• Overall

  National Day on September 9 is one of the largest North Korean holidays. Be in Pyongyang for the 77^th anniversary of the foundation of the DPRK for mass dances and possible fireworks.

  In addition to the must-see Pyongyang attractions, we’ll take a ride on both lines of the Pyongyang Metro and one of the municipal trams of Pyongyang. September is one of the best times of the year to tour North Korea for fine weather and long days.

  This 9-night adventure gets you out of Pyongyang to explore a range of places, from the DMZ at Kaesong to Mt Myohyang and the enormous International Friendship Exhibition, an exhibition hall of gifts to the DPRK leaders. We’ll visit plenty in between, including the port city of Nampo, Sariwon, Pyongsong, and Anju, a rarely visited industrial city.

  Year to year this is one of Koryo’s most popular tours, this tour has it all. Grand monuments, museums, historic sights, industry, agriculture, and more!

  See even more on the road inside North Korea on our 25-night National Day Mega Tour - the extended option for this tour.

  Scroll down for an overview of our North Korea National Day Tour package highlights, tour itinerary, transport options, DPRK tourist visa information, and extra add-ons.

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  Highlights

  • Pyongyang for DPRK National Day on September 9
  • Full tour of the Pyongyang Metro to rarely-visited stations 
  • The rarely visited frontier city of Haeju

  click image to expand

• Itinerary

  Briefing Day

  1. September 1 | Monday

     *Pre-Tour Briefing | We require all travellers to attend a pre-tour briefing that covers regulations, etiquette, safety, and practicalities for travel in 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 travellers, and pay any outstanding tour fees. A proper briefing is an essential part of travel to North Korea.
     
     For this tour, we will hold two briefings. One in the morning for those departing by train this afternoon and the other in the afternoon for those departing by flight the next day.

     AM

     • Recommended latest arrival in Beijing.
     • 10:00 | Briefing for those departing by train.

     PM

     • 16:00 | Briefing for those departing by flight.  
     • 17:26 | Train travellers depart Beijing Station by Chinese domestic sleeper train to Dandong, the Chinese city on the border with North Korea. Please arrange independent travel to the train station and arrive at least an hour and a half early for the train departure.

     Overnight | Hotel in Beijing not included in the tour for those taking the flight the next day. Contact us for recommendations near our office! Those travelling by train will spend the night on the train.

  2. September 2 | Tuesday

     Arrival day in Pyongyang

     AM

     • Train transfer at Dandong Station from overnight sleeper train to Dandong-Pyongyang local. Our local representative in Dandong will assist with the transfer. Train crosses the China-North Korea border followed by North Korean customs and immigration.

     PM

     • Flight departure from Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) Terminal 2 on Air Koryo flight JS151 at 13:05. A 1.5-hour flight with basic lunch (vegetarian option is subject to availability). Check-in starts 3 hours prior to departure.
     • Flight arrival to Pyongyang's Sunan International Airport (FNJ) at 16:10. DPRK immigration and customs, meet your Korean guides and transfer to the city.
     • Walk on one of Pyongyang's newest streets.
        
     • Train arrival at Pyongyang Railway Station at 18:45.

     Overnight | Yanggakdo International Hotel, Pyongyang. Home away from home for most (but not all!) foreign visitors to Pyongyang, this 47-story hotel is located on an island in the middle of the Taedong River and offers great views of the city. Comfortable rooms and comprehensive leisure facilities: swimming pool, spa, billiards, bowling, gift shops, tea houses, beer brewed on-site, and a Chinese-run casino.

  3. September 3 | Wednesday

     Pyongyang Metro and Nampo

     AM

     • Ride the full Pyongyang Metro | One of the deepest metro systems in the world with stunning artwork reflecting the name of each station. Ride the full length of both lines, stopping at every station to get the full experience!
        
     • Kwangbok Department Store | Exchange for Korean currency and shop with the citizens of Pyongyang! Try the snack stand on the first floor for some of Pyongyang’s best local eats.
     • Mt Ryonggak | Enjoy a picnic lunch in this park on the outskirts of Pyongyang popular with locals. Stretch your legs after lunch with a short hike to the top of Mt Ryonggak itself.

     PM

     • Drive west along the ‘Youth Hero Highway’ to Nampo (45 minutes to 1-hour drive), the port city of Pyongyang at the mouth of the Taedong River on the West Sea.
        
