Russia sits in an odd position for Indian travellers. The visa is among the more straightforward ones an Indian passport gets, flights are direct, and almost nobody goes. The Trans-Siberian is one of the great journeys on earth and you can count the Indian operators running it on very few fingers.
Who runs group trips to Russia from India
Thin. Most Indian operators dropped Russia and have not rebuilt the product. What exists tends to be Moscow and St Petersburg city breaks rather than the more interesting routes.
One in the Orange Jacket runs two very different Russia trips. A 19-day Trans-Siberian journey from St Petersburg through to Yakutsk taking in Lake Baikal and Siberia, and a 13-day trip built around St Petersburg, a techno festival and the Northern Lights over New Year. Both in groups of 12 to 20.
There is also an 11-day Mt Elbrus expedition in the Caucasus, which is a mountaineering trip rather than a travel one.
Independently, the language is the main barrier. Cyrillic signage and limited English outside the two big cities make a long journey through Siberia hard work alone, and train bookings across that distance are not simple from India.
What the trip actually involves
The Trans-Siberian is the headline. Nineteen days, and the point is the train rather than the stops. Lake Baikal holds a fifth of the world's unfrozen fresh water and is deep enough to be its own climate. Yakutsk is one of the coldest inhabited cities on the planet.
The other trip is shorter and stranger. St Petersburg over New Year, the Hermitage, a banya, a techno festival, and heading north for the aurora.
Graded Moderate for both, and cold is the main physical factor. Winter in Siberia is a different category of cold to anything most Indian travellers have experienced.
- Length. 13 to 19 days
- Difficulty. Moderate
- Highlights. Trans-Siberian train, Lake Baikal, St. Petersburg, Northern Lights, Hermitage Museum and Russian banya
How the days actually run
On the Trans-Siberian the train sets the rhythm, and it takes a day or two to adjust to it. Compartments hold four, the samovar at the end of the carriage is always hot, and the social life of the train is a real thing that people underestimate before they board.
St Petersburg at one end is the European city: the Hermitage, canals, and imperial architecture that runs for blocks. Moscow is heavier and more monumental.
Lake Baikal is the midpoint and the highlight. It holds around a fifth of the world's unfrozen fresh water and is deep enough to generate its own weather. In winter it freezes clear enough in places to see down through the ice.
Yakutsk at the far end is one of the coldest inhabited cities on earth, and in winter that is not a statistic, it is the whole experience. Everything you do is organised around not being outside for very long.
Visas, permits and getting there
The Russian visa is one of the more straightforward processes for Indian passport holders compared with Schengen, the UK or the US. Requirements do change, so confirm the current position before booking.
Direct flights from Delhi exist, which is unusual for this list and removes a long transit day.
When to go
The Trans-Siberian runs year round and the season changes the trip completely. Summer is green and comfortable. Winter is the version people photograph, and it is severe.
For the aurora, December to March. For St Petersburg at its best, June for the white nights when it barely gets dark.
Russia or Kazakhstan?
Both are large, cold, Russian-speaking and under-visited by Indians, and both have a straightforward visa position. Kazakhstan is a short trip about landscape, cheap and easy. Russia is a long trip about distance and cities, with the Trans-Siberian as a journey rather than a route between places. Kazakhstan suits eight days. Russia properly needs two weeks or more.
| Russia | Kazakhstan | |
|---|---|---|
| Trip length | 13 to 19 days | 7 to 8 days |
| The draw | The train, Baikal, imperial cities | Canyons, lakes, dunes |
| Visa for Indians | Straightforward | Straightforward |
| Cost | Moderate, train-driven | Low |
Who this trip is not for
Anyone who dislikes long train journeys. On the Trans-Siberian the train is the destination, and if that idea does not appeal, this trip is very long.
Anyone who is not prepared to genuinely be cold in winter. This is not a packing inconvenience, it is the central fact of the trip.
Frequently asked
Is it easy for Indians to get a Russian visa?
Comparatively, yes. The Russian visa process is generally more straightforward for Indian passport holders than Schengen, UK or US applications, and there are direct flights from Delhi which removes a long transit. Requirements do change, so confirm the current process before booking flights.
Which Indian companies run Trans-Siberian trips?
Very few. Most Indian operators offer Moscow and St Petersburg city breaks rather than the longer rail journeys. One in the Orange Jacket runs a 19-day Trans-Siberian trip from St Petersburg through Lake Baikal to Yakutsk in groups of 12 to 20. Beyond a small handful of Indian operators, the route is mostly sold by foreign companies.
When should you do the Trans-Siberian?
It runs year round and the season changes the trip entirely. Summer is green, comfortable and easier. Winter is the version most people picture, with Siberia and Yakutsk experiencing extreme cold that is well beyond what most Indian travellers have encountered. For the Northern Lights, travel between December and March.