Trans-Siberian Adventures: Life on and off the rails from the U.K. to Asia

by Matthew Woodward

It’s just a big train ride – what could possibly go wrong on a 12,500 km journey across Russia, Mongolia and China in the depths of winter? Matthew Woodward resolves to escape from his desk and rekindle his childhood love of travel by train. Knowing little of the red tape, cultural differences and climate ahead, Matthew sets off alone across the North Sea bound for Shanghai. Trans-Siberian Adventures follows his exploits as he learns the ropes of becoming a long-range train adventurer. This is a captivating insight into the reality of life on the legendary Trans-Siberian and Trans-Mongolian railways.

Genres: Travel, Trains, Biography, Russia

213 pages, Paperback

Published May 10, 2017

About the author

Matthew Woodward is a rail-based adventurer. He has completed several Trans-Siberian, Trans-Manchurian and Trans-Mongolian journeys from his home in the UK to distant parts of Asia. In 2015 he successfully completed a solo journey on the longest and highest railways in the world to reach Tibet by train. He has recently circumnavigated the world (as far as possible) by rail. Woodward writes for a variety of publications on long-range train travel and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical and Royal Asiatic Societies. He is a self confessed coffee addict and carries an espresso machine wherever he travels.

For more information please visit www.matthew-woodward.com

Reviews

[Rowena C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed Woodward's Railway to Heaven and wanted more of the same and this read was just as good. Love his writing style and humour.

[David Canford · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author takes a train across Europe, Russia, Mongolia, and China, to Shanghai. It starts off well but ultimately disappointed me. You’ll learn all about life on the train but little about most of the places he passes through as he rarely gets off to explore. Many years ago, I read Eric Newby’s ‘Big Red Train Ride’ and, from memory, I preferred that account, maybe because that was written during the time of the Soviet Union giving it a more thrilling feeling?

[Will Linsdell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Travelling with Matthew is great fun!

From the moment that Matthew leaves the familiar surroundings of Scotland you are with him on his adventure on every inch of train track. His colourful descriptions and brilliant quips "even the dog seemed pleased to see me and I hadn't dropped a sausage for a whole week", make this a really fun read. You get a real insight as to what it is like as a long distance rail adventurer and having embarked on a few longish journeys myself, I could totally relate to his discomforts and little rituals. I agree that the train restaurant car is one of the greatest places on earth - a place like no other. The book had me grinning for the whole read. Looking forward to reading the next one and getting some tips for when I do the trans-Mongolian in 2020!

[Mrs Olga A Danes-Volkov · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely read

As a person who is emphatically an armchair traveller and worried witless by train travel lest I get left behind, I wasn't sure how I'd like this book. However, it is written a very interesting, informative and gently amusing way. I recommend it.

[Keith P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! A proper adventure on the Trans Siberian...must do this one day!

[Tim Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

The very first book from Matthew Woodward. It’s a bit basic, raw and he is clearly learning his way of writing, but I loved it. The naivety is part of the fun here. He has no idea what he is doing and isn’t afraid to admit it. This shows anyone can try a journey like this.

[Hayley Swift · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read for travelogue lovers

As something of an adventurous traveller myself (when time and funds permit) I love reading travelogues. This one was a bit different from the usual backpacking genre I read, and I enjoyed it all the more for that. A descriptive and fun read of an amazing train journey, but with plenty of the authors geeky but funny personality thrown in to stop it getting dry. Would recommend and would happily read anything else by the author.

[pipi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read

I have read 3 of Mr Woodward's books over the last few days and thoroughly enjoyed all of them. Very easy to read and I like his stoicism when faced with problems on his journeys. Put me right in the mood for another train trip of my own, not quite as long though!

[Ben Twoonezero · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book.

A good book by a engaging travel companion, I look forward to future works. He does not like to rough it thought.

[RGaz · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.0 out of 5 stars Wanna be Paul Theroux - Avoid this book. So many fantastic travel books and this one simply falls short. The Trans-Siberian is one of the most epic journeys in the world, and this author does a disservice to the whole idea of venturing into the unknown. The author employs tired anecdotes with poor writing. This is a book to avoid, stick to the real authors and travelers.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very insightful. Matthew has a very easy-going style. A great read.