What to take to the trip apart a usual stuff from travelling:

 

1. Personal hygiene items

2. Medicine for personal use, if necessary (I will take general medicine for common use – like disinfection items, painkillers, for digestion etc.)

3. Hermetic bag for documents. When we go hiking or rafting, it’s better to put documents into a plastic hermetic bag to save it dry.

4. Swim-suite.

5. Cream – water quality differs from place to place. In some areas, it is soft, in some – hard. Your skin will feel it.

6. Earplugs – for those who needs complete silence while sleeping or just tire from the group J Keep in mind, that train always makes a specific noise: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2uNSqSGdq8 – you can train yourself here :)

7. Comfortable clothes for the train, preferably made of natural material, like cotton. Usually in the modern trains there is a conditioner, temperature is quite comfortable (about +23…+24C). Trousers + T-shirt are good + pullover/light jacket in case you are cold.

8. Wet towels/napkins/tissues – there is no shower in the train. You will need it to refresh yourself.

9. Antibacterial tissues.

10. Pajama – in case, you are used to sleep warm.

11. Bag-pack – always comfortable to take all necessary stuff with you when going to the city or to nature.

12. Waterproof jacket / raincoat (or umbrella). I cannot guarantee the sun all the time :)

13. Anti-mosquitoes/tick repellent.

14. Sunscreen – maybe it sounds strange, but Siberian sun is quite strong!

15. Slippers – good for train, banya (sauna), waterpark…

16. Glass! Any glass you like – tumbler, plastic glass/cup, real glass – for drinking tea/coffee/water in the train (in the train it is provided, but the number of glasses is limited).

17. Extra phone or just a phone. I will provide a local sim-card, thus we all will have mobile internet and will stay connected during the whole trip.

18. Download an application “Maps with me” (off-line maps), and download maps for all the cities where we stop (Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk, Irkutsk, Ulan-Ude, Vladivostok). Just in case, I always have it when travelling.

19. Off-line translator/dictionary. Also, just in case. Maybe you will need it during your free time in the city.

20. Very personal issue: deodorant for feet in case you need it. The train is a closed space, and in case shoes smell – everyone in the compartment will “enjoy” it, that’s why it would be a good idea to put shoes after taking it off to the plastic bag :)

21. Power bank for the phones. Not all trains have receptacle, I usually have a problem to charge a phone.

22. Some nice clothes – we will go to the Opera and Ballet Theater. Sneakers and sport clothes is not appropriate. I’m not talking here about “black tie” dress code, but something appropriate, not sporty.

23. Hat / cap / bandana…. Something to hide your head from sun.

24. Comfortable shoes/clothes for hiking.

25. Light jacket – it might be cold in the evening time, or it might be cold in general :)

26. Shorts, T-shirt for hot weather.

27. Comfortable shoes/clothes for walking in the city.

28. Sunglasses.

29. Traditional/cultural stuff for Global village (please, see the program – day 2). Please note that officially drinking alcohol is forbidden in the train. However, many people do without any problem (I’m not talking about getting drunk! Appropriate quantity of alcohol).

30. For ladies – headscarf. During the excursions in some cities we will visit churches, it’s a dress code for ladies to cover head. Sorry for sexism ;)

31. Head lamp – in case you would want to read in the train when it is already dark. In the train there is a centralized light, and at certain time (around 11 pm if I’m not mistaken) they switch is for a night regime, and it’s impossible to read with such light.

32. Books / something to read if you like.