Hiking & Camping Tour 2015...types! Koryo Tours is proud to offer our second hiking and camping trip to North Korea. On this amazing journey you will scale the heights of some of the

Guidepost Tours, Gerringong NSW 2534 Australia Phone 1300 733323 Lic # 2TA5895 A division of SCT Travel Group – IATA AFTA Uniglobe / Magellan - ASTA Accreditation

website: www.guideposttours.com.au email: [email protected]

Hiking & Camping Tour 2015

Option 1. May 29 – June 6/7 (Fri – Sat/Sun) 8 nights, plus one on the train

Option 2. May 29 – June 8/9 (Fri – Mon/Tues) 10 nights, plus one on the train

Flight / Train

A great opportunity to explore the beautiful countryside of Korea for all you outdoors-types! Koryo Tours is proud to offer our second hiking and camping trip to North Korea. On this amazing journey you will scale the heights of some of the most iconic mountains in the DPRK, and see some stunning and rarely-experienced views. You will even spend a couple of nights sleeping out in tents under the stars in these unspoiled areas. As well as covering some serious ground on foot in the deep mountains we’ll also take you to see the highlights of Pyongyang and beyond! This tour calls for a certain degree of fitness in its participants, with hikes that cover up to 28 km in one day (see the itinerary below for more details) and that are quite strenuous at times. Please contact us if you are concerned whether or not this is a suitable tour for you.

Total hiking: 94km (approx. 58 miles) as the crow flies … but with lots of uphills and downhills! Highlights:

Camping – this is only the second time this has been offered on any North Korea tour. Be among the few tourists to have camped out under the stars in two of North Korea’s famous mountain ranges.

Hiking amidst some of the most amazing scenery and in some of the most untouched mountain areas in the world! The scenic and fragrant Mount Myohyang and the jagged and evocative Mount Kumgang areas – we can guarantee unforgettable views and stunning photos for you too!

Taking in some highlights of Pyongyang, including the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum and captured spy ship USS Pueblo.

Please note that the itinerary may differ slightly to what is stated below, but your tour leader will do their best to ensure that as much is covered as possible. They will also add in extras when there is time, such as a visit to a local bar or a funfair. We visit the DPRK regularly and know all the best places to go to make your trip even more

unique. We will help you make the most of your time in the DPRK to guarantee the experience of a lifetime.

Thursday 28th May – TOUR BRIEFING 4PM – the group assembles in the Koryo Tours office for a pre-tour briefing which will last approximately 1 hour and is designed so that you will get the best out of your tour. Please be

punctual - you can even come early, pay any outstanding tour fees and browse our art gallery and merchandise.

Friday 29th May – ARRIVAL DAY This morning we will meet outside the Koryo Tours office (time to be confirmed) and together head to Beijing Airport Terminal 2 for our flight from Beijing to Pyongyang (1.5 hrs) - the showcase capital of the DPRK with a population of approximately 2 million. PM: Upon arrival in Pyongyang (approximately 4pm), we proceed through

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immigration and customs and meet our guides who will accompany us throughout our stay. On our way to the hotel we will visit the Arch of Triumph – similar to the French version but bigger. Its location is important in Korean history as the first place Kim Il Sung gave a speech to the Korean people after the surrender of the Japanese. We will take the short drive to the Fountain Park and the Mansudae Grand Monument – giant bronze statues of North Korean leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il. This is a very important place for Koreans and visitors are requested to follow the local custom and bow in front of the statues after placing down a bouquet of flowers. OVERNIGHT: Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang (one of the deluxe-class hotels in the country located on an island in the Taedong River which runs through the city)

