North Korea

Best known for its secretive totalitarian government, abject poverty, and its nuclear programme, it is possible to visit North Korea as a tourist. Don’t expect to find any five star resorts or fine dining, but you will find a rare travel experience. For many, the journey is a step back in time and a rare opportunity to visit a country isolated from the rest of the world.

All travel must be arranged through a government agency and while in the country all tourists are assigned North Korean guides (or minders if you wish). If you decide to visit, be prepared for the bureaucratic process just to get in. Travel agencies such as the Koyro Group (based in Beijing) that specialise in North Korean travel are your best bet.

Once in your guides will accompany you everywhere you travel; needless to say, your travel will be strictly controlled, including photography. It will also be necessary for you to praise North Korea and bow to the statute of Kim Jong-Il. If you are not prepared to do this, do not visit. If you have anything negative to say about North Korea, its best you not say anything until you have left the country; you will be under surveillance the entire time.

Arirang Festival

Most outside tourists visit when North Korea has annual Arirang Festival, otherwise known as North Korea’s annual Grand Mass Gymnastic and Artistic Performance. North Korea is normally closed to Americans and South Koreans, but they have opened their doors for American Tourists on a few occasions for the Arirang Festival.

The Arirang Festival will be held in a 150,000-seat stadium and will feature 100,000 people perfectly synchronised in a socialist realism spectacular unique to North Korea. The experience is said to be amazing by accounts of those who have attended in previous years.

Getting To North Korea

Once you have your travel arrangements in place, most tours to North Korea start in Beijing where Air Koryo has non-stop service to Pyongyang where the flight attendants still wear little white gloves and hats.