My other brother is an aviation enthusiast and managed to get on an aviation tour of the lovely North Korea. Last weekend he was over and just sort of sprung it on us. He works at Air Canada and has traveled the globe many times over but I was caught completely off guard. I suppose it's still safer than going to Afghanistan or Iraq since there aren't random kidnappings of Westerners in North Korea. He should be fine but who the hell knows what can happen.
Here is his North Korea detailed itinerary:
Friday 10 May 2013
1800 hrs – Meet at the DPRK’s Haedanghwa Restaurant, Beijing forthe pre-tour meeting. We will be handing out the DPRK visas and air tickets to each tour member and provide a tour briefing on the practical aspects of the tour. This will be followed by a welcome dinner accompanied by a music and dance extravaganza from the delightful Korean hostesses. A few refreshing beers will be offered to break the ice and get to know your fellow tour members!
Day 1: Saturday 11 May 2013
1300 hrs – Depart Beijing onboard Air Koryo flight JS152 (Ilyushin IL-62 TBC, if not possible then Tupolev Tu-204) to Pyongyang. After customs clearance and baggage collection we will make our way into Pyongyang. Stop off en route at the Arch of Triumph followed by a city walk from Kim Il Sung square to Pyongyang Grand Theatre. Check in at the Koryo hotel, relaxation and dinner at the hotel restaurant.
Day 2: Sunday 12 May 2013
Drive to Kaesong (about 2.5 hours from Pyongyang). Visit to Panmunjom on the DMZ followed by a Kaesong city walk from Janam hill to Nam Gate and the Folk Custom hotel, where a Royal Banquet lunch will be served. Visit to the Koryo History museum and souvenir shop, then back to Pyongyang via the Reunification Monument for some photos. Dinner will be served at the Chongryu Hot Potrestaurant, and we will stay overnight at the Koryo hotel.
Day 3: Monday 13 May 2013
Drive to Pyongyang Airport, Air Koryo introductory presentation by their external relations representative. Flight to Samjiyon Airport (near Mount Paekdu) onboard Ilyushin IL-18 (approx. 1 hour flying time). A question and answer session with the Air Koryo flight crew will take place upon landing. Visit to Craterlake on Mt. Paekdu where we will enjoy a picnic lunch. Return down the mountain, visit to the Secret Log cabin before checking in at the Begaebong Hotel to relax and enjoy dinner.
Day 4: Tuesday 14 May 2013
Visit to the picturesque Rimyongsu waterfall, the equally attractive Samjiyon Grand Monumentand the Paekdu Information Center. Lunch back at the Begaebong hotel and check out. Return flight to Pyongyang airport on board the Ilyushin IL-18, followed by a guided tour and detailed
photography (both inside and outside) of the very rare Chosun Minhang Ilyushin IL-14. There will
be time for a visit to the War memorial, USS Pueblo, Juche Tower and Party Foundation Monument before checking back in at the Koryo Hotel (don’t worry – you will keep the same room as before and be able to keep all your things there during the overnight stays!). Dinner will be served at the Duck BBQrestaurant, followed by an evening visit to Kaeson Youth Funfair.
Day 5: Wednesday 15 May 2013
Fly to Sondok (Hamhung) onboard Tupolev Tu-134 and An-24 (approx. 25 mins flying time). Visit to the Bongung old house of Hamhung and lunch at the Sinyungsan hotel in the city centre. Fly back to Pyongyang Airport on board Tupolev Tu-134 and An-24 (you will switch planes for the return flight). Visit to the Mansudae grand monument and fountain park, Metro (extended route featuring 5 stations),
Mansudae artists studio and foreign language souvenir bookshop. Dinner will be at the Pak-to-Sun restaurant.
Day 6: Thursday 16 May 2013
OPTION A: Flights at Pyongyang Airport on board the Ilyushin IL-76 and Ilyushin IL-62 for those who take these option(s).
OPTION B: Visit to 3 Revolutions Exhibition and Grand People’s Study House
Options A and B then reunite at Pyongyang Airport for the flight to Sondok (Hamhung) onboardthe Tupolev Tu-154. We will then make our way to check in and enjoy lunch at the sumptuous Majon deluxe hotel. The afternoon can be spent enjoying the many leisure facilities, bathing on the delightful beach and imbibing some fine ales. Dinner will also be served here.
Day 7: Friday 17 May 2013
Check out of Majon deluxe hotel and visit the Hungnam fertilizer factory to see DPRK industry in action. Return flight to Pyongyang onboard Tupolev Tu-154. Lunch at the Okru restaurant followed by a visit to the state gift exhibition. We will then enjoy a circus show before returning to our trusty home in Pyongyang, the Koryo Hotel, to freshen up. A farewell dinner will be served atthe Paradise restaurant and Microbrewery.
