Sunday 13th April

• Meet your YPT guide at 1:30pm at the Beijing Zhong Gu 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 Railway Station at 5:25pm for the 24 hour sleeper ride to Pyongyang.

Monday 14th April

• 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. (Group will meet at Air Koryo check in counter). Flight departure times will be announced closer to the departure date. To avoid any inconvenience, we recommend for you to arrive in Beijing the day before to better prepare yourself.
• Train group arrive at 6:45pm to an equally warm welcome.
• Dinner at a local Korean restaurant on Ryomyong Street
• Check in and overnight at Sosan hotel.

Tuesday 15th April – The Day of the Sun – Birthday of President Kim Il Sung

Morning

• Visit Mansudae Grand Monument – the two large bronze statues of President Kim Il Sung and Leader Kim Jong Il overlooking the city. (Optional extra – you can present flowers if you wish: 40RMB or 5 euros).
• Visit the Kimilsungia Flower Festival Exhibition – former Indonesian President Surkarno gifted an orchid to Kim Il Sung and named it the Kimilsungia as a sign of great friendship. This exhibition is held in a giant greenhouse and is open to visitors as locals set up numerous exhibits.
• Mangyongdae Native Home – Birthplace of the President Kim Il Sung and where he spent the early years of his childhood.
• Mass Dance – over 3000 Pyongyang university students synchronise dance for an hour – incredible photo opportunities and a great opportunity to jump in and join the locals.

Afternoon

• Lunch at the Moran Hill Restaurant – located across the road from Pyongyang’s famous central park
• Walk to Moran Hill – this park is particular famous on Kim Il Sung’s Birthday as locals crowd to the park with their families and friends to partake in picnics, dancing and singing. Fantastic opportunity for photos.
• Special celebratory events (optional: 150RMB or 20 euros) – a military circus performance or red orchestra performance – to be confirmed on the day
• Dinner at a local restaurant to try Pyongyang’s very famous cold noodles dish or a traditional Korean mixed rice Bibimbap dish along with other shared Korean dishes.
• We’ll join the locals on Kim Il Sung Square and watch the fireworks light up over the Taedong River.
• Overnight at the Sosan Hotel.

Wednesday 16th April

Morning

• Up nice and early for the 2.5 hour drive to Kaesong city located only 8km from South Korea.
• Panmunjon 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 extras – Dog soup 40RMB)
• Unique visit – the concrete wall of the DMZ – this is a little off the beaten track and gives us a great glimpse at the wall which was erected by the South Koreans during the 70’s. We can even see South Korean watch towers along the hill from the DPRK post
• Head back to Pyongyang on the way stopping at Sariwon city – explore the local folk custom park and view the city from the mountain top pagoda. A great spot to try Makkoli, a local specialty beverage consisting of rice and alcohol.
• Photo opportunity of the Monument to the Three Charters of National Reunification, standing over the Reunification Highway.
• Dinner at the Lamb BBQ Restaurant.
• Overnight at the Sosan Hotel.

Thursday 17th April

Morning

• Kumsusan Palace of the Sun – The mausoleum for the Great Leader President Kim Il Sung and the Dear Leader Kim Jong Il. A truly unique experience.

Afternoon

• Lunch at a Korean Hot Pot Restaurant
• Ride the Pyongyang Metro – ride 6 stops in total 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.
• Juche Tower – The tallest stone tower in the world this monument represents the eternally burning flame of the Juche ideal (Optional extra 40RMB or 5 euros to go to the top of the tower).
• Visit the recently renovated Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum (Korean War Museum)– with captured American weapons, tanks, air planes and unique dioramas from famous battles and much more!
• USS Pueblo – the only US Naval Vessel held captive by another nation and the centre of a major incident in 1968.
• Monument to the Party Foundation – the iconic stone monument with the giant hammer, sickle and calligraphy brush – built in 1995 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Workers’ Party of Korea
• Stop by Kwangbok Department Store – Pyongyang’s busiest department store. Here is your best chance to browse through locally made North Korean goods and to have access to local DPRK Won currency.
• Dinner at the Haeyang Restaurant
• Visit the Kaeson Funfair (20RMB entry, each ride varies in price from 30RMB – 40RMB)
• Overnight at the Sosan Hotel.

