Korean Job Discussion Forums

[rayjoy]

Can I do the Trans-Mongolian plus flights in/out of Beijing/Moscow for less than $2000 USD (flying from Korea)? The only stop I'm set on is UlanBataar but I'm also somewhat interested in Lake Baikal. Also how much is a night in Moscow?

Any travel agent recommendations?

[soviet_man]

For US$2000 yes you could. You could probably swing it for around $1700.

There is a YHA hostel across the road from Beijing station and there are now several hostels in Moscow (such as Godzillas). Avoid hotels in Moscow due to extreme prices.

The train out of Moscow is probably another good option (eg. to Helsinki) although there are now a few low-cost airlines as well.

If you had the choice it would be easier and cheaper to do the trip in the reverse order eg Russia to China, rather than China to Russia. As the Chinese will charge you a premium price. Whereas any hostel in Moscow could organize Russian train tickets for you at a reasonable price.

The train from Beijing is once weekly only (and it is a Chinese train not a Russian one) so most of the pax will be Chinese - so it won't exactly be a very Russian experience.

The other big ticket item will be the Korea to China fare. If you are in no hurry, take the ferry instead and save the money.

[Stones1962]

Moscow is expensive.....there are some cheap accomodations but are usually inconvenient...

try booking.com etc to get some ideas

[humdrum]

I'd make a stop at Irkutsk (the main Lake Baikal stop)

But keep in mind that Irkutsk is hours and hours away from Lake Baikal... and in my opinion your time is better spent there than in Irkutsk.

[chris_J2]

I did Korea to China to Mongolia to Russia, in May, June, July, August 2007. The town of Listvyanka is only 70km away from Irkutsk along a good sealed road & there are frequent busses. Not as scenic as other parts of the lake but worth a day to look around. Didn't make it to Olkan Island, as it was booked out.

I then attempted to book the hydrofoil right to the very northern tip of the lake. It was booked out all through July by vacationing Russian students. Then I attempted to book a flight to Nijniangarsk airport just to the east of Severobaikalsk. Again, all flights were booked out for a week.

Finally, I ended up boarding the bus towards Moscow, & got off at Bratsk, where I had a look at the Angara Dam. I then caught a train from Bratsk to Severobaikalsk.

From Severobaikalsk, I caught a bus to the truly stunning & picturesque fishing village of Baikalskoe, the highlight of my trip in Russia.

http://www.treklens.com/gallery/Asia/Russia/East_Siberia/Buriatia/photo346043.htm

I then continued heading east to Vladivostok, stopping along the way at Khabarovsk & Komsomolsk Na Amur.

[RufusW]

[chris_J2]

Yes. I flew back to Seoul, from Vladivostok on August 1st, 2007. I'd booked an air ticket in Irkutsk, nearly 2 weeks prior, but it had been 'bumped', by the time I arrived in Vladivostok, & sold out from under the travel agent. I went to the travel agent, & they rebooked another ticket for me.