Overland from Singapore to Europe Guide

[dilphinus]

It seems like there have been quite an interest in Singaporeans attempting the Trans-Siberia.

I did the Trans-Siberia starting from Tianjin in 2012. I went during an off-peak period. I didn't pre-book or pre-buy tickets before departure. I bought tickets when I arrived at the cities. I started a thread then. It's http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/eat-drink-man-woman-16/solo-backpacking-trip-3875799.html

There have been a few forumers who have done a similar trip as well. I'm sure they will be very willing to give out some tips and such.

Singapore to JB - Bus
JB to Kota Bahru can be done via the Malayan Tiger. It's very different from the KTM trains. This train is using special coaches donated by the Japanese Government. It's very clean and comfortable. It goes thru the jungle rail. Tickets can only be bought in JB/Malaysia (as the train does not originate and end in Singapore).

[As of July 2012, this train is operating thrice weekly between Tumpat and Johor Bahru. This train departs from Wakaf Bharu Station at 05.18PM every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday and reaches Johor Bahru Sentral station at 07.20AM on the next day.

On the opposite direction, this train departs from Johor Bahru Sentral station at 10.30PM every Monday, Wednesday and Friday and arrives at Wakaf Bharu station at 01.11PM on the next day.

To Thailand: There are no train services directly into Thailand. You will have to catch bus No 29 from Kota Bharu Central Bus Terminal to Rantau Panjang and cross the border into Sungai Kolok and proceed from there. The morning train up to Bangkok currently departs Sungai Golok at 11.20AM.]
(Source: Kota Bharu travel guide - Wikitravel)

I didn't start the journey from Singapore so I'm not familiar with the route after Malaysia/Thailand.

Overland from Malaysia to China can be done -> Malaysia -> Thailand -> Laos -> China (Kunming)

Alternatively, can take the train from Hanoi to Nanning
Hanoi to Nanning is a daily train service. Then continue onwards from Nanning to Beijing. This route is cheaper than the Hanoi to Beijing train. The train service between Hanoi and Beijing isn't daily.

From Beijing, you can either take the Trans Mongolian or the Trans Manchurian route.

I did the Trans Mongolian route (as I have been to Harbin before and didn't want to head that way).

The Trans Mongolian route
Beijing - Ulaan Baatar - Irkutsk - Moscow

The Trans Manchurian route
Beijing - Harbin - Chita - Ulan Ude - Irkutsk - Moscow

As a general rule of thumb, it's cheaper to break the train/bus journey in the border towns.

 

[dilphinus]

The route I did
Tianjing - Beijing - Datong - Hohhot - Erlian - Zamya Uud - Ulaan Baatar - Irkutsk - Moscow - St. Petersburg - Mannheim - Frankfurt

Russia LOI - USD30
Russia visa - SGD70
Visa registration - RUB400

Flight from Singapore to Tianjin on Scoot - SGD164
Bus ticket from Tianjin Airport to the Railway Station - RMB15 / SGD3
High speed train ticket from Tianjin to Beijing - RMB55 / SGD11
Beijing to Datong train ticket - RMB48 (hard seat) / SGD10
Datong to Hohhot train ticket - RMB42 + RMB5 (handling fee) / SGD10
Hohhot to Erlian (border town with Mongolia) cost only RMB93 for a soft sleeper / SGD19
Erlian to Zamyn Uud - RMB41 + RMB20 (Mongolia tax) + RMB5 (China exit tax) / SGD13
Zamyn Uud to Ulaan Baatar - MNT39200 / SGD29
Ulaan Baatar to Irkutsk - MNT96250 / SGD71
Irkutsk to Moscow - RUB4418.20 / SGD170
Moscow to St. Petersburg - RUB1442.80 / SGD55
St. Petersburg to Mannheim (bus) - EUR110 / SGD185
Train from Mannheim to Frankfurt Airport - EUR
Flight from Frankurt to Singapore on Qatar - EUR400 (can't recall exact amount) / SGD670

Total cost of flights - SGD834
Total cost of trains - SGD391
Total cost of bus - SGD185
Total cost of overland travel - SGD576
Total cost of travel - SGD1410

 

[dilphinus]

How to apply for the Russia visa?
I applied for the LOI via Russian Visa Online, Tourist, Business, Multiple-Entry, Travel Russia Visa Support Invitation Services.

