North Korea Journey 2020 North Korea: The Hermit Kingdom; A Hidden World; quite simply unlike anywhere else on earth; the last frontier in the search for the remarkable. Now with its third hereditary leader, this ‘communist’ state has survived the collapse of the Soviet Union to become a nuclear power. North Korea Journey offers a glimpse of the world’s most isolated nation, where the internet and much of the 21st Century remain relatively unknown, and millions live in the shadow of an all-encompassing personality cult. It has historically been controversial and shut out the rest of the world, and by only opening and closing its doors to foreigners periodically, it remains one of the world’s most inaccessible destinations with few international friends. This is an adventure that dares to be different, and in a world of flattened travel horizons, North Korea is the last frontier in the search for the remarkable. On this Journey you will • explore the streetscapes of Old Canton • fly to Harbin, the ‘Moscow of the East’ • explore Shenyang’s ancient Imperial Palace, second only to Beijing’s • view North Korea from the Great Wall • take the express train across the border to arrive at the nation’s capital, Pyongyang • visit the Pohyon Temple, the ‘Pagoda of Many Treasures’; the most famous in both Koreas. • Discover Mt Myohyang, a beautiful and pristine natural environment • see the famous American spy ship, USS Pueblo • gaze in awe at Kim Il Sung’s mausoleum • visit the extraordinary 38th Parallel and Demilitarised Zone from the north Is this trip right for you The people are proud of their Korean culture and treat visitors with great warmth and humour, which once again reminds us of the common bond of humanity, but the compromises required to travel here are significant. You’ll always be accompanied by two state-employed guides and hear a one-sided account of history while being bussed from sight to sight. Those who can’t accept this might be better off staying away – but those who can, will undertake a fascinating journey into another, unsettling world, a surreal experience which is like arriving in another part of the world in a time capsule. Mysterious’ and ‘secretive’ are adjectives that only scratch the surface when trying to describe North Korea. Yet despite all the negative publicity that surrounds the country, tourists are arriving in ever-increasing numbers to one of the safest countries in the world. The country is full of a dizzying array of highlights and we invite you to join us on this inimitable travel experience! D 1 Tuesday 13 October 2020 Depart Australia Arrive Guangzhou Hj Grand Hotel D 2 Wed 14 October Guangzhou This tour includes all meals City tour. China’s third-largest city is the capital of Guangdong Province and a thriving commercial centre. Its location on the Pearl River and proximity to Hong Kong has made Guangzhou a strategic port for centuries. Descend the two-millennia-old steps into an actual Han dynasty tomb. This was the final resting place of Zhao Mo, second king of the Nányuè Kingdom, entombed here in 122 BC with over a dozen sacrificial servants. The remains of a concubine lie under glass – a shroud of bone dust. A formidable bounty of treasures was excavated from the cave, which are on display in the excellent galleries here. Jade discs, bronzes, gold seals, swords and Zhao Mo's jade burial suit – a priceless treasure. Wander around the local Cantonese streets, experience Cantonese life, talk with local people and feel the culture here. Chen Clan Ancestral Hall-Folk Craft Museum, Chen Clan Academy, famed for its exquisite craftsmanship including wood, stone, and brick carving, and metalwork using copper and iron. The special historical, artistic, and scientific aspects of the temple have made it an important site in Guangzhou. Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street one of the most popular shopping streets in Guangzhou. In the street, you can see the traditional Cantonese arcade, which is the typical Cantonese house. Shamian Island to see historical buildings from the colonial European period. Learn about the British and French influences on the town's neoclassical architecture and design. Hj Grand Hotel D3 Thu 15 Oct Guangzhou fly to Harbin Head to Harbin’s Sun Island on the north bank of the Songhua River, which flows 1,434 kilometres from the Changbai Mountains on the China/North Korea border through China’s north-eastern Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces. This gorgeous area, surrounded by blue water, boasts crystal lakes, wooden rockeries, a kaleidoscope of flowers and exotic buildings. Covering 3,800 hectares, Sun Island is divided into several sections, including an animal park, a centre garden and the amazing Sun Gate, which is composed of five white elliptic arches and four small gates flanking an imposing central structure. The Snow Art