Itinerary for " Special tour 1 - two Koreas and China " 27.8-11.9.2009

Important!

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

2) Multiple Chinese visa is needed for this tour

3) Please click here for information about what is included/not included in the tour price

Last update for this tour: March 12, 2009

Day 1, August 27 (Thu)

a) Arrival in Beijing by flight from your home country. Please take a taxi from the airport to the Beijing Oriental Culture Hotel*** (taxi cost is about 8-10 Euro). This recently renovated 4* hotel is located in the heart of Beijing, for more information please visit the hotel's website: http://www.bochotel.com

b) Arrival at the hotel, check-in. Please give your name at the front desk to get your room key.

c) 5:30 pm - we meet together in the lobby. Pick-up from the hotel by coach, drive to one of Beijing's best Mongolian Restaurants (Inner Mongolia style) .

d) Dinner. Performance: Mongolian folk songs.

e) Return to the hotel.

Day 2, August 28 (Fri)

a) After breakfast we start our city tour with a visit to Tiananmen Square-the largest square in the world.

b) Chairman Mao's Mausoleum

c) Visit to the magnificent Forbidden City which was the palace for 24 emperors during the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

d) Lunch

e) In the afternoon, we visit the Temple of Heaven which was originally used by the Ming and Qing emperors to pay homage to Heaven and to pray for a year of rich harvest.

f) Traditional Chinese dinner in downtown Beijing.

Day 3, August 29 (Sat)

a) Breakfast at the hotel. Bus excursion to the Great Wall (Juyongguang). Juyongguan Pass is located in an 18 kilometer-long valley called "Guangou" which is inside Changping County more than 50 kilometers from Beijing City. It is one of the three greatest passes of the Great Wall of China. Spectacular views!!!

b) Lunch

c) Drive to the Thirteen Tombs of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) (UNESCO World Heritage since 2003).The Ming Tombs were discovered by accident only in the 20th century in the construction site of a local power plant. Only three of the tombs are actually opened for viewing. Treasures found inside the tombs are now on display for the public. Among the treasures is the famous blue and white Ming porcelain.

d) Back to Beijing. Dinner at Beijing Roast Duck Restaurant.

Day 4, August 30 (Sun)

a) After breakfast transfer to the airport and departure by flight to Seoul (South Korea).

b) Arrival in Seoul, transfer to the Best Western hotel**** in central Seoul. Hotel's website: http://www.hotelkukdo.com/

c) Free time.

d) We have a Korean dinner and then go to the Nanta Show and their special performance of Cooking. This wild and funny percussion performance has won international rewards and acclaim: http://www.i-pmc.co.kr

Day 5, August 31 (Mon) Full day tour to the DMZ and Panmunjom

Note:

1) You should carry your passport during this day tour.

2) Citizens of the following countries are not allowed on this tour: Afghanistan, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Pakistan, Sudan, Syria, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Egypt, Estonia, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Moldova, Malaysia, Morocco, Nigeria, China (Hong Kong, Macau), Oman, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Taiwan, Tunisia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen.

3) Special dress code is applicable. The following clothing is not allowed: sleeveless shirt, T-shirt, tank-top, jeans (all colours), all shorts and short pants, short skirts, excessively revealing clothes, transparent clothes, sandals, bathroom slippers, military clothes.

a) Breakfast at the hotel. Departure by bus to Imjingak. Imjingak is a park developed right after the announcement of the Inter-Korean Declaration 1971 and today many various remains from the Korean War are exhibited there. Imjingak is the northernmost place that's accessible without a special pass.

b) View on Freedom Bridge (thousands of prisoners crossed the bridge after the Korean War, hence its name).

c) Unification Bridge (passport control)

d) Visit of the 3rd Tunnel build by North Korea. The 1635 m long tunnel was discovered in 1978 and is located only 52 km from Seoul, 435 meters from the southern demarcation line of the DMZ. Fully armed soldiers can cross the tunnel within an hour.

e) DMZ Exhibition/Theater in the 3rd Tunnel area.

f) Drive to Dora Observatory. It is the northernmost observatory in South Korea located within the DMZ. Visitors can oversee civilian life of the North through naked eyes. Streets of the North Korean city of Kaesong and Kim Il Sung's bronze statue can be observed through the telescopes.

g) Drive to Dorasan Station, the northernmost railway station in South Korea located only 30 meters from the Southern Boundary Line. Many South Koreans say that "it is not the last station from the South, but the first station from the North". At this station you may even buy a symbolic train ticket to Pyongyang (North Korea).

h) Visit of the Unification village located north of the Civilian Passage Restriction Line. This village is occupied by discharged soldiers and residents living near the border. A Farm Produce Mall is run to sell/buy farm produce grown in the vicinity.

i) Unification Bridge (passport control)

j) Korean lunch (Bulgogi)

k) Drive further to Camp Bonifas. It is the base camp for the United Nations Command Security Force - Joint Security Area (JSA). We receive a detailed briefing prior to visiting Panmunjom (JSA).

l) Arrival in Panmunjom, Freedom House, view of the North, picture taking.

m) Visit of the Military Armistice Commission building. The Military Demarcation line goes through the miiddle of the room and the building itself has 2 doors - one to the North and the other to the South. During our visit the door to the North will be blocked by South Korean soldiers, however we will enter through this door when we visit Panmunjom during our stay in North Korea.

n) Drive to the "Bridge Of No Return", the spot where all prisoners of war were repatriated after the end of the Korean War. For a long time it was the only ground link between Seoul and Pyongyang. In 1968 the crew of the USS Pueblo returned from North Korea across this bridge.

o) Drive back to Seoul, dinner.

