The Pyongyang Marathon April 9, 2017
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THE PYONGYANG MARATHON APRIL 9, 2017 3-night / 5-night / 10-night tour packages from Tongil Tours GET READY FOR THE MOST UNIQUE AND FASCINATING MARATHON EXPERIENCE IN THE WORLD — THE 2017 PYONGYANG MARATHON! Phoenix and Australia-based Tongil Tours is pleased to announce that we will be bringing runners to the most unique and fascinat- ing marathon experience in the world—the 2017 Pyongyang Marathon! Amateurs and spectators alike are welcome. Cheering on the runners... PYONGYANG MARATHON PACKAGES PACKAGE 1 — THE 3-night APRIL 8 - 11, 2017 1 3 nights/4 days | AUD $1800 / USD $1325 / EUR €1175 The 3-nighter is a perfect option for those who want a shorter, budget option. You’ll get a Pyongyang City tour, experience some of the local pubs, and also travel through the countryside to Ancient Kaesong and the DMZ. PACKAGE 2 — THE 5-night APRIL 8 - 13, 2017 2 5 nights/6 days | AUD $2125 / USD $1575 / EUR €1390 The 5-nighter builds on the 3-night tour, adding a number of exciting activities and sites, including a second trip outside of Pyongyang to Mt. Myohyang where we will stay in Mt Myohyang Hotel. As well, we will take some rides on the Pyong- yang Metro, visit a local school and help teach an English lesson, and spend some time at The National Gallery of Art. This package has the most bang for the buck, for sure. PACKAGE 3 — THE 10-night APRIL 8 - 18, 2017 3 10 nights/11 days | AUD $3150 / USD $2325 / EURO €2050 The 10-nighter is a special tour. It includes all of the excitement of the 3- and 5-night itineraries, but also includes the beautiful eastern coast of North Korea, where we will stay at the 5-star Majon Hotel. But we will also be there on April 15, Kim Il Sung’s birthday, which is one of the most important holidays, with lots of opportu- nities to join in on last-minute activities with the locals. This package is packed with potential and excitement. PYONGYANG MARATHON RACE INFORMATION The 2017 Pyongyang Marathon is on! Having only been open to foreign amateurs since only 2014, The Pyongyang Marathon is an exciting new must-have running experience for both professional and amateur runners of all nations. United States, Australian, and all other nationalities are welcome to participate, and Tongil Tours is pleased to handle all of your needs, including race registration, visa, and ticket handling round-trip to Beijing. Please note that you cannot register for the Pyongyang Marathon independently. All runners must register through an officially licensed DPRK tour operator. THE RACE — 10K, Half Marathon, and the Full Marathon: all three take place at the same time, and on the same course. The Pyongyang marathon is an officially recognized IAAF (International Asso- ciation of Athletics Federations). It is a 10K loop. You’ll have some great views of Pyongyang’s most famous sites as you run! 1 PACKAGE 1 — THE 3-night APRIL 8 - 11, 2017 3 nights/4 days AUD $1800 / USD $1325 / EUR €1175 SATURDAY APRIL 8 10 AM (Beijing time) – A Tongil Tours staff member will be ready to meet participants in Beijing International Airport. Assemble at Koryo Air flight counter in Beijing International Airport terminal 2 for quick briefing ses- sion before taking Air Koryo flight JS 152 to Pyongyang at 12:55pm. 12:55 midday – (Beijing time) – Estimated flight take off time. Flight time – approx. two hours. 3:30PM – (Pyongyang time, half an hour later than Beijing time) – Estimated time of arrival in Pyongyang. PM – Meet our Korean guides at Sunan International Airport. Half hour drive to Pyongyang. Once we get into Pyongyang, we’ll take a tour of Kim Il Sung Stadium, where the race will commence and end. Next, we’ll go for a bus ride following the route to help everyone get acquainted. Following this we will head to dinner, and then it’s time to rest up for the big day! Overnight in the Yanggak Island Hotel. SUNDAY APRIL 9 - RACE DAY! 7am (Pyongyang time) – Off we go to Kim Il Sung Stadium for the Pyongyang Marathon, known officialy as the Mangyongdae Prize International Pyongyang Marathon. 8am – Opening ceremony 9am – Race begins! Those not running will be able to spectate. This will include a soccer match in the stadium. 