Our August 2015 program is packed with highlights, ranging from an intense exploration of the capital city, Pyongyang, to the International Friendship Exhibition in beautiful Mount Myohyang, and to insightful excursions to mythical Mount Paektu and Samjiyon in the North (to be confirmed), and the Demilitarized Zone near Kaesong in the South. This trip offers unrelenting sensational experiences and will take your breath away ! Participants will experience a roller-coaster of emotions as we learn about the rich culture of the Korean peninsula and about the atrocities that foreign occupation and the Korean War have brought. Moreover, we will enjoy some down-time with the local people at the fun fairs, at the bowling alley and at the waterpark ! And to top it all, we will attend a performance of the world-renowned and mind-blowing Arirang Mass Games. Have a look at the provisional itinerary below ...
Day 1 - Saturday August 1st
Meet at Beijing Capital Airport Terminal 2 at 10.30 am for check-in
13.00 Flight from Beijing to Pyongyang, arrival in Pyongyang at 16.00 (local time; two-hour flight)
Customs at Pyongyang Airport, meet guides and driver, Mansudae Grand Monument, Fountain Park, Chollima Statue.
Visit to the Pyongyang bowling alley or shooting range. Transfer to hotel.
Accommodation : Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang
Possibly attend a performance of the Arirang Mass Games (*)
Day 2 - Sunday August 2nd
Morning : Visit Kumsusan Memorial Palace (Mausoleum of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il), Revolutionary Martyrs’ Cemetery, Mangyongdae Native House (birthplace of Kim Il Sung)
Afternoon : Walk in Moran Hill park to see locals enjoy their day off, War Monuments, Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum, USS Pueblo.
Drive to Mount Myohyang, dinner in Mount Myohyang
Accommodation : Chongson Hotel, Mount Myohyang
Day 3 - Monday August 3rd
Morning : Early morning hike in the stunning Manpok Valley. Return to the hotel for shower and breakfast. Visit the International Friendship Exhibition (thousands of gifts to Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il), Pohyon Buddhist temple (time permitting)Barbecue lunch at Hyangsan Hotel (Euro 10 per person to be paid on the spot)
Afternoon : Drive to Pyongyang, visit Kang Bang Suk secondary school (short guided tour, extensive one-on-one time with the students and teachers, followed by a student performance or sports match
Dinner in Pyongyang
After dinner : Evening entertainment (plenty of options to choose from)
Possibly attend a performance of the Arirang Mass Games (*)
Accommodation : Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang
Day 4 - Tuesday August 4th
Morning : Visit the Tower of the Juche Idea, Party Foundation Monument, Pyongyang Metro (6 stops - the deepest metro system in the world !), Flower Exhibition
Afternoon : Visit the Pyongyang Film studios, Kim Il Sung square, Foreign languages bookstore, city walk from Kim Il Sung Square to the Grand Theatre
Visit the School Children's Palace (guided tour, then attend a stunning performance)
Dinner in Pyongyang
After dinner : Evening entertainment (plenty of options to choose from)
Possibly attend a performance of the Arirang Mass Games (*)
Accommodation : Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang
Day 5 - Wednesday August 5th
Morning : Drive to Nampo over the Youth Hero Highway, visit the West Sea Barrage. Cross over the locks of the barrage, then a scenic drive through the rural parts of the DPRK, to Sariwon. Visit the Sariwon Folklore Street (open-air exhibition on the 5000 year history of the Korean peninsula). Lunch in Sariwon
Afternoon : Continue from Sariwon to Sinchon. Visit the museum of US War Atrocities. Continue the drive to Kaesong, near the border with South Korea. Check in Minsok Folklore hotel (traditional Korean hotel)
Traditional dinner in the hotel, with the chance of a cooking lesson (Euro 5) and local specialty pancakes
Accommodation : Minsok Folklore hotel
Day 6 - Thursday August 6th
Morning : Walk through Kaesong to Jansu Hill - great views over the old town. Guided visit to the DMZ and the Panmunjom Truce Village. This visit is guided by soldiers, and photographs of soldiers can be taken freely here. See the last Cold War frontier on our planet and learn more about what keeps these two countries divided. Visit the Koryo Museum and the stamp and gift shop (best place for souvenir and ginseng shopping).
