Victory Day & Mt. Paektu Tour

DESCRIPTION

Join us for the celebrations marking Victory Day in the DPRK! Summer is a great time to be in North Korea and what better reason to go than to help celebrate Victory Day with the locals! During this tour we will be taking part in any available DPRK celebrations, as well as hanging out and drinking with locals in the park, watching the fireworks and joining in the Mass Dance! Great time to be in Pyongyang!

During this tour, we’ll be hitting up all the must-see sights of Pyongyang including the Mausoleum where both President Kim Il Sung and General Kim Jong Il lay in state. We’ll also experience the deep Pyongyang metro as we ride not two but six stations of line 1! We’ll also have an opportunity to visit the Korean War Museum and see the North Korean’s story of the war that took place against the Americans. No trip to the DPRK is complete without visiting Panmumjom (the DMZ) from the North side where North and South Korea meet head on! As well as lots more to do and see!

We’ve combined this unique DPRK holiday with a very exciting trip up to Mt Paektu in the far north east of Korea. We’ll be chartering our very own plane to reach a path well off the beaten track! Whilst we’re exploring the north east region we’ll stop by Secret Base Camp where Kim Jong Il was born, early revolutionary camp sites where the Koreans began to stage their attack against the Japanese and to stay overnight in the quiet, gorgeous town of Samjiyon.

During our tour, we’ve been given special access to a Russian Mil Mi-17 helicopter to take for a whirl around Pyongyang city for a unique aerial tour of the capital.

We’ll swoop around the iconic, 105-story Ryugyong Hotel, do a low flyby of the Taedong River passing the Juche Tower, have a great glimpse of May Day Stadium – the world’s largest stadium, and explore the many districts sprawling across the city for fantastic and unique photography opportunities. This joyride is completely optional and is €250 per person on top of the tour costs. If you are interested please let us know while booking.

This is one of the biggest holidays of the year and with our very own flight up to Mt. Paektu, it’s an adventure not to be missed!

ITINERARY

Thursday 25th July

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 26th July

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 (Group will meet 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 Sosan hotel
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.

Saturday 27^th July – Victory Day!

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: 5 euros).
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.
Helicopter Joyride option – we’ll drive to Pyongyang Airport for a VIP lunch (included) and board a Mil Mi-17 to take on a joyride for a 40-minute aerial tour of Pyongyang city.

Afternoon

Lunch at the Moranbong Chicken Restaurant
Visit Moranbong hill to dance, party and mingle with the locals as they celebrated the biggest holiday of the year!
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:
Kim Il Sung Square- the central square of Pyongyang city and the place where all the action happens.
Special celebratory events (optional: approx 20 euros) – Yet to be confirmed but we will take part in any holiday events that are possible for tourists to attend. These may include a parade, a circus performance, and possibly some other surprises.
Expected mass dance for Victory Day, join in or just watch for fantastic photography opportunities!
Stop by Mansugyo Beer Bar to join the locals for refreshments
Dinner at Duck BBQ restaurant
Join the locals on Kim Il Sung Square to watch the fireworks
Dinner and overnight at the Sosan Hotel.

Sunday 28^th July

Morning

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

Afternoon

Lunch at Chongyru Korean Hot Pot 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.
Visit the Juche Tower – (optional 5 euro to go to the top).
Monument to the Party Foundation- Built-in 1995 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the worker’s party.
Mangyongdae Schoolchildren’s palace- The largest of the schoolchildren’s palaces (extracurricular centres) in the DPRK, we’ll first observe some lessons then watch the amazing performance
Visit Kwangbok department store – here we can buy locally made items and exchange our foreign currency into local DPRK Won!
Dinner at KITC restaurant to sample Pyongyang’s famous Cold Noodles dish or Korean Bibimbap
We’ll do a night stroll along the new Mirae Scientist Street to see one of the newest residential areas in Pyongyang
Kaeson Youth Park (Entry 2 euros, rides 3 to 5 euros extra each depending on how awesome they are).
Dinner and overnight at the Sosan Hotel.

Monday 29^th July

Morning

Up nice & early as we head down to Kaesong and the DMZ.
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!
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!

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 people).
Drop by Sariwon City (Capital of North Hwanghae province) to walk in the local folk custom park and view the city from the mountaintop pagoda.
Try locally brewed Makkoli in the local tea house
Photo opportunity of the Monument to the Three Charters of National Reunification, standing over the Thongil Highway.
Get back to Pyongyang for dinner at the National restaurant with a performance!
Dinner and overnight at the Sosan Hotel.

Tuesday 30^th July

Morning

Check out and take a YPT chartered flight to Samjiyon airport near the very famous Mt Paektu. For plane enthusiasts this is the ultimate experience as we fly in a small 44 seater Antonov 24!
Drive to Mt Paektu then hike or take the incline railway for 2.5 euros to the top. (1 hour hiking).
Observe the spectacular views from the top and wave to China! This particular spot is a very famous background for the portraits of the leaders.
If weather permits we can hike down to Chon Lake.

Afternoon

A scrumptious picnic lunch on top of the peak
Take the incline railway back down – 2.5 euros
Visit Mt Paektu secret base camp – Headquarters of the anti- Japanese revolutionary struggle and the birthplace of General Kim Jong Il.
Rimyongsu Waterfall – one of the most famous and beautiful waterfalls in the DPRK.
Chongbong Bivouac – Where the main force of the KPRA stayed on the first night when going to the Musan area. It features the headquarters, kitchen, barracks, and a statue of the President Kim Il Sung.
Dinner and overnight at the Begabong hotel, where we can enjoy amazing sky views, and true tranquillity. Usually our groups sit outside at night drinking and talking with the Korean guides.

Wednesday 31^st July

Morning

Visit the Samjiyon Revolutionary Museum and learn more about the township of the lcoals
Drive through Samjiyon town and head to Samjiyon Grand Monument (statue of Kim Il Sung) by the gorgeous Lake Samji

Afternoon

Lunch at Begabong Hotel
Board our chartered flight back to Pyongyang
Visit Taedonggang Micro Brewery #3 to sample some of the 7 beers they have available! Soft drinks, juices, and snacks are also available
Dinner and farewell drinks at Dongsong restaurant
Overnight at the Chongnyon Hotel to experience another hotel in Pyongyang! This hotel was built for the World Youth Games back in 1989 and has Pyongyang’s only outdoor swimming pool that tourists can jump into!

Thursday 1^st August

Flight members depart at 10:30am for Beijing on Air Koryo. (Arriving at 11:30am Beijing time).
Train members depart at 10:25am for Beijing on train K28. If you can wake up early you can swim in Pyongyang’s only outdoor swimming pool at the hotel!

Friday 2^nd August