Download the Visa Application forms at the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Singapore website.

This is their offical website -> www.singapore.mid.ru

Bring the LOI and the visa forms (of cos bring your passport too) to the embassy and submit the application.

All information is available at the website. It's a very simple no-brainer process. A lot of people have the mis-conception that it's a difficult and tedious process to apply for the Russia visa.

Be sure to have the Russia visa registered within 3 days of arrival! Some hostels/hotels do not allow those who's not registered to check in. While I have also heard of people not registering and not getting into trouble. Some said it doesn't matter (to register) if one's leaving the country by air. But it may be a problem if the person is departing by train or bus.

 

[dilphinus]

For the train schedules in China, I use
- China Train Guide - Train Travel Guide to China
- China Train Schedule Search - China Travel Guide

For train schedule in Mongolia, I used Mongolia Travel Guide - Mongolia Travel Information, Mongolia Tour Packages, Mongolia Tours
There are other websites like Mongolia Train Tickets - Travel on the Transiberian Railway and International passenger train : InfoMongolia.com : News and information about Mongolia, Mongolian language lessons

I found Visit Mongolia to be the most accurate. There don't seem to be any price information online though. Most prices that I have found online, are usually at the individual traveler's blog.

As for the Russian trains, I used Russian train tickets. Russian Railways. Train schedules and timetable, online reservation tickets for Russia trains.
Bear in mind that all Russian trains run on the Moscow time!

 

[dilphinus]

NOTE that I did not purchase any tickets online. I bought all train tickets at the local train stations.

Buying Train Tickets in China
The queues at the train stations in China are scary. Never have I seen a train station that is not not crowded. I always have to queue for at least an hour. Do note that one can purchase the train ticket from an agency.

You have to pay a handling fee of RMB5 if ticket purchased is not from the same departure station. Example, you buy a Beijing West ticket departure to Shijiazhuang from the Main Station (Beijing), you will have to pay an additional RMB5 handling fee. But you don't have to pay this handling fee if you purchase the ticket from the Beijing West Station. Another example, you purchase Beijing - Datong and Datong - Erlian tickets, you don't have to pay a handling fee for Beijing - Datong cos you are buying from that departure station but you have to pay a handling fee for Datong - Erlian.

The agencies will charge a slight handling fee. It's worth the price becos you don't have to waste time queuing. Also be sure to queue in the right queue. It can be quite chaotic in the Beijing Main Station. Also, the domestic and international queues are at different counters. Don't queue for an international ticket, say Beijing - Ulaan Baatar (Mongolia) at the domestic counter. You may have to end up queuing for another hour at the right queue.

 

[dilphinus]

Buying Train Tickets in Mongolia
The train ticket sales counter is not located at the train station!!! It is located a few streets away! It is probably a much better idea to have an agency pre-booked or purchase the ticket on your behalf.

There's the option of taking the bus from Ulaan Baater to Ulan Ude. This is a shorter route (as compared to taking the train cos of the immigration). However, the bus station is not easy to locate. When I was there, the bus tickets were sold out for the next couple of days.

 

[dilphinus]

Buying Train Tickets in Russia
I used this slip of paper when I bought the train ticket in Moscow. Still, it didn't ensure a smooth process!

Train tickets can be bought online and have them printed at the train stations in Russia. The tickets have to be validated before boarding the trains.

There are 12 railway stations in Moscow! Be sure to check carefully which station you have to depart from. I went to the wrong station and had to rush to the right station within an hour, at midnight. It was cold and I was perspiring. Not a very fun situation to be in.

There are 5 railway stations in St Petersburg. Again, be sure to check which station you will depart from. St Petersburg is a tourist friendly city, much friendlier than Moscow. It's pretty easy to get around as there are signages in English and more Russians speak English.

 

[beanstalk6]

Nice. Bookmarked. For the distant day in the future.

 

[IronMac]

Very nice!

For more info, one can also look here in case the TS did not link it.

