From Russia to Mongolia by train – Tors Travel Tales

I started writing Tors Travel Tales last year, with the aim to eventually write one about every country I’ve been to. I’m not making much headway so far. I think I still have about seventy odd to go!  Tors Travel Tales – an attempt to write a backpackers account of every country I’ve been to.…… Continue reading From Russia to Mongolia by train – Tors Travel Tales

Life on the Trans-Mongolia Express Train across Russia – travel tips, behaviour etiquette and instant noodles

What is it really like to take the train across Russia, from St Petersburg into Mongolia to Ulaanbaatar? The Trans Mongolia Express in Winter I’ve just arrived in Mongolia after experiencing a two week trip across Russia by train. The Trans Mongolian or Trans Siberian train is on many people’s bucket list and for good…… Continue reading Life on the Trans-Mongolia Express Train across Russia – travel tips, behaviour etiquette and instant noodles

Exploring colourful Buddhist temples and finding a giant Lenin Head in Ulan Ude – sixth stop on the Trans Mongolia trains through Russia

The Buryat region is predominantly Buddhist and Ivolginsky is the largest datsun or temple complex in Russia A half-day trip from Ulan Ude to spin the prayer wheels, attend a hural or prayer ceremony and receive a blessing from a Buddhist monk at Ivolginsky temple Ulan Ude is 5,600km from Moscow and it’s taken us…… Continue reading Exploring colourful Buddhist temples and finding a giant Lenin Head in Ulan Ude – sixth stop on the Trans Mongolia trains through Russia

A day at Lake Baikal – fifth stop on the Trans Mongolia train journey from Russia to Mongolia

Lake Baikal is the world’s largest lake and completely freezes over in winter, creating a playground for locals and tourists alike A day trip from Irkutsk is a highlight for travellers planning a Trans Mongolia trip We arrived into Irkutsk at 8.24am after fifty-six hours on the train from Yekaterinburg. That was three nights and…… Continue reading A day at Lake Baikal – fifth stop on the Trans Mongolia train journey from Russia to Mongolia

Yeltsin memorabilia, a business lunch and precious jewels in Ekaterinburg – fourth stop on the Trans Mongolia train across Russia

How to spend a day in Yekaterinburg, home to the site of the assassination of the last Royal family and the modern Boris Yeltsin Centre Ekaterinburg may be Russia’s fourth largest city, giving assumptions of a noisy, polluted metropolis but we were very impressed with this pretty city. Easy to navigate and with most sights…… Continue reading Yeltsin memorabilia, a business lunch and precious jewels in Ekaterinburg – fourth stop on the Trans Mongolia train across Russia

A day in Moscow – sightseeing must-sees include Lenin’s embalmed body and enjoying an ice cream in historic GUM department store

One day in Moscow – first stop on the Trans-Mongolia train journey across Russia We left St Petersburg on the 13.10 train direct to Moscow. A speedy journey of four hours, covering 700 km, had us arriving with traditional Russian accuracy on time at 17.25. Snow covered the Moscow streets as we emerged from our…… Continue reading A day in Moscow – sightseeing must-sees include Lenin’s embalmed body and enjoying an ice cream in historic GUM department store