Young Pioneer Tours
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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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Can Russians go to North Korea in 2025?
20 June 2024 / by Gareth Johnson
You might have noticed a certain Mr Putin in Russia this week and asked yourself if Russians can go to North Korea right now, or indeed can anyone visit the DPRK in 2025? Well as with everything in the country the answer is nuanced and filled with far …
What is it like taking the train from Hainan to mainland China
18 June 2024 / by Gareth Johnson
Hainan might not on the YPT list of destinations (yet), but they do got an epic train journey that we mightily enjoyed. So, what is it like taking the train from Hainan to mainland China, or indeed mainland China to Hainan? YPT’s Gareth went to get the …
The Revolution in Rojava
17 June 2024 / by Gareth Johnson
The following is an option piece on the revolution in Rojava by Gareth Johnson and does not necessarily represent the views of Young Pioneer Tours. While much is branded around about what exactly Rojava is politically, the reality is that the revolutio …
Rojava – In the Shadow of Islamic State
17 June 2024 / by Gareth Johnson
Not 7 years ago the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria were running amok within the region, while simultaneously ferrying the world at large. It was in what is now known as Rojava and Kurdistan where their full weight was felt. And yes, while there was he …
Can you visit Rojava in 2025?
17 June 2024 / by Gareth Johnson
Can you visit Rojava in 2025? It is indeed possible to visit Rojava in 2025, that is though not to say that it is easy. As a rule, tourists are not permitted to travel here, with the only visitors being NGOs, journalists and cultural exchanges. Should …
YPT PODCAST SEASON 2 FINALE:
June, 2024 North Korea Travel Update & Dr. Calvin Sun Interview
13 June 2024 / by Justin Martell
YPT Meeting with Our DPR Korean Counterparts in Beijing The Young Pioneer Podcast Season 2 concludes with a double-header episode! S2, Ep 6 opens with a discussion between host Justin Martell and YPT CEO Gareth Johnson discussing the big ques …
Rojava – Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria
10 June 2024 / by Gareth Johnson
In 2011, the first sparks of uprising were felt in Syria, soon to explode into an apocalyptic war of dozens of competing factions, ending hundreds of thousands of lives and eventually simmering down to a broken, fragmented country where the Syrian gove …
World Cup dream alive as DPR Korea beat Syria
8 June 2024 / by Gareth Johnson
In a must win match DPR Korea beat Syria 1-0 courtesy of a Jong Il Gwan goal in the dying minutes of the match. This was a must win for DPRK Korea as they sit in third place of Group B in the second round of qualification. DPR Korea beat Syria – How do …
How to get on the roof where the iconic Saigon evacuation picture was taken
6 June 2024 / by Christoph Janssen
As we always strive to bring you to places that are not immediately obvious or attract the attention of the mainstream, we had to pay yet another visit to the legendary roof where the iconic Saigon evacuation picture was taken – without doubt one of th …
