Wednesday 9th April

• Meet your YPT guide at 1:30pm at the Beijing Zhong Gu Hotel near Beijing Railway Station found here. During this meeting, we’ll go through the tour’s itinerary, further discuss the marathon, receive DPRK visas and tickets, as well as a great chance to meet your fellow travellers and to discuss any other questions you may have about the DPRK.
• Train takers depart Beijing Railway Station at 5:25pm for the 24 hour sleeper ride to Pyongyang.

Thursday 10th April

• Train group arrive at Dandong at 7:00am for Chinese border control then depart for Sinuiju at 10:00am for the extensive border control from the DPRK side
• Flight takers depart Beijing Airport Terminal 2 on Air Koryo. (Group will meet at Air Koryo check in counter). Flight departure times will be announced closer to the departure date. To avoid any inconvenience, we recommend for you to arrive in Beijing the day before to better prepare yourself.
• Flight group arrive in Pyongyang to a warm welcome from your Korean guides.
• Train group arrive at 6:30pm to an equally warm welcome.
• Dinner at a local Korean restaurant on Ryomyong Street
• Check in and overnight at Sosan hotel

Friday 11th April

Morning

• Up nice and early for the drive to Kaesong city (2 and a half hours)
• Panmunjon DMZ Village – see the DMZ and the treaty and conferences rooms where the armistice was signed all in the company of a friendly KPA officer guide (you can also take pictures of soldiers here!).
• Koryo Museum – the oldest university in Korea and now a converted museum of local history. Also the site of the best propaganda and stamp/postcard shop in the DPRK!

Afternoon

• Lunch at the Thongil Restaurant in Kaesong City – try your hand at traditional Korean Pansangi – a series of dishes served in bronze bowls. (Optional extras – Dog soup 40 RMB or 5 euros).
• The concrete wall of the DMZ – this is a little off the beaten track and gives us a great glimpse at the wall which was erected by the South Koreans during the 70’s. We can even see South Korean watch towers along the hill from the DPRK post
• Drop by Sariwon city (Capital of North Hwanghae province) to walk in the local folk custom park and view the city from the mountain top pagoda. Also if you like you can try Makkoli in a local Makkoli Bar.
• Photo opportunity of the Monument to the Three Charters of National Reunification, standing over the Reunification Highway.
• Dinner at the Lamb BBQ Restaurant.
• Overnight at the Sosan Hotel.

Saturday 12th April

Morning

• Walk through Mansudae fountain park and see the mosaic pictures of President Kim Il Sung and the Leader Kim Jong Il.
• Visit Mansudae Grand Monument – the two large bronze statues of President Kim Il Sung and Leader Kim Jong Il overlooking the city. (Optional extra- you can present flowers if you wish: 40 RMB or 5 euros).
• Walk downtown through Kim Il Sung Square – The main square of Pyongyang City where all the military parades are held and we expect some birthday
• events to be happening nearby
• Foreign Language Bookshop – great place to buy books, pins, posters and Korean DVDs
• Grand People’s Study House – Library and academic centre for adult learners, this grand building is built in the Korean style and affords a great view over the central Square.

Afternoon

• Lunch at the Mangyongdae district – your chance to try the famous Pyongyang Cold Noodles or the traditional Korean Bibimbap dish along with other popular Korean dishes
• Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum, featuring dioramas, captured weapons, tanks, and planes, the Victory Monument, and the USS Pueblo: the only American military vessel held by another nation.
• Juche Tower – the tallest stone tower in the world, it represents the eternally burning Korean Juche Ideology (optional extra 40RMB or 5 euros to go to the top of the tower)
• Monument to the Party Foundation – built in 1995 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Worker’s Party.
• Visit the Kwangbok department store where we can shop with the locals and have access to the local DPRK won currency!
• Visit the Olympic Village in Pyongyang constructed in 1989 for a practice run for tomorrow’s marathon event
• Receive a city map from your YPT guide and enjoy the views of Pyongyang as our bus does a lap of the marathon route to give you a clear understanding of where you will be running for the event
• Dinner at the National Restaurant with performance from the waitresses
• Overnight at the Sosan hotel

Sunday 13th April – Marathon Day!

Morning

• Run or spectate the Pyongyang Marathon!