     • Tae’an Glass Factory | Factory producing glass and glass products for the domestic market. Watch the glass-making process from smelting to sheet-cutting and even try to break a sheet of strengthened glass.
        
     • Pi Island | A local beach next to the West Sea Barrage. Go for a swim or join the locals for a karaoke.
        
     • Nampo Clam BBQ | Nampo's famous clam BBQ - cooked in petrol and washed down with Korea's national drink, Soju.

     Overnight | Ryonggang Hot Spa Hotel, Nampo. Compound with holiday houses and a main building for dinner and entertainment. Bring a torch! Spa bath in every room with mineral water from the Sindok Spring- the most famous mineral spa in the DPRK. Billiards, karaoke, and ping pong.

  4. September 4 | Thursday

     Drive from Nampo to Mount Kuwol, the 'September Mountain', the scenic Chaeryong Plains, and Sariwon. We'll cross the West Sea Barrage at the mouth of the Taedong River in the morning and see Sinchon and Sariwon Coty before returning to Pyongyang

     AM

     • West Sea Barrage | An 8 km concrete, steel, and earthen barrage constructed between the Taedong River estuary and the West Sea for land reclamation, irrigation, flood prevention, and power generation. It also acts as a ship lock and fish ladder. One of the DPRK’s greatest engineering feats.
        
     • Mt. Kuwol | A scenic mountain area on the West Coast of Korea. We’ll pass through this region on a full-day drive between Nampo and Kaesong after crossing over the West Seat Barrage in the morning.
        
     • Woljong Temple | Buddhist temple established in the middle of the 9th century and later rebuilt at the start of the Ri Dynasty.
        
     • Anak Tomb No. 3 | Part of the Unesco World Heritage Sites of the Goguryeo Tombs this mid-4^th-century tomb is one of the few that has an epitaph with the result that its age can be determined. It has several murals in surprisingly good condition.
        
     • Sinchon Town and Museum of US War Crimes | Museum dedicated to ‘crimes committed by the US imperialists’. Located on the site of a civilian massacre, the museum has an array of harrowing exhibits, displays, and panoramas of the haunting events that took place in this region during the war. Not for the faint at heart and sensitivity is called for here. Please note that this location was closed to foreign visitors in 2018 following the DPRK-US Summit Meeting. If the situation changes, we will visit this site.

     PM

     • Sariwon Folk Village and City View | Mock-up of a traditional Korean town with a history museum, food street, and pavilions. There is a small tavern selling Makkoli, a traditional rice wine. Climb a nearby hill for a view of Sariwon City and the surrounding plains.
        
     • Unjong Livestock Farm and Mask Dance | See the facilities of this livestock farm and then be treated to a traditional Korean mask dance.
     • Drive south to Kaesong, the historic capital of the medieval Koryo Dynasty (918-1392 AD). Once located in South Korea, the city changed hands during the Korean War. It is now located just north of the DMZ.
        
     • Traditional Korean Royal Meal with Kayagum Performance | Also known as pansanggi, the meal is made up of different dishes served in small brass bowls. The more dishes, the more distinguished the guests!

     Overnight | Minsok Folk Hotel, Kaesong. Traditional style hotel where guests sleep on heated floors in Korean style. Housed in beautiful courtyards of Kaesong’s old city, structures date back to the Ri Dynasty. Basic bathroom facilities. Hot water is not guaranteed and erratic electricity supply – please bring a torch.

  5. September 5 | Friday

     Kaesong City and DMZ Tour (*Please note that due to the current political situation and recent changes, it is our understanding that visits to Panmunjom and the JSA as well as to the Concrete Wall are not possible at least until further notice. If that is the case at the time of our visit we will visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kaesong as well as a ginseng factory.)

     AM

     • Old City Walk and South Gate | A stroll from the hotel through Kaesong’s historic district lined with homes dating back to the Ri Dynasty from the city’s historic South Gate.
        
     • Panmunjom Armistice Village and DMZ (*Currently suspended) | Perhaps the most famous place in the entire country. The iconic manifestation of the tragic division between North and South Korea. The ‘truce’ village where several huts straddle the Central Military Demarcation Line (de facto border) with soldiers from each side standing guard. A tour here starts with a briefing at the edge of the DMZ, a visit to the Armistice Negotiation Hall and Armistice Signing Hall, seen as symbols of victory over foreign aggression on this side of the line. Then to Panmunjom itself – cross the border inside one of the blue huts, experience the uncanny feeling of crossing the front line of a sad and needless division of one society, and then take a higher view from the Panmun Pavilion looking over the line from above. A Korean People’s Army officer will be there to explain their side of things and will willingly pose for some photos too. A completely and utterly unmissable place.
        
