Children’s Day Ultra Budget Tour with DMZ & Sinuijiu Extension

DESCRIPTION

Join us as we head into Pyongyang to partake in the Children’s Day celebrations held in the Pyongyang’s largest funfair. You’ll have a chance to not only spectate but also compete against the students in games, competitions and explore the retro Soviet grounds of Mangyongdae Park.

During this tour you’ll have the unique opportunity to explore all the must-see sights of Pyongyang including Kim Il Sung Square, the Korean War Museum, riding the deepest metro in the world, visiting a local department store, visiting the top of the Juche tower with a panoramic view of the city and much more.

For those who want to extend your stay with us to visit the DMZ from the northern side, join our Group B option! You’ll visit the city of Kaesong which is only a few kilometres from the border of South Korea, explore Panmunjom Village (DMZ) and Sariwon city located halfway between Kaesong and Pyongyang to try their famous locally brewed Makkoli and for scenic views.

Make the absolute most out of your trip with our Group C Sinuiju extension as you spend an evening at the DPRK border town opposite Dandong in China. Sinuiju is way off the beaten track and gives you an in-depth look into the rural life of North Korea by visiting a local kindergarten, touring a cosmetic factory, walking along the Yalu river that creates the natural border of China and North Korea, and more.

By making use of traveling from Dandong which is easily reachable from most of China, this tour is perfect for those people already in China, or those simply travelling through that do not have the time or budget to do a full trip.

ITINERARY

Monday 31^st May

Morning

Meet your YPT guide at 7:30am inside the entrance of the Dandong Railway Station to collect your train ticket and DPRK visa, and to go through DPRK procedure.
Board the 9:25am train from Dandong.
10:25am arrival in Sinuiju to go through the thorough 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 with a warm welcome by your guides
Dinner at a local Korean restaurant on Ryomyong Street
Check-in and overnight at Sosan hotel

Tuesday 1^st June – Children’s Day

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: 40RMB or 5 euros). We expect it to be very busy at this time with locals paying their respect.
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
Trip Highlight – Visit Mangyondae Funfair to watch children and students celebrate in true DPRK style Children’s Day with sports, competitions, and other fun activities. A great chance to join in and participate.

Afternoon

Lunch in the KITC restaurant. Here’s your chance to try Pyongyang’s famous Pyongyang Cold Noodles or traditional Korean Bibimap mixed rice dish.
Pyongyang Metro – ride 5 stops on the famous Pyongyang Underground!
Exiting at 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.
Visit the recently renovated 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.
Juche Tower – monument to the everlasting Juche Ideology (optional 40RMB or 5 euros to go to the top).
Monument to the Party Foundation – built in 1995 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the worker’s party
Stop by Kwangbok Department store – one of the busiest stores in Pyongyang where we can buy local goods using the local currency
Stop by the local Mansugyo Beer Bar for refreshments – here there are seven different types of locally brewed beer! Soft drinks, coffee and juices also available
Dinner at the National Restaurant with performance!
Overnight at the Sosan Hotel.

Wednesday 2^nd June

Morning

Group A – depart at 10:25am from Pyongyang Railway Station, arriving in Dandong at 4:30pm

Group B Continue on:

Drive to Kaesong and the DMZ.
Koryo Museum – Korea’s first university and now a museum of history and culture and 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 Pasangi – a series of dishes served in bronze bowls. (Optional extras – dog soup for 40RMB or 5 euros.)
Drop by Sariwon city – capital of North Hwanghae province, walk around the local folk custom park and view the city from the mountain pagoda.
Try locally brewed Makkoli from a nearby local brew house
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
Drinks and overnight at the Sosan Hotel

Thursday 3^rd June

Morning

Check out of the Sosan Hotel
Board the 10:25am train
Option lunch on the train (50RMB extra)

Afternoon

Group B – Arrive in Dandong Railway Station at 4:30pm and tour concludes
Group C – 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.
Our local Korean guides will meet us 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.

Friday 4^th June

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 local 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.
Tour concludes.