Come with us as we enter DPRK to join in on the celebrations of Korea’s Anniversary of Liberation day! This holiday marks the end of the Japanese occupation of Korea and considered one of the biggest national holidays. During this tour we will be taking part in all the official celebrations, as well as hanging out and dancing and singing with locals in the park, watching the fireworks, and spectate a mass dance
During our tour, we’ll visit the Mausoleum where both President Kim Il Sung and General Kim Jong Il lay in state. We’ll also experience the deep Pyongyang metro as we ride not two but six stations of line 1! We’ll also have an opportunity to visit the Korean War Museum and see the North Korean’s story of the war that took place against the Americans. No trip to the DPRK is complete without visiting Panmumjom (the DMZ) from the Northside where North and South Korea meet head-on! We’ll spend an evening down at Kaesong city at a Traditional Korean Folklore hotel, only 8km from the DMZ!
Stay longer with us on our must-see Group B option for the Sinuiju extension as we spend a night in the DPRK border town city opposite Dandong in China. This city is way off the beaten track and gives you an in-depth look into this busy little city. We’ll visit a Kindergarten, explore the central square of Sinuiju city, go for a hike to Dongrim waterfall (we recommend swimming under the waterfall too), visit a co-op farm, and even walk along the river that divides China and North Korea.
The Mass Games, the world’s largest performance with over 100,000 performers is expected to take place during this tour! Now is your chance to watch this grand spectacular performance. Tickets are on-top of tour cost and is paid in cash during your tour in Pyongyang. We highly recommend securing your spot on tour early as we expect spaces to fill up very quickly.
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, 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 12th August
Train group arrive at Dandong at 7:00am for Chinese border control then depart for Sinuiju at 10:30am for the extensive border control from the DPRK side
Flight takers depart Beijing Airport Terminal 2 on Air Koryo at 2:00pm (Meet group at Air Koryo check in counter).
Flight group arrive in Pyongyang at 5:00pm to a warm welcome from your Korean guides.
Train group arrive at 6:45pm to an equally warm welcome.
Dinner at a local Korean restaurant on Ryomyong Street
Check in and overnight at the Sosan Hotel.
Friday 13th August
Morning
Breakfast in Pyongyang and drive down to Kaesong City (2 and a half hours) stopping for a quick rest and refreshments on the way at a local tea house
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!
Koryo Museum- the oldest university in Korea and now a converted museum of local history. Located next door is the best propaganda and stamp/postcard shop in the DPRK
Afternoon
Lunch at a local restaurant in Kaesong City – try your hand at traditional Korean Pansangi – a series of dishes served in bronze bowls. (Option extra – dog meat soup or as the locals call it sweet soup for 5 euros per person)
Drop by Sariwon City (capital of North Hwanghae Province) to walk in the local folk custom park and view the city from the mountain pagoda.
Try locally brewed Makkoli from a nearby local brewhouse,
Photo opportunity of the Monument to the Three Charters of National Reunification, standing over the Thongil Highway.
Dinner and drinks at the Duck BBQ restaurant
Overnight at the Sosan Hotel
Saturday 14th August
Morning
Walkthrough 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 a bouquet of flowers for 5 euro).
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.
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.
Afternoon
Lunch at local Korean restaurant
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 Kwangbok department store – here we can buy locally made items and exchange our foreign currency into local DPRK Won!
Juche Tower – The tallest stone tower in the world, it represents the eternally burning Korean Juche Ideology.
Workers Party Foundation Monument – built in 1995 to signify the 50th anniversary of the Workers Party of Korea.
Stop by Mansugyo Beer Bar – a local bar to join the locals for refreshments
Dinner at KITC Restaurant in Mangyongdae District to try Pyongyang’s famous Cold Noodle Dish or the traditional Korean BiBimBap dish with Korean performance
Overnight in Sosan Hotel.
Sunday 15th August – Liberation Day!
Morning
Kumsusan Palace of the sun- Where President Kim Il Sung and Comrade Kim Jong Il lie in state.
