Kim Il Sung 102nd Birthday Tour 2014

Kim Il Sung 102nd Birthday Tour 2014. The application deadline for this tour is March 12 2014. If interested in extending your tour please send us an e-mail stating how long you would like to extend for and if there are any specific places you would like to visit.

If not a US citizen, you can also join this tour by train. Please contact us if you are interested in this option.

Day 1 - April 12 (Saturday)

• Depart from Beijing at 12.55 flight JS 152 Terminal 2, Beijing Capital Airport
• Arrive in Pyongyang at 16.00 (Pyongyang time)

PM

• Fountain Park
• Arch of Triumph - not as old, but larger than the one in Paris
• Brief walk around the area, see the enormous pictures of the Leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il
• Hotel check-in: Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang
• Welcome Dinner: KITC Restaurant, Pyongyang

Overnight: Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang

Day 2 - April 13 (Sunday)

AM

• Breakfast: Yanggakdo Hotel
• Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery - located on a hill in the outskirts of Pyongyang, it offers views of the whole capital of North Korea
• Kumsusan Memorial Palace (where the Leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il remain in state). Travellers are to expected to behave respectfully here and to dress in formal attire given the importance of the place in the DPRK.

PM

• Lunch: City restaurant, Pyongyang
• Drive south to Kaesong (2.5 hour drive) - we will be able to see the Kaesong Industrial Complex at a distance from our bus as well as the train stop that it meant for future trains going between North and South Korea. The ride on the almost empty highway is an experience itself.
• Koryo Museum - first university on the Korean peninsula, it illustrates what life was like in the past in Korea
• Stamp shop - opportunity to purchase stamps, posters and other souvenirs which are hard to purchase outside of North Korea
• Check-in Minsok Hotel (traditional Korean courtyard hotel) - staying in a traditional courtyard complex, we will be able to experience, albeit for one night, the traditional way of Korean life. This peaceful hotel has views of the giant bronze statues of Kim Il Sung lit up at night that oversees the whole of Kaesong city.

Overnight: Minsok Hotel, Kaesong

Day 3 - April 14 (Monday)

AM

• Breakfast: Minsok Hotel
• Tomb of King Kongmin and his Mongolian wife. This site has undergone little restoration and is one of the best conversed historical sites in the DPRK. We will be able to see too tombs of generals as we drive through the winding road that leads here.
• DMZ (38th Parallel) - see where the armistice was signed as well as the divisionary line and the blue negotiation rooms (one half of each room being in South Korea and the other in North Korea)

PM

• Lunch: Tongil Restaurant, Kaesong - taste a traditional Korean meal. Each dish is served in covered metal bowls.
• Drive back to Pyongyang (2.5 hours) - all rides between the two cities, Kaesong and Pyongyang, include a 10 minute break which will allow to have some snacks as well as a central view of the highway
• War Museum -recently rebuilt, the amount of energy put into this enormous complex is almost tangible. Many local Koreans also visit this museum
• USS Pueblo - American spy ship captured in 1968 - you can enter the original ship and see footage of the incident which is known to all North Koreans
• Dinner: Rungrado Restaurant, Pyongyang

Overnight: Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang

Day 4 - April 15 (Tuesday) - National Holiday - President Kim Il Sung's 102nd Birthday

AM

• Breakfast: Yanggakdo Hotel
• Early departure to the Mansudae Grand Monuments, giant bronze statues of the leaders. As this is one of the most important national holidays we expect to see many Koreans
• Mangyongdae Native House - this is where the President Kim Il Sung was born. The stories you hear about the leaders throughout the journey offer an interesting reflection of how different the DPRK is to most countries.

PM

• Lunch: Pyongyang local restaurant
• Moranbong Park (where locals picnic and gather on national holidays). Dances usually take place and as a foreign guest you will be more than welcome to join in!
• Ride on Pyongyang Metro - apart from being impressive because of its deepness, the intrinsic decoration of each stop is formidable
• Juche Tower - going up the lift offers central views of Kim Il Sung Square across the Taedong River and a panoramic view of the capital of North Korea
• Expected Mass dances in Kim Il Sung Square or the Party Foundation Monuments - other celebrations may be expected though details have not been confirmed yet. You will be able to join in any Mass Dances if these are held
• Local evening funfair - join in the fun with locals
• Optional activities include going to the Acrobatic Circus or seeing the Orchestra (entrance fee 10 to 20 Euros). These will be confirmed once in Pyongyang.
• Dinner: Pyongyang Number 1 Duck BBQ Restaurant, Pyongyang

Overnight: Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang

Day 5 - April 16 (Wednesday)

AM

• Breakfast: Yanggakdo Hotel
• Drive to the port city of Nampo
• Chongsan Cooperative Farm - see how Koreans work and live in this model cooperative farm. You can visit either a school where the farmer's children attend and which is located within the farm premises or the home of a farmer.
• West Sea Barrage - 8 km long barrage that separates the West Sea from the Taedong River
• Mineral Water Factory

PM

• Lunch: Local restaurant
• Drive back to Pyongyang
• D.P.R.K Film Studio - see where Korean movies are filmed. If lucky you may be able to see the filming of a movie!
• Grand People's Study House - chance to see Koreans studying. You may have students who are keen to practice their language skills with you! Impressive views of Kim Il Sung Square at the top of the Grand People's Study House are breathtaking.
• Golden Lane Bowling Alley - see where locals enjoy their evenings and feel free to have a game!
• Farewell Dinner: City Restaurant, Pyongyang

Overnight: Yanggakdo Hotel

Day 6 - April 17 (Thursday)

AM

• Breakfast
• Train to Beijing at 10.40 AM - please contact us if interested in flying out. Entering or exiting by train to the DPRK is unfortunately still not possible for US citizens.

PM

• Stopover at Sinuiju train station bordering China

Overnight: train

Day 7 - April 18 (Friday)

Arrive in Beijing at approximately 08:31 am

End of Kim Il Sung 102nd Birthday Tour II