2020 North Korea National Day Tour III

North Korea National Day Tour III will allow you to be in Pyongyang for the 72nd anniversary of the foundation of the DPRK. Although our group sizes tend to be small, September and August are the busiest seasons in the DPRK. In order to guarantee being able to book your transportation tickets you are kindly asked to apply by the application deadline fort the North Korea National Day Tour III tour which is August 1st. If you contact us after the application deadline we will be able to tell you within 24 hours if we can still apply for your trip.

It is possible to extend your trip in the DPRK. If you would like to stay longer in North Korea please do notify us and a private extension can be arranged for you.

Our excellent relationship with our Korean partners and local guides together with the usually small sizes of our groups allow us to arrange on the spot visits to events and places not included in the official program.

Day 1 - September 8 (Tuesday)

Depart from Beijing at 13.05 flight JS 152 Terminal 2, Beijing Capital Airport
Arrive in Pyongyang at 16.05 (Pyongyang time)

Arch of Triumph - marking the arrival of President Kim Il Sung after having fought against the Japanese occupation of the Korean peninsula, it is larger than the Arch of Triumph in Paris
Brief walk around the area, see the enormous mosaic of the Leader Kim Il Sung's speech after the liberation from Japan in 1945 and Kim Il Sung Stadium
Hotel check-in: Yanggakdo Hotel
DPRK National Day Tour Welcome Dinner: KITC Restaurant, Pyongyang

Overnight: Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang

Day 2 - September 9 (Wednesday) - National Day

This is one of the most important dates in the DPRK calendar.

Fountain Park - chance to mingle with Koreans here
Mansudae Grand Monuments - Giant bronze statues of the Leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il
Views of Chollima Statue - the winged horse representing the national policy of rapid reconstruction of the DPRK after the Korean War
Pyongyang Metro ride - at an average of 100 metres below ground we will take a ride with locals
Moranbong Park - (where locals picnic and gather on national holidays) - do expect to be asked to join in the fun and games! See our Youtube video right below!

Juche Tower - chance to go up the 150 metre tower (170 metres including the torch) that offers a panoramic view of Pyongyang.
Workers' Party Foundation Monuments - impressive monument consisting of a hammer, sickle and brush.

Below is a video of a parade on national day. We do not expect there to be any military parades on National Day 2020 as these are only held on major anniversaries e.g. 65th anniversary, 70th anniversary, etc. In any case, when there is one this is usually how it looks like! We took this back in 2013. There was a parade too in 2018.

Expected Mass Dances in which locals celebrate National Day - chance to dance with North Koreans. Hundreds of university students; women dress in traditional Korean clothing and men in suits as they dance in a synchronised way.

Mass Dances in North Korea on National Day, 9 September, Pyongyang

Dinner: local restaurant, Pyongyang
Kaeson Funfair after dinner - you can take rides with locals, but even if you'd rather not, this is a great opportunity to join Koreans during their celebrations and to mingle with them. Rides cost from 1.5 to 5 Euros and are optional.
If there are any celebrations such as a firework display in the evening we will be able to attend these.

Overnight: Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang

Day 3 - September 10 (Thursday)

Breakfast: Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang
Kumsusan Memorial Palace - (where the Leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il lie in state). This is a very important place in the DPRK which is why you are kindly asked to wear formal attire. We will fully brief you before your trip to North Korea.
Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery -located atop a hill in the outskirts of Pyongyang, this cemetery for National Heroes of the DPRK offers brilliant views of the capital of North Korea Cooperative farm near Nampo, North Korea.

Lunch: Local restaurant, Pyongyang
Korean War Museum - impressive museum built in just 10 months. See original weapons used during this devastating War and lear the DPRK version of the first, and still existing, Cold War conflict.

USS Pueblo - US spy ship captured by the DPRK near Wonsan on the east coast and kept as a trophy
Mangyongdae Native House - President Kim Il Sung's Birthplace

Depart to Kaesong (Panmunjom, the DMZ) - we will have a break in the middle. As we approach Kaesong we will be able to see on our right hand side the famous Kaesong Industrial Complex as well as the train station that leads to South Korea and is still not in use.
Please note that there are military points on the way and it is forbidden to take pictures of these. We will be notified before passing each check-point.
Hotel check-in: - Minsok Traditional Courtyard Hotel

Minsok Traditional Courtyard Hotel, Kaesong, North Korea (DPRK) with KTG® Tours

Overnight: Kaesong Minsok Folklore Hotel, Kaesong

Day 4 - September 11 (Friday)

Breakfast: Minsok Hotel, Kaesong
Walk from hotel to Kaesong South Gate in the old part of town
Twin Tombs of King Kongmin - UNESCO World Heritage site. The only twin tombs in Korea. They have undergone very little restoration and conserve much of their original appearance.
38th Parallel - early visit to the DMZ. Chance to enter the famous blue negotiation rooms where talks between North & South Korea take place, or get close to them if they are locked. We will also be toured around Panmunjom, see where the armistice was signed and we will be escorted by a DPRK soldier on our bus as is required on all tours. Most soldiers are intrigued to see what travellers think of the division of Korea and this presents a great opportunity to have a Q&A session with a DPRK soldier. The trip to the DMZ is too a highlight of our DPRK National Day Tour.

