August 3rd - 10th, 2013
Our August program is packed with highlights, ranging from an intense exploration of the capital city, Pyongyang, to the International Friendship Exhibition in beautiful Mount Myohyang, and to insightful excursions to mythical Mount Paektu and Samjiyon in the North, and the Demilitarized Zone near Kaesong in the South. This trip offers unrelenting sensational experiences and will take your breath away ! Participants will experience a roller-coaster of emotions as we learn about the rich culture of the Korean peninsula and about the atrocities that foreign occupation and the Korean War have brought. Moreover, we will attend a performance of the incredible Arirang Mass Games and enjoy some down-time with the local people at the Kaeson Fun Fair !
Trip program*
Day 1 - Saturday August 3rd
Meet at Beijing Capital Airport Terminal 2 at 10.30 am for Check-in
13.00 Flight from Beijing to Pyongyang, arrival in Pyongyang at 16.00 (local time; two-hour flight)
Customs at Pyongyang Airport, meet guides and driver, Mansudae Grand Monument, Fountain Park, Arch of Triumph, transfer to Yanggakdo Hotel.
Accommodation : Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang
Day 2 - Sunday August 4th
Morning : Visit Kumsusan Memorial Palace (Mausoleum of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il), Revolutionary Martyrs’ Cemetery, Kim Il Sung Square
Afternoon : Walk in Moran Hill park to see locals enjoy their day off, Mangyongdae Native House, Pyongyang Metro (6 stations), Mansudae Art Studio (time permitting)
After dinner : Kaeson Fun Fair (1 or 2 Euros per ride)
Accommodation : Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang
Day 3 - Monday August 5th
Morning : Domestic flight to Samjiyon, drive to Mount Paektu
Afternoon : Climb to the summit of Mount Paektu and Lake Chon (cable car may be available), late picnic lunch, visit to Secret Camp
Accommodation : Pegaebong Hotel, Samjiyon
Day 4 - Tuesday August 6th
Morning : Visit to Samjiyon Grand Monument and Samjiyon Regional Museum, Domestic flight to Pyongyang
Afternoon : USS Pueblo, Pyongyang Maternity Hospital
After dinner : Arirang Mass Games performance** (tickets not included in tour cost)
Accommodation : Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang
Day 5 - Wednesday August 7th
Morning : Drive to Mount Myohyang, visit International Friendship Exhibition (worldwide gifts to Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il), Pohyon Buddhist Temple, walk in the surrounding area (beautiful scenery, stunning waterfalls)
Afternoon : Return to Pyongyang, School visit to Kang Bang Suk school, Grand People's Study House
Accommodation : Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang
Day 6 - Thursday August 8th
Morning : Juche Tower, Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum, War Victory Monuments Park, Drive to Sinchon
Afternoon : Sinchon Museum of US War Atrocities, drive to Kaesong, Tomb of King Kongmin, arrive in Kaesong late afternoon.
Accommodation : Minsok Folk Hotel (traditional Korean hotel, sleep on mattress on heated floors)
Day 7 - Friday August 9th
Morning : Panmunjom (Truce Village and Demilitarized Zone), Koryo Museum (Confusian University), Shop in Stamp Shop
Afternoon : Visit concrete wall overlooking South Korea, return to Pyongyang, Grand People's Study House, Monument to the Party Foundation
Accommodation : Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang
Day 8 : Saturday August 10th
Morning : Depart Pyongyang by Air Koryo at 9 am, arrive Beijiing 10 am local time.
End of trip
** The excursion to the Arirang Mass Games performance may shift to another evening.
Meet at Beijing Capital Airport Terminal 2 at 10.30 am for Check-in
13.00 Flight from Beijing to Pyongyang, arrival in Pyongyang at 16.00 (local time; two-hour flight)
Customs at Pyongyang Airport, meet guides and driver, Mansudae Grand Monument, Fountain Park, Arch of Triumph, transfer to Yanggakdo Hotel.
Accommodation : Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang
Day 2 - Sunday August 4th
Morning : Visit Kumsusan Memorial Palace (Mausoleum of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il), Revolutionary Martyrs’ Cemetery, Kim Il Sung Square
Afternoon : Walk in Moran Hill park to see locals enjoy their day off, Mangyongdae Native House, Pyongyang Metro (6 stations), Mansudae Art Studio (time permitting)
After dinner : Kaeson Fun Fair (1 or 2 Euros per ride)
Accommodation : Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang
Day 3 - Monday August 5th
Morning : Domestic flight to Samjiyon, drive to Mount Paektu
Afternoon : Climb to the summit of Mount Paektu and Lake Chon (cable car may be available), late picnic lunch, visit to Secret Camp
Accommodation : Pegaebong Hotel, Samjiyon
Day 4 - Tuesday August 6th
Morning : Visit to Samjiyon Grand Monument and Samjiyon Regional Museum, Domestic flight to Pyongyang
Afternoon : USS Pueblo, Pyongyang Maternity Hospital
After dinner : Arirang Mass Games performance** (tickets not included in tour cost)
Accommodation : Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang
Day 5 - Wednesday August 7th
Morning : Drive to Mount Myohyang, visit International Friendship Exhibition (worldwide gifts to Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il), Pohyon Buddhist Temple, walk in the surrounding area (beautiful scenery, stunning waterfalls)
Afternoon : Return to Pyongyang, School visit to Kang Bang Suk school, Grand People's Study House
Accommodation : Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang
Day 6 - Thursday August 8th
Morning : Juche Tower, Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum, War Victory Monuments Park, Drive to Sinchon
Afternoon : Sinchon Museum of US War Atrocities, drive to Kaesong, Tomb of King Kongmin, arrive in Kaesong late afternoon.
Accommodation : Minsok Folk Hotel (traditional Korean hotel, sleep on mattress on heated floors)
Day 7 - Friday August 9th
Morning : Panmunjom (Truce Village and Demilitarized Zone), Koryo Museum (Confusian University), Shop in Stamp Shop
Afternoon : Visit concrete wall overlooking South Korea, return to Pyongyang, Grand People's Study House, Monument to the Party Foundation
Accommodation : Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang
Day 8 : Saturday August 10th
Morning : Depart Pyongyang by Air Koryo at 9 am, arrive Beijiing 10 am local time.
End of trip
** The excursion to the Arirang Mass Games performance may shift to another evening.
* Participants are advised that the schedule of the day to day program may undergo changes up to the day of arrival in Pyongyang. However, the content of the program will not be affected.