Thursday 7^th September

• 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.

Friday 8^th September

• 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 12:00pm (meet group at Air Koryo check in counter).
• Flight group arrive in Pyongyang at 3:00pm 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.

Saturday 9^th September – National Day!

Morning

• Morning walk along Pyongyang’s main avenue from Pyongyang Grand Theatre down towards Kim Il Sung Square
• Explore Kim Il Sung Square
• The Foreign Language Bookshop- A great place to buy books, pins, posters and Korean DVD’s
• 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 flowers if you wish: 40RMB or 5 euros).
• Spectate and/or join in on the Pyongyang university students performing a mass dance near an iconic DPRK monument – fantastic for rare photo opportunities!

Afternoon

• Lunch at the Chongryu Korean Hot Pot restaurant.
• Walk along Moran Hill where Korean families gather for outdoor BBQ, singing and dancing. Fantastic for photos.
• Pyongyang Metro! Ride from Stop 1 to Stop 2 then on to stop 6! Exiting to:
• The Arch of Triumph- The largest Victory Arch on the planet- it celebrates the victory over the Japanese and the return of the general Kim Il Sung to his home city.
• Monument to the Party Foundation- Built-in 1995 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the worker’s party.
• Special celebratory events (optional: 150RMB or 20 euros) – Yet to be confirmed but we will take part in any events that are possible for tourists to attend. These may include a circus performance, red orchestra, or possibly some other surprises.
• Dinner at a local restaurant to try the famous Pyongyang cold noodles or Korean Bibimbap with a special performance from the waitresses
• Spectate the Mass Games – The world’s largest performance. Tickets can be purchased with cash only and reserved whilst on tour in North Korea.
• To be confirmed: We’ll gather in Kim Il Sung Square to watch the fireworks amongst the locals to celebrate today’s event.
• Overnight at Sosan Hotel

Sunday 10^th September

Morning

• Kumsusan Palace of the Sun – The mausoleum for the Great Leader President Kim Il Sung and the Dear Leader Kim Jong Il.
• 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.

Afternoon

• Lunch at the Moran Hill Restaurant
• 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- The tallest stone tower in the world it represents the eternally burning Korean Juche Ideology. Optional visit to the top 40RMB or 5 euros.
• Mangyongdae Schoolchildren’s Palace – the DPRK’s largest schoolchildren’s palace. We’ll have a chance to visit classrooms to see students studying their elective subjects including dancing, sports, musical instruments, calligraphy, computer science, embroidery and more. The students of the palace will put on a spectacular performance.
• Visit Kwangbok department store – here we can buy locally made items and exchange our foreign currency into local DPRK Won!
• Drinks at the Mansugyo Beer Bar with seven different beers on tap (20RMB for a pint). Coffee and soft drinks available.
• Dinner at the Pyongyang BBQ Restaurant.
• Overnight in Sosan Hotel.

Monday 11^th September

Morning

• Up nice and early for the drive to Kaesong city (2 and a half hours)
• Panmunjon 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 extras – optional dog soup 40RMB or 5 euros, Ginseng Stuffed Whole Chicken 240RMB or 30 euros – can be split between several).
• The concrete wall of the DMZ – this is a little off the beaten track and gives us a great glimpse at the wall which was erected by the South Koreans during the 70’s. We can even see South Korean watch towers along the hill from the DPRK post
• Drop by Sariwon city – capital of North Hwanghae province. Explore the folklore park and view the city from the mountain top pagoda. Also if you like you can try Makkoli in a local Makkoli Bar.
• Photo opportunity of the Monument to the Three Charters of National Reunification, standing over the Reunification Highway.
• Arrive back into Pyongyang and dinner at the BBQ Restaurant in Tongil District
• Overnight at the Sosan Hotel.

Tuesday 12^th September

• Flight members depart at 8:50am for Beijing arriving 9:50am in Beijing local time
• Train members depart at 10:25am for Beijing.

Wednesday 13^th September

• Train members arrive at Beijing Railway Station at 9:00am.

Read More