Friday 18th April

Group A Depart:

• Group A train members depart at 10:25 am for the overnight train to Beijing and enjoy the peaceful countryside of both the DPRK and China. Train arrives in Beijing Railway Station at 9:00am on Saturday the 19th.
• Group A flight members depart from Pyongyang in the morning arriving at Beijing Terminal 2 Airport. Flight departure times will be announced closer to the departure date. To avoid any inconvenience, we recommend for you to not arrange your next flight departing Beijing before 6:00pm

Group B and C Continue:

• Morning walk along the Taedong River which divides Pyongyang into west and east districts – catch locals on their way to work and school
• Visit Mansudae Art Studio – a chance for us to meet local artists where the state’s monuments, portraits, vases are produced for the country
• Drop by the Korean Film Studio – over a thousand North Korean films were produced here with backdrops of fake locations such as Seoul, China, Japan and even Europe. Koryo dynasty costumes are available as an option to complete the scene of old Korea

Afternoon

• Head to the outskirts of Pyongyang and enjoy a gentle hike to the top of Mt Ryangak (Dragon Mountain) – here you’ll have a picnic lunch with the most spectacular views of the capital city below you
• Drive to Nampo City (2 hour) – a major port city located south west of Pyongyang
• Visit Tae’an Friendship Glass Factory – a very retro factory in cooperation with a Chinese company which produces most of the glass used in the DPRK
• Drop by Kangso mineral water factory – Home to the DPRK’s most famous sparkling water –you learn how it’s pumped from the ground, bottled and delivered. No visit is complete without samples!
• Arrive and check into Ryonggang Spa Resort – this unique resort was first built for the diplomats and elites of North Korea back in the 80s. Now our guests have full access to the resort and it’s facilities including saunas, swimming pool, ping pong and a North Korean arcade room. Each room has your very own private mineral spa.
• Dinner, drinks and overnight at resort – your YPT guide will prepare an optional petrol BBQ clams for 40RMB per person – great for photos!

Saturday 19th April

Morning

• Drive to the West Sea Barrage – an astounding example of socialist construction, the 8km long barrage was built to separate salty water of the Yellow Sea from the fresh water of the Taedong River to promote better farmland as well as controlling the tide of the river. We visit the top of this massive Soviet project.
• Explore Chongsan Co-Operative Farm – here you’ll have the chance to explore a North Korean farm, visit a local nursery a farmer’s house and learn the difference between a state and co-op farm in the DPRK.
• Drive back to Pyongyang.

Afternoon

• Lunch at the Pottongang Restaurant.
• Head to the Meari Shooting Range which been recently renovated and equipped with rifles, pistols, archery, virtual games and automatic rifles. 3RMB per bullet.
• Mansugyo Beer Bar – usually a very busy and happening bar in Pyongyang, cheap beers with over seven different local brews on tap! Coffee and soda also available
• Dinner at the National Restaurant with performance
• Take an evening walk on Future Scientist Street opened in 2015 for the scientists, teachers and lecturers of the country.
• Overnight in Sosan Hotel

Sunday 20th April

Morning

• Morning walk along Pyongyang’s main avenue from Pyongyang Grand Theatre down towards Kim Il Sung Square
• Explore Kim Il Sung Square
• The Foreign Language Bookshop – A great place to buy books, pins, posters and Korean DVD’s
• Visit the Grand People’s Study House – the country’s largest library and adult education centre with spectacular views over Kim Il Sung Square
• Visit Kim Jong Suk Textile Mill – established in 1948, it is the largest textile factory in Pyongyang with over a thousand employees producing fabric. The local workers will demonstrate the spinning, dyeing, and weaving techniques used in the DPRK.

