Siberia and the Far East travel guide

 

Introduction

Siberia may seem awesome in size, but the delights of Irkutsk’swooden houses, the rugged mountains of Altai and the wonders of Lake Baikal are easily accessible by plane or train.

Travel in Siberia

Travel in Siberia tends to take two forms: stop-offs along the Trans-Siberian Railway and city-jumping on Aeroflot internal flights. Adventurous travelling requires careful planning, with the help of private Russian travel agencies. In Siberia, the best of the agencies are in Irkutsk, but be warned: where amenities are concerned, Siberia makes Moscow seem like Paris. Many towns have no restaurants or hotel rooms.

The Trans-Siberian Railway

The world’s longest continuous train journey, the Trans-Siberian Railway, crosses seven times zones along its 9,299-km (5,778-miles) route from Moscow to ­Vladivostok, passing for a stretch across the north Gobi Desert and even over a ­4,000-metre (13,125-ft) high mountain pass in the remote Amur Mountains. It actually comprises three routes: the Trans-Siberian, the Trans-Mongolian and the Trans-Manchurian railways, the last two making the connection to Beijing.

Places to visit in Siberia and the Far East

Altai Mountains

The territory of Altaisky Kray, in the south of Western Siberia, bordering ­Kazakhstan and the Respublika Altay (Republic of Altai), is an ideal place to experience the Russian outback. What with its natural beauty – one-third of the territory is covered by woods – mountains, low ­rainfall and pleasant summer temperatures of around 20°C (68°F), it makes an ideal centre for ­hiking, rafting and climbing.The starting point for exploring the region is Barnaul, 230 km (143 miles) southeast of Novosibirsk on the River Ob and is accessible by plane, train and bus from Novosibirsk. There are two museums worth seeing in town: Altai Museum of Regional Studies and History and Altai State Art Museum. The resort of Belokurikha, 200 km (124 miles) to the south, is home to several specialised doma otdykha (rest homes, similar to Western health farms). Here, you can ski, trek, make use of the medical facilities or simply enjoy the scenery.

Lake Baikal

A trip to Siberia is not complete without seeing the “Pearl of Siberia,” Ozero Baikal (Lake Baikal), the 636-km (395-mile) long stretch of water which lies 66 km (41 miles) east of Irkutsk. One of the world’s great lakes, Baikal is more than ­simply Siberia’s top tourist attraction, it is a force of nature. The lake holds 20 percent of the world’s fresh water and its maximum depth plunges to 1,637 metres (5,370 ft). Lake Baikal offers so many endemic species (1,500) and so much geological diversity that the study of the lake has created a new scientific discipline: Baikology. Its most famous indigenous species is the nerpa, the world’s only freshwater seal. Sturgeon and omul (similar to salmon and trout) feature among the marine life. Read more about Lake Baikal.

Irkutsk

Irkutsk is arguably the most appealing Siberian city and the one best developed to accommodate tourists, mainly as a result of being the launching point for excursions to Lake Baikal. A beautiful riverside park has been constructed along ulitsa Gagarina, and this is the best starting point for a tour of the city. Make sure you stop by the city’s central market. This four-storey indoor bazaar of clothing, electronics and other soft goods draws enthusiastic Siberians from hundreds of miles.The delightful Local History Museum has several departments across town – the central building at ulitsa Karla Marksa 2 houses the departments of History and Natural History. There is also an exhibition hall in the Church of our Saviour. 

Vladivostok

In the Far East of Russia is Vladivostok, at the base of the Sikhote-Alin Mountains, bordered by China to the west and the Sea of Japan to the east. Vladivostok is sometimes called the “San Francisco of Russia”, a reference to its Pacific location and its steep streets. But that’s as far as the comparison goes with this Soviet naval city, which was completely closed to foreign shipping between 1958 and 1991. The twists and turns over the steep streets offer visitors many beautiful views of the city and the ocean. The climate is pleasant with summer temperatures reaching 20°C (68°F) and winter lows rarely dipping below -15°C (5°F).

Kurile Islands

The Kurilskiye Ostrova (Kurile Islands), a chain of volcanic islands extending from Kamchatka to the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, are stunningly beautiful all year round, with towering volcanoes sloping into violent seas. The journey by sea takes one and a half days from the closest port, ­Korsakov, on the island of Ostrov Sakhalin.Yuzhno-Kurilsk, a fishing village on the island of Ostrov Kunashir, is the capital of the Kurile chain, and the most accessible destination in the group. At its southern tip, the island is within 12 km (7 miles) of Japan. From Yuzhno-Kurilsk it is possible to arrange boat trips to nearby Ostrov Shikotan, the most beautiful island in the chain, with a sunny microclimate.