The tour is priced at just £1,149 (starting in Dandong) or £1,229 (starting in Beijing) and includes train travel, 4 star hotel, and all meals, tours, and guides within North Korea.

 

We currently expect this to be the biggest celebration in North Korea for years with a military parade highly likely to take place as well as the return of the Mass Games (full confirmation to follow soon).

September 5th: Meet the group at 15:30 at Beijing Railway station ready for the 17:27 train to Dandong. Relax in the restaurant car before returning to your cabins to sleep overnight.

September 6th: Arrive in Dandong at 07:15. We have a couple of hours break to get breakfast before returning to the train station for the 10:00 train to Pyongyang. The train departs and we cross the Yalu river on the Sino-Korea Friendship bridge over to Sinuiju. The train stops at North Korean customs where we will remain for around 2 hours before continuing the journey to Pyongyang. View the Korean countryside and workers in the fields through the train windows throughout your journey to the capital. Packed lunch provided on the train. The journey is a great chance to mix with locals on the train and also stand on the bustling platforms while the train stops at each town along the way. We reach Pyongyang in time for dinner at the Yanggakdo hotel. Evening spent at leisure around the hotel grounds. Check out the hotel's microbrewery or head up to the revolving bar on the top floor with incredible vistas of Pyongyang. There's also the chance to go bowling, play pool or perform on karaoke!

September 7th: After breakfast we head to Panmunjom, the 'truce village' that straddles the North/South Korean border and visit the Armistice Hall, where the truce was signed at the end of the Korean war. We are given talks by North Korean military personnel explaining the history of the site before heading over to visit the DMZ or Military Demarcation line; an area that Bill Clinton described as 'one of the most dangerous places in the world'. If there are no tourists on the Southern side then we will have the chance to go inside the blue buildings which straddle the border. Once inside you can walk freely across the North and South border. Afterwards we drive to Kaesong to visit the Koryo History Museum before heading for a local Kaesong speciality for lunch. We then return to Pyongyang in the afternoon to view the Tower of Juche Idea, take a trip on the Pyongyang Metro and visit the Mansudae Monument and view the newly constructed giant bronze statue of Kim Jong Il now stood next to his father. We will then visit one of the best restaurants in Pyongyang, the Duck BBQ, before returning to the hotel where you will have the chance to shop at the export store. Buy anything from books, CDs and DVDs to stamps, pin badges and propaganda artwork. Depending on what activities are available at the time of the tour, we also offer the option of spending the evening outside the hotel, visiting either the funfair, orchestra, circus or bar.

September 8th: After breakfast we are driven to Mount Myohang to explore one of the most beautiful areas in the Korean peninsula. On arrival we visit the International Friendship Exhibition Hall, a huge complex consisting of over 100,000 gifts given by various world leaders and figures to Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il. Including the extravagant sight of two trains given to Kim Il Sung by Chairman Mao and Joseph Stalin! After visiting the exhibit highlights we are taken onto the balcony of the exhibition hall to view the breathtaking scenery of the area. We leave the exhibition hall and drive to nearby Pohyon Temple. The temple dates from the 11th Century and the founding of the Koryo Dynasty. It is one of the few remaining Buddhist temples in North Korea. The local guide will give you a tour of the site and introduce you the the temple's monks. After lunch in Myohang-ch'on we return to Pyongyang and visit the Arch of Triumph and Mangyongdae Native House. Afterwards we will visit the Youth palace to watch a special performance by local children. We will go for a traditional Korean meal before returning to our hotel.

September 9th: Today is Independence Day, celebrating their founding of the DPRK back in 1948. We spend the day around the capital, soaking up the atmosphere and visiting various sites from the Grand People's Study House, Korean war museum and Mangyongdae Native house, to the Arch of Triumph, Kim Il Sung square to Monument of the Party Foundation and more. In the early evening we join in with the celebrations, which are likely to include a Miltary Parade and Mass Dance being held in one of the squares where you will you be able to interact and even dance with locals! Sometimes fireworks take place later as we walk along the banks of the Taedong river before going for dinner at a Pyongyang restaurant.

September 10th: Today we begin our three day trip out to the East Coast. After breakfast we will drive to Wonsan visting the Tomb of King Tongmyong along the way. We will stop for lunch in Wonsan before visiting the city and its beaches where local holiday makers will be enjoying their time off. You'll be more than welcome to go for a swim yourself so just remember to bring your swimming gear!

Overnight in Wonsan.

September 11th: After breakfast we will drive south and begin our exploration of Mt. Kumgang, the second highest mountain in all of North Korea. We will have the opportunity to climb to the top of the 1,638m peak as well as to visit the scenic waterfalls throughout the park. Please bring hiking shoes/boots, or at a minimum trainers with good grip, if you'd like to go up the trails.

Overnight in Kumgang national park.

September 12th: After breakfast we will have more time to explore the park before we make our way back to Pyongyang for some final time in the capital. Overnight in Pyongyang.

September 13th: After breakfast we’ll visit Mt. Ryongak close to Pyongyang and then walk along Youth Street in the city. Next a visit to the Kwangbok Supermarket, a great chance to mingle with loals and use the local currency. After lunch we’ll then head west out of the city to the Chongsan Co-operative farm.

Overnight in the Spa Hotel with an oppertuntiy to use the local spring spa.

September 14th: In the morning we visit the vast West Sea Dam, one of North Korea's largest ever construction projects. Next we head on to the town of Sinchon visting the sombre US war atrocities museum. Finally a visit to the local folk park before driving on to Sariwon Migok Farm.

Overnight in Sariwon.

September 15th: Today we’ll head on to Haeju and go for a walk and picnic at Mt. Suyang and Sokdamgugok (The nine valleys scenic area). In the afternoon we head back to Pyongyang (3 hour drive) and enjoy a farewell dinner before overnighting at Yanggakdo Hotel.

September 16th: After breakfast we will return to the train station for our journey back to Sinuiju and out of North Korea. Lunch is provided on the train. Arrive back in Dandong at 16.30 before departing to Beijing at 18:30.

September 17th: Arrive in Beijing at 08:30


Extras


Visas: We take care of this for you and issue you with a North Korean visa on arrival. The cost is 50 Euros.

 

Dandong add-on: For an extra �10 (if sharing a room) or �20 (if travelling alone) you can depart Beijing a day earlier and have a full extra day in Dandong to break up the journey. We can also arrange full day trips of Dandong from £65 which include a trip to Tiger Mountain Great wall, boat trip along the Yalu river, broken bridge walk, Korean war museum and lunch.

Dandong start/end: The tour price is cheaper for those who would like to start and end the tour in Dandong rather than Beijing.

Additional days: We can add extra days in North Korea on request. Prices range from �89-�189 per day, depending on how many others are taking the extra day.

Less days: Short of time and/or money? We can cut down the tour by one day, meaning you arrive back in Beijing a day earlier. There is a �70 reduction for this.

Flights: Return/one way flights can be added on request. Please contact us for up to date schedules and prices.