Kim Il Sung Birthday Tour
- April 11 -17th / 20th / 22nd
- 995 / 1295 / 1495
- 5 / 8 / 10 Days
What's it all about?
This is surely one of the top tours of the North Korean tourist season. The birthday of President Kim Il Sung is the biggest celebration of the year and most important holiday. During the Kim Il Sung birthday tour, Group A will explore the must see sights of Pyongyang including the Korean War Museum, the Pyongyang Metro, the Juche Tower and the Mausoleum where Kim Il Sung & Kim Jong Il lay in state.
We’ll also be sure to catch whatever celebrations are going on in the country during our trip.
If you have the time, it’s highly recommended to do the extended tour. Group B will take you to the beautiful city of Nampo. Overnight we’ll stay at a therapeutic hot spa resort nearby on the west coast. Our super long tour – Group C takes us to Mt Myohyang where the memorable Friendship Exhibition is built into the side of the mountain and holds gifts presented to both Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il and Kim Jong Un from other countries.
Last but not least, Group C will be making a stop in Sinuiju, the border town of the DPRK located next to Dandong in China across the Yalu River. To get here we’ll be taking the domestic train from Pyongyang. We’ll then be visiting the Pomhayanggi Cosmetics Factory, Sinamri Co-operative farm and a local Folklore Park where you can engage with the locals and watch a performance by Kindergarten kids. Sinuiju has only recently opened to foreigners so it’s a pretty special place to visit.
The Kim Il Sung birthday tour is a big one so don’t miss it!
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Pyongyang Metro
Ride the iconic Pyongyang underground system.
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Kumsusan Palace of the Sun
See the place where both President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il lie in state.
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See the DMZ
Visit the DMZ and see the blue huts on the demarcation line between North and South Korea.
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Visit Nampo
Spend the night in a mineral spa in Nampo city.
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Munsu Water Park
Hit the slides at Pyongyang's finest Aquatic center.
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Tour Sinuiju
Tour the fascinating border city of Sinuiju before crossing back into China.
Kim Il Sung Birthday Tour
- Group A ► April 11th - 17th (€995)
- Group B ► April 11th - 20th (€1295)
- Group C ► April 11th - 22nd (€1495)
- Flights from Beijing are an extra €225 one way & €400 return.
April 11th - Beijing
- Meet your Rocky Road guide at 2pm at a Beijing Hotel near Beijing Railway Station. During this meeting, we’ll go through the tour’s itinerary, receive your North Korean visas and tickets, and meet your fellow travellers. It’s a great opportunity to ask any last questions you may have.
- The train departs Beijing Central station at 5:25pm. There will be a chance to stock up on supplies for the journey. There’s also a restaurant car on the train.
- The train is a full sleeper with all bedding and pillows provided
- Overnight on the train.
April 12th - Pyongyang
- Train group arrive at Dandong at 7:00am for Chinese border control then depart for Sinuiju at 10:00am for the extensive border control from the North Korean side
- Flight takers depart Beijing Airport Terminal 2 on Air Koryo. (Group will meet at Air Koryo check in). Flight departure times will be announced closer to the departure date. To avoid any inconvenience we recommend for you to arrive in Beijing the day before to better prepare.
- Flight group arrive in Pyongyang, welcomed at the airport by your Korean guides.
- Train group arrive at 6:00pm.
- In the evening your guide will show you around the hotel before taking you for dinner and to get to know your Korean guides.
- Overnight at the Sosan Hotel.
April 13th - Pyongyang
- Stroll through Mansudae fountain park taking in the Grand Peoples Study House and see the mosaic pictures of the leaders.
- Visit Mansudae Grand Monument – the two large bronze statues of President Kim Il Sung and Leader Kim Jong Il.
- Kim Il Sung Square – The central square of Pyongyang City and a popular meeting point.
- Foreign Language Bookshop – right next to the square and the best place for pins, stamps, books and other souvenirs!
Afternoon
- Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum. This incredible museum features dioramas, captured weapons, the Victory Monument, and the USS Pueblo: the only American military vessel captured by another nation.
- Monument to the Party Foundation – The hammer sickle and brush built in 1995.
- Juche Tower – the tallest stone tower in the world, it represents the Juche Ideology. Central to the teachings of the DPRK (optional extra €5 to go to the top).
- Visit Kwanbok department store. Here we can shop with the locals and have access to the local North Korean currency!
- Dinner.
- Kaeson Funfair – extra charge.
- Overnight at the Sosan Hotel.
April 14th - Kaesong / DMZ
- Hit the road for the 3.5 hour drive to Kaesong and the DMZ.
