Many travelers that comes in Mongolia or Georgia also wish to take the mythical trans-Siberian railway. But the nice journey must be planed ahead. Visa, hotels reservation in Moscow and buy ticket… Many things have to be planned. Be sure to contact the Russian embassy of your territory to organise your own Russian experience.

 

 

This page offer informations for independent travelers that want to organise their own trip to Russia and Mongolia We highly recommend this page (Visa for Russia), arranging your trip around the Baikal or simply booking a hotel in Moscow. Feel free to Contact us for further informations. It’s always a pleasure for us to give you tips and advise for Mongolia.

Advise for your trip in Moscow (Russia) on your way tom Mongolia

1-. Ask the visa of Russia (Double entry visa if you plan to come back in Russia after your trip in Mongolia

2-. Ask your visa for Mongolia

3-. Ask your visa for China if you plan to take the train until Beijing

4-. Bring American dollars in small currency

5-. Plan your stop over in Russia before buying the trans-siberian ticket

6-. Train ticket (trans-Siberian) with an agency are more expensive but help you a lot if you don’t speak Russian.

7-. Some internet site can help you a lot planning your trip to Russia (see Visa for Russia)

Advertise here

The big challenge for most traveler that takes the trans-Siberian and trans-Mongolian railway is to get all the visas they need for this long journey. Many travelers contact us to know how to obtain the official invitation to ask the Russian visa. It seems hard!!! This section have been done to help traveler that goes in Russia (and maybe Mongolia and China) and wish to be independent. After a short call at the russain embassy of our territory we find out we need an invitation from a person in Russia or from a tourist agency there. But instead of taking a whole tour it a big travel agency (which may be a good idea if you have some money and short time), there is a new way to get this important letter. See above for more informations:

What do you need for the Russian visa?

· Official invitation for Russia

· Fill the form (Don’t forget to ask a double entry visa if you come back in Russia after Mongolia)

· Adress of the nearest Russian embassy (or consulate) in your territory

· Valid passeport (at least 6 months valid)

· Passeport photos (2-3)

To help you obtaining your Russian visa:

There is some internet site (see link above) that may help you to get the official invitation that you need. Before asking the invitation letter, think about the type of visa (business, touristic, work, double entry, single entry, multiple entry…) that you need, because the letter will be different. When you’ll receive this invitation, you may be able to apply for the Russian embassy or consulate of your territory. Even if there are some fees to get this letter, it does worth it. You will avoid many problem and save some money if you don’t want to take a whole tour with a travel agency in Russia. To have help for your Russian visa, we highly recommend those site above: Visa for Russia

 

Consulate of Russia in

Embassy of Russia in

Embassy of Russia in

Embassy of Russia in

Embassy of Russia in Mongolia

(Do your Russian visa somewhere else)

Enkhtayvany gudamzh, A-6, Ulaanbaatar
embassy_ru@mongol.net

Embassy of Russia in China

100600, Beijing, Dongzhimennei Beizhong str., 4

First tribes appeared on the territory of the future Moscow in the Neolithic epoch. The oldest settlements, dated as three thousands years before our era, were discovered within the area of the present-day city.

In the second half of the first millenium of our era Slavic tribes occupied areas near Moscow, these were "vjatichi", who are regarded as a kernel of the future Moscow population.

The first reference to Moscow, as a town, is registrated in the old manuscript of 1147. In 1156, prince Yury Dolgoruky erected timber walls around Moscow with a moat. He is frequently regarded as a founder of Moscow, and his monument is among the most honored in Moscow.

Tatar-Mongolian invasion in 1237-38 produced a great destruction of Moscow. However, Moscow recovered rather rapidly (in the second half of 13 century), and became capital of the independent Moscow principality.

During the 14 and the first half of 15 centuries Moscow was a relatively large city with big industrial/trade population.

In the end of 15th century, during Ivan III princing, Moscow becomes a capital of Russia. Moscow Kremlin, that was built in the beginning of the 15 century, is a benchmark of that epoch. For the purpose of improving the defence of Moscow and of its inhabitants, a number of defence buildings and big clusters, like Novodevichy - from south-west, Donskoy and Danilovsky - from south, Simonov and Novospassky - from south-east and Andronnikov - from the east, were constructed.

