2.5 Nights – from €1395
** Our price is all-inclusive of round-trip flights from Shanghai on Air Koryo & DPRK Visa **
Pyongyang Marathon – Expected to be April 13, 2025 **This date is tentatively scheduled and not yet confirmed.
DEADLINE: February 28, 2025
In this short tour, take a break from your day-to-day to run the Pyongyang Marathon while taking in the grand Pyongyang highlights!
Book Now! Registration begins NOW and seats are selling fast! (Standard cancellation terms apply)
Approximate registration fees, to be paid in USD cash in Pyongyang (if fees change, the difference will be nominal)
RUN THE FULL MARATHON – separate registration fee of $150 USD
RUN A HALF MARATHON – separate registration fee of $100 USD
RUN A 10K – separate registration fee of $70 USD
RUN A 5K – separate registration fee of $50 USD
Almost anyone can run in the amateur marathon, half marathon, or 10K/5K alongside professional runners. There are no official qualifying times for the amateur marathon. However, the time limits to receive a registered time and finishers certificate are: Within 4 hours for the full marathon, 2.5 hours for the half marathon, and 2 hours for the 10k and 5k events. You can still take 3 hours in the 10k event and finish to a roaring crowd in Kim Il Sung Stadium even though you’ve been disqualified from receiving an official time. The entry to Kim Il Sung Stadium will close after 4 hours for the closing ceremony, the finishing line will be moved outside for full marathoners to register their times.
All participants will receive an official award certificate, participation medal, running shirt, timing chips, and other exclusive goodies. All winners will also receive an official souvenir and finishing shirts. Merchandise subject to change.
More information on the Pyongyang Marathon HERE
THURSDAY NIGHT (APRIL 10)
At 08:00pm (20:00) on April 8, meet the group at the Shanghai Pudong International Airport to check in for our 10:35am departure to Pyongyang. Approximate arrival into Pyongyang is at 01:55am (Friday, April 9) Our Korean tour guides will greet us on arrival at the airport. On arrival we will check in at the prestigious Koryo Hotel.
(Meals: Dinner on flight)
DAY 1 (APRIL 11) – 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. Stop at the original Sonjuk Bridge, a UNESCO site.
Overnight at the Koryo Hotel.
(Meals: B, L, 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.
Visit 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!
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.
After lunch, 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
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!
We’ll head to the International Football School to tour the facilities and enjoy a casual kick around with the students. On the way, we’ll have a photo stop at the largest sporting stadium in the world (by capacity), the May Day Stadium!
Make a stop at the Arch of Triumph, the world’s largest triumphal arch. From the top, we will get a great panorama view of Pyongyang city.
We’ll then take a driving tour to familiarise you with the entire Pyongyang Marathon route. Dinner will be at the hotel where we will hand out bibs and timing chips for the Pyongyang Marathon.
Overnight at the Koryo Hotel.
(Meals: B, L, D)
DAY 3 – THE PYONGYANG MARATHON!
Wake up bright and early (approximately 7am) to get ready for the PYONGYANG MARATHON! This is the sixth year in all of history that foreign amateur runners will be allowed to run in the Pyongyang Marathon. Stretch out, lace up and pound that Pyongyang pavement!
The race starts at approximately 9am and is over no later than 1pm. There is a pre-race ceremony starting at 8am and a post-race award ceremony starting at 1pm. Spectators are welcome to join this tour, as there will be plenty to see at the Kim Il Sung Stadium including a local soccer/football match and the runners returning to the stadium in their last lap of the race.
After the race we will cool down at the hotel with time to shower and rest up before we have lunch.
For the rest of the day, expect easy sightseeing. We’ll first visit the Mansudae Fountain Park, a serene meeting spot for students in their free time and an often used backdrop for wedding photos. 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.
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.
Cap off a race well run with a chance to taste local Korean draft beers at the Taedonggang Bar Brewery No. 3!
During dinner, we’ll have a small presentation to hand out your official marathon certificates! Dinner will be at a local Korean hotpot (jongol) restaurant, a favourite among locals.
After dinner, grab your luggage and head to the airport for an evening flight back to Shanghai. Approximate time of departure is 7:55pm from Pyongyang with arrival at Shanghai Pudong International Airport at 9:35pm. Please reserve connecting flights departing after 01:30am local time (+1 day), to allow sufficient time for immigration/customs clearance, baggage claim and re-check-in. Timings to be confirmed.
(Meals: B, L, D)
This itinerary is subject to change at any time.
What’s included in this tour:
- DPRK visa fees and handling
- Round trip flight ticket from Shanghai to Pyongyang on Air Koryo
- 3 nights’ DPRK hotel accommodations (double occupancy, 4 stars)
- 3 meals per day
- Coach transportation in DPRK
- Two local DPRK guides
- One local driver
- Admission fees (except those listed under exclusions)
What’s not included in this tour:
- Marathon registration fee (detailed above) and Kim Il Sung Stadium festival for spectators ($28 USD)
- Round-trip airfare to Shanghai from home country
- Chinese visa fees and processing, if applicable
- Travel insurance and medical evacuation insurance (required)
- Personal expenses (laundry, telephone, etc.)
- Souvenirs
- Extra drinks during meals (one complimentary beer included)
- Tips for guides and drivers (please budget $10 per day per traveler)
Excluded Entrance Fees for Optional Events
Entrance fees are priced in EUR but RMB and USD accepted.
- Elevator to the top of the Juche Tower, 5 EUR
- Elevator to the top of the Arch of Triumph, 5 EUR
- Flowers to be laid at the Mansudae Grand Monument, 3-5 EUR
- Pyongyang circus (if playing): 20 EUR
- Taedonggang Dining Boat: 10 USD
- Meari Shooting Range: rifle and per bullet fees apply
- Kaeson Amusement park entrance and rides, approximately 1-7 EUR each
For more information on the booking process, see How to Book a North Korea Tour
See Terms and Conditions for our refund policy and other disclaimers.
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