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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Can Foreigners Fly To Damascus Airport? Your Complete Guide To Traveling In And Out Of Syria in 2025
18 May 2025 / by Caitlin Graham
For almost the full duration of the civil war, foreigners were not recommended to fly to Damascus Airport. A mix of air raids from Israel, sanctions against Syrian airlines Cham Wings and Syrian Airways, and other logistical concerns made the route for …
What is Red Tourism And Why Is it So Hot Right Now?
16 May 2025 / by Gareth Johnson
Red Tourism, or being a red tourist company, is a stick we often get hit with at YPT. The truth, of course, is that we are much more than purveyors of this particularly niche genre. What is also true, though, is that the company was to some degree foun …
The Long March Explained: The Epic Saga of CCP
15 May 2025 / by Steven Zhang
In the Chinese Communist Party’s narrative of modern history, the Long March marks a turning point when the revolution came back from the death. Picture a group of soldiers crossing towering snow-covered mountains, trudging through muddy grasslands, an …
The Retro Datong Hotel
14 May 2025 / by Gareth Johnson
One firm hobby we have at YPT is staying at old state communist hotels in China, such as the rather retro Datong Hotel in Shanxi Province, Peoples Republic of China. Why do we enjoy this so much? Well party because it offers a window into how communist …
The Ultimate Datong Guide 2025
14 May 2025 / by Gareth Johnson
If you look up the 20 worst cities in China, Datong usually makes the list. Why? Well, the reasons are numerous, but having been one of the most polluted cities on earth certainly hasn’t helped. From the grimy skies to its industrial past, it hasn’t ex …
The (Street Food) Qingyan Ancient Street Guide
11 May 2025 / by Gareth Johnson
There’s a decent chance you have probably not heard of Qingyan Ancient Street as a foreigner, but it is that well known in China that Guiyang (which it is near) was one of the top 10 busiest airports during the recent May Day holiday. With that in mind …
The Former Port Sudan Hilton AKA Mapina Hotel
11 May 2025 / by Gareth Johnson
Port Sudan’s Mapina Hotel is one of those relics of the past that gets under your skin. The type of place that was once a shining beacon of luxury and western influence, now a faded ghost of what it used to be. This isn’t just a hotel – it’s a former H …
The 10 Worst Cities in China (According to People Who’ve Actually Been There)
11 May 2025 / by Gareth Johnson
We’ve all seen the TikToks: drone shots over Shanghai’s sci-fi skyline, high-speed trains gliding across the countryside, and a latte made by a humanoid robot in a mall somewhere labeled “China.” But don’t be fooled because behind the curated clips and …