DMZ negotiation rooms in North Korea and South Korea, Panmunjom

Koryo Museum (Kaesong) - originally a university in the Koryo Dynasty it shows what life was like then.
Stamp shop - a great selection of DPRK stamps and souvenirs available in this shop located just outside of the Koryo Museum.

Lunch: Tongil Restaurant (Kaesong) - The name means Re-unification Restaurant. Dishes are served in covered golden plated small bowls. With 12 bowls per person there is a lot of variety in the food served!
Drive to Sariwon City- this lively city is the capital of North Hwanghae Province.
Folk Street & Ancient Model Pavilions - we will see how Koreans lived in ancient times and check some model pavilions of times past in Korea. we will walk around this street and may have the chance to try some local Makoli (Korean rice wine with very low levels of alcohol). If you have a weak stomach please do not try it! The walk around here is always interesting. There are usually street games and activities too where we can of course join in!

Walk around the Folk Village in Sariwon, North Korea (DPRK)

Mt. Kyongnam Pavilion - a 5 minute walk up hill, it offers fantastic views of Sariwon city and the surrounding region.

Stop at the Re-unification Monuments - good chance to take some pictures
Grand People's Study House - huge study centre/library with fantastic views of Kim Il Sung Square
Dinner: Pyongyang Number 1 Duck Barbecue Restaurant, Pyongyang. Taste some delicious local Korean duck meat! Options available too for vegetarians

Overnight: Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang

Day 5 - September 12 (Saturday)

Breakfast: Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang
Drive to Mount Myohyang - trip to the northern interior part of the DPRK
International Friendship Exhibition - see where thousands of gifts given from all over the world to the leaders Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il and Kim Jong Suk (known as Mother Kim Jong Suk in the DPRK) are proudly exposed. There is now too a new section for the current leader Kim Jong Un.

international Friendship Exhibition Centre in Mount Myohyang, Pyongan province, North Korea (DPRK) with KTG Tours

Pohyon Buddhist Temple - one of the most important places of Buddhism in the region when Buddhism was prevalent in Korea.

Pohyon Temple in Mount Myohyang, Pyongan province, North Korea (DPRK) with KTG Tours

Lunch: Hyangsan Hotel, Mount Myohyang - this is one of the most luxurious hotels in DPRK

One of the most luxurious hotels in North Korea; The Hyangsan Hotel in Mount Myoyhyang, Pyongan province. Discover the DPRK with KTG Tours

Drive back to Pyongyang
Pyongyang Golden Lane Bowling Alley - enjoy hitting some pins surrounded by locals or why not have a game of pool or try out the retro 1990s arcades?

Pyongyang Golden Lane Bowling Alley, North Korea, DPRK. Explore North Korea with KTG Tours

Drinks at a local bar - The Taedongang Number 3 Beer Bar is one of our favourite ones not only because the beer is brewed there but also because it is a major hangout place for locals.
Dinner: Local restaurant, Pyongyang

Overnight: Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang

Day 6 - September 13 (Sunday)

Breakfast: Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang
Drive to Nampo City - we will go on the Youth Heroes Highway which was built by university students in the late 90s.
Chongsangrim Cooperative Farm - cooperative farms were common in socialist/communist countries. Farmers and their families work and live here. The local farm manager will show us around the farm and explain how it operates.

Grandmother and grandson in a cooperative farm near Nampo city in North Korea. Trip arranged by KTG Tours

West Sea Barrage - this is an 8 km long structure that divides the Taedong River from the West Sea of Korea (the Yellow Sea). It took 5 years to build and is seen as a source of national pride. We will be able to have views of the whole structure from the platform by the lighthouse.

Lunch: Hankuk Hotel, Nampo
Drive back to Pyongyang
Munsu Water Park - enjoy and relax having fun with locals. There are several things you can do here; get in your swimming trunks and check out the pools and slides, have a go at table tennis, billiards or simply enjoy a cup of coffee. If you would like to go on the slides and pools the fee is 10 Euros per person.

Munsu Waterpark in Pyongyang in North Korea with KTG tours. Check out the slides and have fun with North Koreans!

Farewell Dinner: local restaurant, Pyongyang

Day 7 - September 14 (Monday)

Breakfast: Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang
10.25 am train to Beijing - if interested in flying back please do let us know, though we strongly recommend taking the train at least once as it adds to the DPRK experience