The advantage of booking through the cruise line, however, is that the cruise line deals with the Russian visa system for you by obtaining a blanket transit visa good for all passengers on the ship. Avidcruiser.com explains:

These so-called “transit” visas, good for visits of up to 72 hours, allow you to exit the ship only on group or private tours conducted by that ground operator. You are not allowed to disembark the ship and travel on your own — not even to stroll Nevsky Prospect, the most famous street in all of Russia — unless you’ve taken the time to apply for a tourist visa.

Still, $999 per person? It seems like the chance to avoid the Russian visa bureaucracy is more precious than rubies for some people!

Of course, if you go through the trouble of getting a Russian visa, you’re free to travel on your own while the ship is in port, so you benefit from the opportunity to set your own itinerary and move at your own pace, plus you’ll have a lot more money for your next shore excursion.

To learn more about how to get a Russian visa, see “Russian Visas for Tourists.”

If you want to see Moscow but can’t stomach the thought of forking over a grand for the privilege, private visa services like RushMyTravelVisa can help. We’ll assist you with the application, helping you to avoid common errors that could cause your Russian visa to be delayed. Then, we’ll personally deliver it to the appropriate embassy office for the fastest possible processing.

Apply for your Russian visa today!

Nobody is entirely sure what happened-despite evidence that the blast was as powerful as 185 Hiroshimas, it didn’t leave a crater.  According to the NASA website, the local people believed that the god Ogdy had cursed the area. Here’s how one of them described the blast to researchers many years later:

Suddenly in the north sky… the sky was split in two, and high above the forest the whole northern part of the sky appeared covered with fire… At that moment there was a bang in the sky and a mighty crash… The crash was followed by a noise like stones falling from the sky, or of guns firing. The earth trembled.

Scientists believe that the blast was caused by a large meteorite that entered Earth’s atmosphere and exploded in the sky above Tunguska. Of course, others believe it was actually aliens. Or perhaps a black hole. Or maybe some many-tentacled Lovecraftian beings from beyond space and time. (Okay, I made that last bit up-but who knows? )

Wanna visit for yourself and decide? Some Siberian tour operators do offers trips to the impact site.  For example, Sibtourguide.com promises the chance to visit the impact site and see mutated trees, as well as “the chance to catch a reptile, which is not identified yet in any catalogue in the world.” Maybe the reptile is from another planet?

Before you jet off to Siberia to play X-Files, you will need to obtain a Russian visa.  This is more difficult than it sounds. Russia’s visa system is shining example of complicated bureaucracy in action.  Here’s a list of what you need to get a Russian tourist visa:

• Your US passport.
• A completed Russian visa application form
• 1 passport photo
• A copy of your airline tickets or a copy of your itinerary showing your flight number and the dates that you’ll be in Russia.
• A tourist invitation from a Russian travel agency or hotel that can serve as your visa sponsor. The hotel or travel agency must be registered with the Russian government.
• A hotel voucher from your hotel.

When applying for a Russian visa, it’s advisable to use a private visa expediting company like RushMyTravelVisa.  We’ll research your itinerary to make sure you have all of the documents you need to travel, plus you’ll benefit from the assistance of a trained, professional visa specialist who knows how the Russian visa system works.

We’ll assist you with your application, and deliver your paperwork to the appropriate visa or consulate for the fastest possible processing.

The truth is out there…do you need a Russian visa to find it?  Apply with us today!

Of course, there are many interesting places to stop along the way.  You can either ride the Trans-Siberian railroad as part of a tour group or on your own, although naturally if you travel independently you will have more flexibility when it comes to how much time you spend where.

Wikitravel has an excellent guide to help you plan the logistics of your trip, including how to buy tickets, what to pack, and where to get food.  This article on Matadortrips.com has a bunch of excellent suggestions for day trips and excursions if you’re traveling independently.

One other thing that you definitely should research ahead of time is visa requirements. Depending on your route and how far you take the railroad, you could end up spending time in Russia, China and/or Mongolia. To keep your trip from being unintentionally derailed (pun intended), it would be prudent to understand the entry requirements for each country before you travel.

Mongolian Visa Requirements

If you are an American citizen, you don’t need a visa to enter Mongolia as long as you don’t plan to stay longer than 9o days. However, if you plan to stay longer than 30 days, you do need to register with the authorities.

Chinese Visa Requirements

The requirements for obtaining a Chinese visa are fairly straightforward for tourists, but you will need to make sure that you have your visa in hand before you attempt t0 cross into China. If you will be crossing the Chinese border more than once during your journey, you should request a multiple-entry  Chinese visa. For more information, see Chinese Tourist Visa Requirements.

Russian Visa Requirements

Russia has a fairly restrictive and complex visa system. Learn more about what’s needed by reading Getting a Russian Tourist Visa, but remember, you’re probably better off seeking professional assistance.

RushMyTravelVisa can help you get all of the necessary documents for your journey on the Trans-Siberian Railroad. We’ll research your itinerary and let you know exactly what visas are required, then we’ll walk you through the application process and deliver your paperwork to the appropriate embassy or consulate for the fastest possible processing.

Need a visa? Let us help!

Unfortunately, just because business travel to Russia is becoming increasingly common, that doesn’t make it easy to get a Russian business visa. Business travelers and tourists alike are caught up in a visa system that the US Department of State has called “restrictive and complicated.”

If you have a business trip to Russia, here’s what you need to get a Russian visa:

• A valid US passport.
• A completed Russian visa application form.
• One passport  photo
• A copy of your official invitaton letter from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The company you will be doing business with in Russia should procure this letter for you, sending the original to the embassy and a copy to you to be submitted with your visa application.
• A letter from your own company signed by your boss.

Note:  While some countries provide visas that are effective for 30 days, 60 days or longer, Russia’s visas are issued only for the time you plan to spend in Russia. That means that your letter of invitation must have the exact dates that you plan to spend in Russia on business, and those dates should also match the dates you put on your visa application.

If your visa expires before you leave, a number of very bad things could happen. You could be fined, and in all likelihood you will be detained while the Russian government issues you a new visa-a process which could take up to 20 days. Not fun!

RushMyTravelVisa.com can help you navigate the Russian visa system. We’ll research your travel needs, assist you with the paperwork and help you avoid common errors that could ruin your trip.

Save yourself a headache-let us help you with your Russian visa application!

This is not as easy as it sounds. Russia has a visa system that the US Department of State’s website calls “restrictive and complicated.”  Here’s a list of what you need to get a Russian tourist visa:

• Your passport.
• A completed visa application form
• 1 passport photo
• A copy of your airline tickets or a copy of your itinerary showing your flight number and the dates that you’ll be in Russia.
• A tourist invitation from a Russian travel agency or hotel that can serve as your visa sponsor. The hotel or travel agency  must be registered with the Russian government.
• A hotel voucher from your hotel.

The Russian visa system can be difficult to navigate on your own. To make sure your vacation happens as planned, you might want to consider using a visa expediting company like RushMyTravelVisa.com.  We can research your situation and make sure you have all the required documents. We can also obtain a tourist invitation letter for you if one of is not provided by your travel agency.

Plus, we’ll provide you with a helpful checklist with clear, easy-to-follow instructions for filling out the paperwork and sending it in. Then, we’ll forward it to the appropriate Russian consulate for expedited processing.

By using an expediting company, you’ll get personal, professional help navigating Russia’s complex visa system.  With RushMyTravelVisa.com, you can spend less time on paperwork and more time preparing for your trip.

Apply for your Russian visa today!