Asia - travel to North Korea

Hi

I was wondering if anyone has any experience with travel to North Korea.

Am looking to head up there when the "tourist season" starts in September.

Any details on flights/tours etc I understand that you have to be on a tour, with government officials etc....

I'd also love to know if Air Kyoro is the only airline serving Pyongyang, if it is then I think ill be taking the train from PEK, at least theres a better chance of getting there :eek:

I've read that Kim Jong Il also prefers the train.

It's a bit dated, but there was a hilarious account written in 1995. Your note reminded me of it and, with the magic of Internet search...

Anyway, if you look at groups.google.com and navigate to rec.travel.asia then look for "North Korea Travelogue" by Paultje Bakker, 30 June 1995, you'll find it. This (http://groups.google.com/group/rec.travel.asia/browse_thread/thread/3c5487ced42e7ac4/67db6996301cf99b?q=%2B%22North+Korea+Travelogue%22 +%2B%22Paultje+Bakker+%22&rnum=1#67db6996301cf99b) might be the link.

It's a bit dated, there was a hilarious account written in 1995. Your note reminded me of it and, with the magic of Internet search...

Anyway, if you look at groups.google.com and navigate to rec.travel.asia then look for "North Korea Travelogue" by Paultje Bakker, 30 June 1995, you'll find it. This (http://groups.google.com/group/rec.travel.asia/browse_thread/thread/3c5487ced42e7ac4/67db6996301cf99b?q=%2B%22North+Korea+Travelogue%22 +%2B%22Paultje+Bakker+%22&rnum=1#67db6996301cf99b) might be the link.


Thanks for the link, interesting travelogue :-) ^

I'm jealous - I wanted to go this year but can't take the time in addition to my two week trip to Japan. In the research I did, it seems that Koryo Tours (http://www.koryogroup.com/) is the best, most experienced, and most knowledgeable tour agency for westerners. They have several tours and I think even independent travel options (of course still escorted by NK minders) for non-Americans.

It's a bit dated, there was a hilarious account written in 1995. Your note reminded me of it and, with the magic of Internet search...

Anyway, if you look at groups.google.com and navigate to rec.travel.asia then look for "North Korea Travelogue" by Paultje Bakker, 30 June 1995, you'll find it. This (http://groups.google.com/group/rec.travel.asia/browse_thread/thread/3c5487ced42e7ac4/67db6996301cf99b?q=%2B%22North+Korea+Travelogue%22 +%2B%22Paultje+Bakker+%22&rnum=1#67db6996301cf99b) might be the link.

That was very interesting read....now I want to go more than ever

I'm jealous - I wanted to go this year but can't take the time in addition to my two week trip to Japan. In the research I did, it seems that Koryo Tours (http://www.koryogroup.com/) is the best, most experienced, and most knowledgeable tour agency for westerners. They have several tours and I think even independent travel options (of course still escorted by NK minders) for non-Americans.

Thanks I have been in contact with them. They seem to know their stuff.. I just dont know whether I want to take the 7 day or 5 day tour. I think I will see enough in 5 days without really needing to spend the extra two...if anyone has done a tour their I'd love to hear what you thought of it in terms of whether it was the right length of time or not

There are some excellent trip reports on North Korea right here at Flyertalk:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=431606

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=486952

http://travel2.nytimes.com/2006/05/07/travel/07transkorea.html

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We are scheduled to go on the NK tour this year in September! Unfortunately NK is now only letting in US citizens for 3 nights, instead of the original 7-nights they initially stated.

What's the attraction of North Korea? Do you guys enjoy watching people starve to death? Or see an oppressive regime in action?

hauteboy:

Expect a full trip report when you get back (or while you are in DPRK if Dear Leader lets you have high speed Internet!).

We are scheduled to go on the NK tour this year in September! Unfortunately NK is now only letting in US citizens for 3 nights, instead of the original 7-nights they initially stated.

Which dates will you be on? Im also going in September....9th-15th

What's the attraction of North Korea? Do you guys enjoy watching people starve to death? Or see an oppressive regime in action?

The Dear Leader makes sure we dont have to see them starving. Im going because I wasnt around when Stalin was but I would like to experience what the old Soviet Union was like in a very filtered way, so yes I guess I have a curiosity in seeing an oppressive regime in action. While I dont agree with much of what the North does, its certainly not the first country I have visited where their human rights are suspect or I disagree with their politics. I guess it also helps me appreciate what I have.

Sounds like an amazing trip something I would be very interested in doing one day. For now I will keep planning my trip to Cuba next year. NK would be another step up in communist regimes all together. I expect a trip report and photos please.

Or see an oppressive regime in action?

One doesn't have to go to North Korea to see this.

I'm heading to North Korea in March next year, through Koryo Tours. Frightfully expensive, but definitely worth it. We're doing a private tour which costs around 1,800 Euros(!)

This will be my second Axis of Evil country after I visited Iran earlier in the year. Just Iraq to go and I'll have the whole series ;-)

Well we won't be going anytime soon. We were going with Koryo Tours and they just said the Mass Games this year have been cancelled due to widespread flooding. Therefore US citizens can't go this year :(
Maybe we'll go to Iran now instead. :D

Maybe we'll go to Iran now instead. :D

Why don’t you add Lebanon and Iraq to your itinerary :D

Well we won't be going anytime soon. We were going with Koryo Tours and they just said the Mass Games this year have been cancelled due to widespread flooding. Therefore US citizens can't go this year :(
Maybe we'll go to Iran now instead. :D

I got that email as well I'm tossing up now whether I want to go at all the Mass Games was something I really wanted to see. I guess the consolation is the Pyongyang International Film festival is still on.

I got that email as well I'm tossing up now whether I want to go at all the Mass Games was something I really wanted to see. I guess the consolation is the Pyongyang International Film festival is still on.
We're still hoping to go next year now if they still let in US Citizens. I guess last year was the time to go. :( Our trip was going to be Sep 2nd-5th.

Just to close off this thread I took the trip and it was one of the most interesting/strange places I have ever been to. Although I was unable to see the Mass Games I certainly would highly recommend it to anyone who is thinking about going.

Any chance of a trip report?