North Korea – Mt. Paektu & Victory Day Tour

Itinerary

21 July – Beijing

• Getting to know your guide in Beijing.
• 5:25 p.m. departure by overnight train to Pyongyang.

22 July – Pyongyang

• 7:00 a.m. arrival border China / North Korea (Dandong / Sinuiju).
• For those choosing to fly – 12:55 p.m. flight departure from Beijing, arrival 3:30 p.m. in Pyongyang.
• 6:45 p.m. train passengers arrive in Pyongyang.
• Guided tour of the hotel and introduction to your Korean guides.
• Overnight stay at the Sosan Hotel.

23 July – Pyongyang – Mt. Paektu

• Highlight: Flight to Samjiyon with an Antonov 24 plane.
• Drive to Mt. Paektu.
• Highlight: Lake Chon, the lake on the border with China.
• Picnic at Mt. Paektu.
• Walk down (optional cable car € 2.50).
• Mt. Paektu Secret Base Camp, the birthplace of Kim Jong Il and the place where the anti-Japanese revolution began.
• Rimyongsu Waterfall.
• Chongbong Bivouac, this is where the army stayed during the anti-Japanese revolution. There is also a statue of Kim Il Sung.
• Overnight stay at the Begabong Hotel.

24 July – Pyongyang – Mt. Paektu

• Samjiyon Revolutionary Museum, learn more about the revolution in this region.
• Samjiyon Grand Monument, here you will find several revolutionary statues.
• View of Lake Sami.
• Flight back to Pyongyang.
• Taedong #3 Beer Cafe.
• Overnight stay at the Sosan Hotel.

25 July – Pyongyang – Sari Won – Kaesong

• Morning walk from the Grand Theatre to Kim Il Sung Square.
• Foreign Language Bookshop, the place to buy books and other souvenirs about North Korea.
• Mansudae Fountain Park.
• Highlight: Mansudae Grand Monument, the great bronze statues of the leaders.
• Korean War Museum, during the tour you will learn more about the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War.
• USS Pueblo, the American spy ship captured during the war.
• Party Foundation Monument, the famous building with the hammer, sickle and calligraphy brush.
• Kwangbok Supermarket, a local market where you can pay with the local currency.
• Overnight stay at the Sosan Hotel.

26 July – Pyongyang – Kaesong / DMZ – Sariwon

• Drive to Kaesong, near the border with South Korea.
• Highlight: Panmunjon DMZ, the border with South Korea.
• Koryo Museum, a UNESCO site.
• Thongil Restaurant, where you can optionally eat dog soup.
• Visit to the concrete wall on the border.
• Ride to Sariwon.
• Folkcustom Park, here you have a beautiful view over Sariwon.
• Try the local drink makkoli (optional).
• Drive to Pyongyang.
• Monument of the Three Charters of National Reunification, an imposing structure across the highway.
• Overnight stay at the Sosan Hotel.

27 July – Pyongyang – VICTORY DAY

• Grand People’s Study House, Pyongyang’s main library.
• Juche Tower (€ 5 to the top), tower in honour of the Juche ideology.
• Arch of Triumph, a similar triumphal arch as in Paris.
• Ride the Pyongyang Metro.
• Picnic at Mt. Ryangak, where there is a nice view over the city.
• Highlight: Special festivities, these are often announced at the last minute, but most of the time they are: a parade, circus performances, a classical concert and/or probably some other surprises. (optional: approx. € 20)
• Join in/or watch from the sidelines with a mass dance performance with local students.
• Mansugyo Beer Cafe.
• Watching fireworks at Kim Il Sung Square. (t.b.c.)
• Overnight stay at the Sosan Hotel.

28 July – Pyongyang

• Highlight: Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, this is the mausoleum of the great leaders.
• Revolutionary Martyrs Cemetery, many important soldiers are buried here.
• Mansudae Art Studio, this is where the local propaganda is made.
• Jangchon Cooperative Vegetable Farm, see how they grow vegetables and how a North Korean farm operates.
• Kim Jong Suk Textile Mill, the largest textile factory in Pyongyang.
• Overnight stay at the Sosan Hotel.

29 July – Pyongyang – Beijing

• 10:30 a.m. flight takers depart from Pyongyang (arrival 11:30 a.m. in Beijing).
• 10:10 a.m. train takers depart from Pyongyang via Dandong to Beijing.

30 July – Beijing

• 9:00 a.m. arrival in Beijing by train, end of tour.