Monday 20^th 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.

Tuesday 21st 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

Wednesday 22^nd July 

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
• Walkthrough 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).

Afternoon

• Lunch at the 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.
• Monument to the Party Foundation – built in 1995 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Worker’s Party.
• Visit Kwangbok department store – here is your best chance to browse through locally made goods in the DPRK and to have access to local Korean Won currency
• Dinner at the Haeyang Restaurant
• Overnight at the Sosan Hotel.

Thursday 23^rd 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 the Moran Hill Chicken Restaurant
• 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.
• Pyongyang Metro – ride 6 stops on the famous Pyongyang Underground!
• Exiting at the Arch of Triumph – the largest Victory Arch in the world, built to celebrate the triumphant return of Kim Il Sung after the Anti-Japanese war.
• 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.
• Dinner at the KITC No.1 Restaurant to sample Pyongyang Cold Noodles or a traditional Korean dish, Bibimbap.
• Overnight at Sosan Hotel

Friday 24th July

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- 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
• Drop by Sariwon City (Capital of North Hwanghae province) to walk in the local folk custom 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.
• Dinner at the Lamb BBQ Restaurant.
• Overnight at the Sosan Hotel.

Saturday 25th July

Morning

• Check out of hotel and jump aboard our very own YPT chartered flight departing from Pyongyang Airport and flying north to the small rural town of Samjiyon located right on the border of China in North Korea – for plane enthusiasts this is the ultimate experience as we fly in a small 44 seater Soviet Union made Antonov 24! (1 hour 45 minutes flight time)
• Arrive into Samjiyon Airport and drive to Mt Paektu – the most famous and spectacular mountain in North Korea
• We will drive most of the way up but will stop an hours hike away from the top of the peak. Optional incline railway option for 5 euros return per person.
• Observe the spectacular views from the top of the mountain and explore the only mountain where the borders of China and North Korea are technically shared – If weather permits we can hike down to Heaven Lake that sits in the cradle of the mountain

Afternoon

• A scrumptious picnic lunch on top of the peak
• We’ll make our way back down the mountain and head to Mt Paektu secret base camp – the headquarters of the anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle and the birthplace of General Kim Jong Il.
• Visit Rimyongsu Waterfall – one of the most famous and beautiful waterfalls in the DPRK.
• Explore 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. The hotel is most famous for BBQ’d potatoes so we encourage our groups to join the locals for an evening under the stars.

Sunday 26th July

Morning

• Visit the Samjiyon Revolutionary Museum and learn more about the township of the locals
• Drive through Samjiyon town and head to Samjiyon Grand Monument (statue of Kim Il Sung) by the stunning mirror 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 at Dongsong restaurant
• Overnight at Chongnyon Hotel

Monday 27th July – Victory Day!

Morning

• Visit the Mansudae Art Studio – a chance for us to meet local artists where monuments, portraits, sculptures are produced for the country
• Spectate and/or join in on the Pyongyang university students performing a mass dance near an iconic DPRK monument – fantastic for rare photo opportunities!
• Juche Tower – The tallest stone tower in the world this monument represents the eternally burning flame of the Juche idea (Optional extra 5 euro to go to the top of the tower).

Afternoon

• A gentle hike and BBQ picnic on top of Mt Ryangak – a mountain located just on the outskirts of Pyongyang to enjoy the magnificent views of the capital
• Special celebratory events (optional: approx 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.
• Stop by the local Mansugyo Beer Bar – we expect it to be hustling and bustling, cheap beers with over seven different local brews on tap! Coffee and softdrinks also available
• Dinner at the National Restaurant with a special performance from the waitresses
• 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 Chongnyon Hotel

Tuesday 28^th July

• Flight members depart at 8:50am for Beijing on Air Koryo. (Arriving at 9:50am Beijing time).
• Train members depart at 10:25am back to China enjoying the scenic views along the way

Wednesday 29^th July

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

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