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The Silk Road

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The most usual route from Europe to China is via the classic Trans-
Siberian Railway; however there is another route, the so-called 'Silk Route' via Kazakhstan. It is faster and cheaper route allowing you to reach China from Western Europe just in 6 days for € 200. This route is useful for overland trip to India via Karakorum highway as well. ‘Silk Road’ route also can be combined with trip via Uzbekistan, one of the most remarkable ex-Soviet states with its cities dating from 2000 BC.

Routes

There are three main routes to take

Route 1, via Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan

Route 2, via Ukraine, Russia and Kazakhstan

Route 3, via Belarus/Ukraine, Russia, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan

The direct train runs every Saturday from Berlin and Warsaw to Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. The journey takes 4 days. Unfortunately this train does not connect with the train to Urumqi, which runs only on Tuesdays. Never less you can continue your journey to Alma Ata, from where the train goes to Urumqi on Saturdays.   It is faster option to take the train via Moscow.  Leaving Berlin on Fridays and Moscow on Saturdays you will arrive  to Urumqi on next Thursdays. Urumqi linked by daily trains with Beijing, Xian and Kashgar. Remember, this route goes through Belarus. All western citizens need an extra Belarus transit visa even if they just pass it on the train.

To avoid Belarus you can take the second route through Ukraine, which no longer requires the EU, UK, US and Swiss citizens to buy a visa. Going via Ukraine takes an extra time but it is cheaper than the way via Belarus. There is direct train every second day from Kiev to Astana. The train passes Russia on its way into Kazakhstan, Russian transit visa is required.

Finally you can take the third option to go to China through Uzbekistan, which issues invitation-free visas for the UK, French, Belgium, Swiss, Austrian, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese and Turkish citizens. The direct train runs every Saturday from Berlin and Warsaw to Saratov in Russia with future connection to Bukhara, Samarkand and Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. Remember, this train goes through Belarus and you need an extra Belarus transit visa. To avoid Belarus you can take another route through Ukraine, from where you can take direct train to Uzbekistan. Tashkent links by trains and buses to Alma Ata in Kazakhstan, from where the twice-weekly train goes to Urumqi.

Timetable

Check online timetable up to Urumqi at http://bahn.hafas.de (in English, German, Dutch, Turkish, French, Italian, Spanish, Danish and Polish). However it is an automatic system giving sometimes strange connections in the middle of the night or offering too many interchange stations while in reality it is possible to change trains only ones. Remember to check the days of running of your train, as many long-distance services don't run every day. You can check the timetable within Russia using the Russian Railways website, http://www.eng.rzd.ru

Route 1

Station

Day

Time

Duration

Train #

Moscow Yaroslav.

on odd days

dep 21:25

146:23

2

Vladivostok

(01.01…29.01)

arr 23:48*

 

´Russia´

 

 

 

 

 

Moscow Yaroslav.

on 11th & 25th

dep 21:25

210:00

2

Pyongyang

 

arr 21:25

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Route 2

Station

Day

Time

Duration

Train #

Moscow Yaroslav.

on odd days

dep 21:25

146:23

2

Vladivostok

(01.01…29.01)

arr 23:48*

 

´Russia´

 

 

 

 

 

Moscow Yaroslav.

on 11th & 25th

dep 21:25

210:00

2

Pyongyang

 

arr 21:25

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Route 3

Station

Day

Time

Duration

Train #

Moscow Yaroslav.

on odd days

dep 21:25

146:23

2

Vladivostok

(01.01…29.01)

arr 23:48*

 

´Russia´

 

 

 

 

 

Moscow Yaroslav.

on 11th & 25th

dep 21:25

210:00

2

Pyongyang

 

arr 21:25

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fares in Euro (incl. booking fee, ticket delivery and Russian visa support)

We give as example our fares for the principal ‘Silk Road’ routes. Unlike other travel companies Railovution mostly sells railway tickets for the fares much lower that you get yourself at the station in Russia. You can compare yourself our fares with the fares of railway operators and other travel agencies at our Price Comparing chapter. If you know the Russian alphabet, you can check the fares using the Russian Railways website, www.rzd.ru

Route 1

Route 2

Ticket

Single journey

from

to

Adult

Child up 15 years

1st class

2nd class

1st class

2nd class

Moscow

Vladivostok

 

€ 295

€ 315

€ 215

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ticket

Single journey

from

to

Adult

Child up 15 years

1st class

2nd class

1st class

2nd class

Moscow

Vladivostok

 

€ 295

€ 315

€ 215

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Route 3

Ticket

Single journey

from

to

Adult

Child up 15 years

1st class

2nd class

1st class

2nd class

Moscow

Vladivostok

 

€ 295

€ 315

€ 215

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More informations about the travelling from Europe by train you can find at our Getting West-East chapter.

Conneting trains in China

For those who continue their journey overland we able to book the connecting trains in China and to Vietnam and to North Korea as well ferries to South Korea and Japan. Please check our Trans-Siberian railway chapter for more details. We book connecting ferries and trains only if you are booking Silk Road though us.

Trains

The trains on Silk Route have sleeping-cars with nine compartments each. In the 2nd class there are 4-berth compartments, in the 1st class - 2-berth compartments, Passengers travelling alone share a 2-bed or 4-bed compartment with other sleeper passengers of the same sex. Towels and bed lines are provided.  Washrooms and toilets are at the end of the corridor. A restaurant car serves meals, snacks and drinks, but always travels with some supplies of your own. More information about train travelling you can find at our Train Guide chapter.

1st class or SV

2-berth compartments,  9 compartments per coach.  Both beds are at the lower level.  Washrooms and toilets are at the end of the corridor. 

Coach layout: 

2nd class or Kupé

4-berth compartments, 9 compartments per coach.  Washrooms and toilets are at the end of the corridor. 

Coach layout: 

Accommodation

You can easily book online your accommodation along the way through our Accommodation chapter at our website.

Recommended guide books

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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