Afternoon : Return to Pyongyang over Reunification Highway. Stop by Reunification Monument. Visit Grand People's Study House (30 million volume library on Kim Il Sung square), Paradise department store, local micro-brewery or coffee shop
Evening : various entertainment options, and possibly attend a performance of the Arirang Mass Games (*)
Accommodation : Yanggakdo Hotel
Day 7 - Friday August 7th
Morning : Drive to Pyongsong, visit the town (town square, revolutionary site, former university), guided tour of the food factory. Visit the Wolhwari cooperative farm, visit Pyongsong secondary school (join a Korean class and an English class !). One-on-one time with the students and staff.
Afternoon : Return to Pyongyang, visit a teacher's home, meet Mr Pak Do Ik (National hero). Attend a performance of the Pyongyang Circus, visit department store
Evening : various entertainment options (fun fair, minigolf, bowling, swimming), and possibly attend a performance of the Arirang Mass Games (*)
Accommodation : Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang
Day 8 : Saturday August 8th
Morning : Depart Pyongyang by Air Koryo at 9 am, arrive Beijiing 10 am local time. Those who depart by train will leave at 10.20 am, arriving at the border with China at around 5 pm.
End of trip
Participants may choose to extend their stay, or take the train out (depart Pyongyang and make a one-night stopover in Sinuiju (the Korean side of the border with China) or in Dandong (the Chinese side of the border). One can also travel directly by train to Beijing.
(*) The Arirang Mass Games performances take place three times per week. Our local guides will find the most convenient evening for us to attend a performance (or possibly even two !).
Important notes about the itinerary :
1. Please be advised that the order, or in rare cases parts of the content of the itinerary may change. If this happens, then we will ensure that equally interesting excursions are inserted.
2. The above itinerary could be amended if the size of the travelling group allows us to charter a domestic flight to Samjiyon and Mount Paekdu. The cost of this chartered flight needs to be split amongst the participants, and would require at least 12 participants in order to become viable. We will keep all the registered participants informed of the progress, and may ask whether or not you are prepared to top up the tour cost so that the overnight excursion to the North can be included in the program.
Day 1 - Saturday August 1st
Meet at Beijing Capital Airport Terminal 2 at 10.30 am for check-in
13.00 Flight from Beijing to Pyongyang, arrival in Pyongyang at 16.00 (local time; two-hour flight)
Customs at Pyongyang Airport, meet guides and driver, Mansudae Grand Monument, Fountain Park, Chollima Statue.
Visit to the Pyongyang bowling alley or shooting range. Transfer to hotel.
Accommodation : Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang
Possibly attend a performance of the Arirang Mass Games (*)
Day 2 - Sunday August 2nd
Morning : Visit Kumsusan Memorial Palace (Mausoleum of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il), Revolutionary Martyrs’ Cemetery, Mangyongdae Native House (birthplace of Kim Il Sung)
Afternoon : Walk in Moran Hill park to see locals enjoy their day off, War Monuments, Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum, USS Pueblo.
