Itinerary for "Victory Day standard tour" 26 July-2 August 2011

Important! The itinerary below is a PRELIMINARY one. Korea Konsult reserves the right to change some parts of the itinerary below if needed. Eventual itinerary changes after the group arrival in the DPRK are beyond our control.

Last update for this tour: Nov 3, 2010

Day 1, July 26 (Tue)

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 including 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 27 (Wed) 58th 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) After lunch we attend Mass Dance on the occasion of the Victory Day involving several thousand Koreans

f) Trip via Nampo city to Ryonggang Hot Spa Hotel. Check-in, cure bath (private jacuzzi with hot mineral water in each hotel room).

Day 3, July 28 (Thu)

a) After breakfast drive to Nampo - an important seaport in the DPRK. Excursion to the West Sea Barrage and the Museum of Barrage Construction, an interesting documentary is shown.

b) Drive to Chongsangri cooperative farm, the birthplace of the famous Chongsanri spirit and Chongsanri method in North Korean agriculture.

c) Return to Pyongyang, lunch. Visit of the Korean War Museum where you can hear and watch the North Korean version of this bloody war 1950-1953. On the museum’s top floor a big rotating war panorama can be seen – a real masterpiece from Korean painters and sculptors. 

d) 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 29 (Fri)

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) 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). 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) 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.

e) View on Concrete Wall built by South Korea

f) Back to Pyongyang, dinner

Day 5, July 30 (Sat)

a) Departure to Myohyangsan mountains (170 km from Pyongyang).

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

c) Buddhist temple Bohyon.

d) Lunch at Hyangsan Hotel.

e) Walk in the mountains.

f) Return to Pyongyang, dinner at Hot Pot restaurant.

Day 6, July 31 (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) Visit to the American spy ship USS Pueblo, captured by North Koreans in 1968. The 1,000-ton ship, equipped with various kinds of arms and sophisticated reconnaissance facilities, was boarded by 81 U.S. seamen and had been captured just by 7 Korean seamen. Hopefully you meet one of them on this ship. Although the ship's crew were repatriated after a lengthy negotiation, North Korea kept the ship as a war trophy.

e) Walk in Moranbong Park, favorite place for many Koreans to spend a free day.

f) Ride on Pyongyang Metro

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) Rakwon Department Store

i) Dinner

Day 7, August 1 (Mon)

a) Breakfast. Visit of Pyongyang Maternity Hospital.

b) Korea Art Gallery - collection of paintings, sculptures etc from ancient to modern times.

c) Grand People Study House - DPRK’s biggest library and educational centre located on the North Korea main square – Kim Il Sung’s square.

d) Drive to Korean Film Studio - North Korea's version of Hollywood. Something not to be missed ! 

e) Pyongyang Embroidery Institute.

f) Dinner at Duck Barbecue Restaurant

g) Incredible Mass Gymnastics Show of 100,000 performers - Arirang Mass Games. It will be hosted at Pyongyang May Day Stadium, one of the biggest sport arenas in the World. Important! The show date is preliminary and is subject to change The price of the ticket i is not included in the tour price and should be paid directly in Pyongyang before the show starts (from 80 Euro per ticket).

Day 8, August 2 (Tue)

Breakfast. Departure by flight JS 151 to Beijing at 09.00 am. Arrival in Beijing at 10.00 am

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