Young Pioneer Tours
Blog
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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Big sums of Som: Currency in Uzbekistan
9 December 2018 / by Caitlin Graham
Uzbekistan’s currency is the Uzbek Som (UZS), and until September 2017 there were two exchange rates – the official rate and the black market rate. Unlike in neighbouring Turkmenistan though, the black market was for a long time the commonly used rate …
Changing money in Turkmenistan
9 December 2018 / by YPT Team
I’m not an economics expert, but like most people I get the general idea of why black markets exist: A country has a fixed exchange rate which is on the slightly optimistic side, to say the least, but the real value of the currency and the goods it is …
How to get a tourist visa for Uzbekistan, E-Visa Update
9 December 2018 / by Caitlin Graham
There is a new evisa system for Uzbekistan which has made the process much simpler, cheaper and generally more accessible compared to the old soviet-era way of doing things. Get up to date with the cool kids and learn how to get this visa online in thi …
Sentinel Island and 4 other places you really can’t go
2 December 2018 / by John McGovern
YPT have been taking people to places their mother doesn’t want them to go to for ten years now, and one of the most common questions we get asked is “is there anywhere you won’t go?” Well, from Donbass to Iraq and Afghanistan, some of our tours are no …
10 oddities from North Korea that got my attention this month
30 November 2018 / by Pier Doyon
Hello Dear Reader, Matt here. I’m always on the look out for new DPRK-produced products or interesting little tid-bits while travelling in North Korea. While there’s a load of wonderful souvenirs from hand-painted propaganda posters to DPRK national sp …
Top 5 Reasons to Visit Rason SEZ
21 November 2018 / by Nicolas Platt
Rason SEZ (Special Economic Zone) located in the very far North East of the DPRK, Is North Korea’s only special economic zone. Established in 1991 the cities status allows for easier foreign investment and is definitely much different than most peoples …
Top 5 Reasons to Visit Rason Sez
21 November 2018 / by Gareth Johnson
Rason SEZ, located in the very far North East of the DPRK, Is North Korea’s only special economic zone. Established in 1991 the cities status allows for easier foreign investment and is definitely much different than most peoples perceptions of North K …
The Ghost Train of Dandong
20 November 2018 / by Pier Doyon
If you’re heading to Dandong in Liaoning Province, China and have half a day to spare I’d strongly recommend checking out the Ghost Train of Dandong. Located on the side of the highway that leads to Tiger Mountain – the most eastern part of the Great W …