The Man in Seat Sixty-One - the train travel guide...

 

[invisible999]

How much time did you spent during the whole journey, what did you when you have not been on train/bus and where did you take showers?

 

[dilphinus]

How much time did you spent during the whole journey, what did you when you have not been on train/bus and where did you take showers?

34 days.

Sightsee.

I stayed in hotels in China and hostels in Mongolia (Outer) and Russia.

I shower (at the hotels and hostels) before and after I get off the train.

The longest train ride was 4 nights 3 days from Irkutsk to Moscow. The longest bus ride was 36 hours from St. Petersburg to Mannheim.

 

[patryn33]

Queue in china not bad, just learn the PRC way! Push thru!!
One can get a standing ticket and change later

 

[Some-one]

Queue in china not bad, just learn the PRC way! Push thru!!
One can get a standing ticket and change later

That's what I did. Have to push through to get up the buses. Even the young ones don't care about the old ones. They just push and push and push.

 

[invisible999]

34 days.

Sightsee.

I stayed in hotels in China and hostels in Mongolia (Outer) and Russia.

I shower (at the hotels and hostels) before and after I get off the train.

The longest train ride was 4 nights 3 days from Irkutsk to Moscow. The longest bus ride was 36 hours from St. Petersburg to Mannheim.

Quite impressive. But from those 34 days most were spent on train/bus, right?

 

[dilphinus]

Quite impressive. But from those 34 days most were spent on train/bus, right?

Nope.

Beijing to Dating - overnight train
Dating to Hohhot - 6 hours train
Hohhot to Erlian - overnight train
Erlian to Ulaan Baatar - overnight train (approx. 1.5 days)
Ulaan Baatar to Irkutsk - overnight train (approx. 1.5 days)
Irkutsk to Moscow - 4 nights 3 days
Moscow to St. Petersburg - overnight train
St. Petersburg to Mannheim - 36 hours bus (departed at midnight)

Approximate one third of time (day) spent on trains/bus.

 

[QJPtheSE]

Hi, TS. Do you book your hotel before reaching your destination city or looked for one upon reaching your destination? I am thinking of reserving the rooms even if I am going at a off-peak season (in March).

 

[dilphinus]

Hi, TS. Do you book your hotel before reaching your destination city or looked for one upon reaching your destination? I am thinking of reserving the rooms even if I am going at a off-peak season (in March).

I prebook for China. I stayed in hotels in Datong and Hohhot.

I didn't prebook for Ulaan Baatar and Irkutsk.

Certain hostels are pretty popular. May be a good idea to book your lodging as soon as you bought your train ticket.

Moscow and St. Petersburg I booked the hostel just before I got onto the train.

 

[dilphinus]

Hostels in Russia

Irkutsk
Baikaler: Budget accommodation in Irkutsk Baikal Listvyanka and Tours, Travel Services and Information Support Online
I stayed at the one at Lenin Street.
Quite a bit of things to do, walk around if you are there for a day or two. There's a supermarket and also a shopping street/mall nearby. There's parks around the area too.

Can walk to the train station. Takes about half an hour.

I booked a 3 days tour/trip to Olkhon Island with them. They pick you up from the hostel. Drop off at the shopping area near the hostel.

In Moscow, I stayed at the Napoleon Hostel.
NAPOLEON Hostel Moscow - Moscow's favourite and most centrally located hostel
A bit too rowdy for my liking. People were drinking and singing almost thru out the day. Walking distance to the metro and the Red Square (20mins). Nice bar next to the hostel.

In St. Petersburg, I stayed with Soul Kitchen. One of the best hostels I've ever stayed!
SOUL KITCHEN hostel St Petersburg | SOUL KITCHEN HOSTEL Junior
They cook local Russian food (dinner) almost daily. Nice environment, 5 mins walk from the railway station. Can walk to the main touristy area. Metro is less than 5 mins walk (near the railway station).

No loud parties and heavy drinking. Quite a nice peaceful place to stay.

 

[sellun]

hi ts, whats the estimated total cost?
Your original thread is gone.

 

[wuso]

Yes, Soul Kitchen at St Pete is great. I recommend as well!