Development of commerce and trade served impetus for new advance in the science and arts. So, a number of fundamental manuscripts (like "Domostroy", "Stoglav"), great architectural buildings (like "Kremlin" and "Pokrovsky chirch") and the first Russian printed book - "Apostol" by Ivan Feodorov were created.

Moscow has been attacked by Polish-Lithunian army in 17th century and was conquered by them. Then salesman Minin and prince Pozharsky organized people's militia, and Moscow was liberated in 1612.

During the reign of Peter the First, arts and science in Moscow, and in Russia in whole, progressed strongly. In 1755 Moscow University was opened, in 1703 the first printed newspaper ("Vedomosti") appeared.

Moscow architecture reached its peak level of perfection in the second half of 18th century due to advanced Russian architects V.I.Bazhenov (Pashkov's house), M.F.Kazakov (Senat building).

In 19th century Moscow remains an importantly political, governmental and economical centre. During French invasion Napoleon said: "If I'll capture Kiev, I'll take Russia by it's feet, if I'll capture Petersburg, I'll take it by it's head and if I'll capture Moscow, I'll destroy it's heart".

Folk army has been organized in 1812 to withstand the French invasion, and a famous Borodino battle took place in August not far from Moscow. This battle is thought to be a prerequisite for the victory in the War, although the battle itself was more a failure than a victory. Moscow was left to Napoleon's troops, but before that it was burnt by muscovite almost entirely. Fires and hunger compelled the French army to leave Moscow, where the Russian army entered very soon - in October. After the liberation of the city a commission was authoritized for Moscow reconstruction after the fire, and talented architects were its members (Beauve, Grigoriev).

The present-day appearance of Moscow centre was founded in those times. Thus, Alexandrov Garden, Theatre Square appeared with Bolshoi and Maly theatres, as well as the buildings of Manezh and the First city’s hospital.

A new manner of living became usual in Moscow after its reconstruction. Earlier, at the turn of the centuries Moscow was a feudal town, whereas after the 1812 it lost features of the aristocratic town and acquired those of a bourgeois one. To the end of the 19 century it became the second industrial centre in Russia (after Saint-Petersburg), partially due to the rapid growth of railway communication.

A first telegraph line was constructed in 1852, it connected two Russian capitals, and the town railway with horses ("konka") started operating in 1872. In 1867 gas illumination of many streets has been initiated, and the first electric lanterns appeared in Prechistenka gates in 1883. First telephone lines were organized between Moscow and Petersburg in the late 90-ies.

The XIX century is known to be a "golden age" for arts and science, and Moscow was a birthplace for many famous artists, writers, painters and scientists; a number of outstanding politicians were also moscovites. You are, of course, familiar with the following names, whose talent and ideas made the glory of Russia: Pushkin, Gogol', Tolstoi, Chekhov, Herzen, Pirogov, Sklifosofsky, Vasnetsov, Serov, Levitan and many others.

Communistic ideas of Karl Marx became popular in Moscow, they were studied in secret meetings by workers and intelligentsia, who became very enthusiastic about them and organized revolutionary groups. Their activities resulted in a series of rebellions, one of them was mentioned frequently as a most successful - Krasnaya Presnya rebellion of 1905. July strikes of 1914 were the next conspicuous stage in the revolutionary process, which was finalized by the February and the "Great October" Revolution of 1917. The new government was headed by V.Lenin and the capital was again transferred from Petersburg-Petrograd to Moscow.

The Soviet Union was announced December,30, 1922 by the All-Russia Communist Party of Bol'sheviks (VKPB) and Moscow became it's capital. The social structure of Moscow inhabitants started to change in the 20-ies on the account of peasants leaving their villages in search of job and "new life"; later on the most poor part of population came to Moscow as non-qualified workers on factories and in house building. Thus, the percentage of workers living within the Garden Ring (central region) increased from 5% to 45% during this first decade. Hence, Moscow architecture changed: the proportion of blocks inhabited by workers increased drastically, the city sprawled outside, many churches were destroyed or transformed into "Palaces of Culture", clubs, stores for vegetables or for building materials. The most active construction of living blocks was initiated by Niklita Khruschev in the 60-ies, and many families moved from extremely overcrowded multi-family apartments, where more than 5 persons were living in one small room to individual, although small apartments. They were constructed quickly to meet the urgent demands, and, therefore, they are far from being beautiful and diverse.

