• Overall

  Run in the Pyongyang Marathon 2025 and enjoy a trip around Pyongyang sites with Koryo Tours on this Pyongyang Marathon tour! 

  This 5-night tour will take you to partake in the Pyongyang International Marathon on Sunday 6th April 2025. Plus, enjoy some of the best sites Pyongyang has to offer. 

  Be one of the few guests of the DPR Korea Athletic Association as a member of an Amateur Runners' Delegation. As guests, you have the opportunity to run in the 31^st Pyongyang International Marathon. North Korea's largest international sporting event held for the first time since 2019. You will also have the chance to visit some of Pyongyang's highlights.

  The Pyongyang Marathon is an extremely unique experience as it provides an opportunity to interact with locals and explore the city in a way that most visitors rarely get to. An experience truly like no other. 

  It is one of the few international sporting events held in North Korea when runners from all over the world gather to race through the streets of Pyongyang. 

  The route takes participants past iconic landmarks and streets such as the Arch of Triumph, Mangyongdae Schoolchildren's Palace, Mirae Future Scientists' Street, and Pyongyang's Sports Street. 

  A view of Pyongyang foreigners seldom see!

  This trip is open only to amateur runners. All participants of this Pyongyang Marathon tour must sign up to run in the Pyongyang Marathon.

  Highlights

  • Return of the 31^st Pyongyang International Marathon after a 5 years hiatus
  • Pyongyang Metro and other Pyongyang highlights
  • One of Pyongyang's newest streets and the new Taedonggang Beer Bar on Hwasong Street

  click image to expand

• Itinerary

  Briefing Day

  1. April 2 | Wednesday

     *Pre-Trip Briefing | We require all participants to attend a pre-trip briefing that covers regulations, etiquette, safety, and practicalities for visiting North Korea. The briefing lasts approximately one hour followed by a question and answer session. Please be punctual for the briefing. You can come early, meet your fellow runners, and pay any outstanding fees. A proper briefing is an essential part of visiting North Korea.

     For Pyongyang Marathon Delegations, we will hold several briefings in the morning.

     AM

     • Briefings will be held at Novotel Beijing Peace at these times. You only need to attend one briefing (exact times offered to be confirmed).

     PM

     • We may need you in person for visa issuance at the DPRK Embassy in Beijing. please do not initially plan any other activity this afternoon.

     Overnight | Hotel in Beijing not included in the tour. Contact us for recommendations.

  2. April 3 | Thursday

     Arrival day in Pyongyang

     AM

     • Independent travel to Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) Terminal 2.
        
     • 11:00 | Group meeting at the Air Koryo check-in counter at Beijing Airport.

     PM

     • Flight departure from Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) Terminal 2 on Air Koryo flight JS252 at 14:05. A 1.5-hour flight with basic lunch (vegetarian option is subject to availability).
     • Flight arrival at Pyongyang's Sunan International Airport (FNJ) at 17:10. DPRK immigration and customs, meet your Korean guides, and transfer to the hotel.
        
     • Check-in and dinner at the hotel.

     
     Overnight | Sosan Hotel, Pyongyang | A sports-themed hotel located in West Pyongyang’s Sports Village. Sports shop, bookstore, numerous bars, spa and small gym. Renovated in 2015.

  3. April 4 | Friday

     Pyongyang City Tour

     AM

     • Early Morning Run in Pyongyang | This is your chance for a pre-marathon run in Pyongyang! You will have to be up early for this, a good opportunity to give yourself some preparation for the tour's big event. This is an optional activity; for those who don't participate, you can enjoy a sleep-in.
     • Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum | Tour this world-class museum led by a local museum guide. Renovated in 2012 it exhibits the Korean War from the DPRK perspective containing artefacts, documents, photos, and lifelike dioramas. The exterior grounds house the War Victory Monument and displays of Korean People’s Army Hero Equipment and captured equipment from the US military, including the USS Pueblo. Central to the understanding of the country today and a highlight of the trip.
        
     • Mansudae Fountain Park | The historic centre of Pyongyang popular with local citizens after school and on weekends. Flanked by examples of ancient and modern architecture from different eras.
        
