Monday 29^th December

• 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.

Tuesday 30^th December

• Train group arrive at Dandong at 7:00am for Chinese border control, then depart for Sinuiju at 10:30am 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.
• Evening walk along Ryomyong street – a new residential street constructed in 2017 with a metro station, local shops and lines of new tall apartment buildings
• Check-in and overnight at the Sosan Hotel.

Wednesday 31^st December – New Year’s Eve

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: 40RMB or 5 euros).
• Foreign Language Bookshop – with a large selection of books in English and other European Languages as well as other souvenirs followed by a short walk to:
• Explore Kim Il Sung Square – the central grand square of Pyongyang city where military parades are held. The square will be preparing for the New Year’s concert and ice sculpture competition.
• Grand People’s Study House – library and academic centre for adult learners. This grand building is constructed in the Korean style and affords a great view over the central square and Taedong River.

Afternoon

• Lunch at a local restaurant to try the famous Pyongyang cold noodles (can be served hot) or Korean Bibimbap with multiple Korean dishes.
• Pyongyang Gold Lane Bowling Alley – the largest gathering of Pyongyang youths happen at this bowling alley on a public holiday. A great spot to mingle. 2.50 euro or 25RMB per game.
• Monument to the Party Foundation – the iconic stone monument with the giant hammer, sickle and calligraphy brush – built in 1995 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Workers’ Party of Korea
• Visit Mansudae Art Studio – where the nation’s most important art work and statues are created. This is where we get to meet some of the local artists too
• Stop by Kwangbok Department Store – Pyongyang’s busiest department store. Here is your best chance to browse through locally made North Korean goods and to have access to local DPRK Won currency.
• Extravagant banquet dinner and drinks at the Pyongyang Hotel restaurant, accompanied by singing and dance performances offering views over the capital and Taedong River.
• “Happy New Year!” – join the locals at Kim Il Sung Square for live musical performances, ice sculpture viewings, fireworks and to celebrate the arrival of 2025!
• Overnight in Sosan Hotel.

Thursday 1^st January – New Year’s Day!

Morning

• Drive to Kaesong City (2 hours) – this ancient city is only a stone’s throw away from the DMZ.
• 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 euro, Ginseng Stuffed Whole Chicken 240RMB or 30 euro – can be split between several).
• Drop by Sariwon city – capital of North Hwanghae province. Explore folklore park and view the city from the mountain top pagoda. You can also try locally brewed Makkoli in a local bar.
• Photo opportunity of the Monument to the Three Charters of National Reunification, standing over the Thongil Highway.
• Dinner at Korean BBQ restaurant
• Overnight at the Sosan Hotel.

Friday 2^nd January

Morning

• Kumsusan Palace of the Sun – the mausoleum for the Great Leader President Kim Il Sung and the Dear Leader Kim Jong Il.
• Revolutionary Martyr’s Cemetery – the resting place of the greatest anti-Japanese revolutionary fighters, each grave features a bronze bust of the hero laid to rest within.

Afternoon

• Lunch at the Chongryu Korean Hot Pot restaurant.
• Ride the 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.
• Visit the recently renovated Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum (Korean War Museum)– with captured American weapons, tanks, air planes and unique dioramas from famous battles and much more!
• USS Pueblo – the only US Naval Vessel held captive by another nation and the centre of a major incident in 1968.
• Juche Tower – monument to the everlasting Juche Ideology (optional 40RMB or 5 euros to go to the top).
• Drinks at the Mansugyo Beer Bar with seven different beers on tap (20RMB for a pint). Coffee and soft drinks available.
• Dinner at the New Hope Restaurant
• Overnight at the Sosan Hotel.

Saturday 3^rd January

Morning

• Flight members depart at 8:50am for Beijing on Air Koryo arriving in Beijing at 9:50am local time.
• Train members depart at 10:25am for the overnight train to Beijing and enjoy the peaceful countryside of both the DPRK and China.

Sunday 4^th January

Morning

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

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