Frequently asked questions
The Trans-Siberian train journey is no more dangerous or harmless than any other journey on earth. Train crews and plainclothes police officers constantly monitor the safety of the train and its passengers.
If you provoke yourself into becoming a victim by your own behaviour, it is everyone’s responsibility.
At Moscow train stations, as at stations in general, you should keep a close eye on your belongings. Excessive alcohol consumption should be avoided, as should unfamiliar company trying to get close to you or offering you a drink.
The “brains in the hand and ice in the hat” mentality is in place. However, pickpockets can be found in every country.
However, we consider travel and baggage insurance to be an absolute necessity throughout the trip. Travel insurance is therefore compulsory in order to obtain a Russian visa.
Yes. Just because men and women are together on the train and in the trains, it is not a barrier to travel. Countless men and women travelling alone have made the “Traveller Trans-Siberia” journey across Siberia. There is no more travelling like the Finlandia Prize-winning book “Cabin 6”. Lone travellers can board the train without fear.
Very safe, although you may have thought and heard quite the opposite. For tourists, the country is probably the safest place on the globe and very welcoming to tourists.
North Koreans are super friendly and eager to explore. We have been travelling to the country for 10 years and never once has anyone felt unsafe on a trip, quite the opposite.
When you travel with us, we can also easily arrange your visa, either in advance or so that you can get it from China on your outbound journey. You should allow at least five weeks for this.
We strongly recommend making a second trip by train, which is an experience in itself. It’s easier to get to know the local people on the train and they’re happy to have a beer and chat with the tourists. Americans cannot travel by train.
In addition to basic vaccinations, no special vaccinations are required for North Korea. Rokote.fi is a good source of information on vaccinations required in all countries. http://www.rokote.fi/
Understandable and that’s why we also offer the option of self-drive. See the self-catering section. However, travelling in a group is, in our opinion, a more comfortable way to explore North Korea.
Of course you can, as long as you follow the instructions of local guides and don’t shoot in areas where it is expressly forbidden to do so. Border areas, border crossings and close-ups of soldiers are prohibited. Polite behaviour includes asking permission from locals when photographing them in any country. Otherwise, go for it!
You can’t. You will always be accompanied by a local guide. This makes the country feel even more mysterious. Walking around the hotel areas is usually free and you can always suggest to your guide if you want to stop somewhere. Attempted sneaking and breaking the rules will have consequences for your guides and it is therefore important to follow them.
We can book the most unusual events for groups: tickets for football matches, water park visits, marathons, visits to a local farm, volunteering, bike rides and factory visits. It’s worth enquiring further if you want something different.
Euros and Chinese Yuan are the best currencies, but as you are in full health care, it is not a good idea to carry too much money. Tips are to be shared.
In North Korea, the tip culture is strong and indispensable. Tipping guides is mainly done with money, but cosmetics, chocolate and, for men, tobacco also bring a smile to the face and a work ethic to the ceiling. In a restaurant, if you think you have received good service, you can leave 5-10% of the total. Tips for guides are given on the last day and a good amount is around €20-25.
This is probably the case, but we recommend that you do not get into an argument with the guides or any of the locals. You must bear in mind that the cause is important to them and visitors must respect them. Attempts to “turn back” are disrespectful and cause unnecessary irritation. If you want to ask questions, it is good to know how to do it politely. We’ve all read about North Korea on TV, but now you have the opportunity to hear and see a different perspective that is guaranteed to surprise you and you’ll learn a lot of new things too.
Same as in Finland, i.e. 220V and the same plug.
It’s free, but only a few hotels have internet access and no network for your phone. International calls can be made from the hotel.
Capital: Pyongyang
Type of state: communist People’s Republic
Other cities:Kaesong, Hamhung, Nampo, Chongjin
Area: 120 540 km2
Population: around 25 million
Official language: korean
Currency: won
Religion: buddhism, confucianism, atheism
Time difference to Finland: +6 h in summer, +7 h in winter
Area code: +850
Electricity: 220 V
You can get off the train on the platform to stroll around and buy the products on offer, but you have to continue on the same train. If you have bought a ticket on your own for only one of the intermediate stations, you must ensure that you can still buy a connecting ticket. It is advisable to go to the ticket office at the station and reserve a new seat. If you stay overnight at an intermediate station for more than 72 hours (3 days), you must register at a hotel or with the police in Russia.
Russian visas are valid throughout the country. If for some reason you miss the train by accident, the only options are to try to catch the train with a taxi and get on again at the next station. This is especially true if all your travel documents and belongings are left on the train. Once the train has stopped, there is no reason to go beyond the platform.
At the Mongolian/Chinese and Russian/Chinese borders, new bogies and axle pairs are replaced on each wagon. The changeover period is spent in the wagon and the changeover of the axles is monitored. The wagon is lifted slightly into the air and new “axle pairs” are put underneath. The changeover is due to the different track gauges in the countries.
This is a normal, year-round train on the Russian, Mongolian or Chinese railways, where all other passengers travel.
