June 22nd - 29th, 2013
Our June program is packed with excursions and outings that will appeal to an audience of College students, young graduates and young professionals who want to get to know the DPRK better by visiting most of the cultural and natural highlights that the country has to offer. This trip also ensures that the participants get to spend as much time as possible with young Koreans of the same age, so that we can share experiences and gain a better insight in their way of life, their hopes and aspirations, and their daily routines. We will visit the capital city, Pyongyang, then head to beautiful Wonsan on the East coast, to Sinchon, Kaesong and the Demilitarized Zone in the South, and the Kuwol mountains and the city of Nampo in the South-West. Moreover, we will visit local schools and/or universities (and mingle with the students there) and take some time out to hike through some stunning scenery. To cap it all, we will test our nerves of steel on rides such as the Vominator and the Deathifier at the Kaeson Fun Fair !
Trip program*
Day 1 - Saturday June 22nd
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, Arch of Triumph,
Monument to Party Foundation, Fountain Park, transfer to Ryanggang Hotel.
Accommodation : Ryanggang Hotel, Pyongyang
Day 2 - Sunday June 23rd
Morning : Visit Kumsusan Memorial Palace (Mausoleum of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il), Revolutionary Martyrs’ Cemetery, Foreign Languages Bookshop, walk to Kim Il Sung Square
Afternoon : Walk in Moran Hill park to see locals enjoy their day off, Pyongyang Metro (6 stops), USS Pueblo, Mangyongdae Native House
After dinner : Kaeson Fun Fair
Accommodation : Ryanggang Hotel, Pyongyang
Day 3 - Monday June 24th
Morning : Drive through Kuwol mountains to Nampo, visit Nampo School for Martial Arts (with amazing Taekwondo performance), visit Nampo Orphanage (exclusive for Koryotours participants, we will take milk powder as gift to the children)
Afternoon : Visit Nampo West Sea Barrage (an amazing feat of engineering !), continue through Kuwol Mountains to Sinchon, visit the Museum of US War Atrocities. Drive to Kaesong, arrive early evening, visit Jannamsan Park, check in Minsok Folk Hotel
Accommodation : Minsok Folk Hotel, Kaesong (very charming traditional hotel with mattresses on heated floors)
Day 4 - Tuesday June 25th
Morning : Visit to Panmunjom Truce Village (Demilitarized Zone), walk on South Korean soil inside the Negotiation Huts, visit Koryo Museum (Confucian University), shop in Stamp Shop (excellent for posters, souvenirs, cards etc.), visit King Kongmin tomb.
Afternoon : Visit Concrete Wall overlooking South Korea, return to Pyongyang, stop at Reunification Monument, visit School Children's Palace (tour and performance)
Accommodation : Ryanggang Hotel, Pyongyang
Day 5 - Wednesday June 26th
Morning : Visit Grand People's Study House (meet with students, exclusive for our group), Pyongyang Film Studios, Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum, War Victory Monument Park, Pyongyang Folk Village (provisional - this attraction opens in April 2012, small extra charge may apply)
Afternoon : Visit Juche Tower, Mansudae Art Studio, Visit one of the Pyongyang Universities or the Centre for Foreign Languages (either of these two would be a first in the history of tourism in the DPRK, and is being worked on with the Ministry of Education), or Kang Bang Suk Secondary School (exclusive for Koryotours participants), Golden Lane Bowling Centre
Accommodation : Ryanggang Hotel, Pyongyang
Day 6 - Thursday June 27th
Morning : Drive to Wonsan on the East Coast with some stops en route
Afternoon : Visit of Wonsan (pier, Wonsan Dock and Central Square, Songdowan Beach (mingle with local beach-goers), Schoolchildren's Camp, local cooperative farm, Kim Il Sung Railway Station, dinner in Wonsan
Accommodation : Songdowan Hotel, Wonsan
Day 7 - Friday June 28th
Morning : Visit Japanese Era Railway Station (with Kim Il Sung steam train), return to Pyongyang with stop by Ulim waterfalls, maybe opportunity to swim below falls
Afternoon : Walk along the riverside, meet local people en route, visit Paradise Department Store
After dinner : Kaeson Fun Fair (1 or 2 Euros per ride)
Accommodation : Ryanggang Hotel, Pyongyang
Day 8 : Saturday June 29th
Morning : Depart Pyongyang by Air Koryo at 9 am, arrive Beijing 10 am local time.
End of trip
* Participants are advised that the schedule of the day to day program may undergo changes up to the day of arrival in Pyongyang. However, the content of the program will not be affected.