Ask Lonely Planet: Thrills galore on epic train trips

Visitors to Mongolia's national parks can stay in a traditional herder's ger. Photo / Jim Eagles

I am planning a trip from China through Mongolia on the Trans-Mongolian Railway, connecting up with the Trans-Siberian near Lake Baikal and heading east to Moscow and St Petersburg. The aim is to acquire a guest visa so I can wander semi-aimlessly for six to eight weeks during the spring over there. Can you offer ideas of great [places] to visit along the way, with budget accommodation and activities, and hopefully lots of young people around?
- Romeo

Lonely Planet's Sarah Bennett & Lee Slater write:

These two famous railway journeys roll across eight time zones and over 11,000km of taiga (subarctic forest), steppe and desert. "Wow" moments are plentiful, whether you're interested in visiting towns and cities, or want to explore more remote areas. Here are just a few highlights:

Exploring Beijing's dense alleyways on bike is a good way to start your trip, followed by a tour of the Forbidden City. Further up the line, stop at Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia's capital, from where you can head into the vast steppe or visit the mountains of Gorkhi-Terelj or Khustain national parks and stay in a herder's ger (yurt).

After crossing into Siberia, take an unhurried trundle along Lake Baikal's southern shore on the scenic Circumbaikal Railway. If you want to escape completely, keep heading northeast and you'll reach the Barguzin Valley, one of the most beautiful yet least-visited spots around the lake.

Rejoin civilisation at Slyudyanka and connect with the Trans-Siberian at Tayshet. Between here and Moscow, the Siberian cities of Tomsk, Omsk and Tobolsk are all worth a stop.

Congratulate yourself on completing this epic journey by watching a ballet at St Petersburg's Mariinsky Theatre, followed by a vodka or two, of course. Budem zdorovy!

Best months for Mideast

I am planning to take my sister in Christchurch on a Middle-Eastern adventure. What would your expert advice be in regards to the best time of year to travel there and why?
- Nick Gregory

Most of the Middle East is best visited in autumn and spring (September to November, and March to May). December and January can be fairly bleak across the region. Unless you're an avid sun-worshipper, the summer months of June through to September should be avoided - it's just too hot to do anything.

The majority of religious and state holidays shouldn't disrupt travel plans, although you might want to consider booking accommodation in advance during these times. The fasting month, Ramadan (June 20 to August 18, 2012), may require a bit more planning. From dawn until dusk, Muslims are expected to abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex. Many eateries close during the day, while other businesses operate erratic hours.

Still, it can be a fascinating time to visit, especially in the evenings when the fast is broken, and during Eid al-Fitr, the feast that marks the end of Ramadan.