The "opening" of Russia to the West and changes in politic situation caused many changes in the attitude of people to their town, its ecology and nature, national and cultural traditions. Therefore, looking forward it is possible to feel optimistic about the future of Moscow.

 

 

 

 

Here are some of our partner. Contact them and book a room right now. Your travel with the trans-Siberian start here.

 

 Here are the cities where you may stop on your journey from Moscow to Ulaanbaatar.

Moscow (Москва)

Point of arrival and departure of your journey to Mongolia or Georgia, this wonderful city is a main point for culture and history. Plan a stay in Moscow to make a visit of the russian capital. You’ll enjoy the beauty of this great russian city before heading to your next country.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Novosibirsk (Новосибирск)

Founded in 1893, Novosibirsk has a population of more then one millions and a half.

En dehors des études, de passionnantes visites s'imposent: les squelettes de mammouths, la "princesse scythe", momie de 2500 ans, ainsi que d'autres trouvailles longtemps enfouies dans les profondeurs de la toundra. Faire une excursion dans la toundra sibérienne, les montagnes de l'Altaï, à Irkutsk ou au lac Baïkal est une expérience magique.

Les étés à Novossibirsk sont très chauds et l'Ob est alors un lieu de baignade très prisé. Le climat d'octobre à avril est extrêmement froid et permet de consacrer son temps libre au ski, au patinage et aux activités pratiquées en salle. Soyez prêt si vous venez à cette période de l’année car l’hiver est rigoureux lorsqu’on avance en Sibérie et en Mongolie.

Chose à ne pas manquer: la cathédrale Voznesensky, la chapelle Nicolas, le musée d'études régionales

 

 

Omsk (Омск)

 

What to see: : Cathédral of Nickolsky, to tower of fire tour, The chapelle,

Oulan-Oude (Улан-Удэ)

This city is the capital of Buriatia, an autonomous republic in Siberia.

The visit of this city will give you a taste of Mongolia before entering in this central asian country. Religious tradition, culture, language and physionomy of the people are similar to what you will find in Mongolisa. The Buriad is a brother people of Mongols and have a language similar to mongolian. Come in this wonderfull part of Russia and enjoy this part of the world.

What to see:

Irkutsk (Иркуцк)

Ikutsk is a great stop over on your journey to Mongolia.

For those who want to make an expedition to Baikal Lake, we invite you to have a look on this wonderfull internet site. To organise your trip to Sibera, have a look at this website: www.baikal-lake.org

What to see:

Perm (1400km)

Founded in 1711, the city of Perm has more then one millions inhabitants. Beside is multicultural character Perm is a typical Russian city.

What to see: Saint-Pierre et Saint-Paul Cathedral, Art gallery of Perm, monastery of Spaso-Preobrazhensky.

Iekaterinbourg

 

 

What to see:

Naushki (Наушки)

Située à la frontière avant d’arriver en Mongolie, Naushki est prisé par les aventuriers au porte-feuille limité.

Beaucoup de voyageurs se rendent dans cette petite ville russe avec des trains locaux et traversent la frontière avec des transport locaux. Rendu à Sukhbaatar, ils prennent un train pour quelques tugrik qui les mèneront à Oulan-Bator, capitale de Mongolie.

 

Sukhbaatar (Сүхбаатар)

Cette ville située à la frontière de la Mongolie et de la Russie (côté mongol) a une population de plus de 20 000 habitants. Endroit paisible, peu de voyageurs s’arrêtent dans cette ville frontalière. Vous pourrez néanmoins un petit hoтel confortable en plein centre ville. Vous pourrez ensuite (le lendemain) continuer votre périple pour la Russie ou Oulan-Bator. Vous pourrez vous rendre à Oulan-Bator avec un train local pour environ 3000 Tgr. La station de train est ouverte chaque jour de 8am-12h00 et 15h-17h.

Darkhan (Дархан)

Pour plus d’informations, consultez la section à voir en Mongolie