Saturday 30th May – MT MYOHYANG AM: We then visit the Foreign Languages Bookshop and take a leisurely stroll through the streets of Pyongyang. On our journey, we walk through the heart of the city, and stop by Kim Il Sung Square, which is Pyongyang’s largest. This is where the capital’s mass dances take place and the military parades pass through. Next we take a short drive to the Revolutionary Martyrs’ Cemetery. Here, you will see superb individually-crafted bronze busts of the country’s anti-Japanese heroes, including one of Kim Jong Suk (the mother of Kim Jong Il). The cemetery was designed to overlook the city, the idea being that the fallen martyrs should have a view of their country being rebuilt. Next stop is the Juche Tower. At 150m, and topped with a flickering red torch, this is the highest stone monument in the world. Take the lift to the top for stunning views over Pyongyang (entrance costs 5 Euros). PM: After lunch we drive to Mount Myohyang - the Mountain of Mysterious Fragrance, two hours north of Pyongyang. It is said that the air here is so fresh that regardless of how much alcohol you drink while staying here, provided you sleep with your window open you won't have a hangover the next day. We'll leave that up to you to test out! First thing on arrival though is to take a hike – we’ll follow a 15.5 km trail taking in various scenic views, waterfalls, pavilions, and much more. Many of the spots along the route, such as Kumgang waterfall and Bison Rock, are very well known in the DPRK. At the end of the hike we will visit the thousand year old Pohyon Buddhist Temple. It was destroyed during the Korean War but soon rebuilt as a working temple, complete with North Korean monks. We will have a tour here and then have dinner all together at the campsite. We will set up tents to camp out under the stars (tents, sleeping mats, food and cooking equipment is provided. Campers will need to bring their own sleeping bags.) A singular experience enhanced by a campfire, marshmallows and the sound of the Arirang songs!

Hiking Total: 15.5km OVERNIGHT: Camping in Mount Myohyang area. If you would prefer not to camp then alternatively you can stay at the nearby Chongchon Hotel, Mt. Myohyang (basic but comfortable hotel surrounded by beautiful scenery; intermittent hot water). Please inform us of your choice of accommodation when you book the tour.

Sunday 31st May – MT MYOHYANG/PYONGYANG AM: Our first visit of the day is to the highlight of the area – the International Friendship Exhibition. Built in 1978, these 2 huge subterranean halls are filled with gifts to the leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, presented to them by people from all over the world - from heads of state to ordinary citizens. The gifts are divided by region and they estimate that if you spent one minute in front of each gift, it would take more than one year to see the whole exhibition - we will only be shown a small sample! This year, they have opened a new room showcasing gifts presented to the new leader, Kim Jong Un. Halfway through the visit, we take a short tea break on the balcony, affording beautiful views of the stunning mountains surrounding us. We will then follow this visit with a hike in a different part of the range of hills and valleys than the day before. This 11.5km trail will once again take us up into the hills past a wide range of waterfalls and scenic rocks. You can expect to run into a good number of local hikers here as well, it’s a very popular route, so feel free to interact and mingle as much as you can! We’ll take lunch to eat along the trail, as the locals do! PM: We return to Pyongyang in the afternoon and have time to see one of the highlights of the city, The Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum where you can learn the history of the Korean War from the North Korean perspective. The museum’s different rooms explain the origins of the conflict, and include highly impressive dioramas, tanks, planes, and much more. Then it’s on to the USS Pueblo, an American spy ship captured by the DPRK navy in 1968. We’ll head then for a well-deserved drink at a local bar and then have a city walk through the centre of town to see some of the street life that is so elusive!




Hiking total: 11.5km OVERNIGHT: Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang

Monday 1st June – THE EAST COAST AM: This morning after breakfast we will check out of our hotel and drive to the east coast of the country. After about 2 hours we stop at Sinpyong Lake where there is a rest-house with bathrooms and refreshments. There's also the opportunity to go for a dip if you're feeling brave! We will stop for lunch in Wonsan, and have a short walk around the city’s central square, docks and park, where there is the customary statue of President Kim Il Sung. We’ll also stop by Wonsan Central Art Gallery before lunch the best seafood restaurant in the city. PM: After lunch we drive south for approximately 2 hours to the Mount Kumgang area. Upon arrival we take a short walk round the very scenic and lovely Samil Lagoon –some interesting stories about this place will be told by the local guide as well. We’ll finish this hike in the evening and settle into our hotel for the night. OVERNIGHT: Kumgangsan Hotel, Mount Kumgang (a deluxe class hotel in a beautiful setting amidst the mountains; selected foreign tv channels and internet access available in the telecommunications centre)

