Welcome to the Young Pioneer Tours blog about everything North Korea, and all of our other special off the beaten the track destinations.
Since starting in 2008 we have seen blogging about North Korea and our other great destinations as a great way to engage with our customers and to show the world a slice of life in the great destinations we visit.
Due to the mass amount of great content we create, as well as receive from our Pioneers we have since started our travel lifestyle magazine “The Young Pioneer”.
We’re always looking for contributors to our sites, so feel free to browse through our blogs, and , get in touch if you’d like to write for us.
Check out and subscribe to the YPT Blog and travel magazine
4 April 2022 / by Dan Brotman
“Dig a hole in Kurdistan”, our local guide said, “and you will find a mass grave, oil or antiquities.” Iraq’s Kurdish citizens, who number approximately five million in this self-governing region, are not Arab and do not speak Arabic. The Kurds are th …
31 March 2022 / by Gareth Johnson
We always try and do things a little differently on our tours to Syria, but I have to give a full kudos to our local partners and the curve ball they threw at us with the performance of the Syrian Wind Orchestra. Damascus Nights Syrian Wind Orchestra S …
28 March 2022 / by Gareth Johnson
It seemed almost phonetic to visit Maaloula on the anniversary of what the Syrians call “the crisis” , or as well call it in the west the Arab Spring, to Syrian civil war. You’d not have known it walking through Damascus as the people of all sexe …
27 March 2022 / by Gareth Johnson
After a brutal civil war, occupation by Islamic State, destruction and heavy sanctions Aleppo is now back as major tourist destination in Syria. What though is there to eat and drink, where to sleep and what do in 2022? This is the Aleppo Guide. Getti …
24 March 2022 / by Gareth Johnson
Is it safe to travel to Syria? The vast majority of Syria, specifically the government controlled parts, such as Damascus and Aleppo are safe to travel to. The parts that are either rebel controlled, or still at war are not. There are of course m …
24 March 2022 / by Gareth Johnson
It is not easy to be the most famous hotel in a country, but the Baron Hotel Aleppo is just that. Why is it so famous? Well when you boast an alumni that includes everyone from Lawrence of Arabia and Agatha Christie to former presidents and kings galor …
24 March 2022 / by Gareth Johnson
Can you visit Bosra Syria? The short answer is that while many tour companies do not go here, it is not only safe, but possible to do so. YPT include Bosra on our groups tours to Syria and can include it on independent trips to the country. To re …
16 March 2022 / by Gareth Johnson
There are a lot of misconceptions about travel to Syria, but in actual fact not only is it a rather pleasant place, but they are very welcoming to tourists and this includes at the border. To read about our next tour to Syria click here. There are two …
11 March 2022 / by Gareth Johnson
We might not be exactly through Covid just yet, but Young Pioneer Tours have decided to sponsor a professional team in the second-tier of Cambodian football, namely Next Step FC. To read about when YPT sponsored a team in Zanzibar click here, Who are …