3. Trans Siberian, China to Russia
This legendary long distance odyssey is the ultimate feather in the cap for train travel enthusiasts. It covers 6000 miles ((9700 km) over two continents and 8 different time zones – roughly one third of the planet. The straight journey from Beijing to St. Petersburg takes about 10 days, but you can create your own itinerary on their network of tracks if you want to disembark and explore, say, the Silk Road, the Russian Arctic, Kazakhstan or Moscow along the way. First, second and third class tickets cater to a range of budgets and comforts. Tip: bring vodka and make some friends to help pass the time.