Tuesday 2nd June – MT KUMGANG Today we embark on an amazing experience. We hike a very long trail among some amazing views and scenic vistas. You can expect to get a great work-out hiking the rocky steps, the luscious paths, the wooden bridges and metal ladders, the breath-taking slopes and the stunning hills in this area. You will get a vast amount of wonderful photo opportunities too. For the keen hiker and photographer this is a very special treat, getting photos where practically nobody has stood in years, of the mountain range known throughout all Korea as the most beautiful one on the peninsula. Lunch will be taken along the route and at the end of the day, with the 24km course behind us, we can either camp out for the night under the skies or head for the hotel for another night there, your choice! Hiking total: 24.0km OVERNIGHT: Camping in Mount Kumgang area. Alternatively you can stay at the nearby Kumgangsan Hotel please advise when booking

Wednesday 3rd June – MT KUMGANG Make sure you stretch and eat a hearty breakfast because today we are heading off on another long hike into the Diamond Mountains. This time we will see a number of temples, waterfalls, peaks, and pools (almost all of which have interesting stories associated with them, the local guides will gladly relate these tales along the way). We will cover 28km on this trail today and eat lunch along the way once again. At the end of the day of hiking and seeing some unforgettable sights and going to areas hardly anybody has been for many years, we’ll have a final night in the Kumgangsan area, having hiked it properly and taken advantage of the clear trails, imaginative routes, and stunning natural and man-made sights along the paths. Hiking total: 28.0km OVERNIGHT: Kumgangsan Hotel, Mt Kumgang

Thursday 4th June – MASIK PASS RESORT AM: This morning we make our way back up the east coast to the Masik Pass Resort close to the city of Wonsan. Masik Pass is a ski resort in the winter but great at this time of year for hiking and mountain biking. We will have lunch in the Masik Ryong Hotel. PM: This afternoon we’ll pack up our camping gear and start hiking from the hotel. Prepare yourself for a steep climb but with some rewarding views! We’ll hike around 15km and find a good spot to set up camp and have dinner. Hiking total: 15km




OVERNIGHT: Camping in Masik Pass Resort, if you would prefer not to camp then you can stay at the nearby Masik Ryong Hotel. Please advise when booking.

Friday 5th June – PYONGYANG CITY TOUR AM: After breakfast we pack up our tents and spend the morning hiking Masik Pass. We will make our way back to Wonsan for lunch in the famous Wonsan fish restaurant. PM: After lunch we drive back to Pyongyang and upon arrival stop off to visit the Mansudae Art Studio - the DPRK centre of artistic excellence where most of the paintings, mosaics, statues, etc. are all made. It is possible to visit several workshops and see the artists at work - ink painting, oil painting, embroidery and

ceramics. They also have a very good shop with some quality pieces of art and ceramics for sale. We then cross the road to enter the Pyongyang Metro, which is the deepest subway system in the world. The designs of the main stations are stunning, and particularly notable for their superb lighting and mosaics. This is a great chance to interact with local people, especially if you are prepared to learn some basic greetings in Korean. Lunch will be in a local restaurant in Pyongyang. OVERNIGHT: Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang

Saturday 6th June – SARIWON & JANGSU MOUNTAIN Today is departure day for those travelling on Option 1. For those taking the flight out option, the flight departs Pyongyang at 09:00 and arrives in Beijing at approx 10:00. Those taking the train option depart Pyongyang station at 10:40 and arrive in Beijing at 08:40 on 7th June.

OR…Extend the tour to include a few more fascinating sights of the DPRK. Option 2 -> AM: this morning we first drive one hour to Sariwon city where we visit the Sariwon Folk Village - a mock-up of traditional Korean architecture. You can walk up the hill for a great view over the area. After a quick driving tour of the city and a visit to a nearby co-operative farm where we can learn about the agricultural system in the DPRK, we will arrive at the interestingly decorated March 8th Hotel in Sariwon where we will have lunch. PM: Drive on to Jangsu Mountain, first visited by Koryo Tours in 2013 and open to tourists only since then. An hour or so of hiking and climbing brings us to the hermitage atop this peak, famous for being the site of much of DPRK martial arts epic movie, Hong Kil Dong, one of the most famous movies in North Korea and a film seen by almost everyone in the country. We’ll then drive onwards to Kaesong, a historical city near the DMZ. We will be in Kaesong for dinner and overnight. OVERNIGHT: Minsok Folk Hotel, Kaesong, where we are treated to a traditional Korean dinner whilst seated on the floor, and we then have an amazing night in the traditional Korean-style rooms, sleeping on thin mattresses on the heated floor.