1pm- Award ceremony in Kim Il Sung Stadium. After the race we’ll head back to the hotel for a shower and a bit of rest. After that, we’ll head to the Taedong- gang Microbrewery No. 3, where we will raise a celebratory glass to our completion of the marathon. Next, we’ll head to the Juche Tower. We will check out the exterior of the tower from the base before stepping inside to have a look at the interior and then taking the elevator to the top for a spectacular view of Pyongyang. Those wishing to take the elevator to the top will need to purchase a ticket, a €5 euro (approx. $8 AUD) out of pocket expense to be paid in cash on the day in euros, Chinese yuan (approx. 40 yuan), or US dollars (approx. $6). Following that we’ll head to Kim Il Sung Square (where all of the massive military parades are held) and have a walk, and some photo ops. Next, we will head to the Foreign Language Bookstore nearby, where you can find a variety of English language DPRK books, maps, stamps, art, and other souvenirs. We’ll then head to our dinner venue, after which we’ll head back to the hotel where we can settle down at the pub for another drink, or hit the hay after a long day of running and site-seeing, Overnight in the Yanggak Island Hotel. MONDAY APRIL 10 AM – After breakfast, we will begin the two-hour drive to Kaesong and the DMZ. We will pass through Kaesong and head to the DMZ (Demilitarised Zone), border between the North and South. At the DMZ we will visit the Armistice Talks Hall, the Armistice Signing Hall and Panmunjom Peace Village from the northern side. At Panmunjom Peace Village we will view the south from metres away at the balcony of Panmun Pavilion. Then, provided there isn’t a tour group from the south visiting at the same time who has booked the room (note that this is rare but does happen sometimes), we will be able to get right up to the bor- der with South Korea, even technically crossing it in one of the negotiation huts which lie between the north- ern and southern sides of the compound and are bisected by the border. PM- Ancient Kaesong, for a traditional lunch consisting of local specialties. Next, we will visit the Koryo History Museum. This museum is dedicated to Kaesong’s past as capital of Korea. Exhibits are housed in Kaesong’s former Confucian Academy (Songgyungwan). Next, a quick visit to the postcard and stamp shop across the road. We will then drive back to Pyongyang, stopping off at the Tomb of King Kongmin of the Koryo dynasty. Set atop a hill offering scenic views are the two burial mounds of King Kongmin and his wife, Mongolian princess Queen Noguk. After arriving back in Pyongyang, we will visit the Mansudae Grand Monument, which consists of two large statues of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il flanked by sculptures depicting the Korean people’s experiences during Japanese colonialism and the Korean War. Dinner. Overnight in the Yanggak Island Hotel. TUESDAY APRIL 11 AM – After breakfast, we drive to Sunan airport for Air Koryo JS 151 back to Beijing. 9AM (Pyongyang time) – Estimated departure time. Flight time – approximately two hours. 10:30PM (Beijing time, half an hour earlier than Pyongyang time) – Estimated arrival time. We conclude our journey in Beijing capital Airport, terminal 2. 2 PACKAGE 2 — THE 5-night APRIL 8 - 13, 2017 5 nights/6 days AUD $2125 / USD $1575 / EUR €1390 SATURDAY APRIL 8 10 AM (Beijing time) – A Tongil Tours staff member will be ready to meet participants in Beijing International Airport. Assemble at Koryo Air flight counter in Beijing International Airport terminal 2 for quick briefing session before taking Air Koryo flight JS 152 to Pyongyang at 12:55pm. 12:55 midday – (Beijing time) – Estimated flight take off time. Flight time – approx. two hours. 3:30PM – (Pyongyang time, half an hour later than Beijing time) – Estimated time of arrival in Pyongyang. PM – Meet our Korean guides at Sunan International Airport. Half hour drive to Pyongyang. Once we get into Pyongyang, we’ll take a tour of Kim Il Sung Stadium, where the race will commence and end. Next, we’ll go for a bus ride following the route to help everyone get acquainted. Following this we will head to dinner, and then it’s time to rest up for the big day! Overnight in the Yanggak Island Hotel. SUNDAY APRIL 9 - RACE DAY! 7am (Pyongyang time) – Off we go to Kim Il Sung Stadium for the Pyongyang Marathon, known officialy as the Mangyongdae Prize International Pyongyang Marathon. 8am – Opening ceremony 9am – Race begins! Those not running will be able to spectate. This will include a soccer match in the stadium. 1pm- Award ceremony in Kim Il Sung Stadium. After the race we’ll head back to the hotel for a shower and a bit of rest. After that, we’ll head to the Taedong- gang Microbrewery No. 3, where we will raise a celebratory glass to our completion of the marathon. Next, we’ll head to the Juche Tower.