Home Tours North Korea Day of the Shining Star Short Tour

North Korea Day of the Shining Star Short Tour

Start
Feb 14, 2025
Beijing
End
Feb 18, 2025
Beijing
Duration
5 days
Price
EUR1295.00

Is North Korea Open for Tourism?

Currently, North Korea is still closed to tourists, however we are anticipating their re-opening by having everything ready to go as soon as the announcement is made. All North Korea tours will run as scheduled, if the country has opened in time for all arrangements to be made for that tour. If North Korea has not yet opened, any bookings/deposits can be moved onto any other tour (North Korea, or another destination). If you are interested in visiting North Korea, you can sign up for our North Korea mailing list by sending us an email.

Read more about it here!


TOUR OVERVIEW


This quick trip to North Korea will show you the highlights of Pyongyang and Kaesong, but in the winter when BBQ and soju are all the more magical!

We begin and end our journey in Beijing, starting with an overnight sleeper train, and ending by flying out on the infamous Air Koryo - both exciting and unique experiences in their own rights!

During your time in Pyongyang, you will also get to engage in some local celebrations! In addition to the famous highlights of Pyongyang, we will also be taking a trip south to Kaesong and the DMZ to have a peer into South Korea and to learn about the signing of the 1953 armistice.

View the full itinerary


If you'd like to join us for The Day of the Shining Star, but would like to spend a little more time in North Korea, have a look at our longer tour itinerary .

Mansudae Grand Monuments, Pyongyang, North Korea (DPRK)
Show at the Children's Palace, Pyongyang, North Korea (DPRK)


If you like the look of this tour but the dates don't work for you, or you'd like to do part of the tour, please get in touch and let us know. All our tours are able to be split into smaller sections, we're always scheduling new tours and your dates might work for one of them, or we can always organise an independent tour.


If you'd like to see some more of the DPRK while you're here, check out our possible extensions such as skiing at the Masik Ski resort.

INCLUSIONS:

✓

All meals as specified on the itinerary

✓

Overnight train from Beijing to Pyongyang

✓

Accommodation as per itinerary

✓

Entry fees unless otherwise specified

✓

Local and Saiga guides


SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: EUR 120


EXCLUSIONS:

⨯

North Korea visa fee (EUR 60 per person)

⨯

Flight from Pyongyang to Beijing

⨯

Flights to and from Beijing at the start and end of the tour

⨯

Travel insurance

⨯

Chinese visa

⨯

Personal expenses such as souvenirs or any optional activities

⨯

Tips and gratuities

⨯

Any COVID related expenses


DMZ, North Korea (DPRK)
Pyongyang skyline, North Korea (DPRK)


TOUR HIGHLIGHTS


Bow to the famous Mansudae statues of Eternal President Kim Il Sung and General Kim Jung Il

Visit the Palace of the Sun and pay your respects to the bodies lying in state

Poke a toe into South Korea at the DMZ


*A note about pricing: whilst most of our tours are priced and paid for in USD, EUR is king in North Korea, so it makes much more logical sense to price everything in and receive Euros for all our North Korea tours.

Itinerary
Day 1Fri Feb 14
Beijing, overnight train to Dandong
  • At 10:00 we will meet for our pre-tour briefing. This will be our first opportunity to get to know our fellow travellers, and is usually a really fun morning.
  • We will also be using this time to organise all our visas and settle outstanding tour payments.
  • And from here we will be embarking on our journey, going straight from the briefing to the train station to catch the 17:27 train to Dandong.
  • Overnight on the train – this in itself of course being an exciting experience!
read more read less
Day 2Sat Feb 15
Arrival in Pyongyang
  • We will arrive in Dandong in the morning, where we will go through Chinese customs. Out of China, we’ll move onto to the North Korean train, and then will of course go through customs on the other side.
  • The train will arrive in Pyongyang at 18:45, where we will be met by our local North Korean guides.
  • We will have an evening stroll in the city before dinner and then checking into the hotel.
  • Overnight at the Yanggakdo International Hotel.
read more read less
Day 3Sun Feb 16
Day of the Shining Star, Pyongyang
  • Today marks the birthday of General Kim Jong Il, and is one of the most important days on the North Korean calendar.
  • We will begin with a visit to the Palace of the Sun where the two leaders are lying in state. Visiting the Palace requires a strict formal dress code and anyone not adhering to it will not be allowed to enter. Please see pre tour information for dress codes.
  • Afterwards, we will head to the Mansudae Grand Monuments where we will see they giant bronze statues of General Kim Jong Il and Eternal President Kim Il Sung. It is customary here to lay flowers (which you can buy for EUR 5 each if you’d like to) as a sign of respect.
  • We will then take a walk through the Mansudae Fountain Park, a great opportunity to see locals relaxing and having fun with their families.
  • For lunch, we will head to one of Pyongyang’s many restaurants for some local food.
  • In the afternoon, we will continue our city tour with the Party Foundation Monument, which was erected in 1995 for the 40 th anniversary of the founding of the Korean Workers' Party.
  • Afterwards, we will head to the Juche Tower where you will have the option to go to the top for skyline views of Pyongyang (EUR 5 per person, not included).
  • Next will be a visit to the Kimjongilia flower exhibit which showcases many displays in celebration of the day’s festivities.
  • We will also hopefully run into a mass dance which we will be allowed to join in on. This is a great way to celebrate with locals who will be wearing colourful traditional dresses.
  • Dinner at a local restaurant.
  • Overnight at Yanggakdo International Hotel.
read more read less
Day 4Mon Feb 17
Kaesong, DMZ
  • In the morning, we will make the drive down to the Joint Security Area of the DMZ, along the border with South Korea.
  • Here, we will visit the building where the 1953 armistice was signed, as well as potentially enter the UN controlled area which allows you to technically step into the South!
  • Afterwards we will head back to historic Kaesong where will visit the UNESCO heritage site of the Songgyung Academy, which was once a Confucian school and is now a museum.
  • In Kaesong, we will go for a special lunch called pangsanggi, which was usually reserved for royalty. At this restaurant there is also the option to taste a delicacy of Korean dog soup for an additional EUR 5.
  • On the way back to Pyongyang we will visit beautiful and historic Sariwon where we can sample some local makkoli or fermented rice drink!
  • Tonight, we will also have a chance to check out one of Pyongyang’s local bars!
  • Dinner at a local restaurant.
  • Overnight at Yanggakdo International Hotel.
read more read less
Day 5Tue Feb 18
Pyongyang, Beijing, End of Tour

  • In the morning, we will head to Pyongyang International Airport for our 8:35am flight back to Beijing.

  • Arrival into Beijing at approximately 9:30am.

  • End of tour.

  • If you'd like to join us for The Day of the Shining Star, but would like to spend a little more time in North Korea, have a look at our longer tour itinerary .

read more read less

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