Trans-Siberian Handbook: Includes Rail Route Guide and 25 City Guides (Trailblazer Guides) [Paperback]

Bryn Thomas (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2004

A trip across Siberia on the longest continuous railway track in the world is undoubtedly the journey of a lifetime. For the first time in Russia's history visitors can now travel almost anywhere they want in Siberia; find out how to arrange a trip, where to buy tickets, and where to go.
*Kilometer-by-kilometer route guide--covering the entire routes of the Trans-Siberian, Trans-Manchurian, and Trans-Mongolian railways, with 25 strip maps in English, Russian, and Chinese
*Siberia and the railway--the detailed history of Siberia, the construction of the railway and the running of the Trans-Siberian today will be of great interest not only to visitors but also to armchair travelers.
*City guides with maps--includes the best sights, hotels and restaurants for all budgets. Features Moscow, St. Petersburg, Ulan Bator, Beijing, and 21 towns in Siberia; nutshell information on Minsk, Berlin, Baltic Republics, Helsinki, Hong Kong, and Tokyo
*Plus--Russian and Chinese phrases, rail fares, and timetables

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Definitive guide."
--Conde Nast Traveler

"Tells you everything you need to know."
--Cosmopolitan

"An invaluable guidebook."
--The Financial Times

"The Trans-Siberian Handbook ...is a must."
--The Sunday Times

"Well researched...A wealth of information... Is is a fascinating read and contains so much more than the usual handbook."
--The Herald

"An invaluable travelling companion."
--Traveller

First edition shortlisted for the Thomas Cook Travel and Guide Book Awards

From the Back Cover

A trip across Siberia on the longest continuous railway track in the world is undoubtedly the journey of a lifetime. It's also a convenient way to reach China, Mongolia or Japan. Tickets are not expensive or difficult to arrange. You can now travel almost anywhere you want in Siberia: we tell you how to organize a trip, where to get tickets and where to go.
Inside you will find: Kilometer-by-kilometer route guide - covering the entire routes of the Trans-Siberian, Trans-Manchurian and Trans-Mongolian railways with 38 strip maps in English, Russian and Chinese: see where you are as you travel; Siberia and the railway - the detailed history of Siberia, the construction of the railway and the running of the Trans-Siberian today will be of great interest not only to visitors but also to armchair travelers; City guides with maps - the best sights, places to stay and restaurants for all budgets plus Russian and Chinese phrases, rail fares and timetables.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Trailblazer Publications; 6th edition (February 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1873756704
• ISBN-13: 978-1873756706
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.8 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,327,982 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #20 in Books > Travel > Asia > Russia > Siberia

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Preferable to the Lonely Planet guide. Indeed, one of the best travel guides I've ever encountered, October 31, 2007

By 

Christopher Culver - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Trans-Siberian Handbook: Seventh Edition of the Guide to the World's Longest Railway Journey (Trailblazer Guides) (Paperback)

For passengers on traveling on all or most of the Trans-Siberian Railway and visiting the cities along it, there are only two English-language travel guides. The Lonely Planet guide appeared in 2003 with a second edition in 2006, while Bryn Thomas updates his guide almost yearly and in 2007 it reached its seventh edition. I'm a two-time veteran of the Trans-Siberian, using the 1st edition of the Lonely Planet on the eastbound Trans-Manchurian route, and the 2nd edition on the eastbound Trans-Mongolian. When I recently discovered Bryn Thomas' guide in the local library, however, it struck me as the guide that I wish I had had on the trip.

The Lonely Planet guide and Thomas' have much in common. Both include a history of Russia in the Trans-Siberian era and general information about culture. They both give sightseeing guidance and lodging listings for the cities along the way. The LP sticks to the three traditional routes between Moscow and Beijing or Vladivostok, but Thomas has now added Yakutsk, soon to be accessible by rail) and other possible rail terminus cities like Prague and Hong Kong.

What makes Thomas' guide real special is his enthusiasm for the train journey itself. Unlike the LP guide, he gives timetables for the route, truly equipping the reader to prepare for the trip without having to look for too much information outside the book. Thomas discusses in detail the layout of carriages, specifics of what the carriage attendant can do for those under her charge, and things to look out for at kilometre markers along the way. The LP guide has little about the journey itself, and what little interesting information it did have in the first edition disappeared in the second.

Thomas' tone is also much more pleasant to read than in the common guidebooks for independent travelers. He doesn't try to sell you places you have already decided to visit with an overuse of words like "vibrant" and "spectacular". I also admire that he succeeds in writing for a general audience. While some of the accomodation listings are pricey, it doesn't feel like he is dismissing backpackers like certain sell-out guidebook lines.

I don't think I will ever travel the Trans-Siberian all the way again. While still fairly low considering the distance, fares are rising and I usually have the three free weeks needed to hitchhike from Europe to Ulan-Ude or Vladivostok. Nonetheless, I'd certainly recommend this to travelers planning a trip that is well-worth doing at least once.

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars indespensible, doubles the pleasure of the trip, August 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Trans-Siberian Handbook (World Rail Guides) (Paperback)

without this book, most of the sights will pass by. The times, station breaks, kilometre breakdown are essential for getting the most out of the journey. there is nothing else out there that combines the knowledge and tables as well as this publication. It does lack sufficient maps though so bring your own

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Useful Along the Railroad, March 6, 2007

By 

Romy "Romy" (IL, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Trans-Siberian Handbook: Includes Rail Route Guide and 25 City Guides (Trailblazer Guides) (Paperback)

I used this book while traveling along the Trans-Siberian railroad and in planning my trip beforehand. It provides a great amount of quality information for planning purposes, but it is not complete. For example, when it lists the time table of trains, please note that it is only a sample of the most popular "tourist" trains. We found hundreds of trains going along the route, leaving at all times of day and night (of course we figured this out once we got there).
The translations were useful if you do not know the Russian alphabet. The pronunciation guide is good.
The best part of the guide was the section which gave you fun facts along the kilometer markings of the railroad. These made up a great portion of our entertainment while riding the train (4 days of sitting and looking out the window, chatting with other travellers, etc.). The little tidbits were very interesting!
The city guides within the book were an okay start to get familiar with the cities, but as with any guidebook which tries to cram it all in, it was not nearly complete.
My only con of the book was the large size of it. It is very thick, but I guess it must be (it has sooooo much info inside!)
I would recommend buying it if you are traveling along the railroad, or just as a great reference!