Day 8: Saturday 18 May 2013
0900 hrs: Depart Pyongyang on board Air Koryo flight JS151 to Beijing (Tupolev Tu-204)
Here is his North Korea detailed itinerary:
Friday 10 May 2013
1800 hrs – Meet at the DPRK’s Haedanghwa Restaurant, Beijing forthe pre-tour meeting. We will be handing out the DPRK visas and air tickets to each tour member and provide a tour briefing on the practical aspects of the tour. This will be followed by a welcome dinner accompanied by a music and dance extravaganza from the delightful Korean hostesses. A few refreshing beers will be offered to break the ice and get to know your fellow tour members!
Day 1: Saturday 11 May 2013
1300 hrs – Depart Beijing onboard Air Koryo flight JS152 (Ilyushin IL-62 TBC, if not possible then Tupolev Tu-204) to Pyongyang. After customs clearance and baggage collection we will make our way into Pyongyang. Stop off en route at the Arch of Triumph followed by a city walk from Kim Il Sung square to Pyongyang Grand Theatre. Check in at the Koryo hotel, relaxation and dinner at the hotel restaurant.
Day 2: Sunday 12 May 2013
Drive to Kaesong (about 2.5 hours from Pyongyang). Visit to Panmunjom on the DMZ followed by a Kaesong city walk from Janam hill to Nam Gate and the Folk Custom hotel, where a Royal Banquet lunch will be served. Visit to the Koryo History museum and souvenir shop, then back to Pyongyang via the Reunification Monument for some photos. Dinner will be served at the Chongryu Hot Potrestaurant, and we will stay overnight at the Koryo hotel.
Day 3: Monday 13 May 2013
Drive to Pyongyang Airport, Air Koryo introductory presentation by their external relations representative. Flight to Samjiyon Airport (near Mount Paekdu) onboard Ilyushin IL-18 (approx. 1 hour flying time). A question and answer session with the Air Koryo flight crew will take place upon landing. Visit to Craterlake on Mt. Paekdu where we will enjoy a picnic lunch. Return down the mountain, visit to the Secret Log cabin before checking in at the Begaebong Hotel to relax and enjoy dinner.
Day 4: Tuesday 14 May 2013
Visit to the picturesque Rimyongsu waterfall, the equally attractive Samjiyon Grand Monumentand the Paekdu Information Center. Lunch back at the Begaebong hotel and check out. Return flight to Pyongyang airport on board the Ilyushin IL-18, followed by a guided tour and detailed
photography (both inside and outside) of the very rare Chosun Minhang Ilyushin IL-14. There will
be time for a visit to the War memorial, USS Pueblo, Juche Tower and Party Foundation Monument before checking back in at the Koryo Hotel (don’t worry – you will keep the same room as before and be able to keep all your things there during the overnight stays!). Dinner will be served at the Duck BBQrestaurant, followed by an evening visit to Kaeson Youth Funfair.
Day 5: Wednesday 15 May 2013
Fly to Sondok (Hamhung) onboard Tupolev Tu-134 and An-24 (approx. 25 mins flying time). Visit to the Bongung old house of Hamhung and lunch at the Sinyungsan hotel in the city centre. Fly back to Pyongyang Airport on board Tupolev Tu-134 and An-24 (you will switch planes for the return flight). Visit to the Mansudae grand monument and fountain park, Metro (extended route featuring 5 stations),
Mansudae artists studio and foreign language souvenir bookshop. Dinner will be at the Pak-to-Sun restaurant.
Day 6: Thursday 16 May 2013
OPTION A: Flights at Pyongyang Airport on board the Ilyushin IL-76 and Ilyushin IL-62 for those who take these option(s).
OPTION B: Visit to 3 Revolutions Exhibition and Grand People’s Study House
Options A and B then reunite at Pyongyang Airport for the flight to Sondok (Hamhung) onboardthe Tupolev Tu-154. We will then make our way to check in and enjoy lunch at the sumptuous Majon deluxe hotel. The afternoon can be spent enjoying the many leisure facilities, bathing on the delightful beach and imbibing some fine ales. Dinner will also be served here.
Day 7: Friday 17 May 2013
Check out of Majon deluxe hotel and visit the Hungnam fertilizer factory to see DPRK industry in action. Return flight to Pyongyang onboard Tupolev Tu-154. Lunch at the Okru restaurant followed by a visit to the state gift exhibition. We will then enjoy a circus show before returning to our trusty home in Pyongyang, the Koryo Hotel, to freshen up. A farewell dinner will be served atthe Paradise restaurant and Microbrewery.
Day 8: Saturday 18 May 2013
0900 hrs: Depart Pyongyang on board Air Koryo flight JS151 to Beijing (Tupolev Tu-204)