     • Mansudae Grand Monument | Enormous bronze statues of the DPRK leadership overlooking downtown Pyongyang. A presentation of flowers and a bow by the group is customary here. Visitations are by special request only and decent dress is required. No shorts or flip-flop sandals are allowed here

     PM

     • Okryugwan | A meal at Pyongyang’s most famous restaurant. Housed in a huge traditional building on the banks of the Taedong River. Okryugwan specializes in Pyongyang Cold Noodles.
        
     • Foreign Languages Bookshop | Store selling Korean publications translated into English, German, French, Russian, Chinese, and Spanish. Also pick up DVDs, postcards, and small works of art.
        
     • Kim Il Sung Square | Pyongyang’s central square lined with government ministries, museums, and The Grand People’s Study House, Korea’s national library. See the centre of it all!
        
     • Grand People’s Study House | Huge national library and public university housed in a large neo-traditional Korean building overlooking Kim Il Sung Square and downtown Pyongyang.
        
     • Tower of the Juche Idea | Iconic tower dedicated to the DPRK’s guiding philosophy on the Taedong River. Take the elevator to the top for great views of the city (elevator ticket is 5 EUR).
        
     • Party Foundation Monument | Iconic structure featuring the hammer, sickle & writing brush which make up the emblem of the Worker’s Party of Korea and represent workers, farmers, and intellectuals.
        
     • Dinner at Chongryu Hot Pot Restaurant.

     Overnight | Sosan Hotel, Pyongyang

  4. April 5 | Saturday

     Pyongyang City Tour

     AM

     • Early Morning Run in Pyongyang (optional).
        
     • Stamp Exhibition | Displays of stamps issued since the foundation of the DPRK featuring all manner of decorations. Some expected, some very unexpected! Part shop, part exhibition. Good for souvenirs and mementoes.
        
     • Pyongyang Metro Tour | One of the deepest metro systems in the world with stunning artwork reflecting the name of each station. Ride six stations on the Chollima Line.
        
     • Arch of Triumph | A massive archway made for the 70th anniversary of the birth of President Kim Il Sung in 1982 and commemorating the liberation of Korea from Japanese colonial rule in 1945. Larger than its counterpart in Paris.
        
     • Wolhyang Souvenir Shop
        
     • Mangyongdae Native House | Birthplace and childhood home of President Kim Il Sung. A traditional Korean house in a beautiful natural surrounding.

     PM

     • Pizza Restaurant | Lunch at one of Pyongyang’s Italian eateries (there are three) for some carbs before the run. Pizzas range between 10-15 USD each.
        
     • Taesong Department Store
        
     • Kim Il Sung Stadium & Marathon Route Preview | Visit the stadium where you will start and finish your race, and then drive the marathon route to familiarise yourself with the roads, turning points and restroom stops.
        
     • Dinner at the hotel and calling it a day early to be rested for the big event tomorrow.

     Overnight | Sosan Hotel, Pyongyang

  5. April 6 | Sunday

     The big event! The Pyongyang Marathon 2025!

     AM

     • The 2025 Pyongyang Marathon | This is your chance to run the streets of Pyongyang in the DPRK’s largest annual sports event! Join the Full Marathon, Half Marathon, 10km or 5km race — all of which follow a return course that starts and ends in Kim Il Sung Stadium in front of a 50,000-strong capacity crowd of local Koreans. (Runner's Guide to Kim Il Sung Stadium)

     The full route, which has been certified by both World Athletics and AIMS, leads right through the city centre, past a number of iconic landmarks, and then out into Pyongyang's less urban districts. Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to see more of the capital and interact with people along the course. Prizes are available for the winners of each race.

     PM

     • Shower, resting time, and lunch | After the marathon's closing ceremony, we'll be heading back to the hotel to recharge, shower and rest.
     • Munsu Water Park | We’ll recharge at this outdoor and indoor water park with water slides, lap pools, and hot tubs. Bar, coffee shop, and shops for non-swimmers (Entry fee 2 EUR; swimming fee 10 EUR with suit rental).
        
     • Walk on Hwasong Street | A stroll on one of the newest streets of the North Korean capital opened in April 2023 after 14 months of construction. These new buildings in Pyongyang finally became a new landmark of the city.
        
