North Korea Travel, Experiences and Discussion
Aug 14, 2012, 11:47 pm
#31
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 2
The only way to vacation in North Korea is to take a tour, which can be as small as one person. Remember that each tour is accompanied by a guide, a driver and a minder. Obviously, you spend less if the cost is shared by other members in a group. I fully endorse the previous posts: Koryo Tours, a British-run company based in Beijing, provides excellent service. I have used Koryo Tours twice for visits to the DPRK.
Aug 14, 2012, 11:57 pm
#32
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 2
If you travel with Koryo Tours, the company arranges a group visa. Nothing is stamped in each traveller's passport and the separate visa is retained by the North Korea authorities when you leave the country.
It must also be said that the DPRK is probably the safest of the 100+ countries I have visited. The tour group is accompanied at all times by a guide, a driver and a minder. Tourists are not allowed to leave their hotel unless accompanied. Conversations with ordinary North Koreans are discouraged. Nevertheless, a visit to North Korea is a memorable experience. I have been twice and hope to go again, as more places become accessible to tourists.
It must also be said that the DPRK is probably the safest of the 100+ countries I have visited. The tour group is accompanied at all times by a guide, a driver and a minder. Tourists are not allowed to leave their hotel unless accompanied. Conversations with ordinary North Koreans are discouraged. Nevertheless, a visit to North Korea is a memorable experience. I have been twice and hope to go again, as more places become accessible to tourists.
Aug 15, 2012, 5:46 pm
#33
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 1
I just got back from a trip to North Korea with Koryo Tours. I know I certainly had a lot of questions prior to my trip, so I'm glad to answer any questions for other travelers who may be going.
I went there with Koryo Tours two weeks ago. It was all very easy. Cost me about $2K total but it's pretty much all-inclusive (not a lot of big-time shopping in the DPRK!)
I found it fascinating, maddening, mind-boggling, and frustrating, but I'm very glad I did it.
I went there with Koryo Tours two weeks ago. It was all very easy. Cost me about $2K total but it's pretty much all-inclusive (not a lot of big-time shopping in the DPRK!)
I found it fascinating, maddening, mind-boggling, and frustrating, but I'm very glad I did it.
Last edited by JDiver; Aug 16, 2012 at 12:01 pm Reason: merge posts after thread merge
Aug 16, 2012, 12:47 am
#34
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: USA
Programs: UA 1K, Starwood Platinum, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 982
I have started a blog about my recent experience in North Korea: www.humanitybesideus.net. I will be going back soon, and probably next year too... It is truly a fascinating place.
At the current pace my blog will be complete in 10 years, but there is already a fair amount of practical information which may be of interest to some.
At the current pace my blog will be complete in 10 years, but there is already a fair amount of practical information which may be of interest to some.
Last edited by Pat Plus; Aug 16, 2012 at 12:53 am
Aug 16, 2012, 12:02 pm
#36
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
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Aug 20, 2012, 8:38 pm
#37
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: YVR
Programs: WS Platinum, former AC E35K
Posts: 6,335
I did the tour with Young Pioneer Tours last October and would highly recommend them. I got quotes from several tour operators and they were by far the cheapest. They're groups are also smaller than Koryo tours. We had 8 people in our group and we saw much larger tour groups.
It's a very unique experience and is not cheap, but it was certainly worthwhile.
I believe that KITC now operates their own tours, however you do not get a western guide, which I would highly recommend. All tours are through KITC, however you typically get a western guide as well which is helpful as they can give you some additional info and also act as a liaison between you and the Korean guides to get the group into additional sites that others may not ordinarily see.
It's a very unique experience and is not cheap, but it was certainly worthwhile.
I believe that KITC now operates their own tours, however you do not get a western guide, which I would highly recommend. All tours are through KITC, however you typically get a western guide as well which is helpful as they can give you some additional info and also act as a liaison between you and the Korean guides to get the group into additional sites that others may not ordinarily see.
Aug 20, 2012, 8:55 pm
#38
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,040
Was Gareth (the owner) your guide? My cousin (he did Ulan Bator to Russia++ with Gareth; they even got to visit Chernobyl!) has great things to say about him, and they have the train option to NK, which gives people a chance to see more of the countryside.
Aug 28, 2012, 12:05 am
#39
formerly known as Tad's Broiled Steaks
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,412
I just got back from a trip to North Korea with Koryo Tours. I know I certainly had a lot of questions prior to my trip, so I'm glad to answer any questions for other travelers who may be going.
I went there with Koryo Tours two weeks ago. It was all very easy. Cost me about $2K total but it's pretty much all-inclusive (not a lot of big-time shopping in the DPRK!)
I found it fascinating, maddening, mind-boggling, and frustrating, but I'm very glad I did it.
I went there with Koryo Tours two weeks ago. It was all very easy. Cost me about $2K total but it's pretty much all-inclusive (not a lot of big-time shopping in the DPRK!)
I found it fascinating, maddening, mind-boggling, and frustrating, but I'm very glad I did it.
Do you know if the Ryugyong Hotel is accepting guests anytime soon? Even if they were, the first ones wouldn't be from the US...or Japan, for that matter)
Aug 29, 2012, 10:05 pm
#40
formerly known as Tad's Broiled Steaks
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,412
Flew out of PEK. They're are also flights out of a Chinese city closer to the boarder that can be a little cheaper, can't recall the name. Air China, or Southern also fly the days that the national carrier does not. 1.5k is PEK-DPRK I was already in China. Spending money and tips was like $100-300 maybe. Depends on how much you tip and what kind of "gifts" you bring them. Also what kind of stuff you bring back. Avg book/poster was ~$20
Clarifying: Only Americans are required to fly in. Everyone else has the option of train or flight. Other note, no GPS cameras, so keep in mind when packing if you've got the label on the body.
Clarifying: Only Americans are required to fly in. Everyone else has the option of train or flight. Other note, no GPS cameras, so keep in mind when packing if you've got the label on the body.
Aug 30, 2012, 2:18 am
#41
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: USA
Programs: UA 1K, Starwood Platinum, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 982
It won't. The exterior was completed to improve the building's appearance and save the face. However, the building is structurally unsound and I understand that elevator cores are distorted. There's been talks of opening a handful of floors for limited purposes, but to the best of my knowledge the project will never be completed and will always remain an empty shell.
Aug 30, 2012, 2:19 am
#42
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: USA
Programs: UA 1K, Starwood Platinum, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 982
Aug 31, 2012, 7:20 pm
#43
formerly known as Tad's Broiled Steaks
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,412
Aug 31, 2012, 7:21 pm
#44
formerly known as Tad's Broiled Steaks
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,412
It won't. The exterior was completed to improve the building's appearance and save the face. However, the building is structurally unsound and I understand that elevator cores are distorted. There's been talks of opening a handful of floors for limited purposes, but to the best of my knowledge the project will never be completed and will always remain an empty shell.