The DPRK Classic – National Day Special – 5 Nights (MASS GAMES EXPECTED!)

DAY 1 – DEPART FOR PYONGYANG

At 09:30am, meet us inside Terminal 2 of the Beijing Capital International Airport to check in for our scheduled departure of 12:00pm. 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 nearby Kaeson Youth Amusement Park where the thrillseekers among us can brave the rides with Pyongyang locals on a night out.

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

Overnight at the Koryo Hotel

(Meals: L on flight, D)

DAY 2 – PYONGYANG CITY TOUR

Begin the day with a visit to the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum, an elaborate museum depicting the Korean people’s fight against foreign invaders. We’ll have a guided tour of the war remnants, exhibits, and dioramas and learn about the Korean war from the North Korean perspective. We’ll also board the USS Pueblo, the “American Spy Ship” captured in 1968.

Drop into the Grand People’s Study House, North Korea’s national library and the heart of study on the revolutionary Juche ideology. Check out the local intranet, visit the music appreciation room and flick through a handful of the up-to 30 million books said to be available here!

After lunch, tour the Mansudae Art Studio, the most prestigious fine arts studio and gallery in North Korea, the only studio given permission to depict the Great Leaders in monuments, murals and mosaics.

Visit the Mangyongdae Native House, a modest straw-thatched house in a serene park setting which is the birthplace of President Kim Il Sung. Pick up some supplies at the Kwangbok Department Store, a five-story department complex filled with local and imported products. It’s one of only two places in Pyongyang where tourists can exchange and use the local North Korean Won.

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.

We’ll then begin our road-trip to picturesque Mt. Myohyang (Myohyangsan). This is a 2.5 hour drive filled with countryside scenery providing a great window into rural North Korean life.

Check in to the Hyangsan Hotel, North Korea’s self-confessed best hotel, with striking pyramid design nestled within the mountains. The facilities here are world-class with amenities including swimming pool, spa and massage facilities, barber and a bar with pool tables and ping pong!

Overnight at the Hyangsan Hotel.

(Meals: B, L, D)

DAY 3 – NATIONAL DAY!

This morning we’ll make a special visit to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, the grand mausoleum where the late leaders lie in state inside glass sarcophagi. This is one of North Korea’s most sacred sites, formal dress is strictly required.

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, and it’s particularly busy on national holidays with locals presenting large wreaths.

Take a stroll through Moran Hill, a central park buzzing with festivities as locals celebrate National Day over a picnic with music and dancing, a great opportunity to join the fun!

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.

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! 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.

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!

Get the opportunity to taste local Korean draft beers at the Taedonggang Bar Brewery No. 3. 

** MASS GAMES EXPECTED **

After dinner, we’ll attend North Korea’s famous Mass Games, an extraordinary display of synchronized gymnastics, dance and visual performance art showcasing North Korean history, achievement, and culture. The show is held in the Rungrado May Day Stadium and involves up to 100,000 participants — it’s the biggest show on earth! Note: Although the Mass Games are expected, it is not yet confirmed.

Overnight at the Koryo Hotel.

(Meals: B, L, D)

DAY 4 – MT. MYOHYANG

Our day begins with a visit to the International Friendship Exhibition, a massive complex housing the gifts given to the Great Leaders by foreign dignitaries. Gifts are displayed in over 150 rooms, everything from gem-encrusted swords to tea sets, bullet-proof vehicles and basketballs signed by NBA stars Michael Jordan and Dennis Rodman.

We’ll then visit the ancient Pohyon Buddhist Temple founded under the Koryo Dynasty and which remains active with practicing Korean Buddhist monks today.

After lunch, join the scenery as we hike the Manphok Valley trail, an area popular with picnicking locals and filled with dense forest, waterfalls, and temples with great views. Bring comfortable shoes. All hiking is optional and at your own pace. Manphok Valley is a return route, there’s no obligation to reach the peak. Views are beautiful throughout!

On return to Pyongyang, dinner will be aboard the Taedonggang Dining Boat! Enjoy views of Pyongyang’s most iconic landmarks and an upbeat performance as we cruise the river Taedong.

Overnight at the Koryo Hotel

(Meals: B, L, D)

DAY 5 – KAESONG & THE 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 military 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.

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.

We’ll then begin our drive to Sariwon city. On arrival, visit the Sariwon Folklore Village, a street depicting a romanticized version of Korea’s ancient cultural heritage. Take a look around, try some local specialties such as sticky rice cakes or homebrew makgeolli, and enjoy the slow-paced atmosphere of the city. We’ll climb the stairs up Kyongam Hill to get an iconic panorama view of Sariwon and the rural surroundings from the pavilion here!

On our return to Pyongyang, stop at the iconic Arch of Reunification built to commemorate the proposals of reunification.

Overnight at the Koryo Hotel.

(Meals: B, L, D)

DAY 6 – FAREWELL

Morning departure to Beijing. Estimated time of arrival is 11:35am local time, although flight times are subject to final confirmation. Please reserve connecting flights departing after 15:30pm 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.