aussiespy
New member
Evening all,
Jason here – Australian expat based in St. Petersburg, Russia, and long-time follower of overland expeditions (though this one’s a bit different – all by local trains instead of 4x4!).
I’m in the planning stages for a major solo journey next year: “Uncharted Russia: A Solo Journey Beyond the Trans-Siberian.”
The concept is simple but ambitious – ditch the tourist Trans-Siberian route and instead use everyday local trains, elektrichkas, and regional lines to reach forgotten towns, remote settlements, and off-map areas that rarely see outsiders. Goal is to film an authentic documentary series showing the real rural and small-town Russia – people, stories, history, and the vast landscapes in between.
Think slow travel, winter conditions, long waits at quiet platforms, and immersing in places guidebooks ignore. I’ll be carrying filming gear, cold-weather kit, and not much else.
Past trips have taken me to abandoned Soviet sites and remote villages (some clips on my YouTube channel Aussie Spy if anyone’s interested), but this will be the deepest dive yet.
Looking for any wisdom from folks who’ve travelled remote Russia by train or done similar slow/overland expeditions:
Fundraiser link: https://ko-fi.com/aussiespy
Happy to share more details, route thoughts (high-level only for now), or past trip photos if useful.
Cheers and safe travels,
Jason
@Aussie Spy on YouTube
Jason here – Australian expat based in St. Petersburg, Russia, and long-time follower of overland expeditions (though this one’s a bit different – all by local trains instead of 4x4!).
I’m in the planning stages for a major solo journey next year: “Uncharted Russia: A Solo Journey Beyond the Trans-Siberian.”
The concept is simple but ambitious – ditch the tourist Trans-Siberian route and instead use everyday local trains, elektrichkas, and regional lines to reach forgotten towns, remote settlements, and off-map areas that rarely see outsiders. Goal is to film an authentic documentary series showing the real rural and small-town Russia – people, stories, history, and the vast landscapes in between.
Think slow travel, winter conditions, long waits at quiet platforms, and immersing in places guidebooks ignore. I’ll be carrying filming gear, cold-weather kit, and not much else.
Past trips have taken me to abandoned Soviet sites and remote villages (some clips on my YouTube channel Aussie Spy if anyone’s interested), but this will be the deepest dive yet.
Looking for any wisdom from folks who’ve travelled remote Russia by train or done similar slow/overland expeditions:
- Reliable sources for local timetables in far-flung regions?
- Cold-weather solo travel tips (sleeping on trains, food resupply in small stations)?
- General safety considerations for low-profile travel in rural areas?
Fundraiser link: https://ko-fi.com/aussiespy
Happy to share more details, route thoughts (high-level only for now), or past trip photos if useful.
Cheers and safe travels,
Jason
@Aussie Spy on YouTube
