2018 North Korea May Day Tour - The application deadline for this tour is March 20 2018.
Our North Korea May Day Tour combines 4 cities in 4 nights in the
DPRK: Pyongyang, Kaesong, Nampo and Sariwon, a unique chance of
covering much of the DPRK during a national holiday.
In our humble opinion, May Day is one of the most fun times to be in
North Korea. Please check our Youtube video below recorded in 2018 and
you will see why we love this day so much:
Day 0 - April 27 (Friday) for
those entering by train
Those taking the train in meet our KTG staff downtown Beijing for
our pre-tour briefing and take the train to
Pyongyang together, arriving the following day in Pyongyang
Day 1 - April 28 (Saturday) for
those entering by plane
Head to the airport and depart from Beijing at 13.05 flight JS
152 Terminal 2, Beijing Capital Airport
Arrive in Pyongyang at 15.35 (Pyongyang time)
PM
Arch of Triumph -
impressive monument larger than the Arch of Triumph in Paris
Brief
walk around the area - we will see the enormous mural showing an
image of President Kim Il Sung's speech upon returning to Korea after
the liberation of the country in 1945. The Kim Il Sung Stadium is
located close by too, though we will see more of this on Sunday
Drive
by Chollima Statue - built to reflect the DPRK's official policy
to reconstruct the country after the Korean
War at the speed of the Chollima Horse
Hotel check-in: Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang
Welcome Dinner: KITC Restaurant, Pyongyang
Overnight: Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang
Day 2 - April 29 (Sunday)
AM
Breakfast: Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang
Kumsusan
Palace of the Sun - we start the main day of our North
Korea May Day tour with an early departure to where the
leaders
Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il remain in state. Please note that this is
one of the most important places in the DPRK. You are kindly asked to
dress in formal attire (please contact us for more information
regarding this).
IMPORTANT The Kumsusan Palace of
the Sun only
opens on Thursday and Sunday mornings to the public and
is usually closed from May until July. In 2018 it was closed on 30
April and no tourists in the country were able to go. Our partners in
Pyongyang have told us that they expect it to be opened on 29 April
2018 but we find it necessary to let all travellers know about the
possiblity of it being closed at the end of April.
Revolutionary
Martyrs' Cemetery -
located near the Kumsusan Memorial Palace in the outskirts of
Pyongyang, views of the whole city are offered
PM
Lunch: Yanngakdo Hotel, Pyongyang - we go back to our hotel to
have lunch and quicky change back into comfortable clothes
Drive
to the port city of Nampo on the west coast of the DPRK
Chongsanri
Cooperative farm -
we will have the chance to see where farmers
live
and work. One of the farm leaders will show us around the greenhouses
they have and explain to us how they operate. This is an opportunity to
see a unique
characteristic of the DPRK which was common in communist states; a
cooperative, that is a farm where groups of farmers work and live. It
will also allow you to see how people work and live in the farm.
West
Sea Barrage - 8km long barrage that separates the Taedong River
and the
West Sea. This is a source of national pride in the DPRK. It has helped
reduce floods in Pyongyang and also provides energy in the local area.
You will have a view of the whole project which also lets you see a
variety of ships off the DPRK coasts.
Drive back to Pyongyang
Kwangbok
Supermarket
- this is the only place where foreigners can exchange foreign currency
for Korean won and purchase goods with Korean won. This place is
usually packed with locals and we are allowed to wander around by
ourselves. The bottom floor consists of a supermarket which mainly
consists of local goods. The first floor is where clothes is sold as
well as other goods such as watches, home equipment. The top floor is
where we can buy snacks and meals and it is where hundreds of people
tend to gather with their families for some food!
Dinner: Local restaurant, Pyongyang
Overnight: Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang
Day 3 - April 30 (Monday)
AM
Breakfast: Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang
Depart
to Kaesong
(Panmunjom, the DMZ) - we depart early in the morning for this 2.5 hour
drive. As we approach Kaesong we will be able to see the Kaesong
Industrial Complex on the left hand side of our coach and the train
station with the railway connecting North and South Korea which
symbolises hope of reunification.
38th
Parallel (DMZ) -
chance to enter the famous blue negotiation rooms
where talks between North & South Korea have taken place. A KPA
Officer will join us on our coach and we will be guided around
Panmunjom. The officer with us tends to ask us questions regarding our
views about Korea and it is fascinating to be able to interact with them
Koryo
Museum
(UNESCO World Heritage Site) in the old part of the city - unlike most
of Korea,
Kaesong was not destroyed during the Korean War. This museum was the
first university in the Korean Peninsula. It is also quite common to
see newly weds celebrating their weddings here.