     • Hwasong Beer Bar | A popular site among local Koreans this Taedonggang beer bar features two large bottles at the entrance and the staircase inside a transparent draught beer bottle. The restaurant offers various pitchers of Taedonggang beer ($1-$5) and an open-air service area on the second floor for rooftop bar enthusiasts.

     Overnight | Sosan Hotel, Pyongyang

  6. April 7 | Monday

     Pyongyang City Tour

     AM

     • Kumkop General Foodstuff Factory for Sportspersons | Located on Pyongyang's Sports Street this foodstuff factory is a model and standard for all other factories in the country of its kind. It produces ca. hundred kinds of food products, including beverages to help sportspersons recover from fatigue. Besides the automated production lines and control room, the factory also has a recreational facility reminiscent of a palm house for its workers.
        
     • Kangdong Greenhouse Farm | Built within a year despite environmental challenges, the project is designed to supply produce to Pyongyang, aiming to enhance food production and availability. It features over 1,050 structures, including greenhouses, production facilities, public buildings, and residences. The greenhouses use cylindrical cultivation devices to maximise nutrient absorption and light efficiency, allowing for harvests within 20 days of seedling transplantation.

     PM

     • Lunch on Ryomyong Street
        
     • Stroll on Ryomyong Street
        
     • Taekwondo Demonstration | Taekwondo is the national martial art which all children learn to a certain degree in school.
        
     • Pyongyang International Football Academy | Premier football school for young and promising athletes. Tour the facilities and learn about the history of football in the DPRK. Has multiple training pitches where you can test yourself against some students here. Michael Palin also visited here; bring your inflatable globe to step in his footsteps.
        
     • Golden Lanes Bowling Centre | Where Pyongyang locals go for their ten-pin fix. Also has billiards and arcade games. Non-bowlers can head next door to the Kumrung Leisure Centre for an airgun shooting range and some of the best coffee in Pyongyang.
        
     • Dinner at Taedonggang Ship Restaurant.

     Overnight | Sosan Hotel, Pyongyang

  7. April 8 | Tuesday

     Departure Day from Pyongyang

     AM

     • Flight departure from Pyongyang on Air Koryo Flight JS151 at 08:35 with scheduled arrival at Beijing Capital Airport (PEK) Terminal 2 at 09:55.

     End of Tour

• Extras

  • Upgrade to your own room — marathon tour

    All hotel rooms on our all-inclusive group tours feature twin beds, and will be shared. If you'd like a room to yourself during the extremely busy Pyongyang Marathon period then you can upgrade for an extra 80 EUR per night.

  • Pyongyang Marathon — official race entry

    The Mangyongdae Prize International Marathon is now open to foreign amateur runners. You can run the 5k, 10k, Half or Full Marathon. All four take place on the same day in April, and follow the same course, which is fully recognised by the International Association of Athletics Federations. We are the EXCLUSIVE travel partner for foreign amateurs. Don't miss out on this rare opportunity to become one of the few people in the world to have run the Pyongyang Marathon. We'll see you at the start line!

• What is / is not included?

  • Air Koryo flight Beijing–Pyongyang—Beijing
  • All meals on the tour except for the lunch at the pizza restaurant
  • Hotel accommodation in the DPRK
  • A Koryo Tours tour leader, two local Korean hosts, and a driver
  • All transportation in the DPRK
  • Finisher's medal, and race certificate

  • Marathon race fee that is to be paid in cash (clean USD notes only) before the race in Pyongyang. Entry fees are 5 km: $70 USD / 10 km: $70 USD / Half Marathon: $100 USD / Full Marathon: $150 USD
  • North Korean (DPRK) visa fee – to be paid directly at the Beijing DPRK Embassy, varies by nationality
  • Optional single room supplement of 80 EUR per night
  • Tips for the Korean hosts and driver (approx 75 EUR total per person)
  • Optional activities such as the lift up the Juche Tower (5 EUR) or a visit to the funfair (approx. 2 EUR entrance fee per person)
  • Entry tickets for special events if applicable. For example, Pyongyang Circus (approx. 20 EUR per person)
  • Meals include a complimentary beer and water, but you will need to purchase extra drinks if needed
  • Spending money on souvenirs

Please apply by 14th March, 2025.

