Young Pioneer Tours
St. Patrick’s Day Tour
We are thrilled to present our fifth consecutive St. Patrick’s Day celebration in the DPRK!
Due to the previous years success and to help celebrate this festive Irish day we will be performing Pyongyang’s annual international pub crawl! We have an exciting plan to visit the famous micro brewery’s, pubs and tea houses that are scattered around Pyongyang city.
During our jolly green visit to North Korea, we’ll also be showing you the must see sights around Pyongyang such as the mausoleum, the Korean war museum, the mysterious Pyongyang Metro, Kim Il Sung Square and much more. We’ll also throw in a very special visit down to the DMZ to face the South Korean side, with a Korean People’s Army officer as our local guide.
So put on your greens and come join us as we challenge the DPRKoreans to a bunch of friendly drinking games!
Wednesday 14th March
- Meet your YPT guide at 1:30pm at the Beijing Zhonggu Hotel near Beijing Railway Station found here. During this meeting, we’ll go through the tour’s itinerary, 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 Central station at 5:25pm for the 24 hour sleeper ride to Pyongyang.
Thursday 15th March
- 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 at 2:00pm. (Group will meet at Air Koryo check in counter.)
- Flight group arrive in Pyongyang at 4:30pm to a warm welcome from your Korean guides.
- Train group arrive at 5:30pm to an equally warm welcome.
- In the evening, your YPT guide will show you around the hotel before taking you for drinks and to get to know your Korean guides.
- Dinner and overnight at the Yanggakdo Hotel.
Friday 16th March
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: small bunches are 2 euro, larger ones 4.)
- 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 a local restaurant on Liberation Street.
- 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.
- Monument to the Party Foundation – built in 1995 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the worker’s party.
- Visit the Meari Shooting Range. Here’s your chance to shoot soviet style weapons in the DPRK! There’s in indoor and outdoor range. Bows and electronic shooting games are also available. If shooting isn’t your thing, there’s a nice snack bar to grab a refreshment (.5-0 euros per bullet).
- Stop by Mansugyo Bar for refreshments – a very popular bar to mingle with the locals.
- Dinner at Pottonggang Restaurant.
- Overnight at Yanggakdo Hotel.
Saturday 17th March – St. Patrick’s Day!
Morning
- Visit the Korean Film Studio – the biggest and best film studio in the DPRK. Here we have an opportunity to dress up as ancient characters from the old dynasty days – 1 euro each.
- Visit the Kwanbok department store, where we can shop with the locals and gain access to the local DPRK Won currency.
Afternoon
- Lunch at the Moran Hill Fried Chicken Restaurant (humorously known by locals as Pyongyang’s KFC).
Pyongyang Pub Crawl!
- Pyolmuri Teahouse/Bar.
- Koryo Hotel for microbrewed dark and/or light beer.
- Rakwon Beer Bar- microbrewed pints for only 0.5 euro each.
- Taedonggan beer bar No.3 – 3 different microbrews on tap 1.5 euro each.
- Pyongyang Gold Lanes Bowling – here they have draft beer and we can verse the locals to a game! (2.50 euros per game)
- Dinner at the National Restaurant with a performance from the waitresses!
- Taedonggan Diplomat’s club. There’s local and imported drinks, karaoke, billiards, ping pong and a great chance to meet some local Pyongyang expats.
- Overnight at the Yanggakdo Hotel.
Sunday 18th March Morning
- Kumsusan Palace of the Sun – the mausoleum for the Great Leader President Kim Il Sung and the Dear Leader Kim Jong Il.
- Revolutionary Martyry’s Cemetery – the resting place of the greatest of the anti-Japanese revolutionary fighters, each grave features a bronze bust of the hero laid to rest within.
Afternoon
- Lunch at the Chongryu Hot Pot Restaurant.
- Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum (Korean War museum) – Let the expert local guide show you around the enormous museum featuring dioramas, locally used weapons, tanks etc, and captured American equipment!
- USS Pueblo – the only US Naval Ship still held captive by another nation.
- Foreign Language Bookshop – shopping central for books, pins, DVD’s, CD’s and periodicals in English and other foreign Languages, followed by a brisk walk to:
- Kim Il Sung Square – the central square of Pyongyang City.
- Juche Tower – monument to the everlasting Juche Ideology (optional 5.5 euros to go to the top).
- Dinner at KITC restaurant to try the famous Pyongyang Cold Noodles or a Korean traditional Bibimbap dish.
- Overnight at the Yanggakdo Hotel.
Monday 19th March
Morning
- Up nice and early to drive to Kaesong and the DMZ.
- Korea Museum – Korea’s first university and now a museum of history and culture. Also home of the best stamp and propaganda poster shop in the DPRK, so don’t forget your wallet!
- The DMZ – See one of the tensest places on earth complete with a friendly KPA officer who will not only give you a guided tour but also keep you safe. Also the only place you can take photographs of and even with a soldier!
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 5 euro, Ginseng Stuffed Whole Chicken 30 euro – can be split between several.)
- Drop by Sariwon City (Capital of North Hwanghae province) to walk in the local folkcustom park and view the city from the mountain top pagoda and try Makkoli in a local bar!
- Photo opportunity of the Monument to the Three Charters of National Reunification, standing over the Thongil Highway.
- Dinner at the Famous Duck BBQ Restaurant.
- Overnight at the Yanggakdo Hotel.
Tuesday 20th March
- Flight members depart at 8:30am for Beijing on Air Koryo arriving at 9:55am Beijing time.
- Train members depart at 9:55am for the overnight train to Beijing and enjoy the peaceful countryside of both the DPRK and China.
Wednesday 21st March
- Train members arrive 9:00am in Beijing Railway Station.
Tour Extensions
Want to extend your YPT adventure? Join one of our great tour extensions