     • Sonjuk Bridge | Small stone bridge built in 1290, which in 1392 was the site of the assassination of the last loyal Koryo Dynasty minister Jong Mong Ju by a son of Ri Song Gye (founder of the next, and final, dynasty). This bloody act extinguished the Koryo which had ruled over Korea for 474 years and is said to have left a permanent mark on the bridge that can be seen to this day.
        
     • Kaesong Koryo Museum & Stamp Shop | A former Confucian education school, now a museum on the Koryo Dynasty exhibiting historical objects, statues, pagodas, and porcelain from the time. One of Kaesong’s many UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

     PM

     • Pakyon Waterfall | Light walking with a picnic lunch in a relaxing wooded area. Local people commonly visit here for picnics and sometimes swim in the series of pools above the falls.
        
     • Gwanum Temple | Located a 30-minute hike, above Pakyon Waterfalls, the temple dates back more than a thousand years and is dedicated to the Buddhist Bodhisattva of Mercy. There is an ornate marble Bodhisattva statue in the nearby cave. The current building dates back to the Ri Dynasty and has an interesting tale associated with its construction.
        
     • Tomb of King Wanggon | Resting place of the founder of the Koryo Dynasty, who died in 943. The tomb is largely reconstructed after looting by the Japanese occupiers and general disrepair. A UNESCO World Heritage Site.
        
     • Concrete Wall and view of DMZ (*Currently suspended) | View of a complex fortification system erected on the southern boundary of the DMZ accompanied by a military guide. The wall is seen as evidence of intent to permanently divide the nation. A 45-minute drive each way from Kaesong through scenic countryside.
        
     • Janam Hill | Statues of the DPRK leadership on a hill overlooking Kaesong city and a historic pavilion used for archery demonstrations in days of yore.

     Overnight | Minsok Folk Hotel, Kaesong

  6. September 6 | Saturday

     Haeju, and return to Pyongyang

     AM

     • Drive to the rarely visited town of Haeju (approx. 2 hrs drive, very dependent on road conditions but a guaranteed adventure), the provincial seat of South Hwanghae Province and a port city on the West Sea.
        
     • Haeju Central Square and Statues | The Central square and statues of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il in Haeju that is situated only 60km north of the military demarcation line dividing the peninsula and is therefore considered a ‘frontline city’.
        
     • Puyong Pavilion | The largest pavilion in the whole DPRK and the only one in Korea built on footstalls in water, originally built in 1500.

     PM

     • Mt. Suyang and Koryo Fortress | A major military base in its day, this fortress is situated above the magnificent Suyang Waterfall.
        
     • Sokdam Ravine | Made up of 9 valleys with mountains, rocks and streams spread over a large area the Sokdam Scenic Area is a worthy place to visit for the views alone.
        
     • Drive back to Pyongyang (approx. 2.5 hrs drive, depending on road conditions).

     Overnight | Yanggakdo International Hotel, Pyongyang

  7. September 7 | Sunday

     Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, drive to Mt. Myohyang via Anju

     AM

     • Kumsusan Palace of the Sun | Mausoleum of the DPRK leadership where President Kim Il Sung and Leader Kim Jong Il lie in state and the most solemn location on the itinerary. Please note formal dress is required. Men require a collared shirt with a tie, dark non-jean pants, and dark shoes. Women require covered shoulders, knee-length dress or pants, and closed-toed shoes. The visit will take most of the morning and visitors are asked to bow a number of times inside. This is a state-administered site and visits are subject to local conditions. Cancellations are rare but possible.
        
     • Revolutionary Martyrs’ Cemetery | Hilltop cemetery with dozens of bronze busts of those who took part in the liberation of Korea from Japanese colonial rule. It is customary to present flowers here.
     • Okryugwan | A meal at Pyongyang’s most famous restaurant. Housed in a huge traditional building on the banks of the Taedong River. Okgyuwan specialises in Pyongyang Cold Noodles.

     PM

     • Drive to Anju, a mid-sized industrial city located on the road and rail line north of Pyongyang on the Chongchon River. During the Korean War, major battles were fought near here between North Korean-Chinese forces and UN-South Korean forces. Coal is mined nearby.
        