- Koryo Museum – Korea’s first university and now a UNESCO museum of history and culture.
- The DMZ – tour Panmunjom with a friendly army officer who will give you the look around. You can even take photos with the army here!
Afternoon
- Lunch in Kaesong City – on the menu will be traditional Korean Pansangi, a series of dishes served in bronze bowls. (Optional extras- Dog Soup €5)
- Visit the rarely seen Concrete wall section of the DMZ. It’s very off the beaten track and we can spy on South Korean military installations from here.
- Stop by Sariwon to view the city from the mountain top pagoda.
- Try locally brewed Makkoli in a local tea house.
- Stop by the Monument to the Three Charters of National Reunification that stands over the Thongil (reunification) Highway.
- Back to Pyongyang in time for dinner at the Duck BBQ restaurant.
- Overnight in the Sosan Hotel.
April 15th - Pyongyang
- Grand People’s Study House – North Korea’s largest library in the heart of Kim Il Sung Square
- Pyongyang Metro
- Exiting at the Arch of Triumph – the largest Victory Arch in the world, bigger than in Paris!
Afternoon
- Lunch at the Moranbong Hill Chicken Restaurant.
- Walk across to Moranbong park to dance and celebrate the holiday with the locals.
- Kimilsungia Flower Festival Exhibition. Join the crowds at the central holiday exhibit.
- Birthplace of the President.
- Special celebratory events (optional: approx €20) – Yet to be confirmed. These may include a circus or musical performance.
- Spectate or join in on a mass dance performance in front of the arch of Triumph.
- Dinner at a local Restaurant to sample Pyongyang Cold Noodles and other delights.
- To be confirmed: we’ll watch the fireworks light up the Juche tower over the Taedong River from Kim Il Sung Square.
- Overnight at the Sosan Hotel.
April 16th - Pyongyang - Group A Departure
Group A Depart:
Morning
- Group A train takers depart at 10:25 am for the overnight train to Beijing. Train arrives in Beijing Railway Station at 9:00am on the 17th.
- Group A flight takers depart at 9:00am for Beijing on Air Koryo. (Arriving at 9:55am local Beijing time).
Group B and C continue:
- Morning walk along the river which divides Pyongyang into west and east.
- Stop by Mansudae Art Studio. This is North Korea’s biggest producer or artworks.
- Visit a North Korean Film Studio – We can tour the film sets and try on some costumes!
- BBQ picnic lunch on top of Mt Ryangak to enjoy the magnificent views of Pyongyang below.
Afternoon
- Drive to Nampo – a city located on the west coast of North Korea.
- Tae’an Friendship Glass Factory – A retro factory which produces most of the glass used in the DPRK.
- Kangso Mineral water factory.
- Dinner and overnight at the Ryonggang spa resort complete with private mineral spa in each room. We will also have an option to have the DPRK’s famous BBQ clams for €5 extra per person.
April 17th - Nampo
- West Sea Barrage – A terrific example of socialist construction, the barrage was built to control the rising Taedong river and produce fertile farmland.
- Chongsan Co-operative farm – a great example of the DPRK farm model.
- Drive back to Pyongyang.
Afternoon
- Lunch at the Pottongang Restaurant.
- Next we’ll head to the shooting range which has been renovated and equipped with rifles, pistols, archery and automatic rifles! (Extra charge).
- Mansugyo Beer Bar – cheap beers with seven different local brews on tap! Coffee and soft drink also available.
- Dinner at the National Restaurant with performance.
- Overnight in the Sosan Hotel.
April 18th- Pyongyang
- Kumsusan Palace of the Sun – This is where the Leader’s Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il lay in state.
- Revolutionary Martyr’s cemetery
Afternoon
- Lunch at the Moran fried chicken restaurant
- Munsu waterpark – try the indoor slides, saunas and more!
- Visit the Three Revolution Exhibition centre. It exhibits the ideological, technical and cultural “revolutions” in North Korea.
- Afternoon stroll from the east side of Pyongyang to the west crossing over the river past the Mayday Stadium.
- Dinner
- Overnight at the Sosan Hotel.
April 19th - Mt Myohyang - Group B Departure
Group B Depart:
- Group B flight takers depart at 9:00am for Beijing on Air Koryo. (Arriving at 9:55am Beijing time).
- Group B train takers depart at 10:25 am for the overnight train to Beijing arriving at Beijing Railway Station at 9:00am on the 20th.
Group C continue:
Morning
- Drive out to Mt Myohyang – 2 and a half hours north of Pyongyang.
