Young Pioneer Tours
New Year’s Ultra Budget Tour
Join us in Pyongyang to welcome in the New Year’s as we’ve planned an extravagant banquet dinner before heading out to join the locals at Kim Il Sung Square to countdown to 2025! There will be a spectacular fireworks display, a live performance from the famous all-female North Korean military pop band – Moranbong Band, and a massive socialist ice sculpture competition.
We’ve designed this trip to be packed full of all the must-see sites of the capital and we’ll be doing it all on New Year’s Eve! We’ll be visiting the Korean War Museum where the captured US spy ship rests, riding the famous Pyongyang Metro, having a bird’s eye view of Pyongyang from the Juche tower, visiting iconic monuments of the capital, Pyongyang’s largest department store and amongst other activities to make your New Year’s unique!
By making use of travelling from Dandong, which is the Chinese border city to the DPRK and is easily reachable from most of China, we are able to offer a great price that has you in the country for 2 nights and 3 days.
This trip is perfect for those people who are already in China or those simply travelling through who do not have the time or budget to do a full trip. If you need assistance with organising accommodation in Dandong or making your way to or from Dandong city, please let us know.
Please note: All travellers must have a re-entry visa into China as there isn’t enough time to apply for a Chinese visa in Pyongyang and the 144 hour transfer visa doesn’t permit rail use.
Monday 30th December
Morning
- Meet your YPT guide at 7:30am inside the entrance of the Dandong Railway Station to collect train ticket, DPRK visa and go through DPRK entry procedure.
- Board the 10:00am train from Dandong.
- 11:15am (DPRK time) arrival in Sinuiju to go through DPRK entry procedure.
- Ride on into Pyongyang and enjoy the beautiful countryside along the way.
Afternoon
- Optional lunch on the train (50RMB extra)
- 6:45pm arrival in Pyongyang to be met by your guides
- Dinner at a local Korean restaurant on Ryomyong Street
- Overnight at the Sosan Hotel.
Tuesday 31st December – New Year’s Eve
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 flowers if you wish: 40RMB or 5 euros).
- Kim Il Sung Square- the central square of Pyongyang city and the place where all the action happens followed by a short walk to:
- Foreign Language Bookshop- with a large selection of books in English and other European Languages as well as other souvenirs.
- 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 in the KITC Original Restaurant to try famous Pyongyang Cold Noodles or Korean Bibimbap dish
- Pyongyang Metro! Ride from Stop 1 to Stop 2 then on to stop 6! Exiting to:
- The Arch of Triumph- the largest Victory Arch in the world, built to celebrate the triumphant return of Kim Il Sung after the Anti-Japanese war.
- Juche Tower – a monument to the everlasting Juche Ideology (optional 40RMB or 5 euros to go to the top).
- 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.
- Monument to the Party Foundation- Built-in 1995 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the worker’s party.
- Visit Pyongyang’s largest department store! – here we can shop for locally made items and also have the chance to spend local DPRK Won currency!
- Drinks at Mansugyo Beer Bar, very busy with locals with seven different locally brewed beers on tap. Coffee, soda and other refreshments are available.
- Extravagant banquet dinner and drinks at the Pyongyang Hotel restaurant, accompanied by singing and dance performances offering views over the capital and Taedong River.
- “Happy New Year!” – join the locals at Kim Il Sung Square for live musical performances, ice sculpture viewings, fireworks and to celebrate the arrival of 2025!
- Overnight in Sosan Hotel.
Wednesday 1st January- New Year’s Day
Morning
- Breakfast and check out of the hotel
- Board the 10:25am train to Dandong
Afternoon
- Optional lunch on train (50RMB extra)
- 4:30pm arrival in Dandong
- Tour concludes – if you need to make any accommodation or a way out of Dandong please let us know!
Tour Extensions
Want to extend your YPT adventure? Join one of our great tour extensions
