Inclusions
Exclusions
What's it all about?
Our Liberation Day tour takes in one of the biggest celebrations of the year in the form of Liberation from the Japanese in 1945. This year is the 75th anniversary so we can expect a lot of celebrations including the Mass Games and even a military parade!
During our Group A tour we’ll see everything you must see within Pyongyang such as the War Museum, the Mausoleum of the leaders, ride the Pyongyang Metro and a day trip down to the DMZ from the North side! We’ll also be in Pyongyang during the anniversary. We expect mass dancing & performances, fireworks and more!
Our Group B tour will take you to the east cost of the Korean peninsula to the lovely and sunny city of Wonsan. This is a very popular holiday destination for Koreans. Here we’ll try the delicious and fresh seafood caught along the pier and spend the afternoon swimming with local families. We’ll also have time to explore the impressive International Children’s Summer Camp.
Check out our blog for more info – What is Liberation Day?
So come join us as we hit up another exciting summer in the North Korea and take you around on this amazing tour! Don’t forget your swimming trunks!!
Highlights
Liberation Day Tour
€995 - 1075
- Group A ► Aug 11th - 17th (€995)
- Group B ► Aug 11th - 18th (€1075)
- Train to and from Beijing included.
- Flights from Beijing are an extra €220 one way & €340
August 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.
August 12th - Dandong / Pyongyang
- Train group arrive in Dandong at 7:00am for Chinese border control then departs again for Sinuiju at 10:00am.
- Flight takers depart Beijing Airport Terminal 2 on Air Koryo at 12:00pm (Meet group at Air Koryo check in counter).
- Flight group arrive in Pyongyang at 3:00pm to a warm welcome from your Korean guides.
- Train group arrive at 6:45pm to an equally warm welcome and transfer directly to the hotel.
- In the evening your guide will show you around the hotel before taking you for drinks and to get to know your Korean guides
- Dinner and overnight at the Sosan Hotel.
August 13th - Kaesong / DMZ
- Early drive south to Kaesong.
- 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! We should be the first ones here thus avoiding all the crowds!
- Koryo Museum – Korea’s first university and now a UNESCO museum of history and culture. There’s also a wonderful stamp and postcard shop here so you can send postcards to your friends and family. Don’t forget to write down the address before you travel!
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)
- Stop by Sariwon city and check out the stunning view point from a hilltop pagoda.
- Stop at 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.
- Beers at the Taedonggang Micro Brewery! They have seven different types of beer here.
- Overnight in Sosan Hotel.
August 14th - 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!
- Grand People’s Study House – North Korea’s central library. We’ll take a tour and visit the balcony which overlooks Kim Il Sung Square.
Afternoon
- Lunch at the Moranbong Restaurant.
- Visit Kwanbok department store. Here we can shop with the locals and have access to the local North Korean currency!
- 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).
- Monument to the Party Foundation – The hammer sickle and brush built in 1995.
- Visit Kwanbok department store. Here we can shop with the locals and have access to the local North Korean currency!
- Ride the Pyongyang Metro! See three of the stations and Exit to:
- The Arch of Triumph– This celebrates the victory over the Japanese and the triumphant return of Kim Il Sung to his home town.
- Mingle with the locals at Mansungyo Beer Bar before dinner.
- Traditional Korean fare for dinner – Bibanbap or Pyongyang noodles!
- Overnight at the Sosan Hotel.
August 15th - 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 – The resting place of the greatest of the anti-Japanese revolutionary fighters. It offers great views over the city.
Afternoon
- Lunch at a Korean Hot Pot Restaurant
- Walk to Moran hill – this park is famous on holidays as local families partake in picnics, dancing and singing. We’ll join in the fun!
- Special celebratory events (optional: €20) – Yet to be confirmed but we will take part in any holiday events that are possible to attend.
- 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.
- Expected mass dance for Liberation Day, join in or just watch for excellent photography opportunities!
- See the Mass Games (TBC) – The world’s largest performance! Ticket prices to be announced. Tickets can be purchased whilst on tour in North Korea,
- Overnight at the Sosan hotel.
August 16th -Pyongyang / Dongrim
Morning – End of Group A
- Group A Flyers depart Pyongyang at 9:00am on Air Koryo, arrive in Beijing at 9:55am local time.
- Group A Train takers depart at 10:25am for Beijing, arriving in Beijing Railway Station at 9:00am on 17th August.
Group B continue onto:
- We’ll also say goodbye to our North Korean guides in Pyongyang and depart by train at 10:25am, arrival in the town of Dongrim at 2:00pm. Dongrim is the nearest town outside of Sinuiju on the Chinese border.
Afternoon
- Our new local Korean guides will meet us as we step off the train.
- Check into Dongrim Hotel.
- Walk to Dongrim waterfall and explore surrounding valleys.
- Dinner and overnight at the Dongrim Hotel – a brand new swanky hotel with a swimming pool. sauna, table tennis, massage, bars & karaoke.
August 17th - Sinuiju
- Drive to Sinuiju city (1 hour)
- Visit the Sinamri Co-operative farm where the locals grow rice, cabbage and other vegetables.
- Tour the Pomhayanggi Cosmetics Factory and meet some of the local workers that produce some of North Korea’s most famous cosmetics
- Visit the North Phyongan Province Revolutionary History Museum.
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.
August 18th - Beijing
- Arrive in Beijing at 9am local time.
- End of Group B
What else?
Tour Notes
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
August 11 - 17th, 2021.
Group B - €1075
August 11 - 18th, 2021.
Standard Hotel
4 / 5 nights in North Korea
Flight option
€220 one way from Beijing or €340 return.
Dates don’t work?
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