Itinerary for "Liberation Day standard tour " 14.8-22.8.2010

Important! The itinerary below is a PRELIMINARY one. Korea Konsult reserves the right to change some parts of the itinerary below if needed.

Last update for this tour: October 13, 2009

Day 1, August 14 (Sat)

a) Departure from Beijing by Air Koryo flight JS 152 at 13.00 am from TERMINAL 2 (Beijing Capital Airport). All passengers should arrive to the airport at least 2 hours before the flight's departure.

b) Arrival in Pyongyang at 16.00 local time, transfer to Pyongyang, city sightseeing including Arch of Triumph.

c) Check-in at the hotel Yanggakdo International**** beautifully located in the middle of Taedong river. Room on a high floor. A magnificent view is guaranteed!

d) Dinner at the hotel.

e) Incredible Mass Gymnastics Show of 100,000 performers - Arirang Mass Games. It will be hosted at Pyongyang May Day Stadium, one of the biggest sport arenas in the World. Important! The show date is preliminary and is subject to change The price of the ticket i is not included in the tour price and should be paid directly in Pyongyang before the show starts (from 80 Euro per ticket).

Day 2, August 15 (Sun) 65th Anniversary of the country liberation from the Japanese rule

a) Visit to the Kumsusan Memorial Palace - the Mausoleum of President Kim Il-Sung (tourists must follow a strict dress code - no shorts, no blue jeans and mini-skirts, no T-shirts).

b) Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery

c) Lunch on the No.1 boat Pyongyang on Taedong River

d) Ride on Pyongyang Metro

e) Juche Tower and surrounding monuments. Elevator to the top of the tower to enjoy the magnificent view of Pyongyang (optional, 5 Euro p/p).

f) Worker Party Foundation Monuments.

g) Walk in Moranbong Park (many Koreans spend a holiday day there. In the midlle of the park - Soviet Army monument)

h) Visit to the American spy ship USS Pueblo, captured by North Koreans in 1968. The 1,000-ton ship, equipped with various kinds of arms and sophisticated reconnaissance facilities, was boarded by 81 U.S. seamen and had been captured just by 7 Korean seamen. Hopefully you meet one of them on this ship. Although the ship's crew were repatriated after a lengthy negotiation, North Korea kept the ship as a war trophy.

I) Mass Dance Evening on the occasion of Liberation Day involving several thousand Koreans.

j) Dinner at Hot Pot restaurant.

Day 3, August 16 (Mon)

a) Breakfast. Grand People Study House - DPRK’s biggest library and educational centre located on the North Korea main square – Kim Il Sung’s square.

b) Korean War Museum where you can hear and watch the North Korean version of this bloody war 1950-1953. On the museum’s top floor a big rotating war panorama can be seen – a real masterpiece from Korean painters and sculptors. 

c) After lunch drive to Kaesong (capital of Korea up to the 15 th century, which and today is the ginseng cultivation center), located just 8 km from the Demilitarized Zone dividing the 2 Koreas).

d) Visit of King Kongmin Tomb. This twin tomb dates from around 1352 and belongs to a monarch of the Koryo dynasty and his wife. Really beautiful and idyllic place to visit.

e) View on Concrete Wall in the DMZ, build by South Korea (24 km east of Kaesong).

f) Dinner at a traditional restaurant and overnight at Folk Custom Hotel (sleep on the floor, Korean traditional style)

Day 4, August 17 (Tue)

a) After breakfast drive to the DMZ and Panmunjom (1953 Armistice village). Our guide force is increased by several North Korean officers who show us around Panmunjom. Together we inspect the Demilitarized Zone and the Military Museum on the 38th parallel.

b) Return to Kaesong. Walk in Janamsan Park from which the beautiful panorama of the old Kaesong can be admired.

c) Lunch at Tongil restaurant in Kaesong. "Tongil" means "Reunification" in Korean.

d) Drive back to Pyongyang. Visit to a Middle School. You can even visit classrooms and assist at several lessons. The visit ends with a music and dance performance.

e) Dinner at Mangyondae Restaurant

Day 5, August 18 (Wed)

a) After breakfast departure to Myohyangsan mountains (170 km from Pyongyang ).

b) International Friendship Exhibition (impressive exhibition of gifts from foreigners to President Kim Il-Song and the leader Kim Jong-Il.)

c) Buddhist temple Bohyon.

d) Lunch at the Hyangsan hotel.

e) Trekking in the beautiful Manphok Valley (valley of 10 000 waterfalls).

f) Return to Pyongyang, dinner at Lotos Restaurant

Day 6, August 19 (Thur)

a) Departure to Wonsan - biggest seaport in DPRK. On the way to Wonsan you visit the beautiful waterfall Ulim, discovered by the Korean People's Army in 2001.

b) Check in at the Songdowon Tourist Hotel in Wonsan, beautifully located at the beach in the heart of the city. Lunch at the hotel.

c) Drive to the cooperative farm Chonsam - we visit agricultural fields, but even peasants houses and meet their families.

d) Back to Wonsan and visit of Sondowon International Schoolchildren's Camp.

e) Kaeson Revolutionary Museum. The museum is located in the old railway station building. The center of the exposition is the Japanese-built steam locomotive and 2 carriages used by Kim Il Sung during his trip from Wonsan to Pyongyang in 1945.

f) Dinner at Kalmaegi Restaurant

Day 7, August 20 (Fri)

a) Early breakfast. Short trip to beautiful Kumgang Mountains (we visit a very beautiful place called "Mini-Kumgang").

b) Stop at lake Sijung, nice view and sandy beach. Rest on the beach.

c) Lunch at Sijung Guest House

d) Back to Pyongyang. Dinner at Chongryu Restaurant.

e) Farewell dinner at Duck Barbecue Restaurant.

Day 8, August 21 (Sat)

Breakfast. Transfer to the railway station and departure to Beijing at 10.10 a.m. One night on the train.

Sightseeing: the railway bridge over Yalu-river is at the same time the North Korean border to China. When crossing this bridge, we see another bridge destroyed by the Korean War. China rebuilt its half of the bridge but North Korea intentionally did not. Instead they wanted to leave the bridge in ruins (just piles are seen) as a monument to the Korean War.

Day 9, August 22 (Sun)

Arrival in Beijing at 08.33 am.

Important! We recommend you don’t book any connection flights/trains from Beijing before 5-6 pm on the same day. It is the best to plan your departure from Beijing the day after the train arrival. Please note that Korea Konsult may NOT be held responsible for any flight or train delay.