1. Day 1 Briefing Day

   Train Departures

   At 10:00, all those departing Beijing by train to North Korea will join us for a pre-tour briefing followed by a Question & Answer session covering all the important aspects of travelling in the DPRK as a foreign tourist. Here you’ll meet your tour leader and be able to ask any important questions prior to the start of the tour.

   At 17:27 our train will depart Beijing Railway Station as we begin the almost 24-hour train journey to Pyongyang via the Chinese border city of Dandong and the North Korean border city of Sinuiju.

    

   Flight Departures

   We’ll meet at 16:00 for our pre-tour briefing followed by a Question and Answer session so you’re confident in how the tour will run and understand the basic do’s and don’t’s of travelling in North Korea as a tourist. You’ll alsp get the chance to meet your tour leader and other travellers before setting off.

   The flight doesn’t depart until the following day, so post-briefing, feel free to enjoy a free evening out and about in China’s capital city.

    

   Accommodation: Accommodation in Beijing not included

   Included Meals: N/A

2. Day 2 Arrival in Pyongyang

   For those travelling by plane, we’ll depart Beijing Capital Airport (PEK) at 13:05, arriving in Pyongyang Sunan International Airport at 16:05, local time. Here, we’ll meet our guides and travel into the nation’s capital, Pyongyang.

   Arriving in the heart of the city, we’ll stop at Kim Il Sung Square, the centre of Pyongyang and one of its most famous and distinctive locations. Having enjoyed the square, taken some photos with the beautiful Grand People’s Study House and enjoyed a spot of people-watching, we’ll head down Victory Street to meet our fellow travellers arriving by train.

   The train will arrive into Pyongyang at 18:45. Upon arrival, those travellers coming in by rail will link up with the rest of the group and we’ll head to the architectural marvel that is Mirae Future Scientists Street. We’ll enjoy an evening stroll through this, one of Pyongyang’s newest neighbourhoods, before heading to the nearby Yanggakdo International Hotel, our accommodation for tonight.

    

   Accommodation: Yanggakdo International Hotel, Pyongyang

   Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

3. Day 3 Sunday in Pyongyang & Drive to Kaesong

   This morning, we’ll join the throngs of locals headed to work on the Pyongyang Metro. We’ll head to Puhung (Renaissance) Metro Station in the south of the city and ride six stops along the Chollima Line to Kaeson (Triumph) Station. Having completed our commute, we’ll drive to the Mansudae Fountain Park in the heart of Pyongyang. At the height of summer, these marble statue-clad fountains should be operating at full pelt as we buy flowers for our next stop.

   The Mansudae Grand Monument is one of the most important sites in Korea – these 22 metre high statues depicting the President Kim Il Sung and the General Kim Jong Il are visited often by local Koreans, especially on important holidays such as Day of the Sun, Day of the Shining Star and personal occasions such as wedding days.

   A visit to Mansudae is subject to special permission – decent dress is required.

   Next up, we’ll return to Kim Il Sung Square to see the city’s central hub in the middle of the day. For tourists who arrived by flight, this is a chance to see the square again, but during the hustle and bustle of a summer weekend – for those who arrived by train, the square will be a novel experience and a chance to observe locals, take photos and learn about the important buildings set around its perimeter. From here, we’ll also be able to visit the Foreign Language Bookshop where you’ll be able to pick up some Korean literature in English, Russian, Chinese and a few other selected languages. Then, it’s off to Moranbong Park, Pyongyang’s most popular public space where we’ll be able to interact with locals enjoying their weekend.

   After our picnic lunch in the park, we’ll head to the Kwangbok Department Store to stock up on snacks for the rest of the day.

   Next, it’s off to the Mangyongdae Native House, the birthplace of the country’s first leader, President Kim Il Sung and one of the DPRK’s most important sites. After Mangyongdae we’ll pop back to the city centre to travel to the top of the Juche Tower which commemorates the country’s guiding ideology and also commands fantastic views over Pyongyang. As the day draws to a close, it’s down the Reunification Highway on our way to Kaesong, the former capital of the Koryo dynasty. Arriving at the Minsok Folk Hotel, we’ll enjoy a Kayagum Performance before retiring to our traditional-style hotel rooms for the night.