• Overall

  Run in the Pyongyang Marathon 2025 and enjoy a trip around Pyongyang sites with Koryo Tours on this Pyongyang Marathon tour! 

  This 5-night trip will take you to partake in the Pyongyang International Marathon on Sunday 6th April 2025. You will arrive a day before the marathon, and spend the rest of the days exploring Pyongyang.

  Be one of the few guests of the DPR Korea Athletic Association as a member of an Amateur Runners' Delegation. As guests, you have the opportunity to run in the 31^st Pyongyang International Marathon. North Korea's largest international sporting event held for the first time since 2019. You will also have the chance to visit some of Pyongyang's highlights.

  The Pyongyang Marathon is an extremely unique experience as it provides an opportunity to interact with locals and explore the city in a way that most visitors rarely get to. An experience truly like no other. 

  It is one of the few international sporting events held in North Korea when runners from all over the world gather to race through the streets of Pyongyang. 

  The route takes participants past iconic landmarks and streets such as the Arch of Triumph, Mangyongdae Schoolchildren's Palace, Mirae Future Scientists' Street, and Pyongyang's Sports Street. 

  A view of Pyongyang foreigners seldom see!

  This trip is open only to amateur runners. All participants of this Pyongyang Marathon tour must sign up to run in the Pyongyang Marathon.

  Highlights

  • Return of the 31^st Pyongyang International Marathon after a 5 years hiatus
  • Pyongyang Metro and other Pyongyang highlights
  • One of Pyongyang's newest streets and the new Taedonggang Beer Bar on Hwasong Street

  click image to expand

• Itinerary

  Briefing Day

  1. April 4 | Friday

     *Pre-Trip Briefing | We require all participants to attend a pre-trip briefing that covers regulations, etiquette, safety, and practicalities for visiting North Korea. The briefing lasts approximately one hour followed by a question and answer session. Please be punctual for the briefing. You can come early, meet your fellow runners, and pay any outstanding fees. A proper briefing is an essential part of visiting North Korea.

     For Pyongyang Marathon Delegations, we will hold several briefings in the morning.

     AM

     • Briefings will be held at Novotel Beijing Peace at these times. You only need to attend one briefing (exact times offered to be confirmed).

     PM

     • We may need you in person for visa issuance at the DPRK Embassy in Beijing. please do not initially plan any other acivity this afternoon

     Overnight | Hotel in Beijing not included in the tour. Contact us for recommendations.

  2. April 5 | Saturday

     Arrival day in Pyongyang

     AM

     • Independent travel to Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) Terminal 2.
        
     • 09:00 | Group meeting at the Air Koryo check-in counter at Beijing Airport.

     PM

     • Flight departure from Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) Terminal 2 on Air Koryo flight JS152 at 12:25. A 1.5-hour flight with basic lunch (vegetarian option is subject to availability).
     • Flight arrival at Pyongyang's Sunan International Airport (FNJ) at 15:30. DPRK immigration and customs, meet your Korean guides, and transfer to the hotel.
        
     • Kim Il Sung Stadium & Marathon Route Preview | Visit the stadium where you will start and finish your race, and then drive the marathon route to familiarise yourself with the roads, turning points and restroom stops.
        
     • Check-in and dinner at the hotel.

     
     Overnight:

     Sosan Hotel, Pyongyang | A sports-themed hotel located in West Pyongyang’s Sports Village. Sports shop, bookstore, numerous bars, spa and small gym. Renovated in 2015.

  3. April 6 | Sunday

     The big event! The Pyongyang Marathon 2025!

     AM

     • The 2025 Pyongyang Marathon | This is your chance to run the streets of Pyongyang in the DPRK’s largest annual sports event! Join the Full Marathon, Half Marathon, 10km or 5km race — all of which follow a return course that starts and ends in Kim Il Sung Stadium in front of a 50,000-strong capacity crowd of local Koreans. (Runner's Guide to Kim Il Sung Stadium)

     The full route, which has been certified by both World Athletics and AIMS, leads right through the city centre, past a number of iconic landmarks, and then out into Pyongyang's less urban districts. Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to see more of the capital and interact with people along the course. Prizes are available for the winners of each race.

