DPRK National Day Extended Tour I

Our DPRK National Day Extended Tour will allow you to be in Pyongyang for the 70th anniversary of the foundation of the DPRK. Although our group sizes tend to be small, September and August are the busiest seasons in the DPRK. In order to guarantee being able to book your transportation tickets you are kindly asked to apply by the application deadline fort the North Korea National Day Tour III tour which is August 1st. If you contact us after the application deadline we will be able to tell you within 24 hours if we can still apply for your trip.

It is possible to extend your trip in the DPRK. If you would like to stay longer in North Korea please do notify us and a private extension can be arranged for you.

Our excellent relationship with our Korean partners and local guides together with the usually small sizes of our groups allow us to arrange on the spot visits to events and places not included in the official program.

Day 1 - September 6 (Thursday)

Depart from Beijing at 14.00 flight JS 252 Terminal 2, Beijing Capital Airport
Arrive in Pyongyang at 16.35 (Pyongyang time)

Arch of Triumph - gigantic marble structure that was erected to commemorate the return of the Eternal President of the DPRK, Kim Il Sung’s, return to Korea after fighting against the Japanese occupation of Korea. It is located where his return speech was made, near the Kim Il Sung Stadium and a gigantic mosaic depicting Kim Il Sung’s return speech.
Brief walk around the area, see the enormous mosaic of the Leader Kim Il Sung
Hotel check-in: Yanggakdo Hotel, situated on an islet in the Taedong River, the 47 storey building offers great views of the whole capital
North Korea National Day Tour II Welcome Dinner: KITC Restaurant, Pyongyang

Overnight: Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang

Day 2 - September 7 (Friday)

Breakfast: Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang
Depart to Kaesong (Panmunjom, the DMZ) - we will have a break in the middle. As we approach Kaesong we will be able to see on our right hand side the famous Kaesong Industrial Complex as well as the train station that leads to South Korea and is still not in use.
Please note that there are military points on the way and it is forbidden to take pictures of these. We will be notified before passing each check-point.
38th Parallel - chance to enter the famous blue negotiation rooms where talks between North & South Korea take place. We will also be toured around Panmunjom, see where the armistice was signed and we will be escorted by a DPRK soldier on our bus as is required on all tours. Most soldiers are intrigued to see what travellers think of the division of Korea and this presents a great opportunity to have a Q&A session with a DPRK soldier. The trip to the DMZ is too a highlight of our DPRK National Day Tour.
Koryo Museum (Kaesong) - originally a university in the Koryo Dynasty it shows what life was like then.
Stamp shop - a great selection of DPRK stamps and souvenirs available in this shop located just outside of the Koryo Museum

Lunch: Tongil Restaurant (Kaesong) - Re-unification Restaurant. Dishes are served in covered golden plated small bowls. With 12 bowls per person there is a lot of variety in the food served!
Drive to Sariwon City - we will explore the folk street in this city.
Mount Kyongnam - a 5 minute up to the local pavillion will allow us have impressive views of the whole city.
Stop at the Re-unification Monuments - good chance to take some pictures
Dinner: Hotpot Restaurant, located by the embassy area in Pyongyang

Overnight: Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang

Day 3 - September 8 (Saturday)

Breakfast: Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang
Drive to Mount Myohyang - trip to the northern interior part of the DPRK
International Friendship Exhibition - see where thousands of gifts given from all over the world to the leaders Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il and Kim Jong Suk (known as Mother Kim Jong Suk in the DPRK) are proudly exposed. There is now too a new section for the current leader Kim Jong Un.