    

   Accommodation: Minsok Folk Hotel, Kaesong

   Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

4. Day 4 Historic Kaesong & Joint Security Area

   Waking up in the ancient city of Kaesong surrounded by the beauty of the Minsok Folk Hotel, we’ll depart the hotel for a walk around the city and a visit to the South Gate, or Namdaemun. Kaesong was once the capital of the Koryo Dynasty and is the best preserved ancient city on the peninsula. Aggressive bombing campaigns during the Korean War flattened most cities in the North, although Kaesong’s location means it was left almost untouched.

   After our walkabout concludes, we’ll board the bus and drive a few minutes down the road to the Joint Security Area at Panmunjom. This is the only point along the Inter-Korean Demilitarised Zone where both sides, North & South, stand face to face. As part of the trip, we’ll visit Panmunjom, the former village where the armistice agreement was signed between the UN and DPRK forces in 1953. Having experienced some modern history at Panmunjom, we’ll make our way back into Kaesong to visit the Kaesong Koryo Museum, home to many archeological finds and artefacts from times gone by – housed in the Songgyung Academy, once a prestigious school during the dynastic era.

   At the gates of the museum, we’ll stop at the Koryo Stamp Shop, a great chance to pick up some souvenirs before we depart this beautiful city. Before leaving however, there’s still more to do in Kaesong – a Traditional Korean Royal Lunch is our next stop – right in the centre of Kaesong at the foot of Janam Hill, we’ll enjoy a lunch fit for a king!

   After lunch, we’ll depart Kaesong, first stopping just outside the city at Sonjuk Bridge, the site of a bloody murder in 1392. The assassination of Jong Mong Ju marked the end of the Koryo dynasty which had ruled much of Korea for nearly five centuries.

   Returning to Pyongyang, via the Arch of Reunification, a monumental arch on the outskirts of the capital dedicated to inter-Korean reunification, we’ll head back into the capital enroute to the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum, a museum dedicated to the Korean War. We’ll see captured military vehicles, a huge panoramic oil painting depicting the Liberation of Taejon and the USS Pueblo, a US spy ship captured in 1968. Finally, we’ll end our busy day with a trip to the Mansugyo Beer Bar for a pint or two before enjoying an evening walk along the fantastically modern Ryomyong Street before heading back to the Yanggakdo Hotel.

    

   Accommodation: Yanggakdo International Hotel, Pyongyang

   Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

5. Day 5 Drive to Hamhung

   We’re up and out early this morning as we leaving the bustling metropolis of Pyongyang and head east through the mountainous heart of the country to the DPRK’s second city: Hamhung.

   The drive will take 7-8 hours, but don’t worry, we’ll stop at the Sinpyong Lake Guesthouse on the way to our final destination, an opportunity to stretch our legs and enjoy the view of Korea’s mountainous terrain.

   We’ll make a second stop on-route at the Ulim Waterfall – a stunning example of natural geography. This will be an opportunity not just for lunch and some nature photography, but also for a dip in the pool beneath the waterfall for those keen to cool off!

   As we approach Hamhung, we’ll stop at the Tongbong Collective Farm – an example of how collectivised agriculture operates in the DPRK. We’ll visit a local family living on the farm and learn about day-to-day operations at Tongbong before continuing from the outskirts into Hamhung proper.

   The final stop of the day is the house of Ri Song Gye – the first King of Joseon (Choson). It was the son of Ri Song Gye who was responsible for the murder on Sonjuk Bridge which we visited in Kaesong; this murder opened the door to Ri Song Gye to begin his dynasty – a royal line which would last into the 20^th century.

    

   Accommodation: Majon Beach Guesthouse, Hamhung

   Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

6. Day 6 Hamhung & Wonsan

   Hamhung is a major centre for chemical industry in the DPRK and, as such, our first stop is the nearby Hungnam Fertiliser Factory. We’ll get to see the ins-and-outs of this massive industrial complex and get an understanding of what powers the economy of Hamhung.

   Next up, it’s back to the city centre and to Hamhung’s Central Square. At the head of the square is the Hamhung Grand Theatre, the largest theatre in the country and an incredible example of soviet-style architecture in North Korea.

   Our last stop in Hamhung is the Tonghung Revolutionary Site where enormous statues to the great leaders overlook the city. A presentation of flowers and a bow to the statues is customary at this site; after which, we’ll depart Hamhung and move south along the coast to the port city of Wonsan.

