Itinerary for "National Day short tour " 5.9-11.9.2009

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: March 12,2009

Day 1, September 5 (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.

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, September 6 (Sun)

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) Drive to Sariwon city (60 km from Pyongyang) and walk on Folk Custom street.

e) Visit  to the famous museum in Sincheon County where you can see the materials and evidences of crimes committed by American soldiers under the 50-days occupation of this area by the US-army.

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

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

Day 3, September 7 (Mon)

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. 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.

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

d) Return 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 Chongryu Restaurant.

Day 4, September 8 (Tue)

a) 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.

b) Ride on Pyongyang Metro

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

d) Lunch.

e) Chonsam Cooperative farm (we drive there via Nampo city).

f) We continue further to Ryonggang Hot Spa Hotel. Check-in, cure bath (private jacuzzi with hot mineral water in each hotel room).

g) Dinner at the hotel.

Day 5, September 9 (Wed) . National Day, 61st Anniversary of DPRK

a) After breakfast drive back to Pyongyang.

b) Walking in Ryongak Hill, picnic lunch.

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

d) Worker Party Foundation Monuments.

e) Pyongyang Circus (10 Euro p/p)

f) Mass Dance Evening on the occasion of the National Day involving several thousands Koreans.

g) Farewell dinner at Duck Barbecue Restaurant.

Day 6, September 10 (Thur)

a) 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 during 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 7, September 11 (Fri)

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 the 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.