The North Korean Football Tour

Earlier this year Visit North Korea made worldwide news for opening an official branch of Sunderland A.F.C in North Korea, the first foreign football club in the world to have ever done so. For all the political differences between the DPRK and the rest of the world, football remains the national sport in country, with knowledge of the premier league and foreign footballers abounding amongst locals. This provides an incredible opportunity for what is known as “Sport Diplomacy”- that is the utilization of the world’s favourite game to put aside longstanding differences and hostilities and build common ground and trust!

As a result, Visit North Korea are proud to announce The North Korean Football Tour, a tour of North Korea focused exclusively on football! And there’s plenty to talk about. In this trip we are offering you not only the chance to play a five side game against locals, but also a chance to attend an Asian Champions League Game (that being the equivalent of UEFA) where the North Korean club April 25th F.C will play against Taiwan’s Hang Yuen F.C! This will be taking place at the Rungrado May Day Stadium, the Largest All Seater Stadium on Earth! In addition, we’ll also be visiting the Pyongyang International School. Here, our project to donate Sunderland shirts begins! And we’ll be offering a discount for SAFC fans who want to come to North Korea and donate to the school! (Ages 7-17)

Last but not least, the trip will be also covering all the must see highlights of North Korea! Starting in Beijing, we’ll be heading to the country by train via Dandong and staying in the Chongnyon Hotel at the Pyongyang! Here, we will witness scenes such as the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum, the city Metro, Juche Tower, the Worker’s Party Monument, Kim Il Sung Square and a refreshing trip to the Taedonggang Brewery! We’ll also be heading to Kaesong, Panmunjom village and DMZ, where we can see North and South Korea facing off!

Payment for this trip will involve making a 30% deposit in the run up (which can be done by a number of means) and bringing the remainder to the tour itself in cash. The DPRK visa can be processed by us for a fee of 50 euros. Concerning China, participants can either obtain a double/multiple entry visa, or if they choose the Air Koryo Option (295 euros return); they can qualify for a 72 hour transit visa on arrival.

Any questions or concerns should be emailed to contact@visitthedprk.org

Monday: June 17th

• Meet your guide at 1:30pm at the Beijing Zhong Gu Hotel near Beijing Railway Station for a introductory briefing on North Korea. During this meeting, we’ll go over the tour’s itinerary, receive North Korean visas train and tickets, as well as a great chance to meet the group and to discuss any other questions you may have about the tour.
• Afterwards its time to depart Beijing Central station at 5:25pm for the overnight sleeper train to Dandong!

Tuesday: June 18th

Morning

• Train group arrive at Dandong at 7:00am. We'll have a quick break to grab breakfast, then we need to be up and out through Chinese exit customs and on the train for 10:00am
• Once we've crossed the bridge, it's time to go through North Korean customs and entry, this may take a couple of hours.
• After this is done, enjoy the eye opening scenes of the North Korean countryside and the realities of rural life in the country

Afternoon

• Arrive at Pyongyang station for the evening, where we will meet our guides on the platform! We'll then board the bus and travel to the Chongryon international hotel, where we will be given our rooms!
• Afterwards, it's time for dinner at the hotel! Then we can settle down and socialize for the night!

Wednesday: June 19th

Morning

• We begin our day with a walk through Mansudae Fountain Park, before heading up to the Mansudae Grand Hill Monument – the two large bronze statues of President Kim Il Sung and Leader Kim Jong Il overlooking the city. For an optional two Euros, you may buy flowers.
• Next up is Kim Il Sung Square, the famous city square in Pyongyang that is frequently seen as the site of parades. We'll go for a walk here, and head down to the street to the Foreign Language Bookshop – here you can buy local literature, newspapers, badges, flags and all kinds of souvenirs!

Afternoon

• Delicious Korean hotpot for lunch!
• Next, it's time to visit the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum – as North Korea tell their own story of the conflict between 1950-1953, you can see captured American weapons and vehicles, displays and dioramas from famous battles and much more!
• Outside the museum, all aboard the USS Pueblo – the only US Naval Vessel held captured by another country, seized off the coast of Wonsan in 1968!
• Now it's time for a pre-match pub crawl! Which football fans wouldn't do this? First, we we'll stop by the Mansugyo Beer Bar, then the Koryo Beer bar! Try out exclusive microbreweries in each and a range of local drinks!
• We'll then grab dinner at the KITC number one restaurant! Try out famous Pyongyang cold noodles (Raengmyeon) or the traditional Korean rice dish of Bibimbap
• Now, it's match day! HA'WAY THE REDS! North Korea's April 25th F.C will be taking on Taiwan's Hang Yuen F.C at the Rungrado May Day Stadium, the largest all seater stadium on Earth, all part of the Asian Champions League competition! (Tickets are 60 euros)
• After the game, it's back to the hotel!

