THE FACTS ABOUT TRANS SIBERIAN EXPRESS

WHAT Crossing 10,000km and seven time zones, the Trans-Siberian - linking St Petersburg and Vladivostok - is the world's longest railway. The Imaginative Traveller (020 8742 8612; www.adventurebound.co.uk) has put together a 16-night trip, including eight nights on the train and eight nights in hotels. After three nights in St Petersburg (visiting the Palace Square and Hermitage Museum) and a night in Moscow (St Basil's Cathedral, Kremlin and Red Square), you board the Siberian Express travelling through Yaroslavl, Perm and Ykaterinburg to Omsk. The itinerary allows two days off the train exploring Lake Baikal, Listvyanka and Irkutsk, before travelling on through Chita and along the Chinese border past Khabarovsk. On arrival in Vladivostok, there's a visit to the local history museum and a cruise around the harbour. WHEN Unless you want a taste of Siberia at its coldest, the best time to go is mid May to early June for fresh spring weather BONUS POINTS Group size is kept to a maximum of 15, with an escort and experienced guides PRICE £2,380, including half-board accommodation, first-class travel in a four-person compartment (twin-share is £420 extra) and sightseeing. Flights are extra.