1 VOYAGES COREE DU NORD CONTACT US : [email protected] Beyond Borders 14 days / 13 nights on site Guaranteed departure from 2 people with a maximum of 16 people 2 TRAVEL GUIDE TO NORTH KOREA The capital of the Democratic as making comments on negative HOW TO GET THERE? Companies People's Republic of Korea Presidents Kim Il Sung and Kim liaising with North Korea is Air (DPRK), Pyongyang has about 4 Jong Il, or any other member of Koryo (JS) and Air China (CA). The million inhabitants. the Government or the Party. only international airport is GEOGRAPHY LANGUAGE Korean is the official located in Pyongyang, and the The country covers a total area of language. A guide is mandatory boarding main hub is Beijing 120.538 km2. Located in for the duration of your stay. Few (Peking). northeastern China and adjacent Koreans speak foreign language. PASSPORT AND VISA A visa or extreme southeastern Russia, CURRENCY The won (KPW) is the tourist card are required for North Korea also shares borders official currency. At the time of entering North Korea. To get it with South Korea. North Korea is writing, the exchange rate is 1 please first make sure of the lined with about 1000 km of EUR = 1.006 KPW and USD $ 1 = validity of your passport for at coastline, to the West by the 886 KPW (May 2016). Foreigners least 6 months after your return Yellow Sea and the East by the are not allowed to use the won. date. Phoenix Voyages can take East Sea. However, the euro, the US dollar care of your visa (period: from 3 POPULATION There are and the Chinese yuan are weeks to 1 month). From now on, approximately 24 million accepted. The best thing to do is anyone who stayed in one of the inhabitants, with an average to carry around small bills in euros countries listed below will have to density of 190 inhabitants per or even pieces (much prove, by the stamps on the km2. The most populated area is appreciated). Credit cards and passport, getting out of one of located in Pyongyang and its traveler’s cheques are not these countries at least 15 days vicinity. The population is accepted. All payments are made before the entry into North homogeneous with a majority of in cash. Korea, including: Saudi Arabia, Koreans but there is also a small CLIMATE North Korea has a Bahrain, South Korea, Iraq, Iran, Chinese community. continental climate with four Jordan, Kuwait, UAE, Oman, RELIGION The main religions are distinct seasons. The rainy season Qatar and Yemen. Buddhism and Confucianism, as is concentrated in the summer. ELECTRICITY In North Korea, the well as Christians in Pyongyang, The weather is rough, especially standard current is 220V and but 2/3 of North Koreans have no in winter, in the mountainous sockets are European standards. religion. north. The best time to visit North With few energy sources, there POLICY It is recommended to Korea remains the fall and spring are occasional power cuts. We avoid talking about politics or because the weather is dry with suggest you take a flashlight. criticize the government, as well ideal temperatures. 3 Beyond Borders An unforgettable trip: ✓ Travel in a small group limited to a maximum of 16 people. ✓ Restaurants are carefully selected for a culinary discovery of typical regional dishes. ✓ Visit of Kaesong, listed World Heritage by UNESCO and other more unusual sights. ✓ A fascinating meeting with the local people. Perfect for a first discovery of Democratic People's Republic of Korea. ✓ Experience the Korean subway like Pyongyang’s inhabitants. ✓ Learn how to cook rice cakes or Kimchi. ✓ Enjoy majestic landscape from the new Ski Resort of Masik Pass. 4 Departure dates in 2018 Departure Dates Tuesday June 5, 2018 Tuesday June 19, 2018 Tuesday July 3, 2018 Tuesday July 17, 2018 Tuesday August 7, 2018 Tuesday August 21, 2018 Tuesday September 4, 2018 Tuesday September 18, 2018 Tuesday September 25, 2018 Tuesday October 2, 2018 Tuesday October 16, 2018 Tuesday October 30, 2018 Tuesday November 6, 2018 Selected Accommodations City Hotel Category Pyongyang Yanggakdo Hotel Kaesong Traditional Korean House N/A Myohyang Mount Hyangsan Hotel Masikryong Masikryong Ski Resort Mts Kumkang Kumgangsan Hotel Dandong Zhonglian • Room categories: Standard or Superior (otherwise specified). • The classification mentioned above should be taken as an indication because no official classification exists in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. • The standard check-in time is 1:00 p.m. and check-out time is 12:00 pm (for most of hotels). • In case of unavailability of a hotel, we reserve the right to book another hotel in the same category and the same price range. 