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.
Check out and subscribe to the YPT Blog and travel magazine
21 September 2017 / by Gareth Johnson
Kazakhstan is not that well known for its food. But what it does have to offer is amazing! While the traditional Kazakh fare might not look the most appetizing, looks aren’t everything. With all ex-Soviet countries, you’ll find not just the local cuisi …
19 September 2017 / by Gareth Johnson
Whether you’re moving to a new country, or just travelling to a new city, adapting to your new surroundings can be equally exciting and nerve-wracking. From exploring new places, trying new foods, and meeting new people, there is so much you can do whe …
19 September 2017 / by Gareth Johnson
Most travelers come to Dandong, China, because of its proximity to North Korea. It’s a popular city for travelers to either pass through on their way to the DPRK or to experience the Hermit Kingdom with their feet firmly on Chinese soil. The city’s foo …
17 September 2017 / by Rowan Beard
Introduction As tourism has grown in the DPRK, so has the interest of foreigners wanting to do, and experience more in the country. It was with this in mind that we initially thought of the idea to run a farming volunteer program in North Korea. When w …
16 September 2017 / by Rowan Beard
A Mass Dance, not to be confused with the Arirang Mass Games, is an event held in socialist countries that marks a celebration for a particular national holiday or event. It was big back when the Soviet Union was around, but only a few countries conduc …
15 September 2017 / by Gareth Johnson
YPT prides itself on travel to unrecognized countries. This year we added our last “frozen conflict zone” to the list thus becoming the first travel company to offer regular tours to Abkhazia, Nagorno Karabakh, Transnistria – and now South Ossetia. We …
13 September 2017 / by Gareth Johnson
Travelling to North Korea is notoriously pricey. Going on an organized group tour and being one of the few tourists who enter the country every year of course adds up, especially when compared to backpacking in Thailand or somewhere else in SE Asia. …
13 September 2017 / by Gareth Johnson
As a tour leader for YPT, I’ve been a frequent visitor to North Korea over the past three years. One of the main questions that tourists ask me is if I’ve seen any changes to the country in that time. The answer is yes, but North Koreans are very conse …
7 September 2017 / by Gareth Johnson
At YPT, we specialise in travel to places that your mother would rather you stayed away from. But, in order to prove we’re not all mouth and no trousers, here is a run-down of five of our weirdest and most wonderful tours! 5: Skiing in Iran When we thi …