Lunch: Chongchon Hotel, Mount Myohyang
Pohyon Buddhist Temple - one of the most important places of Buddhism in the region when Buddhism was prevalent in Korea.
Drive back to Pyongyang
Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum - impressive building explaining the DPRK version of the Korean War to the smallest detail. The museum is new (it used to be in the building adjacent to it). It has a revolving panorama of battles, original weapons and vehicles used in the war and real sized wax statues amongst others.
USS Pueblo - US spy ship captured in 1968. It is held as a trophy in Pyongyang. The crew was held in the DPRK for about 11 months before being returned to the US.
Drinks at a local bar - The Taedongang Number 3 Beer Bar is one of our favourite ones not only because the beer is brewed there but also because it is a major hangout place for locals.
Dinner: Local restaurant, Pyongyang

Overnight: Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang

Day 4 - September 9 (Sunday) - 70th Anniversary of DPRK National Day

This is one of the most important dates in the DPRK calendar

Kumsusan Memorial Palace - (where the Leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il lie in state). This is a very important place in the DPRK which is why you are kindly asked to wear formal attire. We will fully brief you before your trip to North Korea.
Mangyongdae Native House - President Kim Il Sung's Birthplace

Lunch: Hotpot restaurant, Pyongyang

This year marks a major anniversary of National Day, the 70th Anniversary. Military parades are usually held on major anniversaries. 5 years ago we greeted soldiers who wer coming back from the parade with locals by the street. We do not know for sure if this kind of event will take place again this year but expect it to be the case.

Fountain Park - chance to mingle with Koreans here
Mansudae Grand Monuments - Giant bronze statues of the Leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il
Views of Chollima Statue - the winged horse representing the national policy of rapid reconstruction of the DPRK after the Korean War
Extended Ride on the Pyongyang Metro (extended ride) - the deepest in the world - chance to ride on the metro with local people and see one of the busiest aspects of life in Pyongyang
Moranbong Park - (where locals picnic and gather on national holidays) - do expect to be asked to join in the fun and games like Tim below! See our Youtube video right below!

Juche Tower - chance to go up the 150 metre tower (170 metres including the torch) that offers a panoramic view of Pyongyang.
Workers' Party Foundation Monuments - impressive monument consisting of a hammer, sickle and brush.
Expected Mass Dances in which locals celebrate National Day - chance to dance with North Koreans. Hundreds of university students; women dress in traditional Korean clothing and men in suits as they dance in a synchronised way.
Dinner: Number 1 Pyongyang Duck BBQ Restaurant. An ideal way to end a compact but diverse trip to North Korea!
Kaeson Funfair - fantastic way to end the National Day. Rides are 1 to 4 Euros. Even if you decide not to go on any of the rides this offers you a great chance to mingle with the crowds of locals
If there are any celebrations such as a firework display in the evening we will be able to attend these.

Overnight: Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang

Day 5 - September 10 (Monday)

Breakfast: Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang
Kimilsungia and Kimjongilia Flower Exhibition Hall - these flowers are dedicated to the leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il. Seeing them and hearing about them comes to show the extent to which the figures of the leaders of the country are respected in the DPRK.
Walk from the Grand Theatre to Kim Il Sung Square - great chance to take a pleasant stroll in the city centre of Pyongyang and explore the capital by foot.

Lunch: Hotpot restaurtant, Pyongyang
Kwangbok Supermarket - we will be able to join local here and purchase local Korean goods. This is one of the only few places in the DPRK where we can exchange foreign currency for Korean Won and purchase goods with locals. The ground floor consists of a big supermarket, the top floors are department stores. It was only in 2015 that foreigners were allowed to start visiting this place.
Golden Lane Bowling Alley - chance to hang out with locals and have a game of bowling.

Expected Mass Games! Please note that we expect these to take place but that this is NOT CONFIRMED at this point. Tickets started at 80 Euros the last time they were held back in 2013 and we are awaiting rates for this year.
Dinner: local restaurant, Pyongyang

Overnight: Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang

Day 6 - September 11 (Tuesday)

Breakfast: Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang
10.10 am train to Beijing - if interested in flying back please do let us know, though we strongly recommend taking the train at least once as it adds to the DPRK experience