5 Beyond Borders 14 days / 13 nights on site Period from January 1st, 2018 to December 31st, 2018 Day 1 Tuesday – PYONGYANG (D.) On arrival, welcome by the local guide at the airport in Pyongyang. Transfer and check-in to the hotel. In the evening, transfer for a delicious traditional dinner: a Korean barbecue. Overnight in Pyongyang. Pyongyang Pyongyang, which means "the flat country" is the capital of North Korea and its economic and cultural center. The city has numerous giant monuments such as the famous Arc of Triumph, the Tower of Juche, the doors of Pothong and Taedong, or the Mangyongdae house where President Kim Il Sung spent his childhood. It is also a green city that all avenues are lined by rows of gigantic trees. Various parks and recreational grounds are also located in every district of the city. Day 2 Wednesday – PYONGYANG – KAESONG (B./L./D.) After breakfast, depart for the Mansudae hill and huge statues of President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il before joining the Kim Il Sung Square. Finally, visit the National Library, protecting nearly 30 million books and observation of the exterior view of the Juche Tower, 150 meters high. Lunch at a local restaurant. The afternoon is dedicated to Pyongyang city. Depart through the city’s subway a rare opportunity to share the Pyongyangese daily life. Get off at the station at Arc of Triumph for shopping in one of the state owned boutiques. Then, drive to Kaesong, once the capital of the Koryo Dynasty and today a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. In the evening, cooking demonstration including preparation of rice cake or kimchi. Dinner at the hotel or at a local restaurant. Overnight in Kaesong in a traditional Korean house. Note: An elevator provides access to the top of the Tower of the Juche; an additional of 8 US Dollars (about 7 Euros) per person must be paid on site. The Fountains and the Grand Monuments of Mansudae Located on the hillside of Mansudae, monuments represent the victory of the Korean revolution. This includes fountains, Parliament, and a massive statue of President Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il. Bring flowers at the feet of the statue has become traditional. 6 Day 3 Thursday – KAESONG (B./L./D.) After breakfast, depart to discover the ancient city, once the capital of the Koryo Dynasty and today listed World Heritage by UNESCO. Continue to walk from the hotel through the city center of Kaesong towards the South Gate. Then, depart to visit the DMZ where the armistice talks began. Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, visit the Anhwa temple, the pagoda of seven floors, the Songjuk bridge and the tomb of King Kongmin. Back to the hotel. Then, visit Koryo History museum located within the walls of the very first university in Korea. Dinner at the hotel or at a local restaurant. Overnight in Kaesong in a traditional Korean house. Kaesong & the Demilitarized Zone Located 160 km South of Pyongyang, this historical city remains significant as it was the capital of Koryo, Korea’s latest kingdom when the territory of Korea was one (from the 10th century to the end of 14th century). Located on the Military Demarcation Line dividing the territories of Korea into two, Kaesong is very close to the small rural village of Panmunjon. Also named the “Bamboo Wall”, this over-securized area of Korea’s territory is one of the last remains of the Cold War. Several hundreds of thousands of soldiers are looking after it. Created on the 23rd of March 1953, this zone saw for the first time a train crossing from South to North on the 17th of May 2007, after more than 50 years of total lock. This visit is one of the most stuning moments of a trip to North Korea. Despite the situation, the ambiance there is surprisingly relaxed. Day 4 Friday – KAESONG - PYONGYANG (B./L./D.) After breakfast, return to Pyongyang and stop to visit the ancient citadel of mountains and Jongbul temple. Check-in at the hotel upon arrival. Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, visit Mangyondae Children’s Palace and Korean Film Studio, which we call “Pyongllywood” which has produced more than 10 000 movies. End of afternoon with an entertainment at Pyongyang’s circus. World renowned, this circus has repeatedly received the Golden Clown of Monte Carlo Festival. Very popular in the country, the circus offers a quality show illustrating Korean traditions. Dinner at hotel or at a local restaurant. Overnight in Pyongyang. Modern monuments Pyongyang is a concentrate of grandiose monuments and places and edifices erected to the glory of socialism and two supreme leaders of the country. Arc of Triumph, Juche Tower, Mausoleum and Statue Kim Il-sung, Mansudae fountain and some metro stations in the capital are many points of interest for those who want to soak up in the realism architectural and socialist culture.