Itinerary for "Victory Day tour " 25.7-2.8.2009

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 10, 2008

Day 1, July 25 (Sat)

a) Departure from Beijing by Air Koryo flight JS 152 at 11.55 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 14.55 local time, transfer to Pyongyang, city sightseeing including Mansudae Grand Monuments on Mansu Hill and 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.

Day 2, July 26 (Sun)

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) Trip 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) and visit of Koryo Dynasty Museum. The famous Koryo Dynasty ruled Korea for several centuries until 1392.

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

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 3, July 27 (Mon) 56th Anniversary of Armistice in the Korean War

a) After breakfast drive back to Pyongayng

b) Mangyongdae (president Kim Il Sung’s birth place)

c) Ride on Pyongyang Metro

d) Lunch

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

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

g) Worker Party Foundation Monuments.

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) Dinner at Lotos Restaurant.

j) Mass Dance Evening on the occasion of Victory Day involving several thousand Koreans

Day 4, July 28 (Tue)

a) Breakfast. 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 Tongmyong 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

f) Dinner at Kalmaegi Restaurant, overnight at Tongmyong Hotel.

Day 5, July 29 (Wed)

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

b) Picnic lunch in the mountains.

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

d) Return to Pyongyang, dinner.

Day 6, July 30 (Thur)

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) Kim Il Sung University, the most prestigious university in the DPRK.

c) Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery

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

e) Korea Film Studio - North Korea's version of Hollywood. Something not to be missed! 

f) Mansudae Art Studio - possibility to buy Korean ceramics, embroidery, paintings etc.

g) Visit to the Mangyandae Schoolchildren's Palace, fantastic music and dance performance by Korean children.

h) Dinner at Chongryu Restaurant.

Day 7, July 31 (Fri)

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) Return to Pyongyang

f) 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. 

Day 8, August 1 (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 2 (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.