2021 North Korea National Day Tour II
Our North Korea National Day Tour II will allow you to be in Pyongyang for the 73rd 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 for 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 one working day 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.
Detailed Itinerary
Please note that itineraries can always be modified based on local circumstances in Korea.
Day 1 - 7 September (Tuesday)
- Depart from Beijing at 13.05 flight JS 152 Terminal 2, Beijing Capital Airport
- Arrive in Pyongyang at 16.05 (Pyongyang time)
PM
- Arch of Triumph - marking the arrival of President Kim Il Sung after having fought against the Japanese occupation of the Korean peninsula, it is larger than the Arch of Triumph in Paris
- Brief walk around the area, see the enormous mosaic of the Leader Kim Il Sung's speech after the liberation from Japan in 1945 and Kim Il Sung Stadium
- Hotel check-in: Yanggakdo Hotel
- DPRK National Day Tour Welcome Dinner: KITC Restaurant, Pyongyang
Overnight: Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang
Day 2 - 8 September (Wednesday)
- 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.
- Pohyon Buddhist Temple - one of the most important places of Buddhism in the region when Buddhism was prevalent in Korea.
PM
- Lunch: Hyangsan Hotel, Mount Myohyang - this is one of the most luxurious hotels in DPRK
- Drive back to Pyongyang
- Korean War Museum - impressive museum built in just 10 months. See original weapons used during this devastating War and lear the DPRK version of the first, and still existing, Cold War conflict.
- USS Pueblo - US spy ship captured by the DPRK near Wonsan on the east coast and kept as a trophy
- Kwangbok Supermarket - chance to use Korean Won and purchase goods with locals
- Dinner: Local restaurant, Pyongyang
Overnight: Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang
Day 3 - 9 September (Thursday) - National Day
This is one of the most important dates in the DPRK calendar.
AM
- Breakfast: Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang
- Kumsusan Palace of the Sun - (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.
- 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
PM
- Lunch: local restaurant
- Pyongyang Metro ride - at an average of 100 metres below ground we will take a ride with locals
- Moran Park - (where locals picnic and gather on national holidays) - do expect to be asked to join in the fun and games! 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 views of Pyongyang.
- Workers' Party Foundation Monuments - impressive monument consisting of a hammer, sickle and brush.
Below is a video of a parade on national day. We do not expect there to be any military parades on National Day 2021 as these are only held on major anniversaries e.g. 65th anniversary, 70th anniversary, etc. In any case, when there is one this is usually how it looks like! We took this back in 2013. There was a parade too in 2018.
- 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.
- 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
- EXPECTED MASS GAMES please note that these have not been confirmed. If they do not take place, we will arrange a trip to the local funfair where you can join Koreans on a national holiday. The entrance fee to the funfair is around 2 Euros and rides cost from 1.5 to 5 Euros and are optional.
- 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 4 - 10 September (Friday)
AM
- Lunch: Local restaurant, 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.
- Panmunjom (aka 38th Parallel) - early visit to the DMZ. Chance to enter the famous blue negotiation room where talks between North & South Korea take place, or to get close to them if they are locked. 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.
PM
- Lunch: Tongil Restaurant (Kaesong) - The name means 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 - this lively city is the capital of North Hwanghae Province.
- Folk Street & Ancient Model Pavilions - we will see how Koreans lived in ancient times and check some model pavilions of times past in Korea. we will walk around this street and may have the chance to try some local Makoli (Korean rice wine with very low levels of alcohol). If you have a weak stomach please do not try it! The walk around here is always interesting. There are usually street games and activities too where we can of course join in!
- Mt. Kyongnam Pavilion - a 5 minute walk up hill, it offers fantastic views of Sariwon city and the surrounding region.
- Stop at the Re-unification Monuments - good chance to take some pictures
- Grand People's Study House - huge study centre/library with fantastic views of Kim Il Sung Square
- Dinner: Pyongyang Number 1 Duck Barbecue Restaurant, Pyongyang. Taste some delicious local Korean duck meat! Options available too for vegetarians
Overnight: Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang
Day 5 - 11 September (Saturday)
AM
- Breakfast: Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang
- Mangyongdae Art Gallery
- Drive to Nampo City - we will go on the Youth Heroes Highway which was built by university students in the late 90s.