Not quite. The Eastern Express is a nice luxury train for tourists, while the Trans-Siberian is a normal long-distance train. However, the travel companionship may be as good if not better. On the train, 1st class cars have more space and slightly wider beds than 2nd class cars. Travel in both classes is comfortable.
Food and drinks are available from the train restaurant car at reasonable prices. The restaurant car also often sells snacks, biscuits and other snacks. Food and drinks brought in by local people can be bought on the platform. Pies, fruit, snacks, drinks and even hot meals are sometimes available from the pier vendors.
It’s also a good idea to take your own snacks with you on the train. For example, crumb coffee, bagged tea, sour crisps, nuts, raisins, soft drinks, etc. are good. People with a vegetarian or other special diet should bring their own snacks. A variety of dishes are available from the food truck on request, but they do not always understand the absolute nature of the choice.
The train has 1st and 2nd class. The cabins are the same size, but the 1st class cabin has 2 beds and the 2nd class cabin has 4 beds. There is space for luggage under the bed or upstairs in the section that goes over the aisle. A rucksack or reasonably sized suitcase can fit in this space.
Available from the restaurant car (PECTOPAH), or bought at some stations during stops. You can also bring your own champagne on board. However, you must be moderate when drinking champagne and be considerate of your fellow passengers. Russian caviar (IGRA) goes well with champagne. Toast may have to be compromised.
When the train is running, you can smoke on the tops of the carriages. Smoking is allowed on platforms (not in Helsinki).
Depending on the station, the train stops for 2 to 30 minutes. The train is not signalled by the sender or the train, but leaves unannounced. From the train, you can go oxygen hopping outside at the stations, do some stretching and gymnastics and buy snacks from a local private vendor. The carriage staff will show you when it’s time to get back on the carriage.
No material difference. Both trains are originally of German manufacture, and are almost identical in design. The staff are of course either Chinese or Russian. The Chinese train makes the journey faster, passing through Mongolia. The Russian train goes around Mongolia via Manchuria. Both end up in Beijing. Train No. 2 runs from Moscow to Vladivostok. The English language skills of the staff are limited on all trains on the Siberian line.
Passport control officers come on board to check passports and visas. The customs declaration forms are distributed on board the train and will be given to the customs officer on request. At the Finnish-Russian border, checks are carried out while the train is moving. At the Russian-Mongolian/Chinese border, the train will stop for about 4-5 hours. It is a good idea to visit the toilets well before the train arrives at the border, as they will be closed during border formalities. Toilets are also closed before and after stations.
At the Chinese border, the bogies on a train are changed when the track gauge changes. The wagons are lifted into the air when the bogies are changed. A locomotive and restaurant car is changed at the border for another one.
From Beijing, we can get you onward train tickets to Shanghai, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Chongqing or wherever the tracks take you in China. From China you can cross the border to Hanoi in Vietnam and on down to Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City. From Vietnam you can get a visa for Laos or Cambodia and you’re back on the road!
How to read a Russian train ticket (read from left to right):
train number, departure date, departure time, car number, type of ticket;
city of departure, city of arrival, type of train;
seat number;
passport number/passenger name in Russian;
total ticket price, time of arrival; (Moscow time.)
The passport must be valid for 6 months after the end of your trip. You must have enough blank pages in your passport for visas. Russian and Chinese visas are stuck in your passport.
Take with you on your Siberian train journey: a small torch, a corkscrew, a spoon, a multifunctional link set, (MP3 player), a couple of rolls of toilet and household paper, toilet seat protector paper, lots of “Savettes”, personal hygiene products for women, rubbish bags, playing cards, paper and pencil, rubber-soled train shoes, a small towel, snacks (e.g. nuts and raisins, dried fruit, crisps, biscuits, bagged soups, own mug or cup, spoon and fork), travel insurance certificate, visas, passport and spare passport photos and photocopy of passport. Small gifts (candy, tobacco, etc.) to give to train staff or to offer to fellow passengers. It’s a good idea to establish a good relationship with the train crew from the start. Luggage must not officially weigh more than 35 kg per person. Luggage must also fit in the space provided for it in the compartment.
Visa- Mastercard-, Amex etc. credit cards or Finnish debit cards are not accepted on the train.
It is best to obtain all the necessary visas in advance in Finland. Russian Mongolian and Chinese visas are applied for at the consulate. Visa instructions can be found in the Visa section of the website and on the page
The passport must still be valid for at least 6 months. You should allow approx. 5-12 days per visa.
The Chinese consulate is open Mon-Fri 09.00-11.30 www.chinaembassy-fi.org
Visas for Laos or Cambodia are best applied for at the front desk, e.g. in Beijing or Hanoi, although they can also be obtained at the border/airport on arrival. You can stay in Vietnam for 14 days without a visa. The information on visas here is unofficial. Official information is available from each consulate. If your trip is cancelled for any reason, and we have already arranged the visas for you, the visa fee paid to us will not be refunded.
Welcome to Siberia, Mongolia and China !