Itinerary for "Victory Day tour " 24.7-1.8.2010

Important! The itinerary below is a PRELIMINARY one. Korea Konsult reserves the right to change some parts of the itinerary below if needed.

Last update for this tour: October 12, 2009

Day 1, July 24 (Sat)

a) Departure from Beijing by Air Koryo flight JS 152 at 13.00 am from TERMINAL 2 (Beijing Capital Airport). All passengers should arrive to the airport at least 2 hours before the flight's departure.

b) Arrival in Pyongyang at 16.00 local time, transfer to Pyongyang, city sightseeing Arch of Triumph.

c) Check-in at the hotel Yanggakdo International**** beautifully located in the middle of Taedong river. Room on a high floor. A magnificent view is guaranteed!

d) Dinner at the hotel.

Day 2, July 25 (Sun)

a) Visit to the Kumsusan Memorial Palace - the Mausoleum of President Kim Il-Sung (tourists must follow a strict dress code - no shorts, no blue jeans and mini-skirts, no T-shirts).

b) Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery

c) Lunch on the No.1 boat Pyongyang on Taedong River

d) Trip to Kaesong (capital of Korea up to the 15 th century, which and today is the ginseng cultivation center), located just 8 km from the Demilitarized Zone dividing the 2 Koreas).

e) Visit of King Kongmin Tomb. This twin tomb dates from around 1352 and belongs to a monarch of the Koryo dynasty and his wife. Really beautiful and idyllic place to visit.

f) Dinner at a traditional restaurant and overnight at Folk Custom Hotel (sleep on the floor, Korean traditional style)

Day 3, July 26 (Mon)

a) After breakfast drive to the DMZ and Panmunjom (1953 Armistice village). Our guide force is increased by several North Korean officers who show us around Panmunjom. Together we inspect the Demilitarized Zone and the Military Museum on the 38th parallel.

b) Drive back to Kaesong and walk in Janamsan Park from which the beautiful panorama of the old Kaesong can be admired.

c) Lunch at Tongil restaurant in Kaesong. "Tongil" means "Reunification" in Korean.

d) Back to Pyongyang. Visit to a Middle School. You can even visit classrooms and assist at several lessons. The visit ends with a music and dance performance.

e) Dinner at Mangyongdae  Restaurant

Day 4, July 27 (Tue) 57th Anniversary of Armistice in the Korean War

a) Breakfast. Mansudae Grand Monuments on Mansu Hill.

b) Ride on Pyongyang Metro.

c) Juche Tower and surrounding monuments. Elevator to the top of the tower to enjoy the magnificent view of Pyongyang (optional, 5 Euro p/p).

d) Worker Party Foundation Monuments.

e) Picnic lunch in Ryongak Hill (nice view of Pyongyang).

f) Walk in Moranbong Park (many Koreans spend a holiday day there. In the midlle of the park - Soviet Army monument)

g) A visit to the International Book Store and Stamp Shop- good choice of stamps, propaganda books, tapes, CDs, DVDs, (much cheaper than at your hotel).

h) Mass Dance Evening on the occasion of Victory Day involving several thousand Koreans

Day 5, July 28 (Wed)

a) Departure to Wonsan - biggest seaport in DPRK. On the way to Wonsan you visit the beautiful waterfall Ulim, discovered by the Korean People's Army in 2001.

b) Check in at the Songdowon Tourist Hotel in Wonsan, beautifully located at the beach in the heart of the city. Lunch at the hotel.

c) Drive to the cooperative farm Chonsam - we visit agricultural fields, but even peasants houses and meet their families.

d) Back to Wonsan and visit of Sondowon International Schoolchildren's Camp.

e) Kaeson Revolutionary Museum. The museum is located in the old railway station building. The center of the exposition is the Japanese-built steam locomotive and 2 carriages used by Kim Il Sung during his trip from Wonsan to Pyongyang in 1945.

f) Dinner at Kalmaegi Restaurant

Day 6, July 29 (Thur)

a) Early breakfast. Short trip to beautiful Kumgang Mountains (we visit a very beautiful place called "Mini-Kumgang").

b) Stop at lake Sijung, nice view and sandy beach. Rest on the beach.

c) Lunch at Sijung Guest House

d) Back to Pyongyang. Dinner at Chongryu Restaurant.

Day 7, July 30 (Fri)

a) After breakfast departure to Myohyangsan mountains (170 km from Pyongyang ).

b) International Friendship Exhibition (impressive exhibition of gifts from foreigners to President Kim Il-Song and the leader Kim Jong-Il.)

c) Buddhist temple Bohyon.

d) Lunch at the Hyangsan hotel.

e) Walk in the mountains, return to Pyongyang

f) Farewell dinner at Duck Barbecue Restaurant.

Day 8, July 31 (Sat)

Breakfast. Transfer to the railway station and departure to Beijing at 10.10 a.m. One night on the train.

Sightseeing: the railway bridge over Yalu-river is at the same time the North Korean border to China. When crossing this bridge, we see another bridge destroyed by the Korean War. China rebuilt its half of the bridge but North Korea intentionally did not. Instead they wanted to leave the bridge in ruins (just piles are seen) as a monument to the Korean War.

Day 9, August 1 (Sun)

Arrival in Beijing at 08.33 am.

Important! We recommend you don’t book any connection flights/trains from Beijing before 5-6 pm on the same day. It is the best to plan your departure from Beijing the day after the train arrival. Please note that Korea Konsult may NOT be held responsible for any flight or train delay.