Ski and Snowboard North Korea – Kim Jong Il Birthday Special – 5 Nights

DAY 1 – DEPART FOR PYONGYANG

At 10:30am, meet us inside Terminal 2 of the Beijing Capital International Airport to check in for our scheduled departure of 01:05pm. We will hand out your DPRK visas at this time. Timings to be confirmed.

We will then fly to Pyongyang, the capital of the DPRK, home to the most iconic monuments and political sites. Our Korean tour guides will be meet us at the airport with a warm welcome.

Our first stop will be the Arch of Triumph, the world’s largest triumphal arch. From the top, we will get our first panorama view of Pyongyang city!

We’ll then visit the Mansudae Grand Monument, an important site famous for its large, bronze statues of President Kim Il Sung and Chairman Kim Jong Il. It is customary to bow and lay flowers here.

Check into the Koryo Hotel, our deluxe accommodation in the heart of Pyongyang popular with local residents, foreign diplomats, delegations and NGOs. Enjoy a welcome dinner in the revolving restaurant.

Overnight at the Koryo Hotel

(Meals: L on flight, D)

DAY 2 – DAY OF THE SHINING STAR (KIM JONG IL’S BIRTHDAY!)

We’ll begin the day with a special holiday visit to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, the grand mausoleum where the late leaders lie in state inside glass sarcophagi (formal dress required).

Visit Pyongyang’s central square, Kim Il Sung Square, home to many of North Korea’s military parades broad internationally. We’ll walk through the city to the Foreign Languages Bookshop, the best chance in the DPRK to pick up souvenirs such as books, stamps, DVD/CDs and posters.

Visit the Mangyongdae Native House, a modest straw-thatched house in a serene park setting which is the birthplace of President Kim Il Sung.

Look through the impressive exhibits at the Kimilsungia Flower Festival, a multi-floor display of the flowers named after each of the late leaders. This festival is only open twice a year, during February and April as part of birthday festivities of the Great Leaders.

Learn about North Korea’s national ideology, the Juche philosophy, on a visit to the iconic Tower of Juche Idea. We’ll take the lift 150-meters to the top for the best views in Pyongyang city! Then visit the Party Foundation Monument, built to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the Workers’ Party of Korea, recognizable by the communist hammer and sickle but with an added North Korean twist.

Head deep underground to take a 5-stop ride on the Pyongyang Metro, the deepest metro in the world and filled with mosaics, monuments, and plaques commemorating the DPRK’s revolutionary history.

As part of today’s festivities, we’ll attend an unforgettable student Mass Dance event held in Pyongyang. Join in the dancing celebration for yourself, the sea of colour makes for magnificent photos!

Embark on a scenic winter drive through the countryside to reach Masikryong Ski Resort! You’ll be among the first to taste the fresh powder here. Masikryong Ski Resort is one of North Korea’s most famous new attractions and was built in just 10 months as a drive to increase tourism to the country. There are 10 slopes in total, with 2 being for beginners. The total slope length is roughly 17km.

Our home here will be the cozy Masikyrong Hotel at the base of the slopes, one of the most luxurious hotels in the country!

Overnight at the Masikryong Hotel

(Meals: B, L, D)

DAY 3 – PYONGYANG TO MASIK PASS

Ski or snowboard ‘til your heart’s content and chill out at the lodge during your down time. If you’re a beginner, you can get lessons from the local Korean instructors, they’re fantastic and even taught some of our foreign staff to ski right here on location!

The facilities at Masikryong Ski Resort are world-class with amenities including swimming pool, spa and massage facilities, barber, Korean table games, pool and ping pong tables and a myriad of bars, restaurants and coffee shops to get lost in.

If you don’t fancy the slopes, there are other activities available such as ice skating, tobogganing/luging, snow bikes or taking the gondola to the near 1400m high Taehwa Peak (with coffee shop and bar).

Overnight at the Masikryong Hotel.

(Meals: B, L, D)

DAY 4- MASIK PASS

Ski or snowboard ‘til your heart’s content and chill out at the lodge during your down time. We’ll depart for Pyongyang in the afternoon.

On return to Pyongyang, take a walk down Ryomyong Street, an impressive boulevard home to Pyongyang’s most extravagant apartment complexes. Opened in just April 2017 to international media attention.

Enjoy the evening in style with dinner and beers on the Mujigae (Rainbow) Boat docked on the Taedong River with perfect views of the Juche Tower.

Overnight at the Koryo Hotel.

(Meals: B, L, D)

DAY 5 – KAESONG/DMZ

Take a morning drive through the countryside to the historic city of Kaesong. We will head for the DMZ where we’ll hear from our guides a perspective of the Korean War that often gets discredited or unheard. At the DMZ, explore Panmunjom, shake hands at the exact place that the Armistice Agreement was signed between UN forces and the DPRK, and wave hello to the South at the blue houses in the Joint Security Area. Afterwards, we will head to the Koryo History Museum, a UNESCO site, to learn about the Koryo Dynasty (where the name Korea originates). You’ll also have a chance to pick from the most varied range of postcards in the country at the Koryo Stamp Shop.

For lunch, enjoy Pansanggi, a historic Kaesong cuisine traditionally served for royalty. Afterwards, stop at the original Sonjuk Bridge, a UNESCO site. On return to Pyongyang we will visit the Victorious Fatherland War Museum, where we will get a guided tour of the war remnants, exhibits, and dioramas and learn about the Korean war, from the North Korean perspective! We will also visit and board the ‘American Spy Ship’ USS Pueblo docked beside the museum. We will then have dinner at a local Korean BBQ restaurant, a favorite among locals where we will cook our own meats at the table!

Overnight at the Koryo Hotel.

(Meals: B, L, D)

DAY 6 – FAREWELL

All good things must come to an end. We will have a morning departure to Beijing with an estimated time of arrival is 11:35am local time, although flight times are subject to final confirmation. Please reserve connecting flights departing after 15:30 pm local time, to allow sufficient time for immigration/customs clearance, baggage claim and re-check-in. Timings to be confirmed.

(Meals: B)

This itinerary is subject to change at any time.