Itinerary for "Early summer tour " 2.6-9.6.2009

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

Remark: Unfortunately it is not possible to arrange a visit to the Kumsusan Memorial Palace (Mausoleum) during this tour as in June every year the Mausoleum is closed for renovation.

Last update for this tour: Oct 11, 2008

Day 1, June 2 (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.

Day 2, June 3 (Wed)

a) After breakfast we visit the 3 Revolutions Exhibition - displaying North Korean feats and creations in the fields of ideology, culture and technology.

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

c) 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. 

d) Lunch on the boat Pyongyang No.1 on Taedong River

e) 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).

f) View on Concrete Wall in the DMZ, build by South Korea (24 km east of Kaesong).

g) Visit of King Kongmin Tomb (12 km from Kaesong). 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.

h) Back to Kaesong, dinner at the traditional restaurant and overnight at Folk Custom Hotel (heated floor, Korean traditional style)

Day 4, June 4 (Thur)

a) 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.

b) Back to Kaesong and visit of Koryo 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) Return to Pyongyang. Mangyongdae Schoolchildren's Palace - fantastic music and dance performance by Korean children.

e) Dinner at Mangyondae Restaurant.

Day 4, June 5 (Fri)

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

f) Dinner at the hotel.

Day 5, June 6 (Sat)

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) Back to Pyongyang, lunch.

d) Mansudae Art Studio - possibility to buy Korean ceramics, embroidery, paintings etc.

e) 17.00 (5 pm), Kim Il Sung Staduim, Pyongyang. Football match between North Korea and Iran in the regional qualifier for the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals (ticket cost is 30 Euro p/p, please pay in cash to your guide)

f) Dinner at Chongryu Restaurant

Day 6, June 7 (Sun)

a) Breakfast. Ride on Pyongyang Metro.

b) 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.

c) Drive to Mangyongdae (president Kim Il Sung’s birth place)

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) Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery

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

h) Worker Party Foundation Monuments.

i) Farewell dinner at Duck Barbecue Restaurant

Day 7, June 8 (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, June 9 (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.