Stamp
shop -
chance to purchase a rich variety of DPRK stamps, post cards, artwork,
etc. This is just outside of the Koryo Museum and we usually make a
quick break here.
PM
Lunch
at Tongil Restaurant (Kaesong) -
dishes are served in small covered golden plated bowls. The number of
smalle dishes served symbolised in ancient times
the status of the person eating, 12 dishes being the highest number.
Drive
to Sariwon, one of the largest city in the DPRK
Walk
around Folk Street - We drive back to Sariwon city and explore what the city has to offer. Opportunity to walk
around one of the busiest streets in Sariwon and stop by a local "Sul
Jib" (meaning wine house or bar) to try some of the local delicacy;
makoli, a traditional Korean drink (with low levels of alcohol).
Sariwon is renowned for having the best makoli in the DPRK.
Check
local models of ancient pavilions and have an explanation of
ancient
Korea - apart from seeing models of Korean ancient pavilions and maps
of the ancient Korean peninsula, one of the main highlights here is
that there are usually Koreans playing games such as shooting targets
(corks used as bullets). Not many travellers visit this city and we are
always welcome to have a chance at the game!
Walk
up to Mt. Kyongnam Pavilion - the whole city of Sariwon and beyond can be seen
from here. The walk itself is not that long, around 5 to 10 minutes,
but the views give you a chance of not only seeing people getting along
with their daily lives around the city but also the landscape
stretching miles away into the horizon. You can see our Youtube video
below to see what Sairwon looks like:
Stop
at the Reunification Monument - chance to have some pictures
taken at these giant monuments
Drive
back to Pyongyang
Dinner: Hotpot Restaurant
Overnight: Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang
Day 4 - May 1 (Tuesday) May 1st National Holiday (International Workers' Day)
AM
Breakfast: Yanggakdo Hotel
Fountain
Park - popular place for locals to take pictures. We will walk
by the giant mosaic images of the leaders.
Mansudae
Grand Monuments - giant bronze statues of the Leaders Kim Il
Sung and Kim Jong Il.
Korean
War Museum - the newly restored museum shows the DPRK version of
the
Korean War. The sheer size of the museum and amount of detail put into
it is truly amazing.
USS
Pueblo - US Spy ship captured by the DPRK in 1968, it sits in
North Korea as trophy shown to locals and foreigners alike.
Taeson
Park
- sporting and dancing events are held here. You will be able to wonder
around by yourself in the park and join in the fun with the Koreans!
Interacting with Koreans is a highlight of our North Korea May Day tour
and something that we encourage as much as possible in all of our
trips. Having small groups enhances the chances of this greatly. Please
check our short Youtube video:
PM
Lunch:
Local restaurant, Pyongyang
Ride
on Pyongyang Metro - visit several stops as part of this
extended ride on one of the busiest days in Pyongyang!
Moran
Park - chance to celebrate with locals on this National Holiday.
You
will be able to join in the singing and dancing. Thousands, and this is
no
exaggeration, of people gather here today. The spirits are high and the
atmosphere is incredible. Although a capital city, Pyongyang does not
receive many Westerners, meaning that you will be treated as a special
guest by locals who usually have limited chance to interact with
foreigners given that there are not many in the country.
Juche
Tower - stunning views of Pyongyang are offered from the top of
this 150 metre tall tower (170 including the flame!)
Workers'
Party Monuments - if Mass
Dances are held you will be able to
attend,
though this will only be confirmed on May 1st. Thousands of Koreans
gather and dance (women wearing traditional Korean outfits and men
suits) in a synchronised way. You will of course be more than welcome
to join in!
Local
funfair - even if you do not want to go on the rides, this is a
great
time to see locals have fun on a National Holiday and they will be with
no doubt very curious at the sight of foreigners. Rides are 1 to 3
Euros per person but you do not need to try any of them if you would
rather simply walk and look around the park, which itself is an
experience!
Drink at local bar - pre-dinner drinks at the Taedongang Number 3
Brewery Bar before our May Day Tour Farewell Dinner
10.10 am Train to Beijing - Please notify us if you
would rather fly out of Pyongyang.
PM
Stopover at Sinuiju train station bordering China where DPRK
customs
takes place (customs officers will come on the train to proceed with
formalities). We then cross the bridge over the Yalu River back into
China.
Overnight: train
Day 6 - May 3 (Thursday)
AM
Arrival at the Beijing train station. The expected arrival
time
is 8.38 am