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.
Check out and subscribe to the YPT Blog and travel magazine
24 February 2017 / by Gareth Johnson
Ah, holidays. A time most people prefer to celebrate the simple way: hopefully, a few days off work to kick back, get sloshed and spend some time with friends or family. But – with countless holidays, festivals, and various other celebrations tak …
24 February 2017 / by Justin Martell
Amused by the NASA-esque logo of the North Korea’s space program, the National Aerospace Development Administration (NADA), and under the assumption that its space program is a cover for its weapons program, North Korea observers often overlook the fac …
22 February 2017 / by Gareth Johnson
One of the perks to working in North Korean tourism is easy access to the many publications of the DPRK, rarely read by foreigners or made available online. We’ve shared a few of our favourite samplings from the “Anecdotes of Kim Jong I …
13 February 2017 / by Nicolas Platt
I’ve spent December 31st in Tokyo mega clubs, Laos jungles and the Australian bush, but nothing compares to spending New Years Eve surrounded by thousands of Koreans watching the fireworks over the Taedong River as my new favourite new years anthem, …
10 February 2017 / by Rowan Beard
Introduction Last summer I had a free day in Pyongyang. This is a pretty rare occurrence in the life of a North Korean tour leader, so I needed to do something memorable for myself. I’ve seen and done nearly everything there is to see in Pyongyang city …
3 February 2017 / by Alistair Riddell
Young Pioneer Tours Chinese-speaking guide John describes his recent trip to Yanbian, on the China-North Korea border, with an American family who adopted from China. It was Nora’s first trip back to the place she was born and first time to meet her Ch …
29 January 2017 / by YPT Team
This year the CIA released a huge number of Soviet jokes. It isn’t made clear why they kept files of Soviet-era jokes in the first place — maybe to help train spies? Whatever the reason, they aren’t actually all that bad and certainly show how the goo …
26 January 2017 / by Gareth Johnson
Rason Special Economic Zone is located in the far Northeast of North Korea, bordering China and Russia. It’s modelled after the old special economic zones of China to promote trade, business, and foreign investment (read more about Rason here). Because …
26 January 2017 / by Pier Doyon
There’s no better way to start the day, especially in a foreign city, than a quick jog to see a quieter and more relaxed side of a big city. Whether you live in Beijing, or are just passing through, this list will inspire you to see another (and health …