A selection of the best options for traveling by rail

Traveling with the help of special tourist trains is an interesting and affordable option to visit memorable places in several cities in a short time. At the same time, while the traveler is resting, the indefatigable train moves the tourist to new pleasant impressions exactly on schedule. Now travelers are offered routes designed for a certain time, and can last from several days to months. When planning a trip, the future tourist is guided by certain positions, namely: 

• duration of the trip;
• number of locations during the move, tour support;
• offers of additional options;
• comfort level on the road;
• food and additional entertainment;
• the price of a tourist tour. 

Usually, the service of tourist trains is engaged in "RZD-tour", which selects and forms a variety of trips. Some of them are worth paying attention to. Perhaps it is worth starting the review with the shortest, 3-4 hour railway trips, which are most popular among experienced tourists.

Chernihiv - Remote

A short three-hour route with a length of 28 kilometers is ideal for tourists who want to feel the atmosphere of home comfort in such an unusual place as a carriage. Once upon a time, the Absheron Gorge had a fairly busy narrow-gauge railway, but over time, the only Matrix trailer remained from it, which regularly runs between Chernihiv and Remote. Since there are no highways at all in these settlements in the foothills of the Caucasus, the "Matrix" remains the only option for local residents to get to civilization. It is not surprising that tourists in this trailer are waiting for meetings with schoolchildren, with grandmothers going to the bazaar, and with merchants who are carrying their goods. Very slowly, but surely, the "Matrix" crawls past majestic rocks, cliffs and dense thickets, giving the tourist the opportunity to see all the details of the beautiful landscapes. By the end of the trip, the traveler will be aware of all the local news, because the inhabitants of the Caucasus are very fond of communication. 

Tuapse - Adler

The 144 km journey will take about 3 hours, but it will be remembered for a long time. The train moves along the Black Sea coast, along piers and beaches with vacationers, past sanatoriums and holiday homes. The path passes near the sea so close that sometimes it seems as if the train is moving on water. Unforgettable impressions are complemented by the names of the villages that the car moves past: Tuapse, Dagomys, Khosta, Matsesta - famous places associated with recreation in the south. 

Kimry - Uglich

A three-hour journey of 87 km is perfect for weekend tourism. A narrow-gauge road is laid between the departure and arrival points, running through impassable thickets and dense forests hiding numerous swamps. Nature lovers go on a trip to Uglich, who have a unique opportunity to observe numerous cranes, owls, waders and other birds that live and nest in swamps. An addition to ornithological observations may be the opportunity to collect cranberries. Moving over the Humpback Bridge, near Kalyazin, you can see the famous flooded bell tower. 

Okolobaikalskaya railway

A permanent tourist railway route, 89 km long, lasts 5 hours, however, pleasant impressions from such a trip last for a long time. The route begins in the village of Baikal - the initial station of the KBZHD (the Russian abbreviation of the Baikal railway). The Okolobaikalskaya Railway was originally part of the famous Trans-Siberian Railway. During the construction of the Irkutsk hydroelectric power station, which took place in the 50s, part of the highway was flooded, and a section of the Baikal -Slyudanka II railway was isolated from the main railway. A more convenient bypass route was laid for the Trans-Siberian railway, and a commuter train "Motan" began to run along the Baikal - Slyudanka II route. Despite the fact that the segment of this railway has a rather modest size, this section has become the embodiment of the best engineering ideas. A large number of bridges, viaducts and tunnels are complemented by incredibly beautiful panoramas opening up to enthusiastic tourists. The train moves close to Lake Baikal, which makes it possible to enjoy the beautiful views of the majestic reservoir and the eternally snow-capped peaks of the Khamar-Daban mountain range.

For longer journeys by rail, RZD-Tour offers a rich selection of routes designed for 3 - 4 days. 

Route: Moscow - Yoshkar-Ola - Sviyazhsk - Moscow

The three-day route, which is usually performed in May, allows you to get to know the sights of the Volga region perfectly, in particular, tourists will visit the Tsarevokokshay Kremlin, appreciate the unique architecture of ancient churches in Sviyazhsk, walk along the ancient medieval streets of the historical reconstruction complex "Lazy Torzhok". 

Route: Samara - Saransk - Kirov.

The tourist route, designed for 3 days of travel, has its own separate name - "Vyatka fairy tales". Travelers are waiting for a meeting with history, there is an opportunity to look at the old merchants' towers, which have been preserved in the historical quarter of Kirov. Tourists are offered to paint the famous Dymkovsky toy with their own hands, more extreme travelers will try to shoot from an authentic combat bow in the fortress of the Vyatka voivode. In addition, tourists can participate in numerous festivals and reconstructions held periodically in the ancient city. 

Route: Moscow - Pskov - Veliky Novgorod - Rybinsk - Moscow

The "Silver Route", designed for a 4-day trip, offers a voluminous excursion program to those who wish. The famous Veliky Novgorod will open the doors of the Museum of wooden architecture "Vitoslavlitsy" to tourists, will provide an opportunity to visit the St. George Monastery. In Pskov, there is an opportunity to walk through the ancient streets of the city and take memorable photos. Additionally, you can choose the option of a cruise on a comfortable ship, which will take place along the route: Rybinsk, Izborsk, Pechora, visiting the Pushkin Mountains and Talab Islands. 