Afternoon

• Lunch at a local Korean restaurant
• Cool down and relax at Munsu Water Park – with Indoor and outdoor pools and amazing waterslides, the park also features plenty for those who don’t want to swim, including a Haemaji coffee shop, a beer bar, table tennis, billiards, massage, or a beauty salon. Various services extra charge, swimming and access to the gym, table tennis and billiards is 80RMB or 10 euros).
• Visit the Taedonggang Micro Brewery to further wind down with multiple delicious draft beers on tap, with coffee, soft drinks, and juices also available.
• Large dinner banquet to celebrate the day
• A gentle evening stroll along Future Mirae Scientist Residential street along the Taedong River
• Overnight at Sosan hotel

Monday 14th April – Group A departs

Morning

• Group A train members depart at 10:25 am for the overnight train to Beijing and enjoy the peaceful countryside of both the DPRK and China. Train arrives in Beijing Railway Station at 9:00am on Tuesday the 15th.
• Group A flight members depart from Pyongyang arriving at Beijing Terminal 2 Airport. Flight departure times will be announced closer to the departure date. To avoid any inconvenience, we recommend for you to not arrange your next flight departing Beijing before 6:00pm

Group B continues:

• Morning walking tour along the Taedong River which divides Pyongyang into west and east districts – catch locals on their way to work and school
• Visit Mansudae Art Studio – a chance for us to meet local artists where the state’s monuments, portraits, vases are produced for the country
• Explore the Pyongyang Metro! Ride from stop 1 to stop 2 then on to stop 6! Exiting to:
• The Arch of Triumph- The largest Victory Arch on the planet, it celebrates the victory over the Japanese and the return of the General Kim Il Sung to his home city.
• Visit Kim Jong Suk Textile Mill – established in 1948, it is the largest textile factory in Pyongyang with over a thousand employees producing fabric. The local workers will demonstrate the spinning, dyeing, and weaving techniques used in the DPRK.

Afternoon

• Head to the outskirts of Pyongyang and enjoy a gentle hike to the top of Mt Ryangak (Dragon Mountain) – here you’ll have a picnic lunch with the most spectacular views of the capital city below you
• Visit the Three Revolution Exhibition – The exhibition primarily showcases the three revolutions of Kim Il-sung, the ideological, technical, and cultural with North Korean satellites on display.
• Visit the Korean Film Studio – over a thousand North Korean films were produced here with backdrops of fake locations such as Seoul, China, Japan and even Europe. Koryo dynasty costumes are available as an option to complete the scene of old Korea
• Head to the Meari Shooting Range which has been recently renovated and equipped with rifles, pistols, archery, virtual games, and automatic rifles (Extra charge – 50 US cent per bullet).
• Stop by Mansugyo Beer Bar – a local bar to join the locals for refreshments
• Dinner at Chongryu Hot Pot restaurant.
• Overnight in Sosan Hotel

Tuesday 15th April – The Day of the Sun – Birthday of President Kim Il Sung

Morning

• Kumsusan Palace of the Sun – The mausoleum for the Great Leader President Kim Il Sung and the Dear Leader Kim Jong Il. A truly unique experience.
• Mangyongdae Native Home – Birthplace of the President Kim Il Sung and where he spent the early years of his childhood.
• Visit the Kimilsungia Flower Festival Exhibition – former Indonesian President Surkarno gifted an orchid to Kim Il Sung and named it the Kimilsungia as a sign of great friendship. This exhibition is held in a giant greenhouse and is open to visitors as locals set up numerous exhibits.
• Mass Dance – over 3000 Pyongyang university students synchronise dance for an hour – incredible photo opportunities and a great opportunity to jump in and join the locals.

Afternoon

• Lunch at the Moran Hill Restaurant – located across the road from Pyongyang’s famous central park
• Walk to Moran Hill – this park is particular famous on Kim Il Sung’s Birthday as locals crowd to the park with their families and friends to partake in picnics, dancing and singing. Fantastic opportunity for photos.
• Special celebratory events (optional: 150RMB or 20 euros) – a military circus performance or red orchestra performance – to be confirmed on the day
• Dinner at a local famous restaurant for Duck BBQ
• We’ll join the locals on Kim Il Sung Square and watch the fireworks light up over the Taedong River.
• Overnight at the Sosan Hotel.

Wednesday 16th April

Morning

• Drive out to Mt Myohyang – 2 and a half hours north of Pyongyang.
• Visit the very famous International Friendship Exhibition – two large gift houses holding the gifts presented to Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il and Kim Jong Un from people, governments and institutions all over the world.
• Pohyon Temple – An incredibly scenic spot, one of the five famous temples of Korea and one of the largest Buddhist temples in the DPRK.

Afternoon

• Lunch at the Hyangsan Hotel – a five-star deluxe hotel situated between the mountain ranges of Mt. Myohyang
• Drive back to Pyongyang and on the way stopping at Ryongmun Cavern – one of the most famous cave complexes in the DPRK and is famous for its stalactite and stalagmite formations.
• Arrival back into Pyongyang
• Dinner and drinks at a local restaurant
• Overnight at Sosan Hotel.

Thursday 17th April

Morning

• Group B flight members depart from Pyongyang on Air Koryo at 10:30am arriving at Beijing Terminal 2 Airport at 11:30am.
• Group B train members depart at 10:25am for Beijing on train K28.

Friday 18th April

Morning

• Group B train members arrive in Beijing Railway Station 9:00am.

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