2017 Pyongyang Marathon Tour II

Join KTG for our 2017 Pyongyang Marathon Tour II! What better way to explore the streets of Pyongyang than by doing so jogging! Get ready to start the race early in the morning at Kim Il Sung Stadium in front of a crowd of no less than 40,000! Local newspapers and TV channels will be there. As we leave the stadium and run around the capital thousands of Koreans will cheer us on!

For those not interested in running it is possible to stay in the stadium and see football match, parachuting show and remote control plane exhibition.

Day 0 - April 7 (Friday) for those entering by train

Meet our KTG staff downtown Beijing and take the train to Pyongyang together, arriving the following day in Pyongyang

Day 1 - April 8 (Saturday) for those entering by plane

Head to the airport and depart from Beijing at 13.05 flight JS 152 Terminal 2, Beijing Capital Airport

Arrive in Pyongyang at 15.35 (Pyongyang time)

Arch of Triumph - marking the period spent by President Kim Il Sung fighting the Japanese and his return in 1945 to Korea, this collosal monument is larger than its Parisian counterpart.

Brief walk around the area - we will see the enormous mural showing an image of President Kim Il Sung's speech upon returning to Korea after the liberation of the country in 1945. The Kim Il Sung Stadium is located close by too, though we will see more of this on Sunday

Hotel check-in: Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang

Welcome Dinner: KITC Restaurant, Pyongyang

Overnight: Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang

Day 2 - April 9 (Sunday)

Breakfast: Yanggakdo Hotel

Kim Il Sung Stadium - this is where the marathon will start. See our Youtube video below to have an idea of what the atmosphere will be like in the stadium! Thousands of people cheering, parachute events, a football match...

Pyongyang Marathon - you will be able to participate in the full marathon, half marathon or 10 km marathon. The atmosphere will be amazing here and running into Kim Il Sung Stadium full of Koreans cheering is an experience hard to explain in writing, so you will have to experience this yourself if you would like a more detailed description of such a feeling!

For those not interested in pariticipating in the running we will watch a football game in the stadium

Lunch: City restaurant, Pyongyang

Fountain Park - popular amongst locals for wedding pictures and dates.

Mansudae Grand Monuments - giant bronze statues of the leaders

Ride on Pyongyang Metro - one of the deepest in the world - we will go on an extended ride with locals, having several stops that will allow you see one of the busiest aspects of life in Pyongyang

Juche Tower - opportunity to go up the 150 metre tower (170 metres including the torch) that offers a panoramic view of Pyongyang.

Kim Il Sung Square - we will walk around one of most known places of North Korea, the square that hosts military parades and mass rallies.

DPRK Bookstore - chance to see and purchase a wide variety of DPRK literature translated into English and other languages.

Dinner: Local restaurant, Pyongyang

Overnight: Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang

Day 3 - April 10 (Monday)

Breakfast: Yanggakdo Hotel

Drive to Kaesong (Panmunjom, the DMZ) - we leave Pyongyang early in the morning for this 2 and half hour drive south. As we approach Kaesong we will see the Kaesong Industrial Complex on the left hand side of our coach as well as the train station which leads to South Korea and represents the reunfication of the country.

38th Parallel (DMZ) - we will see the famous blue negotiation rooms where talks between North & South Korea are held. A Korean People's Army Officer will hop on our coach and us on our coach and guide us around Panmunjom. This is a great chance for us to interact with a KPA officer as they tend to ask us questions regarding our views on the Korean War or impressions about their country.

Lunch at Tongil Restaurant in Kaesong - we will be served a variety of dishesin small covered golden plated bowls. The number of dishes used to symbolise in ancient times the status of the person eating, 12 bowls is the largest amount served.

Drive to Sariwon city- located in South Hwanghae Province, it is a lively city and one of the largest in the DPRK.

Walk around Folk Street- We will walk around one of the busiest streets inthe city and will have the chance to stop by a local bar, called "Sul Jib" (술집)in Korean. You can order some makoli, a week alcoholic drink. Sariwon is renowned for it makoli and wine.

Models of ancient pavilions- apart from seeing what Korea was like in ancient times we will most likely have the chance to see locals playing games in the street. Apart from chess, many locals gather at stalls and shoot targets with air rifles (corks are used as bullets). We can of course join in!

Walk up Mount Kyongnam - this walk is not as daunting as it may sound! It takes around 5 to 10 minutes to walk up to the main pavillion where we will have fabulous views of the whole city of Sariwon and of its surrounding areas. You can see a short video of the main street we walk around in Sariwon and of the views from Mount Kyongnam in our video below (feel free to visit KTG's Youtube Channel for more videos):

Transfer to Pyongyang

Three Charters Reunification Monument - consisting of two ladies that represent the reunification of the Korean Peninsula

Dinner: Local restaurant, Pyongyang

Overnight: Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang

Day 4 - April 11 (Tuesday)

10.10 am train to China - please contact us if interested in flying out. Flight arrangements will have to be made for US citizens.

After crossing the Yalu River by train into China we will arrive in Dandong China, where we will get off the train and have a one hour break before continuing to Beijing. We will have the chance to see the giant statue of Mao Ze Dong.

Day 5 - April 12 (Wednesday)