Sunday 7th June – PANMUNJOM/DMZ & KAESONG CITY AM: after breakfast we take a short drive (approx. 20 mins) toPanmunjom/DMZ where North and South Korea continue their decades-old face-off. It is possible to go into one of the huts that straddle the Military Demarcation Line and actually cross over into South Korea! This is one of the few places you can take pictures of - and even with - members of the DPRK military. Next we head back into Kaesong and visit the Kaesong Koryo Museum, which is a beautiful old Confucian University, to learn about the history of the area. The stamp and souvenir shop here is excellent too. We’ll visit Sonjok Bridge- site of the 1215 assassination of Jong Mong Ju by Ri Song Gye (the 1st King of the Ri Dynasty, which brought an end to the Koryo Dynasty). PM: this afternoon we opt for a spot of nature appreciation and a brief hike at the stunning Pakyon Waterfalls, the highest in the DPRK and a wonderful spot for a 1 hour walk and some relaxation next to the deep plunge-pool. Feel free to jump in for a swim if you desire! We then head back along the Reunification Highway to Pyongyang. We will arrive in time for one final walk, this time along the Taedong River in central Pyongyang, a popular spot for young lovers and groups of friends to hang out on pleasant evenings. We’ll then head for




our farewell dinner spot and begin to say our goodbyes to our hosts who have brought us this far and hiked deep valleys and high mountains with us over the last week! OVERNIGHT: Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang

Mon 9th June – OPTION 2 DEPARTURE DAY Today is departure day for Option 2. For those taking the flight out option, the flight departs Pyongyang at 09:00 and arrives in Beijing at approx. 10:00. Those taking the train option depart Pyongyang station at 10:40The journey to Sinuiju (border city) takes around 5 hours and lunch is served in the dining car for those who want it (EUR 5). The immigration/customs procedures on the DPRK side take between 1.5 to 2.5 hours and there is no need to get off the train at any time. The international carriages then continue over the Friendship Bridge which spans the Yalu River (as you cross look to the left to see the bridge damaged in the Korean War) and on to Dandong, China. The immigration/customs procedures here are much quicker - around 30 minutes. Those doing the Dandong option alight here, and the train (the carriages attach onto a Chinese domestic train) departs at 18:30 local time. Dinner can be eaten in the Chinese dining car (costs RMB 80). OVERNIGHT: On train

Tues 10th June AM: The train arrives into Beijing Central Railway Station just after 08:30am - this is the end of the tour.

TOUR COST: Option 1.) EUR 1790 Option 2.) EUR 1990 VISA FEE: EUR 50 TOUR FEE INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING:

Flight Beijing-Pyongyang, flight/train Pyongyang-Beijing

All meals on the tour except on the train out of DPRK – see below

Hotel accommodation

All entry fees

Two guides and a driver per group

All transportation in DPRK

NOT INCLUDED IN THE TOUR FEE:

Optional single room supplement of EUR 40 per night

Spending money for drinks and souvenirs

DPRK visa fee EUR 50

EUR 50 surcharge for the plane if flying back to Beijing

Tip for the guides (approx. EUR 20-25 total)

Meals on the train out of DPRK - (bring your own food or eat dinner and lunch in the buffet car for approximately EUR 5 per person)

Entry tickets for special events if applicable – for example Revolutionary Opera if being staged, or a visit to the funfair

The lift up the Juche Tower - EUR 5

Meals will have a complimentary beer but you will have to pay for extra drinks above those provided. If you are vegetarian or have special dietary requirements then please inform us beforehand

SINUIJU EXTENSION: RMB 50 for the bus across the bridge to Dandong to be paid on the spot to the local guides


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Hiking & Camping Tour 2015...types! Koryo Tours is proud to offer our second hiking and camping trip to North Korea. On this amazing journey you will scale the heights of some of the