Hall is the largest of its kind in the world, which allows us to marvel at the fantastic ice architecture, even in summer! Milky Way Hotel D4 Friday 16 October Harbin Known as the ‘Moscow of the East’, Harbin has always been regarded as a unique and exotic city. Today we explore Harbin on foot as we enter perhaps the most interesting area of the city, simply known as ‘Central Street’. This long pedestrianised corridor of European architecture was built by the Russians more than 110 years ago, and it is this fusion with Russian history that attracts people from all over the world. Milky Way Hotel D5 Saturday 17 October Harbin - High Speed train to Shenyang Lestie Hotel D6 Sunday 18 October Shenyang Visit Benxi Caves by boat, said to have the world’s longest navigable underground river. In the afternoon visit the beautiful Shenyang Imperial Palace, the only existing royal palace in China outside of the Forbidden City in Beijing. The main structure, built in 1625, covers an area of more than 60,000 square metres. Although smaller than the Forbidden City, over 300 rooms, formed around 20 courtyards more than constitute an imposing sight to behold. Within its walls, much is revealed about the early Qing Dynasty. UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. After our tour here we visit the former residence of the Manchurian Warlords. Lestie Hotel D 7 Monday 19 October Shenyang – Dandong Fast train to Dandong. This is the gateway to North Korea. Its strategic location makes it the prime port city and trade route for North Korea. Dandong is also home to the east end of the Great Wall of China and is believed to date back to the start of the Qin Dynasty in 221 BC. Set in the Tiger Mountain, the Great Wall offers fantastic views of Sinuiju, the North Korean border city and the Yalu River that separates them. Dandong was heralded as the best tourist city of 2001 by the National Tourism Administration. Visit the Broken Bridge, which once spanned the Yalu River connecting Dandong and Sinuiju. Friend Plaza Hotel D 8 Tuesday 20 October Depart Dandong Arrive Pyongyang Early this morning board the Express Train for the journey to Pyongyang. The train crosses the Yalu River Bridge, before passing through mountainous countryside to the DPRK. The train makes its way into the heart of one of the world’s most remarkable travel destinations passing through typical rural countryside before arriving in the capital of North Korea. Goryeo Hotel D 9 Wednesday 21 October Pyongyang Located on the banks of the Taedong River, Pyongyang is a monumental and surprisingly beautiful city with a population of over three million and a rich history reaching back 5,000 years. The city boasts numerous traffic-free boulevards and avenues surrounded by parks and gardens. Explore Pyongyang seeing the Arch of Triumph, the Juche Tower, Moran Hill and the birthplace of Kim Il Sung. This afternoon visit some stations on a metro system that many say rival Moscow and Paris for their beauty. Goryeo Hotel D 10 Thursday 22 October Pyongyang – Myohyang After breakfast we drive to Myohyang, which is situated in the mountains of north-western DPRK. Mt Myohyang is a beautiful and pristine environment and is a very popular local tourism site. The area features over 2,500 species of plants, animals, birds and fish. Visit the amazing International Friendship Exhibition, which opened in 1978. Gifts from Presidents and Prime Ministers from around the globe are on display. Myohyang Hotel D 11 Friday 23 October Myohyang – Pyongyang The beautiful Pohyon Temple is one of the most famous in Korea, dating back to the 11th Century. Explore the two storey Temple, also known as the ‘Pagoda of Many Treasures’. After lunch, return to Pyongyang to visit the Korean War Museum, which is dedicated to the Korean War of 1950-1953. Goryeo Hotel D 12 Saturday 24 October Pyongyang This morning visits the captured American armed spy ship, the USS Pueblo. A military information- gathering ship in the US Pacific fleet, the Pueblo was captured in January 1968 with 80 sailors onboard. This afternoon visit the Children’s Palace, which hosts classes for extra-curricular activities such as gymnastics, karate and various musical studies. Goryeo Hotel D 13 Sunday 25 October Pyongyang – Panmunjom – Pyongyang Today is a major highlight on the tour as we visit the 38th Parallel, the most heavily militarised border in the world and only 68 km from Seoul, the capital of South Korea. The tension is palpable as each side photographs the other across the line. Our visit provides a unique and rare perspective, as few westerners have ever viewed the extraordinary face-off from the north side. At one of the armistice halls, it is possible to walk around the conference table into South Korea! Goryeo Hotel D 14 Monday 26 October Pyongyang – Beijing arr 1825 Explore the famous Hutong Area of Nan Luo Gu Xiang on foot.