North Korea Day of the Sun Short Tour

Start
Apr 13, 2025
Beijing
End
Apr 17, 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 is easily the busiest time of the year for people to come the DPRK, itā€™s no secret why thatā€™s the case! From great weather, to international events, to the biggest day of the year ā€“ The Day of the Sun ā€“ itā€™s just a vibrant and exciting time to be in the so-called ā€œHermit Kingdomā€!

This tour will show you the highlights of Pyongyang and Kaesong, at a quick and exciting pace, with the added bonus of some celebrations thrown in the mix!

Beginning in Beijing by taking the overnight train into the DPRK, we will get the full experience of seeing North Korea from the border to Pyongyang overland. After arriving in Pyongyang, we will hit the ground running with sightseeing, and of course big celebrations for the most important day on the North Korean calendar.

We can expect mass dances, picnics in the park, fireworks and maybe even a military parade. This is by far the biggest day of the year for the locals so expect public karaoke and soju galore!

After all the excitement of Pyongyang and the Day of the Sun celebrations, weā€™ll head south to visit the DMZ and the Panmunjom Joint Security Area, as well as visiting a UNESCO site in historic Kaesong.

We will then all fly out together back to Beijing on North Koreaā€™s national carrier, Air Koryo!

View the full itinerary


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

Party Foundation Monument, Pyongyang, North Korea (DPRK)
DMZ, 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:

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All meals as specified on the itinerary

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Overnight train from Beijing to Pyongyang

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Accommodation as per itinerary

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Entry fees unless otherwise specified

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Local and Saiga guides


SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: EUR 120


EXCLUSIONS:

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North Korea visa fee (EUR 60 per person)

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Flight from Pyongyang to Beijing

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

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Travel insurance

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Chinese visa

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Personal expenses such as souvenirs or any optional activities

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Tips and gratuities

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Any COVID related expenses


Juche Tower, Pyongyang, North Korea (DPRK)
Waterpark, Pyongyang, 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 1Sun Apr 13
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 ā€“ this in itself of course being an exciting experience!
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Day 2Mon Apr 14
Arrival in Pyongyang
  • We will arrive in Dandong in the morning, where we will go through Chinese customs. Out of China, weā€™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.
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Day 3Tue Apr 15
Day of the Sun, Pyongyang

Today there will most likely be some form of mass celebration or even a military parade. This means that today we will require flexibility as we work out when and where celebrations are taking place and where we are allowed to go and see them. This could also include mass dances and potential fireworks in the evening! But weā€™ll just have to play it by ear, and will make sure we get to the best things we can.

  • In the morning, we will visit 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.
  • From there, we will head into the famous Pyongyang metro, stopping at notable stations along the way.
  • Afterwards we will visit the Arch of Triumph, a 60m high arch (higher than the one in Paris) symbolising victory over the Japanese.
  • We will then head to Mangyongdae native house, the birthplace and home of former President Kim Il Sung.
  • Next, weā€™ll make our way to Moranbong Park for celebrations with the locals and a picnic lunch.
  • After lunch we will head to the Party Foundation Monument, an impressively large sculpture of the brush, sickle and hammer, which makes up the symbol of the Workersā€™ Party of Korea.
  • 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).
  • Time permitting, we will then head to a local beer bar to celebrate with locals before possibly catching a show at the circus or participating in a mass dance!
  • Potential fireworks display from Kim Il sung Square and dinner.
  • Overnight at Yanggakdo International Hotel.
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Day 4Wed Apr 16
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 Pyongyangā€™s local bars!
  • Dinner at a local restaurant.
  • Overnight at Yanggakdo International Hotel.
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Day 5Thu Apr 17
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 see some more of North Korea while you're here, check out our longer tour .

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