Itinerary for "Ascension week-end tour " 17-21/22 May 2012

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: 2 July 2011

Day 1, May 17 (Thu)

a) Departure from Beijing by Air Koryo flight JS 252 at 14.00 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 17.00 local time, transfer to Pyongyang, city sightseeing including Arch of Triumph, Mansudae Grand Monuments.
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, May 18 (Fri) 

a) Drive 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. 
b) 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.
c) Lunch
d) Back to Pyongyang
e) ) Visit to a Middle School. You can even visit classrooms and assist at several lessons. The visit ends with a music and dance performance.
f) Dinner at Mangyongdae Tourism Restaurant.

Day 3, May 19 (Sat)

a) 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. 
b) Visit of the Juche Tower and surrounding monuments. Elevator to the top of the tower to enjoy the magnificent view of Pyongyang (optional, 5 Euro p/p).
c) Pyongyang Maternity Hospital
d) Lunch at Boat Restaurant Pyongyang Nr 1 on Taedong river.
e) Korean Film Studio - North Korea's version of Hollywood. Something not to be missed! 
f) Mansudae Art Studio - possibility to buy Korean ceramics, embroidery, paintings etc.
g) Ride on Pyongyang Metro
h) Korea Art Gallery - collection of paintings, sculptures etc from ancient to modern times.
i) Dinner at Chongryu Hot Pot Restaurant

Day 4, May 20 (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) Walking & Picnic Lunch at Ryongaksan Park
d)  Walk in Moranbong Park, favorite place for many Koreans to spend a free day.
e) 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).
f) Rakwon Department Store
g) 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.
h) Farewell Dinner at Duck Barbecue Restaurant.

Day 5, May 21 (Mon)

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 also the North Korean border to China. When crossing this bridge, we see another bridge destroyed during tthe 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 6, May 22 (Tue)

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 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.