Being on the train for at least a week as you travel, such as a Trans Siberian rail trip from Moscow to Beijing, can't be always fun.  Most of the time, you'll be in your cabin or on your seat with nothing to do. So why not plan something that will help you make good use of this downtime?

Here are some things you can prepare for when you're planning a long journey on the railway.

• Do your hobbies or rekindle old ones

Whether your travel hobby is cross-stitching, knitting, drawing or any other activities, doing them will make you more productive than just constantly sleeping during the transit. Choose activities that you can do without much hassle while aboard the train.

• Catch up on your novels and other reading materials 

Unlike going on a road trip wherein you'll be driving, you have a lot of time in your hands when you're riding a train. So sit back, relax and grab a book before you board.

• Jot down your itinerary for stopovers

When time is not an issue, pull out your guidebook and plan out the things you can do on the next stop. Especially for a Moscow-Beijing trip with a Trans Siberian Railway map at hand, you shouldn't miss the various cities you'll pass through in Russia and in Mongolia.

• Update your travel notes.

Treat the long train ride as an opportunity to enjoy your personal time by writing your experiences and thoughts on your diary or travel journal. What stories have you got so far? Perhaps you can also do a bit of scrapbooking using the mementos you got along the way e.g. ticket stubs, restaurant napkins, travel flyers.

• Take lots of photos.

Never forget your camera, or at least the one in your phone, whenever you travel. It doesn't have to be an expensive one as long as it can give good quality photos that you can cherish in the future. Take photographs of the sceneries outside the window, the interiors of the train and even people you meet along the way.

Now that you know what you can do during the transit, make sure to contact a trusted travel company to make your holiday a hassle-free experience.

Things to Do on a Long Train Journey