Getting to and from Russia is more complicated than it once was, with many Western airlines suspending direct routes and overland borders shifting depending on current political tensions. Travellers often connect via countries such as Turkey, Serbia or the Gulf states, or enter overland through parts of the Caucasus or Central Asia. Domestic travel within Russia is well connected despite its vast scale, with efficient (and comfortable!) long-distance trains, affordable internal flights and an extensive bus network linking everything from grand imperial cities to remote Siberian outposts.

Russia is home to one of the most famous rail journeys in the world: the iconic Trans-Siberian Railway, where days unfold across endless birch forests, frozen lakes and vast steppe landscapes. I was lucky to be able to experience this amazing journey during my first visit to Russia in 2010.