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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Political Parties of North Korea
2 May 2019 / by Gareth Johnson
There are a great many misconceptions about life in North Korea, tourism to the country, and how it’s actually run there. One such misconception is that North Korea is a one-party state and there is no North Korea political parties scene. In actual fac …
North Korean Culture
2 May 2019 / by Gareth Johnson
There are many reasons why one might visit North Korea, but in our mind, one of the priorities when visiting has to be to learn more about the fascinating and truly unique North Korean culture. We certainly believe that our tours are more about cultura …
Day of the Sun: Kim Il Sung’s Birthday
2 May 2019 / by Rowan Beard
Introduction to Day of the Sun Day of the Sun is an annual three-day national holiday celebrated in North Korea in recognition of Kim Il Sung’s Birthday. Kim Il Sung was the founder of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and is regarded as the et …
A new Sheriff in town: Tiraspol’s corporate overlord
2 May 2019 / by Gareth Johnson
Did you ever hear the tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise? Sorry, wrong story (and I should really be telling a story from the far superior The Last Jedi): did you ever hear the tale of the unrecognised country of Transnistria, a sliver of land between …
The Ultimate Tiraspol Travel Guide
2 May 2019 / by Gareth Johnson
Understanding Tiraspol Tiraspol is the bustling capital of the unrecognised state of Transnistria. Trans-say-what-now? Perhaps the full title will jog your memory: the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic. No? Then let us enlighten you… Transnistria is a …
KVINT: national icon of a country that doesn’t exist
2 May 2019 / by Gareth Johnson
KVINT is a brandy you may have heard of it, but you may not know exactly where it is from. Over ten years ago, I led Young Pioneer Tours’ first trip to Tiraspol, the capital of Transnistria (a country not even MS Word – let alone the UN – will recognis …
Wines of the world: France, Italy… Moldova?
2 May 2019 / by Gareth Johnson
There is perhaps no passion more notoriously snobby than wine-tasting, so when I claim that Moldovan wine (and brandy) is some of the best in the world, I expect no small amount of derisive sniffing and arched eyebrows to follow. Fact is, though, that …
Filming in North Korea
2 May 2019 / by Gareth Johnson
Whilst it is illegal for journalists to travel to North Korea in an undercover capacity, filming in NOrth Korea is allowed with the correct permissions – as the Michael Palin’s trip, facilitated by Koryo Tours, attests to. Filming in North Korea Past P …
What was the May Fourth Movement?
1 May 2019 / by Gareth Johnson
If you’re of a certain age (and gender and race) then it is likely you’ll enjoy the memes and the greetings on the 4th of May with your usual annual pleasure – May the Fourth be with you! But while Star Wars Day is celebrated around the world (especial …