Thursday June 20th

Morning

• A very early start as we've got a lot of ground to cover. Our first stop is the Koryo Museum- An ancient centre of learning at the heart of the ancient Koryo Dynasty. See old Korean artifacts, clothing, coinage and weaponry!
• Outside of the museum sits the Korea stamp stop! Stock up on your stamps, postcards, posters and other memorabilia here!
• Now it's time for the DMZ. First, we'll stop the Panmunjom Gift shop, where you will have another chance to buy hand painted propaganda posters and other assortments
• Our soldier guide, a real KPA officer, will then lead us into the DMZ. He will show us around Panmunjom village where the Armistice talks were held, as well as the signed document itself!
• Next he will take us through to the Joint Security Area, where North Korean, South Korean and American soldiers famously stand face off! Now, it is becoming a centre of peace and subsequently, relaxed in contrast to pass times. There may be an opportunity to cross over into the South Korean side and see the tree planted by Kim Jong-un and President Moon Jae-in last April (we cannot enter South Korea proper

Afternoon

• Lunch at the Tongil Restaurant in Kaesong- try our traditional Korean Pansangi- a series of assorted dishes served in bronze bowls. (Optional extras- If you're feeling daring, there is Dog Soup at 5 euro! Or, you can even buy a share a ginseng chicken, apparently it's good for health
• We'll srop by Sariwon City (Capital of North Hwanghae province) to walk in the historic folklore park. We'll also have the chance to view the city from the mountaintop pagoda.
• Re-entering Pyongyang, we will stop at the  the Monument to the Three Charters of National Reunification, otherwise known as "the Arch of Reunification"- longing for the day Korea is reunified
• Dinner at a local restaurant

Friday 21st June

Morning

• We'll start the day with a refreshing walk along Pyongyang's Taedonggang River and check out the landmarks on the way
• Afterwards- it's time to Visit North Korea's International Football School. Here, children from ages 7 to 17 train to be footballers! VNK is commencing a project here of donating Sunderland AFC football shirts to the school. We will meet with the students and get to know them!"
• Next up is Kim Il Sung Square, the famous city square in Pyongyang that is frequently seen as the site of parades. We'll go for a walk here, and head down to the street to the Foreign Language Bookshop – here you can buy local literature, newspapers, badges, flags and all kinds of souvenirs!
• Now for Juche Tower- This stone column monument is the tallest of its kind in the world. It represents the eternally burning flame of the Juche ideology (Optional extra 5 euro to go to the top and see a panaromic view of all Pyongyang!

Afternoon

• Lunch at the unique New Stamp Restaurant
• Now, it's time for a match! You've seen them play, now if you wish it's your turn! Play against North Koreans and get stuck into a five aside game!
• After lunch, we'll visit Pyongyang's famous shooting range. Can you hit the targets and win a prize? Put your marksmanship to the test!
• Fancy some shopping after? We'll next be going to the Kwangbok department store, Pyongyang's largest and most popular supermarket. It is home to exclusive North Korean brands, where you can use real local korean won currency!
• Time for another trip to the bar! Check out the Rakwon beer bar!
• Dinner at the National Restaurant
• If you wish, we can round the night off at a local funfare! Visit the Kaseon amusement park and try out the rides!
• (entry 2 euros, rides 3 to 5 euros extra each depending on how awesome they are).
• Back to the hotel!

Saturday 22nd June

Morning

• It's time to depart! Those taking the train will arrive at Pyongyang railway station for the 10:25am train to Dandong! Relax and get lunch on the train! Those taking Air Koryo will fly out at 8.50am to arrive at Beijing for 9.50am!

Afternoon

• After DPRK exit customs, we'll arrive back in Dandong and then get the overnight train back to Beijing.

Sunday 23rd June

• The train will arrive at Beijing for 9am, where we will part ways!

No details found.

No details found.