Revolutionary Martyr’s Cemetery – the resting place of the greatest anti-Japanese revolutionary fighters, each grave features a bronze bust of the hero laid to rest within.
Afternoon
Lunch at the Korean Hot Pot Restaurant
We’ll take a stroll through Moranbong Park where locals gather to meet, picnic, drink and dance – don’t be shy to join in on the dancing
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.
Special celebratory events (optional: approx 20 euros) – Yet to be confirmed but we will take part in any holiday events that are possible for tourists to attend. These may include a circus performance, symphony red orchestra performance and possibly some other surprises.
Spectate and/or join in on the Pyongyang university students performing a mass dance near an iconic DPRK monument – fantastic for rare photo opportunities!
Dinner at the New Hope Restaurant
Spectate the Mass Games – The world’s largest performance. Tickets can be purchased with cash only and reserved whilst on tour in North Korea.
Go to Kim Il Sung Square to watch the fireworks over the Taedong River and Juche Tower – to be confirmed
Overnight in Sosan Hotel.
Monday 16th August
Flight members depart at 9:00am for Beijing on Air Koryo. (Arriving at 10:00am Beijing time).
Group A & B train members depart at 10:25am. Group A train members will arrive in Beijing Railway Station at 9:00am on Tuesday the 17th August.
Group B continues on:
Afternoon
Arrive in the remote village of Dongrim at 2:30pm – Dongrim is the nearest town outside of Sinuiju, located south amongst the valleys of the east coast of the peninsula.
Your local Korean guides will meet you as you step onto the platform.
Drive to Dongrim Hotel to check-in and prepare for afternoon hiking.
Hike to Dongrim Waterfall and explore the surrounding valley of the mountain range, during warmer weather you can take a dip beneath the waterfall.
Dinner and overnight at the Dongrim Hotel – a brand new swanky hotel with a swimming pool. sauna, table tennis, massage, bars, karaoke, tennis, basketball and volleyball courts
Tuesday 17th August
Morning
1 hour drive to Sinuiju city on the way stopping at:
Sinamri Co-operative farm – we’ll look out to where the locals grow rice, cabbage, chilli and cucumbers
Tour the Pomhayanggi Cosmetics Factory and meet some of the local workers that produce some of DPRKorea’s most famous cosmetics
Visit the mosaic images of the “Three Tigers of Mt. Paektu” Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il and Kim Jong Suk.
Explore the large central square of Sinuiju and see the statue of President Kim Il Sung and General Kim Jong Il
Visit the North Phyongan Province Revolutionary History Museum – This will go into detail about the history of the local province.
Afternoon
Lunch at Myohyangsan Travel Company Restaurant which also features a great souvenir shop.
Head to the local Folklore Park where there may be chances to engage in traditional Korean activities and some more modern activities too (extra charges apply for partaking in the local games, these will vary from game to game) or you can simply walk around and enjoy the scenery and watch the locals
Visit the Art Studio which holds over 250 pieces of DPRK fine arts in six large halls – some very cool and eye opening art pieces here!
Bonbu Kindergarten and performance – Famous for training the Children who perform in the skipping scene of the Arirang Mass games as well as its long history of training artistic performers. The performance here is the best of any Kindergarten in the country.
Explore Amnok park and walk down to the Amnok River (Yalu River) and see the original Korean/Chinese Friendship Bridge bombed by the Americans during the Korean War. Very few tourist are able to view the bridge from the DPRK side!
Board the 4:30pm bus and go through Korean customs to finish tour in Dandong, China.
Board the 6:30pm overnight train from Dandong to Beijing.
• Twin share accommodation (single supplements are available for an extra 40 EUR per night).
• Train in and out Beijing-Pyongyang-Beijing. Flights are extra.
• All meals in the DPRK unless specified in the itinerary.
• Korean and western guides
• Air-conditioned bus and driver.
• All entrances (unless otherwise stated).
• Flights.
• Extra drinks and souvenirs.
• Cost of visas.
•Tips for Korean guides and the driver.
• Additional events not listed in the itinerary.
• Cost of Mass Games ticket
Contact us
We have expert guides ready to help answer any questions you may have.