- Chongsangrim Cooperative Farm - cooperative farms were common in socialist/communist countries. Farmers and their families work and live here. The local farm manager will show us around the farm and explain how it operates.
- Ta'en Glass Manufacturing Factory -unique chance to see how a DPRK factory operates
- Ryonggang Hot Spa Hotel
Day 6 - 12 September (Sunday)
- West Sea Barrage - this is an 8 km long structure that divides the Taedong River from the West Sea of Korea (the Yellow Sea). It took 5 years to build and is seen as a source of national pride. We will be able to have views of the whole structure from the platform by the lighthouse.
- Mangyongdae Native House - Birth Place of President Kim Il Sung
PM
- Lunch: local restaurant, Pyongyang
- Walk by Future Street aka Scientists' Street - newly built street where scientists and university professors live. The architecture here strongly contrasts with that of the rest of Pyongyang.
- Munsu Water Park - enjoy and relax having fun with locals. There are several things you can do here; get in your swimming trunks and check out the pools and slides, have a go at table tennis, billiards or simply enjoy a cup of coffee. If you would like to go on the slides and pools the fee is 10 Euros per person.
- Kaeson Funfair after dinner - you can take rides with locals, but even if you'd rather not, this is a great opportunity to join Koreans during their celebrations and to mingle with them. Rides cost from 1.5 to 5 Euros and are optional. If you already went here on 9th September a trip to the bowling alley will be arranged. You can also mingle with locals there.
- Farewell Dinner: local restaurant, Pyongyang
Day 7 - September 13 (Monday)
- Breakfast: Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang
- 10.25 am train to Beijing - if interested in flying back please do let us know
PM
- Stopover at Sinuiju train station bordering China - DPRK customs will be carried out on the train
Day 8 - 14 September (Tuesday)
Arrive in Beijing at 08:40 am
End of our DPRK National Day Tour
Tour Map
Please check the places that we will visit on our tour. You can hover over each place for more information.
Pyongyang is marked with the big red star.
Sinuiju and Dandong are are entry/departure points when taking the train. If you would like to have a tour in either of these cities do please let us know!
Tour Outline
This tour consists of 6 nights / 7 days in the DPRK plus one night on the train (plane exit option is also available). This tour covers highlights and celebrations in Pyongyang on 9 September which is National Day, the lively city of Sariwon, the beautiful region of Mt. Myohyang where we visit the famous International Friendship Exhibition Centre and a local temple, the ancient city Kaesong, home to 12 UNESCO World Heritage sites, DMZ which is where North and South Korean soldiers stand meters apart and the port city of Nampo on the west coast where will stay overnight at a Hot Spa Hotel. The tour ends with a visit to Munsu Waterpark where locals gather on weekends and holidays. We also expect the Mass Games to be held, though this has not been confirmed yet.
Highlights
- Being in Pyongyang for any celebrations on 9 September, National Day!
- Main highlights in Pyongyang including shopping with locals!
- Expected Mass Games Mass Games - this is not confirmed yet but if they are held we will attend them!
- The DMZ where the Korean War Armistice was signed and where soldiers from North and South Korea face each other.
- The ancient city of Kaesong.
- Staying overnight at a hot spa hotel near Nampo city
- Visiting a local cooperative farm where farmers work and live.
- Enjoying a Sunday afternoon with locals at the famous Munsu Waterpark.
Accommodation
We will be based in one of the best hotels of Pyongyang, the Yanggakdo Hotel. This is classified as a Deluxe Hotel in the DPRK, unlike hotels such as the Sosan and Ryanggang Hotels, which are budget hotels. As of 2019 we have been able to use the wifi service in the hotel's casino.
We will also stay at the Ryonggang Hot Spa Hotel in Onchon county, near Nampo city. Each room has its own spa, with salty water coming from area's groundwater. They usually have too the option of having Petrol Clam BBQ!
Group Size
Based on what we have seen, our group tours tend to be much smaller that of other agencies specialising in DPRK tours. We usually have less than 10 people per group and people from all around the world. In the extremely unlikely case of having 19 travellers per group we will divide the group into two separate groups; each with their guides, driver and private vehicle.
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.
Please go to our North Korea Tourism page to see more information on other tours that we offer other than our North Korea National Day Tour.