Drive to Mount Myohyang, dinner in Mount Myohyang
Accommodation : Chongson Hotel, Mount Myohyang
Day 3 - Monday August 3rd
Morning : Early morning hike in the stunning Manpok Valley. Return to the hotel for shower and breakfast. Visit the International Friendship Exhibition (thousands of gifts to Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il), Pohyon Buddhist temple (time permitting)Barbecue lunch at Hyangsan Hotel (Euro 10 per person to be paid on the spot)
Afternoon : Drive to Pyongyang, visit Kang Bang Suk secondary school (short guided tour, extensive one-on-one time with the students and teachers, followed by a student performance or sports match
Dinner in Pyongyang
After dinner : Evening entertainment (plenty of options to choose from)
Possibly attend a performance of the Arirang Mass Games (*)
Accommodation : Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang
Day 4 - Tuesday August 4th
Morning : Visit the Tower of the Juche Idea, Party Foundation Monument, Pyongyang Metro (6 stops - the deepest metro system in the world !), Flower Exhibition
Afternoon : Visit the Pyongyang Film studios, Kim Il Sung square, Foreign languages bookstore, city walk from Kim Il Sung Square to the Grand Theatre
Visit the School Children's Palace (guided tour, then attend a stunning performance)
Dinner in Pyongyang
After dinner : Evening entertainment (plenty of options to choose from)
Possibly attend a performance of the Arirang Mass Games (*)
Accommodation : Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang
Day 5 - Wednesday August 5th
Morning : Drive to Nampo over the Youth Hero Highway, visit the West Sea Barrage. Cross over the locks of the barrage, then a scenic drive through the rural parts of the DPRK, to Sariwon. Visit the Sariwon Folklore Street (open-air exhibition on the 5000 year history of the Korean peninsula). Lunch in Sariwon
Afternoon : Continue from Sariwon to Sinchon. Visit the museum of US War Atrocities. Continue the drive to Kaesong, near the border with South Korea. Check in Minsok Folklore hotel (traditional Korean hotel)
Traditional dinner in the hotel, with the chance of a cooking lesson (Euro 5) and local specialty pancakes
Accommodation : Minsok Folklore hotel
Day 6 - Thursday August 6th
Morning : Walk through Kaesong to Jansu Hill - great views over the old town. Guided visit to the DMZ and the Panmunjom Truce Village. This visit is guided by soldiers, and photographs of soldiers can be taken freely here. See the last Cold War frontier on our planet and learn more about what keeps these two countries divided. Visit the Koryo Museum and the stamp and gift shop (best place for souvenir and ginseng shopping).
Afternoon : Return to Pyongyang over Reunification Highway. Stop by Reunification Monument. Visit Grand People's Study House (30 million volume library on Kim Il Sung square), Paradise department store, local micro-brewery or coffee shop
Evening : various entertainment options, and possibly attend a performance of the Arirang Mass Games (*)
Accommodation : Yanggakdo Hotel
Day 7 - Friday August 7th
Morning : Drive to Pyongsong, visit the town (town square, revolutionary site, former university), guided tour of the food factory. Visit the Wolhwari cooperative farm, visit Pyongsong secondary school (join a Korean class and an English class !). One-on-one time with the students and staff.
Afternoon : Return to Pyongyang, visit a teacher's home, meet Mr Pak Do Ik (National hero). Attend a performance of the Pyongyang Circus, visit department store
Evening : various entertainment options (fun fair, minigolf, bowling, swimming), and possibly attend a performance of the Arirang Mass Games (*)
Accommodation : Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang
Day 8 : Saturday August 8th
Morning : Depart Pyongyang by Air Koryo at 9 am, arrive Beijiing 10 am local time. Those who depart by train will leave at 10.20 am, arriving at the border with China at around 5 pm.
End of trip
Participants may choose to extend their stay, or take the train out (depart Pyongyang and make a one-night stopover in Sinuiju (the Korean side of the border with China) or in Dandong (the Chinese side of the border). One can also travel directly by train to Beijing.
(*) The Arirang Mass Games performances take place three times per week. Our local guides will find the most convenient evening for us to attend a performance (or possibly even two !).
Important notes about the itinerary :
1. Please be advised that the order, or in rare cases parts of the content of the itinerary may change. If this happens, then we will ensure that equally interesting excursions are inserted.
2. The above itinerary could be amended if the size of the travelling group allows us to charter a domestic flight to Samjiyon and Mount Paekdu. The cost of this chartered flight needs to be split amongst the participants, and would require at least 12 participants in order to become viable. We will keep all the registered participants informed of the progress, and may ask whether or not you are prepared to top up the tour cost so that the overnight excursion to the North can be included in the program.