ChernobylX
ChernobylX BEYOND TOURISM
Explore North Korea beyond the tourist sites, take a metro, shop in a supermarket, visit the demilitarized zone and more
LEGAL
Get a visa without a stamp in your passport (avoid issues for the future), insurance, local helpdesk and official English guide
WE FOLLOW NORTH KOREA'S TOURISM RULES
During the whole tour our priority is your maximum safety, that is why we have our delegate with you
FLEXIBLE
Choose how many days, which airplane or train arrival, program or dining
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN YOUR NORTH KOREA TOUR?
KOREA UNSEEN FROM WITHIN
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NORTH KOREAN TOURIST VISA+PERMITS
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HOTEL WITH FULL BOARD OF LOCAL DELICATESSES
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PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH GUIDE AND DELEGATE
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CULTURAL PROGRAM (ACCORDING TO DATE)
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INSIDERS PACKAGE: DEMILITARIZED ZONE ( DMZ ) VISIT, METRO RIDE, SHOPPING, FAIRGROUNDS...
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ALL INCLUSIVE, THE PRICE IS FINAL, NO HIDDEN FEES
The Communism that will drop your jaw
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT WORLD OF NORTH KOREA
North Korea, a land of absolute communism, yet dictatorship. Everything you have seen and heard about the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) becomes obsolete once you step out of the airplane (or train) in Pyongyang. A country of very warm people, simple conditions and military readiness. Do not get surprised when you will be greeted not just by your English guide, driver but also a cameraman or TV crew. Guess which one is the secret service guy who takes care of your safety…and safety of the Korean nation.
Our delegate will make sure you get a complete picture of North Korea: its history far before the Korean war, its present and future. The Future of uniting the Korean peninsula. ChernobylX takes you beyond the tourist spots like the main square of Pyongyang, Pioneer’s house, or Mausoleum of the Kim dynasty leaders. We answer all your questions, even if they might involve geopolitics.
Visiting North Korea is not like travelling to any other country. It’s bureaucratic, non-commercial, very organised…and safe! Most of our explorers say it was probably the safest country they visited. The level of tidiness and organisation around simple things (like parking!) is astonishing, maybe even ridiculous to most of western tourists. Apart from your Chenrobyl tour, here communism is not just frozen in time, but it’s flourishing.
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Your trip to North Korea starts in Beijing, China from which the majority of flights and trains to Pyongyang depart. Choose your preferred way or combine. Experience Korean hospitality and marvel at the beauty of its nature, architecture and women already on your journey to the capital of DPRK, Pyongyang. After your arrival, your English delegate and local guide will take care of you – including your traditional Korean meals and cosy hotel, so let’s take off to explore the least explored sightseeing country in the world.
The exact itinerary of your tour depends on the dates, local events (like anniversaries, leader birthdays, national holidays…) and the constraints currently applied to foreigners in North Korea. Thus, choose your travel carefully and months ahead (even if we can organize a tour for you in a matter of weeks). Pay special attention to the following holidays when there is the greatest chance to have the most breathtaking insight into the North Korean culture, at the same time expect some limitations to your program as there is a greater tourism influx:
February 16 – The Day of the Shining Star is the birthday of Kim Jong-il, the second leader of DPRK born in 1941
April 15 – The Day of the Sun is the birthday of its founder and first leader of DPRK Kim Il-Sung born in 1912 (it is the most important holiday in DPRK)
September 9 – The Day of the Foundation of the Republic when the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea was formed in 1948
October 10 – The Party Foundation Day, the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea founded in 1945
During these holidays you will see Koreans dressed up in their national costumes, bringing flowers, celebrating, and especially during the round anniversaries watch the army parade and mass games. We will organise VIP entrance for you to both events.
With a background story and line skipping tickets, we will get you to the traditional “must see” locations of Pyongyang: Juche tower, Korean War Museum incl. Spy ship USS Pueblo, Mansu Hill Monument (bronze leader statues), Kim Il-Sung square, birthplace of Kim Il-Sung, Kumsuan Palace of the Sun (Mausoleum of the Kim leaders) and Korean War memorial. We will definitely stop at the most photographic places like the Victory arch (second largest in the world), May day Stadium Rungrado (largest in the world), Pyongyang metro – the deepest in the world (including a ride), or the Munsu Water Park.
A must experience is also the visit of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), into its very heart – right at the border with South Korea – at the spot where the famous handshake of Kim Jong-un (leader of North Korea) and Moon Jae-in (president of South Korea) took place back in 2018. This is the only place where you can take a picture with North Korean soldiers who will actually guide you through the DMZ, as well as the house where the Korean armistice agreement was signed in 1953. A stop in the former capital of Korea with its first Korean university Kaeson is a bonus to see what is left from the ancient Korean heritage (as most of North Korea was destroyed by bombing and needed to be rebuilt).
The smell of the new and shiny Pyongyang will be enhanced by the reality hidden behind it, showing you suburbs, villages and factories beyond the Pyongyang display. Visiting an empty fairground, local spa, supermarket and even a farm or waterfront dam, and maybe even taking a hike to the mountains.
Taste the traditional and modern cuisine of North Korea which is rich in nutrients, simple and truly tasty (your sweet tooth will maybe not agree 100%). Wherever we go, we will make sure we are all covered with the best possible accommodation and dining. If there is a chance to play pool, karaoke or just have a local “snake” shenzhen spirit at the bar, we will get you the best spots.
