2019 North Korea May Day Tour

2019 North Korea May Day Tour - The application deadline for this tour is March 20 2019.

Our North Korea May Day Tour combines 4 regions in 5 nights in the DPRK: Pyongyang, Kaesong, where we stay overnight, Sariwon and Mount Myohyang, 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 2017 and you will see why this is such a great time to be in North Korea:

Day 1 - April 27 (Saturday)

Head to the airport and depart from Beijing at 13.05 flight JS 152 Terminal 2, Beijing Capital Airport
Arrive in Pyongyang at 16.05 (Pyongyang time)

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 28 (Sunday)

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. Our partners in Pyongyang have told us that they expect it to be opened on 30 April 2019 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

Lunch: Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang - we go back to our hotel to have lunch and quickly change back into comfortable clothes

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.

Korean War Museum in Pyongyang capital of North Korea (KTG picture)

Drive south to Kaesong(Panmunjom, the DMZ) - we head south towards the border between North and South Korea. The trip is 3 hours long and we will have a break by the highway where you can take pictures. If you go up the building you can take pictures of the empty Re-unification Highway. There are several military check-points when going and coming back from Kaesong. Our guides will tell us when we cannot take pictures.

Hotel check-in: Minsok Traditional Courtyard Hotel - this is a traditional Korean hotel where sleep and eat on the floor (we sleep on a matress on the floor). There are some rooms with beds so if this is something you require please tell us when booking your tour with us.

Minsok courtyard hotel in Kaesong, North Korea (DPRK) - a KTG picture

There is a cozy small bar by the dining room where we usually gather for drinks and to chat after dinner. Our Korean guides join in too, which is great to get to know them and their personal views better.

Dinner: Minsok Hotel, Kaesong

As you exit the restaurant after dinner you can see the bronze lit-up statues of the Leaders at a distance overlooking the whole city of Kaesong, indeed an impacting view given the darkness that dominates the general scenery. Also worth mentioning is the stark contrast of dark skies full of stars (given a clear night of course) and the purple / orange skies that can be seen further south, presumably from Seoul which is only around 70 km away.

Dinner: Minsok Hotel, Kaesong

Overnight: Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang

Day 3 - April 29 (Monday)

Breakfast: Minsok Hotel, Kaesong

Tomb of King Kongmin (UNESCO World Heritage site) - twin tombs of King Kongmin and his Mongolian wife. The tombs have undergone very little restoration and are unique in that they are twin tombs.

Tomb of King Kongmin. North Korean school children visiting the place a few days before May Day

38th Parallel (DMZ) - chance to enter the famous blue negotiation rooms where talks between North & South Korea have taken place. These are not always opened. If the rooms are not opened we will get a chance to see them from very close. 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 wide variety of DPRK stamps, post cards, artwork, etc. This is just outside of the Koryo Museum and we usually make a quick break here.

Lunch at Tongil Restaurant (Kaesong) - dishes are served in small covered golden plated bowls. The number of small dishes served symbolised in ancient times the status of the person eating, 12 dishes being the highest number.

Drive to Sariwon, capital of North Hwanghae Province

Walk around the 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

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: Hotpot Restaurant

Overnight: Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang

Day 4 - April 30 (Tuesday)

Breakfast: Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang

Drive to Mount Myohyang in the northern interior region of North Korea

International Friendship Exhibition Centre - presenting thousands of presents given to President Kim Il Sung, his son Chairman Kim Jong Il and his wife national heroine Comrade Kim Jong Suk. There is now a section too for the current Leader Kim Jong Un. These buildings are actually built into the mountains!

Pohyon Buddhist Temple - initially built in 1042, it used to be the capital of Buddhism in this region of Korea

Monk in Mt. Myohyang, religion in North Korea (DPRK)

Lunch: Hyangsan Hotel, Mt. Myohyang - this is one of the most luxurious hotels in DPRK

Drive back to Pyongyang

Children's Palace - see a truly impressive mixture of singing, instrument playing and dancing performances

Children's Palace in Pyongyang, North Korea (KTG picture)

Dinner: Local restaurant, Pyongyang

Overnight: Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang

Day 5 - May 1 (Wednesday) - May 1st National Holiday (International Workers' Day)

Breakfast: Yanggakdo Hotel

Walk from Pyongyang Grand Theatre to Kim Il Sung Square; the heart of Pyongyang

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.

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:

Lunch: Picnic lunch, Moran Park

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.

May Day celebrations on Moran Hill, Pyongyang, North Korea

Ride on Pyongyang Metro - visit several stops as part of this extended ride on one of the busiest days in Pyongyang!

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!

Dancing with North Koreans in Moran Park on May Day

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

Farewell Dinner: Pyongyang No.1 Duck BBQ Restaurant, Pyongyang

Day 6 - May 2 (Thursday)

Breakfast: Yanggakdo Hotel

10.25 am Train to Beijing - Please notify us if you would rather fly out of Pyongyang.

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 7 - May 3 (Friday)