     • Paeksang Pavilion and Anju City Walls | The greatest pavilion in Kwanso (Pyong’an Province,) which overlooks the Chongchon River. Rebuilt after destruction in the Korean War.
        
     • Continue driving to Mt. Myohyang.
        
     • Manpok Valley Hike | Various options for hikes of a range of distances/difficulties. Passing waterfalls, hermitages, interesting rocks, lovely wooded areas, and viewing points.

     Overnight | Huichon Hotel, Mt. Myohyang. Basic but clean hotel located 30 minutes north of Mt. Myohyang. Very good local food much different from the lowlands, on-site sauna, and limited electricity.

  8. September 8 | Monday

     Mt Myohyang and Pyongsong
     
     AM

     • International Friendship Exhibition | A semi-subterranean exhibition hall displaying gifts of all kinds given to the DPRK leaders by foreign states, leaders, and organizations. The exhibition is a fascinating look into material culture in the second half of the 20th century. Highlights include a plane given by the Soviet Union, basketball signed by Michael Jordan from the US State Department, and vodka given by Dennis Rodman. The visit takes most of the morning. Presentable dress required.
        
     • Pohyon Buddhist Temple | A peaceful temple dating back to 1042 CE with stone pagoda and repository of print blocks and historic text of the Tripitaka Koreana, Buddhist scriptures first produced to invoke divine assistance from foreign invasions during the Koryo Dynasty.
        
     • Drive back to Pyongsong (2 hours) with a stop at Ryongmun Caves with a picnic lunch | A subterranean complex of limestone caves and grottoes. Led by an experienced local guide, you will see weirdly (and suggestively) shaped rocks and stalactites/stalagmites and hear a wealth of stories and legends about each - some not appropriate for young audiences.

     PM

     • Kim Jong Suk Higher Middle School | One of the DPRK’s top middle schools for gifted students, tourists are encouraged to help teach an English class!
        
     • Paeksong Revolutionary Site | Location of Kim Il Sung University during the Korean War. Tour the renovated buildings and learn about life there during the war.
        
     • Return to Pyongyang (around a 1-hour drive).

     Overnight | Yanggakdo International Hotel, Pyongyang

  9. September 9 | Tuesday

     National Day, the 77th anniversary of the foundation of the DPRK (North Korea)

     AM

     • Mangyongdae Native House | Birthplace of and childhood home of President Kim Il Sung. A traditional Korean house in beautiful natural surroundings.
        
     • A ride through Pyongyang from Kwangbok Street to Pyongyang Station on one of the city’s municipal trams.
        
     • Mansudae Fountain Park | The historic centre of Pyongyang popular with local citizens after school and on weekends. Flanked by examples of ancient, socialist, and modern architecture.
        
     • Mansudae Grand Monument | Enormous bronze statues of President Kim Il Sung and Leader Kim Jong Il overlooking downtown Pyongyang. A presentation of flowers and a bow by the group is customary here (5 EUR). Here we will also see the Chollima, or ‘thousand ri [400 mile] horse’ – a symbol of speed- commemorating the quick rebuilding of the country in the 1950s following the Korean War.
        
     • 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, museum and The Grand People’s Study House, Korea’s national library. See the centre of it all!
        
     • Arch of Triumph | Massive archway made for the 70th anniversary of President Kim Il Sung in 1982 and commemorating the liberation of Korea from Japanese colonial rule. Larger than its counterpart in Paris. Ascend to the roof of the arch for a rare birds-eye view over this part of the city.
        
     • Moranbong Park | We’ll take a stroll and have a picnic lunch in Pyongyang’s central park popular with locals for picnics, dances, and sports. The park is filled with historic pavilions, walls, and monuments - modern and ancient, a few of which are among the traditional ‘Eight Great Sights of Pyongyang’.

     PM

     • Pyongyang Circus (or other available performance) | We will leave time this afternoon to try and catch a local performance — either of the Pyongyang Circus, theatre, or a revolutionary opera. Schedules are typically announced only a few weeks before the trip. If no performances are available, we will find an alternative activity in the city. Tickets are to be paid on the spot (from 5-25 EUR) depending on the available performance.

     • Mass Dance | As it's a national holiday, we expect to see large student-organised dances held around Pyongyang on major holidays (weather dependent). Join in the fun!