Route: Moscow - Kazan - Tyumen - Tobolsk - Perm - Moscow

The route "To Siberia" in 6 days of travel offers tourists to see the Kremlin in ancient Kazan, visit the Tyumen House Museum of the famous Grigory Rasputin, visit the thermal springs. The Abalak monastery and the family home of the last Russian tsar Nicholas II in Tobolsk will allow you to touch the terrible historical events. The incomparable beauty of wooden architecture can be seen in the first museum of wooden structures in the Urals, located in Perm. 

Route: Moscow - Petrozavodsk - Kizhi Island - Sortavala - Ruskeala - Vyborg - Moscow

The Karelian voyage, designed for 4 days of travel, will begin with an acquaintance with the historical monuments of Petrozavodsk. A visit to Kizhi Island, famous for wooden buildings of ancient architecture, will bring aesthetic pleasure. One of the largest islands of Lake Onega will open the doors of the park of the same name "Ruskeala" to give tourists the opportunity to explore the Marble Canyon. A walking tour of Vyborg will update and supplement the knowledge of history. 

Baikal-Amur Mainline (BAM)

Tourists will have to travel about 4,300 km by rail in 5 days of traveling in BAM. The route originates in the city of Taishet, which is located halfway between Krasnoyarsk and Irkutsk, and ends in Sovetskaya Gavan, which is on the Pacific coast. From Taishet, the BAM railway turns to the northeast, overcomes the majestic Siberian rivers Angara and Lena, and at a certain segment comes close to the northern coast of Lake Baikal. Tourists are waiting for beautiful landscapes of endless coniferous forests, snow-capped mountains, plains of the Amur region. A stop in the village of Chara will allow you to visit the famous Chara sands. 

Trans-Siberian Railway

The most fascinating journey of 9288 km lasts about a week. This is the longest railway route in the world. You can start your journey in any city through which the highway passes. Traveling on the Trans-Siberian Express allows you not only to get acquainted with the incredible beauty of the views of historical cities, but also to see the Ural Mountains, impenetrable forests and swamps of Siberia, pay tribute to the majestic Baikal and see the Pacific Ocean. Tourists not only get acquainted with new species, they also travel in time, because they cross 7 time zones. Crossing the whole country, a tourist can get off in any city, for a more detailed acquaintance with historical or architectural monuments, and then continue his voyage. Thus, the Sunday route can become as long as the traveler wishes. A trip along the Trans-Siberian Railway can provide an opportunity to thoroughly explore the country, its geography and natural areas, to study the history and culture of life of different peoples. A trip along the Trans-Siberian railway will undoubtedly leave the most wonderful memories for many years to come.

 And finally, we should mention the trains, the stay in which is equivalent to a five-digit hotel. These are trains for wealthy tourists who are willing to pay quite a lot of money for accommodation in exclusive cars with 24-hour service. We are talking about the trains "Imperial Russia" and "Golden Eagle". Both trains depart from the Moscow platform, the only difference is that the Golden Eagle goes to Vladivostok, and the Imperial Russia ends its journey in Beijing. The Golden Eagle follows the Pacific coast for 14 days, as the excursion program includes stops in Kazan, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Irkutsk, on the shore of Lake Baikal, in the cities of Ulan-Ude and Khabarovsk. Traveling in the carriage of the "Golden Eagle" is by no means possible to consider burdensome. Each compartment has a separate bathroom, a comfortable bed, a wardrobe, a TV and a music center. Two dining cars provide elite passengers with gourmet food, separate cars are allocated for a warehouse, laundry, medical center and even there is a service car with a beauty salon. The analogue of the "Golden Eagle" is a luxury hotel on wheels "Imperial Russia". Only three out of ten train cars are designed to live in the most comfortable conditions. The rest of the cars are restrooms, bars and restaurants, living rooms and nightclubs. Each VIP compartment is equipped with state-of-the-art TVs, personal air conditioners, separate toilets and showers. When stopping at night, for the comfort of passengers, the train is stopped at a quiet station, or parked on the most remote sidings.

Railway tourist routes are designed for a certain layer of travelers. When planning a tourist trip, you should choose a route that will ensure the creation of a financial and temporary "cushion". This will help to avoid unpleasant situations that often appear completely unexpectedly. With funds and time in reserve, it is possible to adjust your actions and avoid catastrophic consequences. Satisfying the needs of tourists who are unable to leave the city for a long time, "RZD Tour" and "Retro Train" implement new travel programs. These can be one-day tours from Moscow by trains and commuter trains. The journey begins from the moment when a group of tourists is allocated a separate car, in which an experienced guide begins an excursion escort immediately after the departure of the train or train.

The program "Express on estates" allows those who wish to get acquainted with the noble culture of the Muscovite region and the surrounding regions. Tourists have time to visit Yasnaya Polyana, Zvenigorod or Peredelkino. 

As part of another program, "Ecoelectric", excursions to eco-farms, nature reserves and parks are organized. 

But tours from the "Retro Train" are gaining more and more popularity, especially among those who like to travel with their families. Retro cars, a steam locomotive that pulls a train with a bang and a whistle - all this creates a unique atmosphere of the past decades. There is nothing to say about the reaction of young travelers - they are simply delighted. So, it becomes clear that tourism by rail still has hidden reserves, and new projects are waiting for us.