Make the most of your Easter break this year and let us take you to North Korea.
During our Easter in Pyongyang tour, we’ll take you to all the must-see sights of Pyongyang including the Mausoleum where both President Kim Il Sung and General Kim Jong Il lay in state, walk around Kim Il Sung Square, ride the mysterious Pyongyang metro, visit the Korean War Museum, go to the top of the Juche Tower for an incredible panoramic view of Pyongyang and a lot more.
We’ve also organized a special visit to a middle school located outside of the capital, as well as Kim Il Sung University – the most prestigious university in the DPRK. Here we’ll be able to watch lessons/lectures, join in and mingle with the students so they have the perfect opportunity to practice their English.
No trip to the DPRK is complete without visiting Panmumjom (the DMZ), where North and South Korea meet head-on.
Meet your YPT guide at 1:30pm at the Beijing JinguQilong Hotel near Beijing Railway Station found here. During this meeting, we’ll go through the tour’s itinerary, receive DPRK visas and tickets, as well as a great chance to meet your fellow travellers and to discuss any other questions you may have about the DPRK.
Train takers depart Beijing Central Station at 5:25pm for the 24-hour sleeper ride to Pyongyang.
Thursday 29th March
Train group arrive at Dandong at 7:00am for Chinese border control then depart for Sinuiju at 10:00am for the extensive border control from the DPRK side.
Flight takers depart Beijing Airport Terminal 2 on Air Koryo at 2:00pm (group will meet at Air Koryo check in counter).
Flight group arrive in Pyongyang at 4:30pm to a warm welcome from your Korean guides.
Train group arrive at 5:00pm to an equally warm welcome.
Walk to Kim Il Sung Square – the central square of Pyongyang city and the place where all the action happens.
In the evening, your YPT guide will show you around the hotel before taking you for drinks and to get to know your Korean guides.
Dinner and overnight at the Yanggakdo Hotel.
Friday 30th March
Morning
Wake up early and make our way down to Kaesong City
Panmunjom DMZ Village – see the DMZ and the treaty and conferences rooms where the armistice was signed all in the company of a friendly KPA officer guide. (You can also take pictures of soldiers here!)
Koryo Museum – the oldest university in Korea and now a converted museum of local history, also the site of the best propaganda and stamp/postcard shop in the DPRK!
Afternoon
Lunch at the Thongil Restaurant in Kaesong City. Try your hand at traditional Korean Pansangi – a series of dishes served in bronze bowls. (Optional extra – dog meat soup 5 euro)
Drop by Sariwon City (Capital of North Hwanghae Province) to walk in the local folk custom park and view the city from the mountain top pagoda.
Try locally brewed Makkoli in the local tea house
Photo opportunity of the Monument to the Three Charters of National Reunification, standing over the Thongil Highway.
Dinner at the Famous Duck BBQ Restaurant.
Taedonggang Diplomat’s Club. There’s local and imported drinks, karaoke, billiards, ping pong and a great chance to meet some local Pyongyang expats.
Overnight at the Yanggakdo Hotel.
Saturday 31st March
Morning
Stop by the Foreign Language Bookshop – with a large selection of books in English and other European Languages as well as other souvenirs
Drive to the newly opened city of Pyongsong – 45 minutes north of Pyongyang
Visit Mother Kim Jong Suk Middle School No. 1 – this school is famous for educating students wanting to be scientists or engineers. Their level of English is quite high so we help them by being heavily involved in their classes by doing introductions of ourselves and one-on-one activities with the students. We’ve had previous YPT tourists say this is one of the best experiences they had in the DPRK.
Paeksonri Foodstuffs factory – This factory produces a wide variety of goods, largely from corn.
Afternoon
Lunch at the Jangsusan Hotel in Pyongsong
Stroll around the central square of Pyongsong before hearing back to Pyongyang
Visit Kim Il Sung University – the more prestige university in the DPRK for an extended visit around the campus. We’ll observe classes and be able to talk to the students.
Grand People’s Study House – library and academic centre for adult learners. This grand building is built in the Korean style and affords a great view over the central square.
Stop by the Kwanbok Department store where we can shop with the locals and have access to the local DPRK won currency!
Dinner and drinks at the Moran Hill Restaurant
Overnight at the Yanggakdo Hotel.
Sunday 1st April
Morning
Kumsusan Palace of the Sun – the mausoleum for the Great Leader President Kim Il Sung and the Dear Leader Kim Jong Il.
Revolutionary Martyr’s Cemetery – the resting place of the greatest anti-Japanese revolutionary fighters, each grave features a bronze bust of the hero laid to rest within.
Afternoon
Lunch in a local Korean restaurant to try the local famous Pyongyang Cold Noodles or the traditional Korean dish of Bibimbap!
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 5 euros to go to the top).
Visit the Party Foundation Monument with the giant hammer, sickle and writing brush.
We’ll stop by Mansugyo Beer Bar – here they have seven different beers available as well as soft drinks and coffee.
Dinner at the National restaurant with performance!
Overnight at the Yanggakdo Hotel.
Monday 2nd April
Morning
Flight members depart at 8:30am for Beijing on Air Koryo arriving at 9:55am Beijing time.
Train members depart at 9:55am for the overnight train to Beijing and enjoy the peaceful countryside of both the DPRK and China
Tuesday 3rd April
Morning
Train members arrive 9:00am in Beijing Railway Station.
• Twin share accommodation (single supplements are available for an extra 40 EUR per night).
• Train in and out Beijing-Pyongyang-Beijing. Flights are extra.
• All meals in the DPRK unless specified in the itinerary.
• Korean and western guides.
• Air-conditioned bus and driver.
• All entrances (unless otherwise stated).