In Lorient, taking the train can now save you money
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Published on 6/12/26
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Looking for practical advice, feedback and inspiration for your next train journey? Make yourself comfortable and put your headphones in your ears: board now for “Je t'offre un rail?”, the podcast that will get you hooked on trains, produced with the support of SNCF Connect!
In this episode, Lisa welcomes Benjamin Champseix, a 29-year-old video journalist with a passion for train travel. He tells us about his unique six-month adventure to travel from Paris to Mongolia without taking a plane.
With sincerity and a good dose of humor, Benjamin shares his experiences from Warsaw to Kiev, via Moscow, the legendary Trans-Siberian Railway and the breathtaking landscapes of the Gobi Desert. Enjoy!
“The Trans-Siberian Railway is like being in another world. Three and a half days on a train through emptiness, surrounded by snow and trees as far as the eye can see.”
“In the Gobi Desert, there wasn't a single tourist; it was like a dream.”
“I found myself sleeping on a train with a Ukrainian cop and a Russian mobster... a real moment of tension!”
1️⃣ Paris - Berlin - Warsaw. First stop in Berlin before continuing on to Warsaw, where he stops to visit Chopin's tomb.
2️⃣ Warsaw - Kiev. Overnight train journey to Kiev (with a memorable anecdote about a Ukrainian policeman and a Russian mafioso in his compartment).
3️⃣ Kiev - Moscow. Short break in Kiev, then on to Moscow to visit Red Square before boarding the Trans-Siberian Railway.
4️⃣ Trans-Siberian: Moscow - Lake Baikal. Three and a half days on the train through snow-covered Russia, en route to Lake Baikal, the world's largest freshwater lake.
5️⃣ Lake Baikal - Irkutsk - Ulan Bator (Mongolia). After a stopover in Irkutsk to explore Lake Baikal, we head for Ulan-Bator, the Mongolian capital, before venturing into the Gobi Desert.
6️⃣ Ulan Bator - Tokyo (by air). In the end, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Benjamin had to abandon his initial plan not to fly to Tokyo.
For Benjamin, traveling by train was an obvious choice. For him, this mode of transport allows total immersion in the places he'll be visiting, and encourages encounters. “The train is a unique way to travel. You really take the time to observe the landscapes, to meet people you'd never see otherwise.”
There are several reasons behind this choice:
For the young man, this trip was an opportunity to understand his own capabilities, both physical and mental. He even speaks of a personal transformation: “Travelling alone over such long distances, in sometimes extreme conditions, teaches you about yourself. You become resourceful, adaptable, and realize that you can overcome any difficulty.”
Another important aspect of this trip is his relationship with time. Benjamin talks in particular about the importance of taking one's time when traveling, of not wanting to plan everything down to the minute. “Some of my best memories have come from unplanned moments, like the dog that followed me for three days on Lake Baikal, or that evening playing guitar with locals in Mongolia.”
One more proof that it's possible to travel the world in a different way, taking the time to discover places and people with authenticity. Thanks to Benjamin for this fascinating journey from Paris to the Mongolian steppes!
To make sure you don't miss a single episode and get inspired by our guests, don't hesitate to subscribe to the podcast on your favorite listening platforms. Thanks to our partner SNCF Connect, the reference app for trains and sustainable mobility, which accompanies over 15 million users on their journeys in France and Europe!
Issue du monde de la communication et des médias, Sophie est Responsable éditoriale chez HOURRAIL ! depuis août 2024. Elle est notamment derrière le contenu éditorial du site ainsi que La Locomissive (de l'inspiration voyage bas carbone et des bons plans, un jeudi sur deux, gratuitement dans ta boîte mail !).
Convaincue que les changements d’habitude passent par la transformation de nos imaginaires, elle s’attache à montrer qu’il est possible de voyager autrement, de manière plus consciente, plus lente et plus joyeuse. Son objectif : rendre le slow travel accessible à toutes et tous, à travers des astuces, des décryptages et surtout, de nouveaux récits.
