DPRK Winter Essential Tour

DESCRIPTION

Join us on this winter essential tour as we draw nearer to the end of the year and as Pyongyang enters its beautiful frosty winter season! This is an extremely action-packed city buster tour, with us visiting Pyongyang, the DMZ and the two rural cities of Kaesong and Sariwon.

With the trip taking place during the last week of November this trip offers not only a very insightful look into what the country is like, and how it copes in winter, but more importantly as it is not the “high-season”, and gives you the chance to be one of the very few tourists in the country at the time.

During your tours you’ll be exploring all the must see sights of Pyongyang including the Mausoleum where both Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il lay in state. Experience the deep mysterious Pyongyang Metro as you ride six stations of line 1! You’ll also have the opportunity to visit the Korean War Museum or formally known as “Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum”, wander Kim Il Sung Square, visit the top of the Juche tower, browse through a North Korean supermarket, and much more.

ITINERARY

Monday 17th November

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 Central station at 5:25pm for the 24 hour sleeper ride to Pyongyang

Tuesday 18th November

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 12:55pm (meet the group at the Air Koryo check in counter).
Flight group arrive in Pyongyang at 3:30pm to a warm welcome from your Korean guides.
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 the Sosan Hotel.

Wednesday 19th November

Morning

Walk through Mansudae Fountain Park and see the mosaic pictures of President Kim Il Sung and the leader Kim Jong Il.
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 a bouquet of flowers for 40RMB or 5 euros).
Foreign Language Bookshop – with a large selection of books in English and other European Languages as well as other souvenirs followed by a short walk to:
Kim Il Sung Square – the central square of Pyongyang city and the place where all the action happens.

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 40RMB or 5 euros to go to the top).
Stop by Mansugyo Beer Bar – a very popular bar with the locals, soft drinks and coffee also available.
Dinner at the National restaurant with performance!
Overnight at the Sosan Hotel.

Thursday 20th November

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 at a Korean hot pot restaurant
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.
Party Foundation Monument – this monument is 50 meters high and displays the socialist hammer, sickle and writing brush
Visit Mansudae Art Studio – where the nation’s most important art work and statues are created. This is where we get to meet some of the local artists too
Pyongyang Gold Lane Bowling Alley (2.50 euro extra charge for bowling).
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 Sosan Hotel.

Friday 21st November

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. Explore the folklore 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.
Arrive back into Pyongyang
Dinner at a Korean BBQ restaurant on Reunification Street
Overnight at the Sosan Hotel.

Saturday 22nd November

Flight members depart at 8:30am for Beijing on Air Koryo. (Arriving at 9:55am Beijing time).
Train members depart at 10:25am for the overnight train to Beijing and enjoy the peaceful countryside of both the DPRK and China

Sunday 23rd November