Wednesday 3rd June

Morning

• Meet at Itaewon Inn lobby at 2:00pm and check into hostel
• Visit Gyeongbokgung Palace – built in 1395, it was the main royal palace of the Joseon dynasty from 1392 to 1897. Here it’s encouraged to dress up in Korean traditional clothing to better suit our historic surroundings.
• Explore around Gwanghwamun area – this is the large public gathering where the majority of protests held in Seoul are held in this very spot. Most recently famous for where tens of thousands gathered to force former president of South Korea Park Geun-hye to resign for corruption. The US Embassy is located nearby where other locals protest for the Americans being based in South Korea and for the reunification of the Korean peninsula.
• Head to Gwangjang Market for some legit Korean street food and walk around
• Check out Seoul’s nightlife
• Overnight in hostel

Thursday 4th June – JSA DMZ

• Go to Camp Kim and jump on a military authorized bus to take us 70km north to Panmunjom (DMZ) – we must bring our passports along for security checks throughout the day
• Visit Imjingak park – located right on the banks of the Imjin River in the city of Paju, only a few clicks away from the DMZ. This park is most famous for its numerous statues and monuments regarding the Korean War.
• Unification Bridge – also known as the bridge of no return. It crosses the Military Demarcation Line between North Korea and South Korea and has been used for prisoner exchanges at the end of the Korean War in 1953.
• DMZ Theatre –
• Explore Third Infiltration Tunnel – this incomplete tunnel was discovered in October 1978 following the detection of an underground explosion in June 1978, apparently caused by the tunnellers who had progressed 435 metres under the south side of the DMZ. It took four months to locate the tunnel precisely and dig and intercept tunnel.
• Visit Dora Observatory – here we can have a close glimpse of Kaesong City and other nearby farming towns in North Korea (if you did All Koreas Part 2 with us we were only in this city a few days before!)
• Visit Dorasan Metro Station – what the South Koreans call the last metro station in the South but the first station to reunification

Afternoon

• Lunch at the DMZ
• Enter JSA (Joint Security Area) with a Military Police officer from the US Army
• Freedom House – A four-story building located on the southern part of Panmunjom. This is where the summit between Marshal Kim Jong Un, President Donald Trump and President Moon Jae In took place on June 30th 2019.
• Checkpoint No. 3 (where axe incident occurred)
• Amethyst Factory
• Return back to Seoul
• TRIP HIGHLIGHT – we spectate the North Korean vs South Korean qualifying FIFA match for Qatar 2020. Ticket prices to be announced.
• Aftermatch drinks with other local supporters
• Overnight in hostel

Friday 5th June

Morning

• Visit the War Memorial of Korea – opened in 1994 on the former site of the army headquarters to exhibit and memorialise the military history of Korea. The memorial building has six indoor exhibition rooms and an outdoor exhibition centre displaying war memorabilia and US/South Korean military equipment.
• Lunch with the group and farewell to Group A members

Group B continues

• Visit the Blue House – the executive office and official residence of the South Korean president.
• Head to Noryangjin Seafood Market for dinner and to explore one of YPT’s favourite seafood markets
• Overnight in hostel

Saturday 6th June – Seoul to Dandong

Morning

• Depart Seoul by flight to Dalian (1 hour) in China where we’ll then take a fast train to Dandong (2 and a half hours), the Chinese border town city.

Afternoon

• Check into hotel
• Lunch at an authentic Pyongyang restaurant – All the staff at the restaurant are North Korean, and they provide the traditional Korean hospitality with songs and dancing, giving you a taste of what’s to come inside North Korea itself!
• Jump aboard a boat and travel down the Yalu River, the river that separates China and the DPRK. This will give you fantastic photo opportunities to take of North Korea and the destroyed original Friendship Bridge that was built by the Japanese and then destroyed by the Americans during the Korean War.
• After disembarking from the boat, now is your chance to walk along the destroyed Friendship Bridge and see the Chinese propaganda.
• Dinner at a local BBQ restaurant
• Overnight in hotel

Sunday 7th June – Dandong

Morning

• Visit the most easterly part of the Great Wall at Tiger Mountain – This is famous for the ‘one-metre hop’ as it is the narrowest point between China and the DPRK.
• On the drive back from the Great Wall, we stop opposite the DPRK’s new Special Economic Zone Island that is being done in partnership with China. Your guide will give you a detailed explanation and give you a chance to take some pictures.
• Lunch at a countryside Chinese restaurant with authentic North East Chinese food

Afternoon

• Head to Dandong New District (Ghost city) – located 20 minutes south of Dandong city. This new Dandong city was built to accommodate the growth of trade between China and North Korea which is currently halted due to sanctions. The Chinese built a large 6 laneway bridge connecting the two countries which isn’t currently opened. The city has large empty apartments with 8 lane roads totally empty. One of our favourite border town ghost cities.
• Head back to Dandong city and go for a gentle hike up to Mt. Jinjiang to overlook Dandong city with Sinuiju the North Korean border town city in the distance. As we walk down the mountain will walk through an old soviet style theme park opened in the early 80’s
• Dinner at local restaurant
• Overnight in hotel

