Last Updated on December 2, 2023
North Korea Tourism – Guided Tour Beautiful Places To Visit Inside Pyongyang is a country that has indeed invited much controversy. This country often issues strange policies and is rarely accepted by many groups. But whether in the country itself there are only controversies and negative things? Apparently, not because there are so many tourist attractions that are worth visiting. But do you dare to approach this country?
Watch video: You Should Travel to North Korea
But who would have thought the country which has an area of 120, 540 square kilometers has a tourist attraction that is no less interesting than other countries, the country led by Kim Jong Un. This country is also famous for its super strict legal system and arguably closes themselves from the outside world. There have been many real cases if they really closed all kinds of information.
Both South and North Korea are precisely located on the Korean peninsula of Northeast Asia. Whereas in the northwest the Amnok Yalu river is separated from the People’s Republic of China, for the northeast the Duman river is separated from China and Russia. North Korea map Google Earth.
The south and west are lowlands and river areas. While the eastern and northern part of it is a series of mountains on the Daegu Baekdu mountain range. It is this geographical location that makes Korea’s natural attractions so prominent with its diversity of beauty.
North and South Korea on World Map
North Korea Tourism
Maybe for some people, vacationing in North Korea is just the same as looking for death. Yes, it is true, North Korea is indeed a closed country and you can say there are very many regulations. Even many North Korean citizens are afraid.
This article guided tour In Pyongyang will detail all the rules you must know before visiting, tourist attractions you must visit and facts about North Korea that are rarely known. Happy reading…
What tourist rules for North Korea?
North Korea has started to open up with foreign tourists. But the rules imposed are also numerous! You can’t be free to do things as you please, like when traveling in another country. You interested? But first you have to see the 5 rules that you must obey their.
1. Transportation the entire journey will start from China.
There are two transportation options for going to North Korea. First, by train and second, by airplane can only use Koryo Airlines. For trains, all tourists can use it except Americans and Israelis. The citizens of these two countries can only come to North Korea by plane. So, if you go to North Korea, it is obligatory to transit in China. Cannot direct from your country to North Korea.
2. Apply for a tourist visa.
To get a North Korean visa, you must use the services of an official travel agent located in China. Photos and scanned passports can be sent to the agent of your choice via e-mail. After that, all you have to do is take care of a Chinese double entry visa because you will be entering and leaving North Korea via China.
3. Everywhere must be accompanied by official government tour guide.
When landing in North Korea, you will immediately get an official guide from the government. Wherever you go, they must accompany you. In fact, this guide tells tourists when to get up early :).
4. Rules for journalists and the ethics of photography.
As for matters of Photography, carrying a camera and taking pictures is not prohibited in this country. But before doing so, the traveler must first ask permission from the guide or directly to the person who wants to be photographed. Before you get out of this country, usually the camera will be checked first and the possibility of some images that are considered to violate the rules will be deleted.
5. Tourists do not use local currency.
For tourists who hope to bring home Won (KPW) money as a memento, be prepared to be disappointed because bringing one out of North Korea is illegal. Not only that, tourists can only trade using Euros, American Dollars, Yen and Yuan. Don’t be surprised if you are given a change in a different currency than what you paid.
What best things to do in North Korea ?
Not many travel agents offer North Korea tour packages. But you can still find it. Bad news for backpackers because there really is no way for you to have a backpacker-style vacation in North Korea. The number of regulations and prohibitions that must be obeyed makes it better for tourists to use the services of a travel agent to ensure their safety and security. So, where are the North Korean tourist attractions that tourists can visit?
1. Paektu Mountain.
North Korea also has mountains, Mount Paektu, you can go trekking there. This mountain is located on the border between North Korea and mainland China. Mountain as high as 2,744 m (9,003 ft) has a beautiful tourist destination. There there is a lake called Lake Chon, which means heaven. Uniquely, this lake has the deepest crater reaching 384 meters and the coldest in the world. The view of the mountain is really beautiful, the blue lake water is very clear and far from the scattered rubbish!.
2. Arch Of Triumph (Pyongyang).
If France has the Eifel tower, in North Korea there is the Arch of Triumph. The Arch of Triumph is a building that stands very sturdy in Pyongyang. The Arch of Triumph is a historic building that was erected as a sign of North Korea’s success against the Japanese army in 1925 1945. The Triumphal Arch building is known as the second largest building in the world after the monumental a la Revolucion in Mexico.
3. Juche Tower.
Juche Tower is a tourist attraction in North Korea that must be visited. Juche Tower has a symbol of Juche political ideology which is often visited as a tourist spot. Juche Tower has a height of up to 170 meters from ground level. This tower was introduced by Kim IL-Sung starting in 1982, tourists do not need to pay for a ticket if you want to take pictures with Juche Tower from a distance. But to make it even more eccentric, you can go up to the Juche Tower to take pictures from above. From the tower, you can monitor the quiet atmosphere of Pyongyang. In the summer festivals are often held.
4. Kumsusan Palace Of The Sun.
It was built majestic on the edge of Korea Pyongyang. Kumsusan Palace of the Sun or referred to as the Kim IL Sung Mausoleum is a building near the northeast corner of the city of Pyongyang that serves as a tomb for Kim IL Sung, the founder of North Korea, and for his son Kim Jong IL, both of whom are appointed as North Korea’s eternal leaders. But since the death of Kim IL Sung, in 1994, the building has been transformed into a mausoleum, more modern and more majestic than the world-famous museum such as the Taj Mahal.
Its beautiful architecture makes the public or foreign tourists can take pictures in front of this palace while making offerings to their eternal leader.
5. Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge.
Sino Bridge is a bridge of friendship between China and North Korea. This bridge connects several cities including Dandong, China and Sinuiju. If you are interested, come to this bridge at night because the colors of the lights are so beautiful. Do not forget to also bring a camera, because there are several spots that can give birth to a moment that is worth capturing.
6. Victorious War Museum.
Victorious War Museum or Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum was built since 1953 is a military history museum dedicated to the Korean War located in Pyongyang. There are tons of war vehicles and weapons that were once used by North Korean soldiers during the Korean War. The Victorious War Museum is open to the public and can be visited from morning to evening.
7. Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
Being a famous tourist spot is quite unique to visit. This is because the DMZ is a border area that was built after the Korean War was over. DMZ is also often referred to as a “hot zone” for North Koreans and South Koreans. The reason for the terminology is because the area was heavily guarded by the military bases of the two countries.
8. Ullim Waterfall.
Ullim Waterfall is located in Wonsan, is an elite area in eastern North Korea. Wonsan is a port city in Kangwon Province. With an area of 269. 4 square km, this area is very rarely touched by foreign tourists. During the Korean War, Wonsan became the longest-running siege in the history of the modern American navy.The city has several choices of attractions for tourists who come. Call it Wonsan Beach, which became its superior natural tourism.
Then there is Masik Ski Resort, this place is the first and most luxurious ski resort in North Korea. Kim Jong Un inaugurated the North’s own pride resort.Wonsan already has 4 hotels that are open to tourists. Among these are Kaesong Folk Hotel, Tongmyong Hotel, Songdowon Tourist Hotel and Sijungho Rest House.
9. Koryo Museum Of Art.
The Koryo Museum is a museum that holds a large number of artifacts from the Koryo Kingdom from 918 to 1392. The museum stores various Korean history, starting until it was split into two and become enemies. The museum, which is located on a large campus in North Korea, has thousands of valuable historical objects.
10. The State Circus Pyongyang.
After visiting historic areas and hot zones which certainly makes us feel tense and at the same time challenged, it’s time to lower adrenaline by enjoying entertainment tours in Pyongyang. There is a tourist attraction in North Korea, a circus attraction that is very famous and is held every night.
This entertainment tour is always held, to entertain Koreans and also immigrants who want to have other memories besides traveling to historic places in North Korea. Every night, the circus attraction will be filled with dancers who are very stretchy and can hang on ropes. Also, there are other attractions such as wild animals that obey the command handler, and so forth. spending time on contents won’t feel long.
11. Mansu Hill Grand Monument.
The Kim II Sung and Kim Jong II statue monument complex in Pyongyang, as high as 20 meters.
Must-read. Best books about North Korea.
What North Korea facts you never knew ?
Since North Korea has not been a popular tourist destination, it seems rather difficult to determine whether what we hear is a myth or a fact. Here are things about North Korea that are rarely known.
12. Many beautiful women can be found in North Korea.
North Korean women are really very attractive and beautiful when compared to South Korean women or other countries, but seeing white oriental women with improper makeup is more natural and without plastic surgery.
13. Coca cola.
In the past, North Korea was once the only place where you couldn’t find Coca-Cola. Now, American and European goods can be found easily in spite of an embargo on North Korea.
14. Has its own time zone.
In 2015, on its 70th independence day, North Korea announced a new time zone called “Pyongyang Time”. Pyongyang Time is in GMT + 08.30 or 30 minutes behind the Japan time zone. This decision was taken as a form of separation from the legacy of Japanese colonialism.
15. You can shop for anything.
North Korea might not give the impression of a shopping paradise like Paris or New York. But in reality, you can, really, spend money here. In addition to souvenirs, you can spend your money on various snacks, postcards, locally made beer, or even for circus and night market entertainment.
16. Many breweries.
It’s no secret that North Koreans like to drink alcohol. In addition, North Korea also has a vast expanse of rice and barley. Combine the two, then the result is a mushrooming beer production site. Some of them can also be visited by tourists. In fact, it’s easy to find bars and hotels that produce their own beer.
17. North Koreans can have fun too.
Do you imagine North Korea as a boring place and not offering much entertainment? You are not the only one. The beach and park are crowded with parents and children who are spending time together, and it turns out they also like to karaoke.
18. North Korea has several UNESCO world heritage sites.
In addition to the sites that smell like propaganda, it turns out that North Korea also has several UNESCO cultural heritage sites that are interesting to visit. The Koguryo Tombs Complex in Pyongyang is one of the tomb sites of the Koguryo kings, an ancient kingdom that stood in 37 BC in the northern part of the Korean Peninsula. In addition to the Koguryo Cemetery Complex, there are also Historical Sites and Monuments in Kaesong City which consist of 12 different components, one of which is the Tomb of King Kongmin.
19. For them, there is no such thing as “North Korea”.
For them, there is no such thing as North and South Korea but only Korea. Even in its official name, namely Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, there is no North Korean term. Tourist guides, maps and other materials refer to North Korea as Korea alone, and tourists are expected to do the same. Even so, we are allowed to say “the northern part of Korea”.
Is North Korea worth visiting?
North Korea is a country that is closed to the outside world, but has not lost its charm as a unique tourist destination. North Korea’s tourism sector continues to be passionate as the number of foreign tourist arrivals annually. Tourist attractions in North Korea are actually as amazing as those in other countries. Some places can remind us of European countries.
Especially for those who want to feel the sensation of visiting an isolated country, like being in another part of the world. But not for those of you who have if adventurers and are always looking for something new for you to try. You interested?
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Further Reading.
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