Welcome to North Korea
There is quite simply nowhere on Earth like North Korea. Now on its third hereditary ruler, this nominally communist state has defied all expectations and survived the collapse of the Soviet Union to become a nuclear power. A visit to North Korea offers a glimpse of the world's most isolated nation, where the internet and much of the 21st century remain relatively unknown, and millions live their lives in the shadow of an all-encompassing personality cult.
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North Korea activities
N Korea DMZ and Joint Security Area Panmunjom Tour from Seoul
After pickup from your Seoul hotel in the morning, hop aboard your comfortable coach and head to the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), which divided North and South Korea during the Korean War. Now the world’s most heavily fortified border, the DMZ includes historical sites of conflict as well as the last remnants of the Cold War.Drive along Freedom Road, which stretches along the banks of the Imjin River – bordered by an 8-foot (2.4-meter) razor wire fence and military watch posts – and stop in Imjingak Park to see artillery used during the Korean War. Continue to Freedom Bridge and explore the area on foot as you learn from your guide about the nearly 13,000 POWs who crossed on their return to freedom in South Korea. Re-board the coach and head to the 3rd Infiltration Tunnel, believed to have been planned as a military invasion route by North Korea. In the DMZ exhibition hall, which now stands as a monument to peace, you’ll see photographs and war artifacts on display. Afterward, head to the Dora Observatory to look through telephoto lenses and observe the village of Kijongdong as your guide describes life on the other side. After a stop at Dorasan Station, proceed to the Unification Village to witness life in this small farming community. Your guide will take your group to a local restaurant for lunch before the Panmunjom portion of your tour. Situated in the middle of the DMZ, this former ‘truce village’ was the site of the 1953 armistice, ending the Korean War and splitting the peninsula in two. The JSA was established as the negotiating site between North Korea and the United Nations Command (UNC) and is now used for diplomatic dialogue by the two Koreas.First, pass through a series of checkpoints where your ID will be verified, and stop at Camp Bonifas, a small base where about 5,000 U.S. and South Korean soldiers reside just 440 yards (402 meters) south of the DMZ. Disembark from the bus and head to Ballinger Hall to watch a slideshow, hear historical facts about the JSA’s significance and receive a briefing. Visit the Freedom House, a four-story building topped with a transparent roof, a facility that functions as a liaison between the South and the North. Visit a conference room and hear how the house supports various forms of inter-Korean dialogue, contracts and exchanges. Your final stop is the Bridge of No Return, first used for POW exchanges in 1953. The bridge was named for the irreversible choice of whether to remain in the country of their captivity or return to their place of origin. Afterward, your guide will accompany your group back to Ballinger Hall before your return to Seoul.
Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) Tour from Seoul
After pickup from your Seoul hotel at your selected departure time, you will be taken by comfortable coach to the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), a strip of land splitting North and South Korea, becoming one of the tensest fronts during the Cold War and the Korean War.Stop first in Imjingak, a park located in the banks of Imjin River where you’ll see artillery and war artifacts that were used during the Korean conflict. Proceed to Freedom Bridge, crossed by nearly 13,000 Korean POWs on their return back to freedom. As you explore by foot, learn from your guide about the powerful significance of this bridge.Re-board the coach and head to the 3rd Infiltration Tunnel, located beneath the border of North Korea and South Korea. Here, learn about the role of these tunnels, which are believed to have been planned as a military invasion route by North Korea. See where the South Koreans have blocked the actual Military Demarcation Line with concrete barricades. Continue to the DMZ exhibition hall to browse photographs and war artifacts. This hall now stands as a symbol of peace – an attempt to mend the damages wrought by Korea's history. You’ll then be taken to the Dora Observatory, where you can use binoculars to scope out North Korea. Listen to your guide explain the lifestyle across the river as you observe the village of Kijongdong. Next, head to Dorasan Station, a historic and symbolic spot that marks both the division and a gateway of exchanges between the north and the south. Proceed to the Unification Village to observe the daily life of this small farming community, which specialized in creating soybean milk, traditional soy sauce and corn goods. Then you'll stop by the Amethyst Factory or Ginseng Center before being dropped off at the Seoul City Hall.If you choose the morning tour or afternoon tour only, you’ll end back in Seoul at City Hall. If you choose the morning tour with lunch, you’ll stop first at a local restaurant for lunch. If you choose the full-day tour, you’ll enjoy lunch and then head to Insadong Antique Market, which was once the largest market for antiques and artworks in Korea. Browse the various shops, peruse crafts and bargain for that perfect souvenir with the help of your guide. Your tour will end here.
Half-Day Korean DMZ Tour from Seoul
You will be picked up at your accommodation in Seoul and taken to Imjingak Park. Once you arrive at the park, you can see the Freedom Bridge and an old steam train that shows the extremity of the tragedy that was the Korean War at Imjingak Park. Then, the DMZ bus will head to the 3rd Tunnel that North Korean Army built to infiltrate South Korea in 1970s. You will walk down to the tunnel wearing a safety helmet. After coming out of tunnel, you will have some time to look around the DMZ Exhibition Hall which shows the Korean War, old weapons, and a brief film about Korea's history. After the Exhibition Hall, you will head to Mt Dora to see North Korea from the Observatory. There are many telescopes to look at North Korea’s propaganda village. Then you will move to Dorasan Station, the last station before entering North Korea from South Korea. You can get a stamp that resembles the immigration desk in the airport, as a souvenir (You will not be entering North Korea). On the way back to Imjingak Park, your vehicle will pass by the Unification Village before heading back to Seoul. Once you return to Seoul, you will stop-by a Korean Ginseng Center (skip if you choose no shopping tour option) before you will be dropped off at the City Hall.You can choose 1 of 2 half day tours with morning or afternoon departure.
Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) Half-Day Tour from Seoul
After pickup at your Seoul hotel in the morning or afternoon, drive to the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). En route, your guide shares expert commentary on the dividing line between North and South Korea.Get out at Imjingak Park along the banks of Imjin River to see artillery and war artifacts that were used during the Korean conflict before proceeding to Freedom bridge, where nearly 13,000 Korean POWs crossed on their return back home to South Korea.Reboard the coach and head to the 3rd Infiltration Tunnel, located beneath the border of North Korea and South Korea. See where the South Koreans have blocked the actual Military Demarcation Line with concrete barricades, and browse photographs and war artifacts at the DMZ exhibition hall. Your next stop is Dora Observatory, where you can use binoculars to get a glimpse of North Korea. Listen to your guide explain daily life in the village of Kijongdong across the river. Continue by coach to Dorasan Station, a historic spot that not only marks the division, but also serves as a gateway for exchanges between the north and south. Pass by the Unification Village, a small farming community that specialized in creating soybean milk, traditional soy sauce and corn goods. Where the tour ends depends on what option you select. If you choose the morning tour or afternoon tour only, you’ll end back in Seoul at City Hall after a stop at a ginseng center. If you’ve selected to upgrade a morning tour with lunch, you’ll head to a local restaurant in Seoul after you go to the ginseng center. On the full-day tour, experience the same itinerary to the DMZ followed by lunch, and then head to Insadong Antique Market. Once the largest market for antiques and artworks in Korea, Insadong offers a selection of shops, crafts and bargains. Ask your guide to help you shop for that perfect souvenir before you’re dropped off at your hotel.
DMZ Private Tour from Seoul
In the morning, grab your passport and get in a private vehicle that takes you to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that has divided North and South Korea since the Korean War. En route, your expert guide offers insight about the Korean conflict and answers any questions you have.After a stop at Imjingak Peace Park, situated on the banks of the Imjin River, continue to an artillery base for a glimpse of war artifacts. Observe an authentic M109 Howitzer and discover how infantry soldiers move the self-propelled armored vehicle each hour.Next, your guide takes you inside the DMZ to visit an army base where 22 North Korean spy commandos infiltrated the border in 1968. It’s a short climb to the military observation post where you learn incredible stories about North Korea's three-day battle with the South Korean army and US army.It may be hard to imagine eating after hearing intense war details, but when hunger strikes you can dine on a North Korean–style lunch of barbecued duck (vegetarian meals arranged upon request). After your meal, take a short trek to a civilian observation point where you can witness a North Korean village through a telephoto lens while your guide discusses life just across the border. On the way back to Seoul, make a stop to look for dozens of bullet traces etched in the surrounding rocks and trees — evidence of the battle between North Korean spy commandos and the United States Forces Korea.Your last stop is the War Memorial of Korea at Yongsan-dong, a must-see location for anyone interested in Korean military history. The exhibits of wartime weaponry and equipment at the former Korean Infantry headquarters could spark a discussion with your guide about the ramifications of wartime and peace that lasts until you’re dropped off at your hotel. Please note: This tour operates under strict guidelines. Please visit the Important Information tab to read about passport requirements, dress code, and other pertinent details.
DMZ Tour from Seoul Including Dora Observatory
Your tour starts with pickup from your hotel in downtown Seoul. During the drive, you will pass by Imjingak Pyeonghoa-Nuri Park, located about 4 miles (7 km) from the Demarcation Line. Playing the role as the forefront of tourism related to the Korean conflict, the park was built in 1972 with the hope that someday unification would be possible. Mangbaedan, which stands opposite of Imjingak, is a place where people from North Korea can visit and perform ancestral rites by bowing toward their home country every New Year's Day and Chuseok. The Bridge of the Freedom, which South Koreans crossed when they came back home from North Korea, stands behind Mangbaedan. In front of Imjingak is the Gyeongui Train Line, which was destroyed during the Korean War in 1950. It has been under construction since 2000. Every year many events for unification are held at Imjingak. You'll also pass by the Unification Village.Then arrive at the DMZ Theater and Exhibition Hall. Enter the 3rd Infiltration Tunnel, which was discovered in 1978 by Korean forces. It spans more than 1 mile (1.6 km) in length, 6.5 feet (2 meters) in width, and 6.5 feet (2 meters) in height and is located 32 miles (52 km) from Seoul. It is estimated that approximately 30,000 soldiers could move through the tunnel per hour. Once the tunnel was found, North Koreans insisted it was intentionally made by South Koreans to invade North Korea, but their insistence was proven untrue as the explosions used to make the tunnel face southward.Next, stop at Dora Observatory, located on the South Korean side of the 38th parallel (another name for the DMZ). Situated on top of Dorasan (Mt. Dora), the observatory looks across the Demilitarized Zone. It is the part of South Korea closest to North Korea, and you can catch a rare glimpse of the country through binoculars from the 500-person-capacity observatory. You'll get a look at the North Korean propaganda village situated in the DMZ, a remnant of the old prosperity of the North, and see as far as the city of Kaesong. The observatory is very close to the 3rd Tunnel. Dorasan Station, also nearby, is designed to be the station that connects the railroads of the South and North one day in the future.Finally, tour ends with drop-off in Seoul at either the City Hall Subway Station or Myeongdong Lotte Hotel.