Day 6, September 1 (Tue)

a) After breakfast we visit the Kyongbuk Palace - the royal residence of fifteen monarchs of Korea's Choson dynasty.

b) Folk Museum. The exhibition hall displays various aspects of Korean life all the way back to prehistoric times.

c) Lunch at Itaewon. Itaewon was popular with foreigners in the past due to its proximity to the US Army base. Today this area is full of different small shops, shopping centers, restaurants, entertainment facilities etc.

d) War Memorial of Korea. This building is constructed on the former site of the Korean Army Headquarters. More than 13,000 items are displayed in its six halls under different themes. One of the main themes is the Korean War (1950-53) which was the most tragic war in Korean history.

e) Back to Itaewon, walking, shopping.

f) We proceed for a Nolbumyungga traditional Korean dinner at the Nolbu Hanjungsik restaurant. We eat in the Korean way - on the floor, without footwear and across a low level table for four. About 25 small dishes are served. Magnificent song and dance performance by Korean artists.

Day 7, September 2 (Wed))

a) After breakfast we meet our guide and experience Seoul by subway (today we have no bus).

b) Insadong Antique street (Korean souvenirs, handicraft etc)

c) We visit Tekno Market in Seoul - prices are about 30% lower than in Europe.

d) Dinner in downtown Seoul.

e) Return to the hotel.

Day 8, September 3 (Thu)

a) Breakfast at the hotel.

b) Free time. You discover Seoul on your own. We can recommend a visit of Dongdaemun market for shopping, Hanok Folk Village or a cruise on Han River for sightseeing.

c) Lunch and dinner at your own expense.

Day 9, September 4 (Fri)

a) After breakfast transfer to the airport and departure by flight to Beijing

b) Arrival in Beijing in the early afternoon, transfer to the Beijing Oriental Culture Hotel*** . Free time.

c) Lunch and dinner at your own expense.

Day 10, September 5 (Sat)

Note: Today our group departs to North Korea. If you have anything that you would like to leave in Beijing and not carry with you to North Korea, it is ok to leave these things at the hotel (you will get them back when you return to this hotel on Sep 11).

a) Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport and departure from Beijing to Pyongyang (North Korea) by Air Koryo flight JS 152 at 11.55 am

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 11, September 6 (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) Drive to Sariwon city (60 km from Pyongyang) and walk on Folk Custom street.

e) Visit  to the famous museum in Sincheon County where you can see the materials and evidences of crimes committed by American soldiers during the 50-days occupation of this area by the US-army.

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

Day 12, September 7 (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 in Panmunjom. Together we inspect the Demilitarized Zone and the Military Museum on the 38th parallel. We enter the Military Armistice Commission bulding (the same bulding we entered from the South during our tour in South Korea). But this time the door to the South is blocked by North Korean soldiers.

b) Back to Kaesong. 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.

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

d) Return 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 Chongryu Restaurant.

Day 13, September 8 (Tue)

a) After breakfast we go to 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.

b) Ride on Pyongyang Metro

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

d) Lunch.

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

f) We continue our drive to Ryonggang Hot Spa Hotel. Check-in, cure bath (private jacuzzi with hot mineral water in each hotel room).

g) Dinner at the hotel.

Day 14, September 9 (Wed) . National Day, 61st Anniversary of DPRK

a) After breakfast drive back to Pyongyang.

b) Walking in Ryongak Hill, picnic lunch.

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) Pyongyang Circus (10 Euro p/p)

f) Mass Dance Evening on the occasion of the National Day involving several thousand Koreans.

g) Dinner at Duck Barbecue Restaurant.

Day 15, September 10 (Thu)

Breakfast. Transfer to the railway station and departure to Beijing at 10.10 a.m. One night on the train. All meals in the train at your own expense.

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 during 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 16, September 11 (Fri)

a) Arrival in Beijing at 08.33 am. Meeting the Chinese guide at the station, transfer to the Beijing Oriental Culture Hotel***

b) Free time.

c) Breakfast, Lunch and dinner at your own expense.

d) Overnight at the hotel

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END OF THE TOUR

Tour price - 2890 Euro per person

Included in the tour price:

• A round-trip airplane/train ticket Beijing-Seoul-Beijing-Pyongyang-Beijing
• First-class (4 star) twin-share accommodation in Beijing, Seoul and Pyongyang, 3 star accomodation outside Pyongyang
• All meals specified in the tour itinerary
• All local transfers and bus excursions
• The services of English-speaking guides
• Tickets to all museums, exhibitions, and performances included in the itinerary

Not included in the tour price:

• The North Korean visa fee (30-50 Euro depending on place of visa issuance)
• The Chinese visa fee (multiple entry visa is required for this tour)
• International airplane/train tickets to/from Beijing from your home town
• Meals in the train Pyongyang-Beijing
• ev. single room supplement (360 Euro per person)
• ev. art or circus performance in North Korea (from 10 Euro)