"Across Siberia and Northern Russia" Russia by tiabunna

Russia Travel Guide: 14,132 reviews and 35,674 photos

Tokyo to Paris air route - on the plane's TV

Airline Route - and misleading maps

It’s a long haul from Tokyo to Paris. The route follows a ‘great circle’ route which heads northwest across the eastern coast of the Russian Federation, across the nearby mountain ranges, then the Central Siberian Plateau, before crossing the Arctic Circle and following Russia’s Arctic Ocean coastline across the northern Ural Mountains and the White Sea. At that point it leaves the arctic regions and passes over or near St Petersburg or Finland, before heading down the western countries of Europe to its destination.

On a Mercator projection map, this looks like a big circle: hence the name ‘great circle’ route. In practice, the aircraft travels in essentially a direct line, the shortest way, between Tokyo and Paris: as becomes obvious on a chart showing a polar projection.

That's a lot of ice and snow down there!

Arctic Ocean near the Ob River

We had flown this route previously in the northern winter when, unsurprisingly, everthing below was frozen. What really struck me this time was that I was travelling in mid-May, late spring in the north, but the thaw was only beginning. On my return at the end of May, although the ice on the rivers was noticeably breaking, there still was extensive ice and snow.

Thawing tundra

Ice and water (and, no doubt, mud)

We were comfortable at nearly 11000 metres, but it was not difficult to imagine how tough it must be living down there with such a short summer. Getting about in that country must be problematical too!

Pros and Cons

In a nutshell:This air route is quite spectacular, if you have a window

Last visit to Russia: May 2006
Intro Written Jun 3, 2006
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Reviews (1)

Frozen river in eastern Siberia, mid May - Russia

Get a window seat! Things to Do (1)

Try for a window seat on the northern side of the aircraft – then hope the view isn’t all cloud! And make sure you look... more travel advice

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Comments (12)

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angiebabe Sep 4, 2010 at 6:29 AM

hi great to hear from you too!excellent to see this&see that Im not the only one who loves looking out the window all along the way just as much as catching up on movies!last trip home got pics of Mt Egmont, Ngaruhoe&Ruapehu together with snow on top!
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Mikebb Apr 29, 2010 at 7:03 PM

Hi George, just going through the procedure to obtain Visas' for our late Sept visit to Russia. The Visa Service charge an arm & leg. Hoping to find a cheaper metod of obtaining documentation.
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Pawtuxet Feb 4, 2009 at 4:02 PM

Imagine if you were banished to Siberia !!??Yikes. We flew to Hong Kong yrs. ago and always remembered the circular rainbow as we flew up and over the tip of northern Russia. Amazing sights up there.
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Nemorino Aug 21, 2007 at 11:09 AM

Fascinating photos from the airplane window. Good that you got a window seat -- and good that someone remembered to wash the window before your flight.
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gilabrand Apr 19, 2007 at 1:54 AM

I will take care to get a window seat next time I fly to Russia (one day I may get there...)
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kokoryko Jan 20, 2007 at 7:41 PM

Interesting page. . . . concept George! Loxodromic or orthodromic,. . . important is to arrive and. . . . make nice pictures like your's!
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Ekaterinburg Dec 13, 2006 at 6:50 AM

How did you manage to get such good photos from the plane? Mine are always blurred. Interesting concept fora page.
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moonlighting Dec 12, 2006 at 10:22 PM

bRRRR.... cold
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bijo69 Aug 26, 2006 at 3:41 PM

Too bad I usually fall asleep on planes...
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Daja123 Aug 13, 2006 at 12:47 PM

Nice start... Excellent photos! Like to see more!