Afternoon

• Lunch at local Korean restaurant
• Visit the Three Revolution Exhibition – The exhibition primarily showcases the three revolutions of Kim Il-sung, the ideological, technical, and cultural with North Korean satellites on display.
• Munsu Water Park – with Indoor and outdoor pools and waterslides available, the park also features plenty for those who don’t want to swim, including a café, beer bar, table tennis, billiards, gym, massage or get a North Korean haircut – swimming 80RMB other services around 50RMB. A great place to mingle with local people!
• Afternoon stroll from the east side of Pyongyang to the west crossing over the Taedong River for a perfect photo opportunity of May Day Stadium – the world’s largest seated capacity stadium.
• Dinner at Ji Ha restaurant
• Overnight at Sosan Hotel.

Monday 21st April

Morning

Group B Depart:

• Group B flight members depart at 9:00am for Beijing on Air Koryo. (Arriving at 10:00am Beijing time).
• Group B train members depart at 10:25 am for the overnight train to Beijing arriving at Beijing Railway Station at 9:00am on Tuesday 22nd.

Group C continue:

• Drive out to Mt Myohyang – 2 and a half hours north of Pyongyang.
• Visit the International Friendship Exhibition – two large gift houses holding the gifts presented to Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il and Kim Jong Un from people, governments and institutions all over the world. One of the most unique visits we’ll be making this tour.
• Pohyon Temple – One of the five famous temples of Korea and one of the largest Buddhist temples in the DPRK.

Afternoon

• Lunch at the Hyangsan Hotel – a five-star deluxe hotel situated between the mountain ranges of Mt. Myohyang
• Drive back to Pyongyang and on the way stopping at Ryongmun Cavern – one of the most famous cave complexes in the DPRK and is famous for its stalactite and stalagmite formations.
• Evening walk along Ryomyong street – a new residential street constructed in 2017 with a metro station, local shops and lines of new tall apartment buildings
• Dinner at the New Hope Restaurant
• Overnight at Sosan Hotel.

Tuesday 22nd April

Morning

• Depart Pyongyang by train at 10:25am and arrive in the remote village of Dongrim at 2:30pm – Dongrim is the nearest town outside of Sinuiju, located south amongst the valleys of the east coast of the peninsula.

Afternoon

• Drive to Dongrim Hotel to check-in
• Hike to Dongrim Waterfall and explore surrounding valley of the mountain range, during warmer weather you can take a dip beneath the waterfall
• Dinner and overnight at the Dongrim Hotel – a brand new swanky hotel with a swimming pool. sauna, table tennis, massage, bars, karaoke, tennis, basketball and volleyball courts.

Wednesday 23rd April

Morning

• 1 hour drive to Sinuiju city on the way stopping at:
• Tour the Pomhayanggi Cosmetics Factory and meet some of the local workers that produce some of DPRKorea’s most famous cosmetics
• Visit the mosaic images of the “Three Tigers of Mt. Paektu” Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il and Kim Jong Suk.
• Explore the large central square of Sinuiju and see the statue of President Kim Il Sung and General Kim Jong Il
• Visit the North Pyongan Province Revolutionary History Museum – This will go into detail about the history of the local province.

Afternoon

• Lunch at a local restaurant which also features a great souvenir shop.
• Head to the local Folklore Park where there may be chances to engage in traditional Korean activities and some more modern activities too (extra charges apply for partaking in the local games, these will vary from game to game) or you can simply walk around and enjoy the scenery and watch the locals
• Visit the Art Studio which holds over 250 pieces of DPRK fine arts in six large halls – some very cool and eye opening art pieces here. Many pieces are also for sale!
• Bonbu Kindergarten and performance – Famous for training the Children who perform in the skipping scene of the Arirang Mass games as well as its long history of training artistic performers. The performance here is the best of any Kindergarten in the country.
• Explore Amnok Park and walk down to the Amnok River (Yalu River) and see the original Korean/Chinese Friendship Bridge bombed by the Americans during the Korean War. Very few tourist are able to view the bridge from the DPRK side!
• Board the 4:30pm bus and go through Korean customs to finish tour in Dandong, China.
• Board the 6:30pm overnight sleeper train from Dandong to Beijing

Thursday 24th April

Morning

• Arrive in Beijing Railway Station at 9:00am

Read More