reach Irkutsk which serves as a useful jumping off point for the picturesque Baikul lake offering the chance to chill out in tranquil surroundings or blow the cobwebs off your muscles with a spot of biking, trekking or swimming, as well as fitting in a trip to admire the craggy beauty of Olkhon Island.

Back on the tracks, Ulan-Ude gives you a taste of Asia with its local history Museum, Buddhist Datsans and open-air Ethnographic museum.

If you're on the on the Trans-Mongolian route, a visit to Ulaan Baataar will give you an unforgettable insight into Mongolian culture - especially when it comes to khoomi -or Mongolian throat singing. Otherwise, many of the buildings with their Soviet style architecture are being renovated but it's still fairly common to see cows wandering through the city streets.

The Trans-Siberian journey is not a trip for those who rely on creature comforts to get them through the day - accommodation in four-bed cabins is basic and claustrophobic and your room mates will be decided by fate or the booking office. Showers are shared and in short supply.

Travelling the length of a continent is always going to be a little on the challenging side but the beauty of the scenery and the friendliness of the people make up for any minor inconveniences and if anything heighten the experience. Failing that just follow the Russian example and a few shots of vodka will make the hours go by in a flash.