In and Out of Russia, best visa and total cost

In and Out of Russia, best visa and total cost

I want to enter Russia from Mongolia, about August 15, 2012, and go to Irkutsk Russia. Then travel West on the trans-Siberian Railroad most of the time an exit from St. Petersburg about October 1, 2012, I would also like to stop off at 2 countries, Kazakhstan and Kiev, for five days each, along the way and, be in Russia roughly 45 days.
Questions 1-- can I travel as I please, as a single person or will I have to go around Russia as sort of a single person group tour, with a pre-determined plan before I enter Russia- or can I set my own pace and not be tied down to any pre-determined plan except the beginning entry date about August 15, 2012 and ending exit date about Oct 10 2012?
Question 2- assuming about 45 days in Russia, and going out 2 times, to Kazakhstan and Kiev, while traveling from entry to exit in Russia --- what is the best visa to get and what are the total costs?

Um.. isn't this pretty much the same question as you've asked here?
Did you not like the advice people gave you?

Deja vu all over again.

The OP also posted the question on Thorn Tree in the Russia folder. Guess he'll post in every travel forum on the internet till somebody gives him the answer he wants to hear.

This answer: "Yes, you can go to Russia for as long as you like, ramble in and out and around the country as it suits you, get your visa for $100, and do exactly as you please in the time frame you desire!"

(when pigs fly)

Don't forget to register after arriving in Russia. If you travel around, for each place you stay, you need to register if staying longer than 7 days. Things might have changed since 2004 but I had a 90 day visa and I was also supposed to un-register. I learned this the hard way trying to leave Sheremetovo airport. You can google all this though...lotsa information online. Anyway, you can register at a post office or through the hotel you're staying (if that's what you'll be doing). I stayed with friends and they took me to the post office. Good luck!