Book your ticket online at the Russian Railways Web site (see Resources below). It's available in Russian and English. Click on "Passengers" near the top of the page to begin looking for available seats.
Book in English by calling Die Bahn's UK reservation number at 011 (+44) (0) 87 02 43 53 63.
Purchase your ticket at the counter in Yaroslavsky Station in Moscow. Your ticket will expire after 45 days.
Make sure you pay close attention to the departure times. The train only leaves every two days. Be sure you're at the station promptly before boarding, meaning at least 1 hour prior to departure.
Book as early as possible (while remembering the 45-day limit) because trains will fill up quickly. The sooner you get your tickets, the sooner you can guarantee your place on the train.
Get a discount on your tickets when you buy them for a group or when you travel with children. Group and child rates are considerably less than face-value prices.
Learn more through the Russian Railways Web site (see Resources below).
Select the Trans-Siberian Railway, one of the most famous train routes in the world. This train route extends nearly the entire length of Russia before turning south into Manchuria and China.
Head further south using the Old Silk Road Route. This option takes you through Kazakhstan before turning back east to the Chinese city of Urumqi along the border.
Get out and stretch your legs at stops along the rails. There are dozens of cities along whatever direction you take, including Almaty (Kazakhstan), Novosibirsk (Russia), Irkutsk (Russia) and Ulan Bator (Mongolia).
Opt for first-class seats (about $200) if at all possible when going to Beijing by train. You're going to want to be as comfortable as possible. Having a sleeper car will make a huge difference.
