Young Pioneer Tours
Blog
Welcome to the Young Pioneer Tours Blog, the place where we we keep you informed about everything YPT, from current tours, to future tours and a whole lot of eclectic stuff in between.
YPT first started blogging in 2008 and are considered the best North Korean Travel blog that there is.
But, as Young Pioneer Tours have expanded our locations, so have we expanded our blog. Now we have one of the best travel blogs in the world!
And while most of our content is about the numerous destinations we go, including travel guides and what to pack, we also delve into more serious subjects such as the safety of certain destinations, as well as how LGTBQ+ friendly the places we visit are.
While the vast majority of our content is produced in-house, we are always on the look-out for guest bloggers and writers. Want to write for us? Then simply get in touch.
You can also check out our sister publication YPT Life.
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Celestial Army: Tata Gonda Religious Movement
24 April 2025 / by Andy Khong
The Tata Gonda religious movement, also known as the Celestial Army, is a unique religious community founded by the Congolese prophet Tata Gonda Wasilua. Emerging in 1989 in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC*), the movement blends elements of Afric …
Conch Republic: A Quirky Nation Within a Nation
24 April 2025 / by Andy Khong
Located at the southernmost tip of the continental United States lies Key West, a vibrant island city known for its sunsets, parties, and laid-back lifestyle. But beyond the tourism and tropical beauty lies a tale of humorous rebellion and spirited ind …
Chairman Mao’s Legacy in Cuisine: The Great Red Culinary Journey from Shaoshan and Yan’an to Beijing
24 April 2025 / by Steven Zhang
When thinking of Mao Zedong, people often picture the revolutionary leader, the strategist, the founder of modern China. But few consider his lasting imprint on something as everyday and intimate as food. In China, cuisine is never just about flavour. …
The YPT Angeles City Guide
22 April 2025 / by Gareth Johnson
While definitely not a standard YPT destination this is somewhere that we pass through on our Extreme Philippines Tour, thus meaning we feel it deserves an Angeles City Guide. We take a look to see if there is more to the city than its moniker as a nig …
Understanding The Provinces of China
18 April 2025 / by Gareth Johnson
Provinces of China. It sounds straightforward enough, but this is China we are talking about. Nothing here is ever that simple. Sure, there are provinces, but then you have municipalities, autonomous regions, special administrative regions, and autonom …
Meeting Jonathan the Giant Tortoise: the 193-year-old legend of Saint Helena
17 April 2025 / by Morgan Bourven
Best known for being the place where Napoleon was exiled (and eventually died), Saint Helena, a volcanic speck halfway between Africa and South America, is also home to another iconic resident: Jonathan the Giant Tortoise, officially the oldest known l …
10 Of The Most Infamous Ghost Cities in China
17 April 2025 / by Gareth Johnson
It is now over 15 years since my love affair with ghost cities in China began after I visited Ordos and Kangbashi. Said love would lead us not just to running tours here, but even filming the movie Ghost Box Cowboy. Yet as mad as Kangbashi is what is e …
The Beijing Instant Noodle: Classic and Famous but Not from Beijing?
15 April 2025 / by Steven Zhang
You’ve heard of Beijing Duck, Beijing opera, even Beijing traffic jams… but what about the Beijing Instant Noodle? Here’s the twist: This iconic and classic product isn’t from Beijing at all. In this blog, we’ll unpack everything about this legendary p …
Can you drink in South Sudan – and the 9 best local drinks
12 April 2025 / by Gareth Johnson
Can you drink in South Sudan? The short answer to this is yes, you can and in fact not only does Juba have a great bar scene, but South Sudanese in general are drinkers. This though was far from always the case with alcohol actually being banned during …
