5 DAYS / 4 NIGHTS - A GLIMPSE OF NORTH KOREA
(BEIJING - PYONGYANG - KAESONG - PYONGYANG - BEIJING)

 

DAY 1: BEIJING - PYONGYANG (B)
Morning flight to Pyongyang (11:30/14:25). Once in the capital of North Korea and after the customs clearance you will meet the local official guide at the airport. From there the sight seeing tour starts: As for all tourists a must: the first stop is at the Mansundae Grand monument, a huge statue of Kim Il-Sung with his outstretched arm. Proper respect must be shown here, bowing and placing flowers. On the way to the hotel you pass the Arch of Triumph and the Fountain Park. After dinner at the hotel visit the famous Mass Games (only from 4th of August to the end of September). Overnight at the Yanggakdo Hotel (or other).
NOTE: If you watch the Mass Games performance on this day we have to omit some visits on the evening which will be the Arch of Triumph and Fountain.

 

DAY 2: PYONGYANG - KAESONG (B/L/D)
Your first stop today will be the Kumsusan Memorial Palace. For this occasion it is a MUST to wear formal dress (don't forget your tie! No joke!) You will continue to the 1000 year old Buddhist temple - quite a surprise! The temple is located in a beautiful setting surrounded by mountains. Continue to the Mausoleum of King Tangun, the mythical founder of Korean nation. Do some photo shots from the top of the Juche (Self-Reliance) Tower (170m). After lunch drive to the Mangyongdae Native House, the birthplace shrine of the president Kim II Sung which comprises several grass roof houses built in a style commonly found in northern Korea. Next stop is the Mangyongdae Fun Fair (1982), a 60 hectares compound offering about 50 kinds of different fun fair amusements. If time permits a visit to the Mangyongdae Children's Palace will be arranged to learn about some North Korean children getting their education there. Later in the afternoon you drive south (2 hrs) towards the old historical city of Kaesong, the only large DPRK city which escaped destruction in the war. There you visit the Tomb of King Kongming. Overnight in Minsok at the Folk Hotel where you sleep in traditional Korean style rooms on heated floors. Please note: Kumsusan Memorial Palace only open on Thursdays and Sundays.

 

DAY 3: KAESONG - PYONGYANG (B/L/D)
After breakfast at 7 am drive for abt 20 minutes to the DMZ (demilitarized zone at the border with South Korea) at Panmunjom. On the way back to Kaesong you visit the Koryo Museum which has a display of over 1000 artifacts. It is also famous for the two 500-year-old gingko trees and a 450-year-old zelkova tree. Further on your list – if time permits - is the Sonjuk Bridge, the place where the late Koryo Dynasty statesman Jeong Mong-ju was murdered). Your 13 course royal lunch will be at the Tongilgwan restaurant in Kaesong. Drive the 160 km back to the capital and have a ride in the Metro as there is no visit to Pyongyang without a ride in the two lined underground metro. Dinner in Down Town. Back to the hotel enjoy some local beer and some rounds of bowling. Overnight at the Yanggakdo Hotel (or other).

 

DAY 4: PYONGYANG (B/L/D)
After breakfast  drive first to the Kim Il Sung Square in the heart of the capital. Covering an area of 75000 square meters it has been the venue of many mass processions and military parades on national holidays. Behind the Kim Il Sung Square is the  Grand People Study House which is stocked with tens of millions of books.  From there continue to visit the Korean  Central Art Gallery exhibiting mainly Korean paintings as well as fine art works created during the anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle. It further has interesting displays of some masterpieces dating back to the 4th century. After lunch continue to the Monument of the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War and visit the museum. Experience the atmosphere of Pyongyang's Film studios and if possible you may have a glimpse to the work behind the scenes and watch  the actors performing. at the mock-up locations, such as the secret camp in Mt. Paektu, old Chinese and Japanese streets... you just name it.  You will end your sight seeing with an interesting visit to the Pyongyang Embroidery Institute and the Mansuade Art Studio. Farewell dinner at the BB Restaurant in Down Town. Back to the hotel enjoy some local beer and some rounds of bowling. Overnight at the Yanggakdo Hotel (or other). Please note: For this day we can vary the sites according to your wish. Just let us know before!

 

DAY 5: PYONGYANG - BEIJING (B)
Take the morning flight to Beijing - and maybe you will come back and see more sites of one of the most secretive countries on our planet earth.