Itinerary for "May Day tour " 28.4-5.5.2009

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: Oct 9, 2008

Day 1, April 28 (Tue)

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, April 29 (Wed)

a) Early 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 and visit of 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. 

f) Dinner at the War Museum's Restaurant.

Day 3, April 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 4, May 1 (Fri) May Day holiday.

a) Drive to Mangyongdae (president Kim Il Sung’s birth place)

b) Ride on Pyongyang Metro

c) 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.

d) Picnic lunch in Ryongak Hill (nice view of Pyongyang)

e) Walk in Moranbong Park, favorite place for many Koreans to spend a free day.

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

g) Worker Party Foundation Monuments.

h) Drive via Nampo city to Ryonggang Hot Spa Hotel. Check-in, cure bath (private jacuzzi with hot mineral water in each hotel room).

i) Dinner at the hotel.

Day 5, May 2 (Sat)

a) After breakfast drive to Nampo - an important seaport in the DPRK. Excursion to the West Sea Barrage and the Museum of Barrage Construction, an interesting documentary is shown.

b) We continue to Chongsangri cooperative farm, the birthplace of the famous Chongsanri spirit and Chongsanri method in North Korean agriculture.

c) Return to Pyongyang, lunch.

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

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

f) Return to Kaesong, dinner at the traditional restaurant and overnight at Folk Custom Hotel (heated floor, Korean traditional style)

Day 6, May 3 (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 in Panmunjom. Together we inspect the Demilitarized Zone and the Military Museum on the 38th parallel.

b) Back to Kaesong and visit of Koryo 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) Return to Pyongyang. A visit to the International Book Store and Stamp Shop- good choice of stamps, propaganda books, tapes, CDs, DVDs, (much cheaper than at your hotel).

f) Farewell dinner at Duck Barbecue Restaurant.

Day 7, May 4 (Mon)

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 also the North Korean border to China. When crossing this bridge, we see another bridge destroyed during tthe 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 8, May 5 (Tue)

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 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.