     PM

     • Shower, resting time, and lunch | After the marathon's closing ceremony, we'll be heading back to the hotel to recharge, shower and rest.
     • Munsu Water Park | We’ll recharge at this outdoor and indoor water park with water slides, lap pools, and hot tubs. Bar, coffee shop, and shops for non-swimmers (Entry fee 2 EUR; swimming fee 10 EUR with suit rental).
        
     • Walk on Hwasong Street | A stroll on one of the newest streets of the North Korean capital opened in April 2023 after 14 months of construction. These new buildings in Pyongyang finally became a new landmark of the city.
        
     • Hwasong Beer Bar | A popular site among local Koreans this Taedonggang beer bar features two large bottles at the entrance and the staircase inside a transparent draught beer bottle. The restaurant offers various pitchers of Taedonggang beer ($1-$5) and an open-air service area on the second floor for rooftop bar enthusiasts.

     Overnight | Sosan Hotel, Pyongyang

  4. April 7 | Monday

     Pyongyang City Tour

     AM

     • Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum | Tour this world-class museum led by a local museum guide. Renovated in 2012 it exhibits the Korean War from the DPRK perspective containing artefacts, documents, photos, and lifelike dioramas. The exterior grounds house the War Victory Monument and displays of Korean People’s Army Hero Equipment and captured equipment from the US military, including the USS Pueblo. Central to the understanding of the country today and a highlight of the trip.
        
     • Mansudae Fountain Park | The historic centre of Pyongyang popular with local citizens after school and on weekends. Flanked by examples of ancient and modern architecture from different eras.
        
     • Mansudae Grand Monument | Enormous bronze statues of the DPRK leadership overlooking downtown Pyongyang. A presentation of flowers and a bow by the group is customary here. Visitations are by special request only and decent dress is required. No shorts or flip-flop sandals are allowed here

     PM

     • Okryugwan | A meal at Pyongyang’s most famous restaurant. Housed in a huge traditional building on the banks of the Taedong River. Okryugwan specializes in Pyongyang Cold Noodles.
        
     • Foreign Languages Bookshop | Store selling Korean publications translated into English, German, French, Russian, Chinese, and Spanish. Also pick up DVDs, postcards, and small works of art.
        
     • Kim Il Sung Square | Pyongyang’s central square lined with government ministries, museums, and The Grand People’s Study House, Korea’s national library. See the centre of it all!
        
     • Taekwondo Demonstration | Taekwondo is the national martial art which all children learn to a certain degree in school.
        
     • Mangyongdae Native House | Birthplace and childhood home of President Kim Il Sung. A traditional Korean house in a beautiful natural setting.
        
     • Grand People’s Study House | Huge national library and public university housed in a large neo-traditional Korean building overlooking Kim Il Sung Square and downtown Pyongyang.
        
     • Dinner at Taedonggang Ship Restaurant. 

     Overnight | Sosan Hotel, Pyongyang

  5. April 8 | Tuesday

     Pyongyang City Tour

     AM

     • Early Morning Run in Pyongyang (optional).
        
     • Kumkop General Foodstuff Factory for Sportspersons | Located on Pyongyang's Sports Street this foodstuff factory is a model and standard for all other factories in the country of its kind. It produces ca. hundred kinds of food products, including beverages to help sportspersons recover from fatigue. Besides the automated production lines and control room, the factory also has a recreational facility reminiscent of a palm house for its workers.
        
     • Kangdong Greenhouse Farm | Built within a year despite environmental challenges, the project is designed to supply produce to Pyongyang, aiming to enhance food production and availability. It features over 1,050 structures, including greenhouses, production facilities, public buildings, and residences. The greenhouses use cylindrical cultivation devices to maximise nutrient absorption and light efficiency, allowing for harvests within 20 days of seedling transplantation.

