Itinerary for "Worker's Party of Korea Anniversary tour " 6.10-13.10.2009

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: March 12, 2009

Day 1, October 6 (Tue)

a) Departure from Beijing by Air Koryo flight JS 152 at 11.55 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 14.55 local time, transfer to Pyongyang, city sightseeing including Mansudae Grand Monuments on Mansu Hill and 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.

e) 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 2, October 7 (Wed)

a) Early 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) Return to Pyongyang and 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. 

f) Dinner at War Museum's Restaurant.

Day 3, October 8 (Thur)

a) Breakfast. 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) Kim Il Sung University, the most prestigious university in the DPRK.

c) Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery

d) Lunch

e) Korea 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) Mangyongdae Schoolchildren's Palace - fantastic music and dance performance by Korean children.

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

i) Dinner at the hotel.

Day 4, October 9 (Fri)

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

c) Return to Pyongyang, lunch.

d) 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.

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

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

g) Dinner at Hot Pot Restaurant

Day 5, October 10 (Sat) Worker's Party of Korea 64st Anniversary

a) Mangyongdae (president Kim Il Sung’s birth place)

b) Ride on Pyongyang Metro.

c) 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.

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

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

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

g) Worker Party Foundation Monuments.

h) Dinner at Lotos Restaurant

i) Mass Dance Evening on the occasion of the Worker's Party of Korea Anniversary involving several thousand Koreans.

Day 6, October 11 (Sun)

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) and visit of Koryo Dynasty Museum. The famous Koryo Dynasty ruled Korea for several centuries until 1392.

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 in the DMZ, build by South Korea (24 km east of Kaesong).

f) Return to Pyongyang

g) Farewell dinner at Duck Barbecue Restaurant.

Day 7, October 12 (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 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 8, October 13 (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 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.