- Visit the famous International Friendship Exhibition – two large gift houses holding the gifts presented to both Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il from people, governments and institutions all over the world.
Afternoon
- Lunch at the Hyangsan Hotel – a five star deluxe hotel situated between the mountain ranges.
- Drive back to Pyongyang and stop on the way at Ryongmun Cave – one of the most famous cave complexes in North Korea.
- Dinner and drinks at a local restaurant in Pyongyang
- Night time walk along Ryomyong street – a newly constructed street opened in 2017 with a metro station, local shops and lines of new tall apartment buildings
- Overnight at the Sosan Hotel.
April 20th - Dongrim
- Depart Pyongyang by train at 10:25am and arrive in the remote village of Dongrim at approx 2:30pm.
Afternoon
- Check-in and prepare for afternoon hiking
- Hike to Dongrim Waterfall and explore surrounding valley of the mountain range, if you’re brave enough you can take a dip beneath the waterfall
- Dinner and overnight at the Dongrim Hotel – a swanky hotel with a swimming pool. sauna, table tennis, massage, bars & karaoke.
April 21st - Sinuiju
- 1 hour drive to Sinuiju stopping at:
- Co-operative farm – we’ll look out to where the locals grow rice, cabbage, chilli and cucumbers for the making of kimchi.
- Tour the Pomhayanggi Cosmetics Factory and meet some local workers that produce some of North Korea’s most famous cosmetics.
- Visit the mosaic images of the “Three Tigers of Mt. Paektu” – Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il and Kim Jong Suk.
- See the large central square of Sinuiju and visit the statues of President Kim Il Sung and General Kim Jong Il.
Afternoon
- Lunch at a local restaurant
- Head to the local Folklore Park where there may be chances to engage in traditional Korean activities (extra charges apply for taking part in the local games – these will vary from game to game) or you can simply walk around and enjoy the scenery and watch the locals
- Visit the Art Studio which holds over 250 pieces of DPRK fine art in six large halls – some amazing art pieces here!
- Bonbu Kindergarten and performance – The performance here is the best of any Kindergarten in the country.
- Explore Amnok park and walk down to the Amnok River (Yalu River) and see the original Korean/Chinese Friendship Bridge bombed by the Americans during the Korean War.
- Take the 4:30pm bus and go through Korean customs to finish tour in Dandong, China.
- Board the 6:30pm overnight sleeper train from Dandong to Beijing.
April 22nd - Beijing
- Arrive in Beijing Railway Station at 9:00am.
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Hotels in Korea
Twin share accommodation (single supplements are available for an extra €40 per night).
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Train travel
Return train in and out from Beijing-Pyongyang-Beijing. Contact us if you want to join the tour from the border town of Dandong.
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All Meals
Three meals per day in the DPRK unless specified in the itinerary. (food on the train in & out not supplied).
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Guides
Korean guides in North Korea and a western guide all the way from Beijing to guide you through border customs & immigration.
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Transport
Air-conditioned bus and driver.
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Flights
Optional extra flight from Beijing to Pyongyang or Pyongyang to Beijing. (Conditions apply, more info below)
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Extra purchases
All meals are included (unless otherwise stated) with water and some beer. Any extra drinks or souvenirs that you buy are extra cost.
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Visa
We arrange the DPRK visa for you at a cost of €50.
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Tips
Tips are expected for your Korean local guides and driver. Normally this is calculated at €10 per day. For example, on a 5 day tour the total tip expected is €50. All tips go directly to both guides & driver.
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Events
Sometimes special events pop up on when we are on tour and we may decide to attend. It's up to you whether or not to attend but usually these are extra cost. Examples include the circus or a music concert.
We will take care of every detail of the North Korea visa application as well as getting you to Pyongyang and back from Beijing. We’ll also help you with your China visa application by supplying an invitation letter. If you are planning to apply for the 144 hour China transit visa on arrival then we will send you your DPRK visa and flight ticket to Pyongyang so you can apply on arrival in Beijing.
You’ll be in the experienced hands of our expert English speaking North Korean guides and Rocky Road Travel guide. Your itinerary may change slightly but we will always go above and beyond with added extras to the itinerary such as visits to local cafes, bars and amusement parks.
Before & after each tour we will add you to dedicated email and social media groups so you can share photos easily with your travel mates. Let us know if you want to opt out of this.
To book simply get in touch below to start the conversation today.
Group A - €995
April 11 - 17th, 2021.
Group B - €1295
April 11 - 20th, 2021.
Group C - €1495
April 11 - 22nd, 2021.
Flight option
€225 one way from Beijing or €400 return.
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