Itinerary for "Early summer tour " 10.6-18.6.2009

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: Oct 10, 2009

Day 1, June 10 (Thu)

Departure by train K27 from Beijing Main Railway Station at 17:30. One night on the train.

Those who travel by the direct train Moscow-Pyongyang: the departure from Moscow will be on 4 June 2010 (Friday) at 23.55. In Shenyang the Moscow-Pyongyang carriages will be attached to the Beijing-Pyongyang train (night time).

NOTE:

* The number of train tickets is strictly limited so please book your tour as early as possible. Korea Konsult might not be able to guarantee train tickets availability if the booking is made later than 2 months prior the train departure date.

** No first class is available on the Beijing-Pyongyang train. On the Moscow-Pyongyang train both 1st and 2nd classes are available. Updated prices for Moscow-Pyongyang tickets can be found here.

Day 2, June 11 (Fri)

a) Arrival in Pyongyang at 19:30, meeting Korean guides at the station.

b)Transfer to Yanggak Island and and 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 !

c) Dinner at the hotel

Day 3, June 12 (Sat)

a) Breakfast. City sightseeing including Mansudae Grand Monuments on Mansu Hill, Arch of Triumph, Juche Tower and surrounding monuments. Elevator to the top of the tower to enjoy the magnificent view of Pyongyang (optional, 5 Euro p/p).

b) Ride on Pyongyang Metro.

c) After lunch visit to the Changgwangsan Health Complex. Opened in 1981, it is the biggest health center in the country. It has swimming pools, saunas, hairdressing salons etc. The outdoor pool is open to visitors even in winter. Swimming pool entrance fee is 2 EUR and the hairdresser's is 5 EUR (optional).

d) Trip 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.

e) Drive to Ryonggang Hot Spa Hotel. Check-in, cure bath (private jacuzzi with hot mineral water in each hotel room).

f) Dinner.

Day 4, June 13 (Sun)

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

b) Return to Pyongyang, lunch.

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

d) Walk in the mountains.

e) Dinner and overnight at the Hyangsan hotel

Day 5, June 14 (Mon)

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

b) Buddhist temple Bohyon.

c) Lunch at the Hyangsan hotel.

d) Return to Pyongyang, visit to the 3 Revolutions Exhibition - displaying North Korean feats and creations in the fields of ideology, culture and technology.

e) Dinner at Mangyondae Restaurant.

Day 6, June 15 (Tue)

a Korea Film Studio - North Korea's version of Hollywood. Something not to be missed ! 

b) Mansudae Art Studio - possibility to buy Korean ceramics, embroidery, paintings etc.

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

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

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

g) Dinner at the traditional restaurant and overnight at Folk Custom Hotel (heated floor, Korean traditional style)

Day 7, June 16 (Wed)

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

b) Visit of King Kongmin Tomb (12 km from Kaesong). 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.

c) Back to Kaesong, walk in Janamsan Park from which the beautiful panorama of the old Kaesong can be admired.

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

e) Drive back to Pyongyang. Visit to the International Book Store and Stamp Shop - good choice of stamps, propaganda books, tapes, CDs, DVDs, (cheaper than at your hotel)

f) Farewell dinner at Duck Barbecue Restaurant

Day 8, June 17 (Thu)

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, June 18 (Fri)

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 best to plan the 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.