​Budget and Safety Tips in Solo Traveling Russia

12 Days Solo Backpacking in Summer Russia (Trans-Siberia Train Ride)

August 25 to September 05, 2017

Moscow City Day-Tours Last Part; Side Trip to ​Sergiev Posad

​1. Russia is very, very safe to travel especially the entire Trans-Siberia journey. Locals are very friendly too. Even there is too much language barrier, i.e. English-translation and English-speaking is rare, locals will try to assist you by action language, calculator and mobile applications. Don't be intimidated if they are raising their voice if they can't understand you, it's just normal and nothing personal. I even asked also roaming policemen frequently on my subway adventure, they are all approachable.

2. Russia Tourist Visa application is easy in the Philippines rather than in UAE as Philippine passport holder due to number of embassy requirements.

3. Book only your accommodation, train and plain tickets if you already received your confirm visa.

4. On my arrival in Moscow Airport (DME), Lady Immigration Officer did not ask any questions to me. She just give me Immigration card and stamp my passport and within 5 minutes she returned my passport. On my airport departure, again no questions asked except by the roaming Immigration Officer while I'm queuing. The Immigration Officer asked how much cash did I brought, I just told around 1,000 USD with Debit Card. He asked again "Less than 10,000 USD?", "Yes Sir" I replied. I thought he will asked about my visa registration. On my entire journey inside Russia, no one asked about my visa registration to police station.

​Budget and Safety Tips in Solo Traveling Russia (matryoshka dolls in Izmailovo Market)

Vladivostok Short Morning Tour

12 Days Solo Backpacking in Summer Russia (Trans-Siberia Train Joy Ride)

August 25 to September 05, 2017

Trans-Siberia Train Ride; Moscow to Vladivostok in 6 Days (7 Time Zones)

My actual plan was to check-in in hostel the night of my arrival but due to mistake of time zone (Trans-Siberia Train journey Vladivostok arrival time is in respect to Moscow time, that means my arrival of 2355H should be 0655H the next day), I have only around less than 2 hours to roam around Vladivostok. Upon my arrival in Vladivostok train station, I went to breakfast nearby outside then went to Revolution Square for a quick photo-ops while walking. I left Vladivostok City (UTC +1000H) 0905H local time going to airport via airport express at 230 Rubles ($4) for 45 minutes travel time. I left Vladivostok airport 1300H going back to Moscow (UTC +0300H).

Vladivostok is a city in Russia that serves as the eastern terminus of the Trans-Siberian Railway and a major Pacific port. Some travellers arrive here at the end or the beginning of a trip on the Trans-Siberian. If you've arrived in Vladivostok on the Trans-Siberian, at the end of a trip that began in Moscow, head straight for Sportivnaya Harbor.
http://wikitravel.org/en/Vladivostok

Vladivostok Short Morning Tour

Trans-Siberia Train Ride; Moscow to Vladivostok in 6 Days (7 Time Zones)

12 Days Solo Backpacking in Summer Russia (Trans-Siberia Train Ride)

August 25 to September 05, 2017

How to Apply for Russia Tourist Visa

"Trans-Siberian is not just a railway, it’s an experience, a condensed version of life in somewhat extreme but comfortable and even amazing setting. That’s why TransSib is something people want to do at least once in their life: it’s comparable to climbing a mountain or going to a meditation retreat. Except that in the case of Trans-Siberian railway the adventure is aided by infrastructure, it also has several degrees of comfort (a brief hello from capitalism), and is not a solitary but a truly collective experience – a very 21-st century way of engaging into a spiritual quest. "
http://waytorussia.net/TransSiberian/Intro.html

Important Note: If you make the Trans-Siberian route by train and sleep on it, the train ticket would be equivalent to the visa registration (always keep your ticket in handy).

Trans-Siberia Train Ride Tips before and during the Once-in-a-Lifetime Journey;
http://waytorussia.net/TransSiberian/Intro.html
http://budgettravelrussia.com/Trans-Siberia/TransSiberia.html
https://russiau.com/organizing-trans-siberian-train-trip/

Where to Book the Cheapest Ticket of your Trans-Siberia Once-in-a-Lifetime Journey;
http://pass.rzd.ru/main-pass/public/ru

In my case, evening upon confirmation of my Russia tourist visa, I booked my one-way non-stop ride ticket from Moscow to Vladivostok (6 straight days) which was around 2 weeks before the Moscow departure. The available open slot in 3rd class was only 11 (1 on lower which I availed), 5 open slot in 2nd class while 2 in 1st class (summer season is peak season).

Trans-Siberia Train Ride; Moscow to Vladivostok  in 6 Days (train stop)

12 Days Solo Backpacking in Summer Russia (Trans-Siberia Train Ride)

sightseeing Moscow, St. Petersburg, Vladivostok and Trans-Siberia's best tourist attraction

August 25 to September 05, 2017

"Russia can't be understood by mind, nor measured by common yardstick.
She has of herself a unique build; Russia can only be believed in. - Fyodor Tyutchev"

My 53rd solo backpacking trip, 26th country to visit in Europe continent, total of 62 countries visited so far and of course, usual budget do-it-yourself itinerary from arrival to departure. This trip is the fourth country I visited on my new expat life and the first part on my first annual vacation leave.

Russia (Rossija) is the largest country in the world, covering more than one-eighth of the Earth's inhabited land area, spanning Eastern Europe and northern Asia. The greatest amazing thing about Russia is, given it's immense size, without a doubt the diversity of climate zones, and the weather extremes. Russia's territory stretches over continents of Europe and Asia and has therefore many different climate zones.Russia shares a border with 14 countries including Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Belarus, China, Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and North Korea. No other country has as many borders.
http://wikitravel.org/en/Russia

timezone - UTC +0300H to UTC +1200H (10 time zones)
capital - Moscow         language - Russian              currency - Ruble (RUB) 1 USD = 55 RUB
visa - Philippine passport holders need to apply first before travel

12 Days Solo Backpacking in Summer Russia (matryoshka, fridge magnet and shirt souvenirs)