     • Dinner and sunset boat cruise along the Taedong River | We will take a cruise on the Taedong River while having dinner with live music performances and waiting for the fireworks.

     Overnight | Yanggakdo International Hotel, Pyongyang

  10. September 10 | Wednesday

      Pyongyang City Tour

      AM

      • 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 5 EUR for great views of the city.
         
      • Monument to the Party Foundation | Iconic structure featuring the hammer, sickle, and writing brush which make up the emblem of the Worker’s Party of Korea and represent workers, farmers, and intellectuals.

      PM

      • Deasong Department Store | The rarely visited and fancier counterpart of Kwangbok Department Store in East Pyongyang.
         
      • Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum and USS Pueblo | We’ll tour this world-class museum led by a local museum guide. Renovated in 2012 its exhibits of the Korean War from the DPRK perspective contain artifacts, 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 spy ship USS Pueblo. Central to the understanding of the country today and a highlight of the trip.
         
      • Mansugyo Beer Bar | A beer bar serving seven types of beer. Popular with locals after work and on weekends. Best place to drink pints with local people.
         
      • Farewell dinner at Potonggang Lamb Barbecue Restaurant.

      Overnight | Yanggakdo International Hotel, Pyongyang

  11. September 11 | Thursday

      Departure Day from Pyongyang and Return to Beijing by flight or train.

      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.

      OR

      Train departure by train to Beijing at 10:25 with a transfer in Dandong. The scheduled arrival is at Beijing Station on Friday September 12 at 08:40. For this tour the default option is hard sleeper (six beds per berth).

      End of Tour

• Extras

  • Transport | Train and Flights to North Korea (High-season)

    This tour travels between Beijing-Pyongyang by train each way in a hard-sleeper carriage (6 bunks per compartment). The train journey takes 24 hours with a transfer at the city of Dandong. One-way or round-trip flights are also available. The flight takes around 90 minutes. For an extra 265 EUR you can upgrade to a one-way flight. A round-trip ticket costs an additional 435 EUR. We recommend flight entry with a train return for the best overall experience on your trip.

  • Visit the DPRK border town of Sinuiju

    If you're heading back to Beijing by train this option lets you get off for an overnight in Dongrim before the next day's tour of Sinuiju — the border city with China. Spend an extra 24 hours in the DPRK seeing the sites of North Pyongan province. You will then continue on through to Beijing.

    See more

  • Upgrade to your own room

    All hotel rooms on our all-inclusive group tours feature twin beds, and will be shared. If you'd like a room to yourself then you can upgrade for an extra 40 EUR per night.

    See more

  • Insurance (7 to 9 nights)

    We're unable to take you on one of our tours if you do not have medical insurance that covers the destination in question. Issues of isolation and infrastructure where we go mean it would be irresponsible of us to do so. We can provide this if you do not have it — or you can use your own.

• What is / is not included?

  INCLUDED

  • Train Beijing – Pyongyang – Beijing with transfer at Dandong
  • All meals on the tour apart from the meals on the train
  • Hotel accommodation in the DPRK
  • Two local Korean guides, and a driver per group
  • A Koryo Tours tour leader
  • All transportation in the DPRK

  NOT INCLUDED

  • DPRK visa fee 60 EUR
  • Optional Air Koryo flights (one-way: 265 EUR; return: 435 EUR)
  • Optional single room supplement of 40 EUR per night
  • Tips for the local Korean guides and driver (approx 10-15 EUR per day)
  • The lift up the Juche Tower (optional) 5 EUR and other optional activities
  • Meals include a complimentary beer and water, but you will need to purchase extra drinks if needed
  • Spending money for souvenirs
  • SINUIJU EXTENSION: RMB 50 for the bus across the bridge to Dandong to be paid on the spot to the local guides

• Notes

  Groups will be in the experienced hands of two or three local Korean guides and an experienced Koryo Tours tour leader.

  Please note that when on tour your day-to-day itinerary may differ to what is advertised above. Your tour leader will ensure, however, that everything available at the time is covered, and replacement options are provided where needed. We will also add in extras when there is time (such as a visit to a local bar or amusement park). We visit the DPRK regularly so know all the best places to go, and how to make the most of your days there to guarantee the experience of a lifetime.

  After the tour, we will send out a list of all participants' emails so you can keep in touch, swap photos etc. If you do not wish to be on this list then please let us know.

Please apply by 15th August, 2025.