Monday 8th June – Dandong/Pyongyang

• Depart Dandong at 7:00am for Chinese border control then depart for Sinuiju at 10:30am for the extensive border control from the DPRK side
• 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 – the Sports hotel of Pyongyang.
• In the evening your YPT guide will show you around the hotel before taking you for drinks and to get to know your Korean guides

Tuesday 9th June – Pyongyang

Morning

• Morning walk along the Taedong River passing landmarks such as the Pyongyang Culture House and the oldest street in Pyongyang
• TRIP HIGHLIGHT – After breakfast we head out to the Pyongyang International Football School. This is a functioning school which specialises in sports and football in particular. If we’re lucky we’ll be able to observe a football class and chat with the students
• Visit Kim Il Sung Square – the centre of the city and where all the parades and rallies occur. Followed by a short walk to the:
• Foreign Language Bookshop – where you can buy English-language Korean books, posters, pins, flags, DVDs, and more!
• Juche Tower – the tallest stone tower in the world, it represents the eternally burning Korean Juche Ideology.

Afternoon

• Lunch at the New Stamp Restaurant
• TRIP HIGHLIGHT – get your football boots on and we head for a game of five-a-side with a local Pyongyang team
• Visit Meari Shooting Range – this shooting range has recently been renovated to include indoor shooting with pistols, rifles or archery! .50 US cents per bullet
• Stop by the local department store – here we can buy locally brewed beer and use the local DPRK Won currency!
• Dinner at the National Restaurant
• TRIP HIGHLIGHT – We head to the May Day Stadium to watch the World Cup Qualifier between the DPRK and Turkmenistan! This is the last and potentially vital match of the round to see who can reach the final qualifying round and also who can qualify for the next Asia Cup. Tickets 50 euros each.
• Time permitting we’ll head to the Taedonggang Diplomatic Club – the quintessential Pyongyang expat bar where we will have drinks and football discussion!
• Overnight at the Sosan hotel

Wednesday 10th June – Pyongyang

Morning

• 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: small bunches are 2 euro, larger ones 4).
• Pyongyang Metro! Ride from Stop 1 to Stop 2 then on to Stop 6. Exiting at:
• 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.
• Visit the awe-inspiring 100,000-seater Kim Il Sung Stadium and kick a ball around on the pitch

Afternoon

• Lunch at the Korean Hot Pot Restaurant
• Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum – see captured American tanks, weapons, shot down planes, as well as the infamous USS Pueblo and the museum’s many amazing displays and dioramas.
• Stop by Mansugyo Beer Bar – a local bar to join the locals for refreshments. This is a great little microbrewery in Pyongyang which has recently reopened after refurbishments
• Stop by Koryo hotel beer bar to drink with locals and experience a favourite spot of many Pyongyangites
• Dinner at the KITC No. 1 Restaurant to try the local famous Pyongyang Cold Noodles dish or the traditional Korean Bibimbap
• Visit Kaeson Youth Park (entry 2 euros, rides 3 to 5 euros extra each depending on how awesome they are).
• Overnight in the Sosan Hotel.

Thursday 11th June – Pyongyang

Morning

• Up nice and early to drive to Kaesong and the DMZ
• Koryo Museum- Korea’s first university and now a museum of history and culture. Also home of the best stamp and propaganda poster shop in the DPRK, so don’t forget your wallet!
• The DMZ- See one of the tensest places on earth complete with a friendly KPA officer who will not only give you a guided tour but also keep you safe. Also the only place you can take photographs of and even with a soldier!

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- Dog soup 5 euro, Ginseng Stuffed Whole Chicken 30 euro- 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.
• Drive back to Pyongyang stopping in Sariwon to see the folklore park and enjoy Makkoli in a local bar if you wish.
• Drive back to Pyongyang
• Photo opportunity of the Monument to the Three Charters of National Reunification, standing over the Thongil Highway.
• Head to Gold Lanes Bowling to play and mingle with some locals
• Taste some more local brews at the Taedonggang Brewery #3 for micro brewed beers
• Stop by the iconic Yanggakdo hotel to try the famous ale brewed in the hotel’s teahouse
• Dinner at the Duck Barbecue Restaurant for our final dinner in the DPRK
• Overnight at the Sosan hotel

Friday 12th June – Pyongyang

Morning

• Flight members depart from Pyongyang to Beijing at 8:50am on Air Koryo arriving in Beijing at 9:50am local Beijing time
• Train members depart to Beijing at 10:25am

Saturday 13th June

Morning

• Train members arrive in Beijing at 9:00am
• End of tour

Read More