The very end of your tour, as most of our tourists say, is sad – you do not want to leave North Korea as there is so much to uncover. You leave with more understanding of North Korea’s way of life as well as the geopolitics behind it. Whether you come back for a winter ski holiday with your family, the famous Pyongyang marathon, or just come for a more in-depth North Korea tour of your particular field – whether it is industry or science – you will always be welcomed. Great pictures, symbolic souvenirs and unthinkable moments from your visit of North Korea will become eternal – as the Kim leaders for North Korea. By the way, no DPRK stamps or visa evidence in your passport to avoid questions on your journey back home.
We have been on a mission to CHALLENGE YOUR WORLDVIEW since 2008.
North Korea Tour Safety
Visiting North Korea sounds scary for most people, however, the opposite is likely the truth. “I have never witnessed more safety than in Pyongyang, even the small kids taking the metro on their own,” says ChernobylX founder Dominik. You just need to follow the rules, show respect to the leaders, and not steal or damage anything connected to the leaders. To make sure we follow the rules and all is clear our guide and delegate is always at hand for your questions and concerns.
During the Corona pandemic, we have ensured the absolute safety of you and your fellow travellers by an airline-level of disinfection and precautionary measurements: temperature check, face masks, gloves, antibacterial gel, disinfected buses and cars, guides and drivers with masks. Together, we can make sure you come back home safe and thrilled.
Due to actual constraints, safety or weather conditions in North Korea, ChernobylX keeps the right to change the program of the itinerary, informing you about any constraints.
You are all covered for the Trip of your lifetime
Price includes
- All visa and paperwork
- English X.tours delegate
- English local guide
- Return Air or Train (sleeping, 2nd class) tickets to Pyongyang from Beijing, China
- Museum and site entrance fees
- Skip the line and VIP spots for cultural events
- Comfortable bus or van transportation in DPRK
- Clean EU standard Hotel (3*) in Pyongyang
- Full board dining (traditional Korean meals)
- VIP spots for other X destinations: Fukushima, Chernobyl, Baikonur..
NORTH KOREA TOUR
Frequently Asked questions
Contrary to what you have read about North Korea it is safe to travel there. According to what our tourists say it is one of the safest places/countries in the world, you just have to follow the rules and the local laws. Thus, we really emphasize the preparation phase of your trip with all necessary info, brochures, and pre-meeting instructions before your tour to North Korea.
You can only travel to North Korea in a guided tour group. Tourism in North Korea is very controlled, but also very welcomed. North Koreans are very friendly people, but just be respectful to their leaders and/or their ideology and there will not be a problem. Wandering around freely and approaching local people is not welcomed. Following your Korean travel guide you will get the opportunity to learn about the culture, experience the local traditions, and they will also help you to chat with locals.
We arrange tours to North Korea for all countries, except the USA or South Korea. We recommend before your travel to check your own country’s statements and suggestions regarding a journey to North Korea, please notify your government ministry, embassies, or consulates of your travel plans if this is recommended by your country. When in North Korea, your guide will have a local SIM card, which can be used to make international phone calls and contact foreign embassy staff in Pyongyang. You will have access to international calls also from your hotel in Pyongyang.
Anyone is allowed to travel to North Korea (except South Koreans citizens, journalists, security services employees, and humanitarian workers, who are usually denied entry). There are some exceptions according to occasions. If you belong to any of the limited groups, but still desire to come, contact us via email, we will work on a solution to get you to your desired destination. Journalists and humanitarian workers are allowed to apply for exemptions under the ban. A tourist’s visa typically is in the form of a blue travel paper which is stamped by North Korean customs. You will not get a stamp into your passport, so your visit to North Korea will not limit you in travelling to any other country.
Yes, you will need a valid visa for your travel to North Korea. North Korea is one of the most “closed” countries in the world, but still, the process is not that complicated and all the paperwork can be done fast, plus it is included in the price of your North Korea tour with ChernobylX. First, there is no need to hand over your passport (physically). Just complete the booking process on our website and we will get your visa online via diplomatic embassies located in China. Your visa will be printed on a separate piece of paper and won’t be attached to your passport. We will give you your North Korean visa during the pre-tour meeting in Beijing, China through your English guide before you enter North Korea. Usually we get the visa processed in 2-3 weeks, so book your North Korea tour in advance.
Please choose your desired tour (find the important dates or activities above in the tour description). Choose a scheduled group tour to North Korea – for a private tour to North Korea, please contact us at [email protected]. We will get you all the necessary info, permits and visas, including all the transportation (train or airplane – you choose) and a hotel in North Korea. Every tour starts and finishes in Beijing, China. All of your tour will be organised to the very detail and the program in North Korea will be set up. You will be accompanied by an official North Korean guide and driver, plus we have our delegate for every scheduled group tour. Our North Korean tours include trains or flight tickets from Beijing to Pyongyang and back with the option to choose your preferred form of transportation (both ways, note: flights are more expensive).
The flight ticket from your hometown to Beijing, China is not included in the tour price.
The information on Covid-19 in North Korea is very limited and so far (FEB 2021) the country is not reporting any ill people. North Korea closed the borders and it will allow only vaccinated tourists to enter its territory, where you can expect also some health restrictions or measurements (like wearing masks).
Since 2018 when we first organised a tour to North Korea (despite being experts in Chernobyl travel), we saw unlimited ways of showing and surprising people who are coming with us. In Chernobyl we show the communism that the Soviet Union froze in time. In North Korea, communism is flourishing and the parallels are so obvious. We created the North Korean tours based on our Chernobyl experience, making them like traveling in time, making them off the beaten path, less touristy, more adventurous and most of all, more personal. After all, we are adventurers, not just travellers, right? If you feel like you want to see North Korea just from a touristic, organised point of view and you want to dive deeper into the story of North Korea, you will find it with ChernobylX.