Pyongyang Marathon Tour (With Kim Il Sung Birthday)

The race of your life

Join us on the Pyongyang marathon tour to participate in the most unique marathon in the world. This is the seventh year that foreign tourists are welcomed to compete or spectate from the grandstands of Kim Il Sung Stadium!

Everyone on this tour will have the opportunity to watch the opening and closing ceremony in the stadium with 50,000 locals cheering on!

The Pyongyang marathon tour offers the chance for you to not only spectate or compete in the marathon but also to have a great insight into the DPRK by exploring the best Pyongyang has to offer. We’ll travel deep into the mysterious Pyongyang Metro, hear their story of the Korean War at the newly renovated Korean War Museum where captured American tanks and weapons are kept, visit the iconic bronze grand statues of the leaders, explore Kim Il Sung Square where all the previous military parades have been held, and much more.

€995 / 1195

Group A ► April 9th - 14th (Marathon Tour €995)
Group B ► April 9th - 17th (Marathon & Birthday Tour €1195)
Train to and from Beijing included.
Flight option: €215 one way. €390 return

Group B of this tour takes in the birthday celebrations of North Korean founder and eternal President Kim Il Sung – The biggest holiday on the North Korean calendar. Also during Group B of our tour, we’ve been given special access to a Soviet Mi-17 helicopter to take for a spin around Pyongyang city for a unique aerial tour of the capital.

This chopper ride is completely optional and is €250 per person on top of the tour costs. If you are interested please let us know while booking.

During your visit you’ll be visiting all the must-see sites in Pyongyang city as well as a trip south the DMZ which divides Korea.

This tour is a must see, run, and do tour that you do not want to miss! Book now to secure your position for the marathon & birthday!

The race itself is open to 5k, 10k, 21k & full marathon distances. You can also choose just to spectate or just walk! Let us know which you would prefer. Here are the entry fees:

Full Marathon (42km/26 miles) – entry fee is €135
Half Marathon (20km/12 miles) – entry fee is €90
Mini Marathon (10km/6 miles) – entry fee is €65
5KM Marathon (5km/3 miles) – entry fee is €65

Pyongyang Marathon
Run or spectate the Pyongyang Marathon! Choose 5k, 10k half or full marathon distances. This is the best way to see Pyongyang.
Helicopter!
Optional Helicopter ride over Pyongyang.
See the DMZ
Visit the DMZ and see the blue huts on the demarcation line between North and South Korea.
Shooting Range!
Visit the Korean film studio and the shooting range!

The Itinerary

Thursday April 9 – 17th, 2020.

April 9th

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 10th

Train group arrive in Dandong at 7:00am for Chinese border control then departs again for Sinuiju at 9:00am.
Between these hours you are free to grab yourself some breakfast and walk to the river that separates China and North Korea.
Flight takers depart Beijing Capital Airport Terminal 2 on Air Koryo at 12:00pm (Meet at Air Koryo check in counter).
Flight group arrive in Pyongyang at 3:00pm to be met in arrivals by your Korean guides.
Train group arrive at 6:30pm and transfer directly to the Yanggakdo hotel.
In the evening your tour leader will show you around the hotel before taking you for drinks and to get to know your Korean guides. The hotel is North Korea’s most famous place to stay and is a real trip highlight itself. It has everything from bowling to karaoke to a swimming pool and massage parlour. Enough to keep you entertained!
Dinner and overnight at the Sosan Hotel.

April 11th

Morning

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.
Grand People’s Study House. This is the main library and learning center for adult students. This huge building is built in the Korean style and affords a great view over the Kim Il Sung Square.

Afternoon

Lunch at Mangyondae Restaurant.
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).
Stop at the Pyongyang sports village for gentle practice session and look around.
Receive a Pyongyang Marathon route map from your Rocky Road guide
Dinner at the national restaurant with performance.
Overnight at the Sosan hotel.

April 12th - Pyongyang Marathon Day!

Morning

Run or spectate the Pyongyang Marathon.

Afternoon

Lunch at the Mangyongdae District Restaurant – a great chance to tuck into some of the famous cold noodles and other local specialties!
Spend the afternoon to freshen up at Munsu Water Park. This place has it all – indoor pools, amazing water slides, cafes, shops, beer bars, table tennis, billiards, massage, you name it. (Extra charge)
Visit a Micro Brewery to further wind down with 7 different local draft beers on tap. Coffee, soft drinks, and juices also available.
Dinner at the famous National Restaurant with a performance from the waitresses!
Overnight at the Sosan hotel, Pyongyang.

April 13th

Morning

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)
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 at the Sosan hotel.

April 14th

Morning – Group A Depart

Group A flight takers depart (at a time to be confirmed) to Beijing on Air Koryo.
Train takers depart at 10:25am for Beijing arriving at 9am the following morning.

Group B Continue;

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.
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.
Helicopter ride option – Optional extra. we’ll drive to Pyongyang Airport for a special lunch (included) and then board a Mi-17 to take on a spin for a 40 minute aerial tour of Pyongyang city. (€250)

Afternoon

Lunch at Chongryu Hot Pot restaurant.
Visit Mansudae Art Studio, This is where the country’s most important art work and statues are created. We will also get to meet some of the local artists too.
Visit Kwanbok department store. Here we can shop with the locals and have access to the local North Korean currency!
Next we’ll head to the shooting range which has been renovated and equipped with rifles, pistols, archery and automatic rifles! (Extra charge).
Dinner.
Overnight at the Sosan hotel.

April 15th - Kim Il Sung Birthday!

Morning

Walk through Kim Il Sung Square – This the geographic center of the city where all military parades are held.
Foreign Language Bookshop – best place to buy books, pins, posters and other North Korean souvenirs.
Kimilsungia Flower Festival – this is a big exhibition in honour of President Kim Il Sung and will be packed with visiting locals.
Visit a North Korean Film Studio – We can tour the film sets and try on some costumes!
Mangyongdae Native House – Birthplace of President Kim Il Sung.

Afternoon

BBQ picnic on top of Mt Ryangak – a hill located just on the outskirts of Pyongyang.
Special celebratory events (optional: extra €20 ) – To be confirmed but usually these include a circus or musical performance.
Spectate and/or join in on the performance of a mass dance near an iconic Pyongyang landmark. Great photo opportunities!
Dinner
To be confirmed: expected fireworks on Kim Il Sung Square.
Overnight at the Sosan Hotel.

April 16th

Morning

Flight takers depart at 10:00am to Beijing on Air Koryo. (Arriving at 11:30 Beijing time).
Train takers depart at 10:25am for Beijing.

April 17th

Morning

Train travelers arrive in central Beijing Railway Station at 9:00am.

**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.

Map
Inclusions
Exclusions

Hotels in Korea
Twin share accommodation (single supplements are available for an extra 40 EUR per night).
Train travel
Train in and out Beijing-Pyongyang-Beijing.
All Meals
All meals in the DPRK unless specified in the itinerary.
Guides
Korean guide in Pyongyang and a western guide all the way from China.
Transport
Air-conditioned bus and driver.

Fights
Optional extra flight from Beijing to Pyongyang. €215 one way or €390 return.
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.
Visa
We arrange the DPRK visa for you at a cost of €50.
Tips
Tip are expected for your Korean local guides and driver.
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.
Marathon Fee
The marathon fees are extra depending on what distance you choose to run.