   Our first stop is the Wonsan Agricultural University. Originally built by Germans living in the region during the 20^th Century, it’s architectural style is more European than Korean . These days, the grand building houses the country’s foremost farming university.

   Next on our itinerary is the Songdowon Schoolchildren’s Camp – a fully operational socialist summer camp for the youth of the DPRK to learn about socialism and learn important skills, a bit like the scouts! Not only for Korean children, the site is often visited by children of allied children and was popular during the days of the Soviet Union when the youth of the USSR and its allies once considered the DPRK a great summer destination.

   Finally, we’ll head into the city centre of Wonsan where we’ll visit the central square and the docks which house the Mangyongbong-92 – a ferry originally built to take people and freight between the DPRK and Japan. In 2018, the ship took performers to attend the PyeongChang Winter Olympics in South Korea.

   As the day ends, we’ll pay a visit to the Jangdok Lighthouse along the coast to look out over the East Sea – turning back, the view of Wonsan from the bay is stunning as the lights begin to turn on and the city is bathed in a warm glow.

    

   Accommodation: Dongmyong Hotel, Wonsan

   Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

7. Day 7 Mt Kumgang - The Diamond Mountain

   Waking up on the dazzling eastern coastline, you may think you’ve seen all the natural beauty the DPRK has to offer. Well, strap in, because today we’ll be taking it up a notch.

   First though, we’ll visit the Kangwon Provincial Art Gallery – a small art exhibition in Wonsan displaying works from local artists. Many of the paintings are for sale with prices ranging from high to low, catering to all visitors.

   Leaving the exhibition, we’ll make our way to the Sokwang Temple – the ruins of a buddhist temple in the region, famed for being the site of a dream which predicted the collapse of Koryo rule in Korea. The temple is situated in a deep river valley, scenery which only gets more beautiful the further south we travel.

   Our final official stop of the day is the Samil Lagoon, we’ve finally reached the Kumgangsan region, known as the Diamond Mountain by Koreans, this area is famed for its natural beauty. Samil lagoon is named after a supposed visit by a king in centuries past. He purportedly stayed for three days (sam-il) to take in the full glory of his surroundings.

   Trundling through the awe-inspiring scenery past deep rivers, mountain gorges and craggy peaks, we’ll arrive at our hotel, the Kumgangsan Hotel.

    

   Accommodation: Kumgangsan Hotel, Kumgang

   Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

8. Day 8 Hiking in Kumgang and Return to Pyongyang

   Note: July 8^th is the anniversary of the passing of President Kim Il Sung. It’s worth being aware of this since it is important and emotional to many Koreans. As a result, restaurants may not serve alcohol on this day.

   We’ll start the day with some hiking around the stunning Kumgangsan region. There are hundreds of trails which criss-cross the area, but we’ll take some of the most beautiful routes over deep canyons, through forests and past rivers; our destination will be the ‘Nine Dragons’ Waterfall, one of the region’s highlights, before we circle back to base and head north, leaving Kumgangsan.

   The drive back to Pyongyang will be long, so we’ll make a couple of stops along the way, the first at Lake Sinjung and the second at the Masikryong Ski Resort – built in 2013, the resort has numerous ski runs as well as a lodge with amenities for the passing traveller and visitors staying overnight.

   We, however, won’t be staying for the night as we continue our drive back into the nation’s capital. Upon arrival, we’ll stop at one of Pyongyang’s major monuments which, until now, we’ve not visited. The Monument to Party Founding was contructed in 1995 and dedicated to the formation of the ruling Worker’s Party of Korea. The tools depicted on the monument are the same as in the party flag, a hammer for the workers, a sickle for the peasantry, and a calligraphy brush for the intelligentsia.

   Then, it’s off for a farewell dinner as we recount stories from our time in Korea, share photos and enjoy eachothers company.

    

   Accommodation: Yanggakdo International Hotel, Pyongyang

   Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

9. Day 9 Departure Day

   Flight Departures

   We’ll drive you to Sunan International Airport for your flight, departing at 08:30; you’ll arrive in Beijing Capital International Airport (Terminal 2) at 09:50.

    

   Train Departures

   Your train will depart at 10:25 from Pyongyang Station – after passing through customs at Sinuiju on the DPRK side and Dandong on the Chinese side, you’ll arrive at Beijing Railway Station at 08:40 the following morning (Sunday, July 10)

    

   END OF TOUR

A Plethora of Unique Hotels