     PM

     • Lunch on Ryomyong Street
        
     • Stroll on Ryomyong Street
        
     • Taesong Department Store
        
     • Pyongyang International Football Academy | Premier football school for young and promising athletes. Tour the facilities and learn about the history of football in the DPRK. Has multiple training pitches where you can test yourself against some students here. Michael Palin also visited here; bring your inflatable globe to step in his footsteps.
        
     • Golden Lanes Bowling Centre | Where Pyongyang locals go for their ten-pin fix. Also has billiards and arcade games. Non-bowlers can head next door to the Kumrung Leisure Centre for an airgun shooting range and some of the best coffee in Pyongyang.
        
     • Dinner at Chongryu Hotpot Restaurant

     Overnight | Sosan Hotel, Pyongyang

  6. April 9 | Wednesday

     Pyongyang City Tour

     AM

     • Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery
        
     • Stamp Exhibition | Displays of stamps issued since the foundation of the DPRK featuring all manner of decorations. Some expected, some very unexpected! Part shop, part exhibition. Good for souvenirs and mementoes.
        
     • Pyongyang Metro Tour | One of the deepest metro systems in the world with stunning artwork reflecting the name of each station. Ride six stations on the Chollima Line.
        
     • Arch of Triumph | A massive archway made for the 70th anniversary of the birth of President Kim Il Sung in 1982 and commemorating the liberation of Korea from Japanese colonial rule in 1945. Larger than its counterpart in Paris.
        
     • Wolhyang Souvenir Shop

     PM

     • Jongsung Revolutionary Site
        
     • Tower of the Juche Idea | Iconic tower dedicated to the DPRK’s guiding philosophy on the Taedong River. Take the elevator to the top for great views of the city (elevator ticket is 5 EUR).
        
     • Party Foundation Monument | Iconic structure featuring the hammer, sickle & writing brush which make up the emblem of the Worker’s Party of Korea and represent workers, farmers, and intellectuals.
        
     • Taedonggang Beer Bar
        
     • Farewell Dinner | At Haeyang Restaurant. 

     Overnight | Sosan Hotel, Pyongyang

  7. April 10 | Thursday

     Departure Day from Pyongyang

     AM

     • Flight departure from Pyongyang on Air Koryo Flight JS251 at 10:15 with scheduled arrival at Beijing Capital Airport (PEK) Terminal 2 at 11:35.

     End of Tour

• Extras

  • Upgrade to your own room — marathon tour

    All hotel rooms on our all-inclusive group tours feature twin beds, and will be shared. If you'd like a room to yourself during the extremely busy Pyongyang Marathon period then you can upgrade for an extra 80 EUR per night.

  • Pyongyang Marathon — official race entry

    The Mangyongdae Prize International Marathon is now open to foreign amateur runners. You can run the 5k, 10k, Half or Full Marathon. All four take place on the same day in April, and follow the same course, which is fully recognised by the International Association of Athletics Federations. We are the EXCLUSIVE travel partner for foreign amateurs. Don't miss out on this rare opportunity to become one of the few people in the world to have run the Pyongyang Marathon. We'll see you at the start line!

• What is / is not included?

  • Air Koryo flight Beijing–Pyongyang—Beijing
  • All meals on the tour except for the lunch at the pizza restaurant
  • Hotel accommodation in the DPRK
  • A Koryo Tours tour leader, two local Korean hosts, and a driver
  • All transportation in the DPRK
  • Finisher's medal and race certificate

  • Marathon race fee that is to be paid in cash (clean USD notes only) before the race in Pyongyang. Entry fees are 5 km: $70 USD / 10 km: $70 USD / Half Marathon: $100 USD / Full Marathon: $150 USD
  • North Korean (DPRK) visa fee – to be paid directly at the Beijing DPRK Embassy, varies by nationality
  • Optional single room supplement of 80 EUR per night
  • Tips for the Korean hosts and driver (approx 75 EUR total per tourist)
  • Optional activities such as the lift up the Juche Tower (5 EUR) or a visit to the funfair (approx. 2 EUR entrance fee per person)
  • Entry tickets for special events if applicable. For example, Pyongyang Circus (approx. 20 EUR per person)
  • Meals include a complimentary beer and water, but you will need to purchase extra drinks if needed
  • Spending money on souvenirs

Please apply by 14th March, 2025.