Marathon Tour from Shenyang | Pyongyang Marathon

Tour Dates: April 13 - 17

Pre-Tour Meeting: April 13 at Shenyang Airport

Tour Cost: from 1,245 Euros

Visa Fee: 60 Euros

Cost includes return flights from Shenyang - Pyongyang

Tour Open for Applications

Run the marathon, visit the DMZ and tour Pyongyang all from Shenyang

This 4-night Pyongyang Marathon tour from Shenyang will give you an amazing, well rounded experience of North Korea starting with running alongside local Korean athletes in the marathon as you power through streets lined with Koreans cheering you on.

We will then take you on a comprehensive city tour throughout Pyongyang, including the Pyongyang Metro, the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum featuring the captured spy ship the USS Pueblo, and you will get to shop with the locals at Kwangbok Supermarket where you will have the chance to use local currency.

You will also get you down to historic Kaesong near the border with South Korea to visit Panmunjom and experience the DMZ.

Shenyang in North East China is a great jump off point to North Korea as it has a range of international flights connecting it to Germany, North America and many cities throughout Asia giving you many options with which to get there. Shenyang even offers its own 144-hour visa free transit program for over 50 nationalities making it all the more appealing and convenient.

TOUR ITINERARY

Pre-Tour Briefing

All marathon tour participants are required to attend a pre-tour briefing that covers regulations, etiquette, safety, and practicalities for travel in North Korea. The briefing lasts approximately one hour followed by a question and answer session. Please be punctual for the briefing. You can come early, meet your fellow travelers and pay your remaining fees. A proper briefing is an essential part of travel to North Korea.

Please pay close attention to the date and times of briefings in the itinerary below.

Sat 13 Apr

Sun 14 Apr

Mon 15 Apr

Tues 16 Apr

Wed 17 Apr

Sat 13 Apr

Briefing and arrival into Pyongyang

Meet your tour leader and fellow travelers at Shenyang Taoxian Airport (SHE) at the Air Koryo check-in desk in Terminal 3 @ 11:00am for a pre-tour briefing and check-in.
Flight departure from Shenyang on Air Koryo flight JS156 at 2:00pm. A 1-hour flight with basic lunch.
Arrival to Pyongyang's Sunan International Airport (FNJ). DPRK immigration and customs, meet your Korean guides and transfer to the city.
Arch of Triumph | A massive archway made for the 70th anniversary of the birth of President Kim Il Sung in 1982 and commemorating the liberation of Korea from Japanese colonial rule in 1945. Larger than its counterpart in Paris.
Kim Il Sung Stadium & Marathon Route Preview | Visit the stadium where you will start and finish your race, and then drive the marathon route to familiarise yourself with the roads, turning points and toilet stops
Check into the Yanggakdo International Hotel, Pyongyang - home away from home for most (but not all!) foreign visitors to Pyongyang, this 47-story hotel is located on an island in the middle of the Taedong River and offers great views of the city. Comfortable rooms and comprehensive leisure facilities: swimming pool, spa, billiards, bowling, gift shops, tea houses and beer brewed on-site.
Optional screening of Run and Run, a DPRK film about marathon runner Yong Ho who faces the physical and mental struggles of marathon participation. After both his father and work unit manager tell him to stop running, he becomes more determined to achieve his marathon dream. The film will be shown at the Pyongyang International House of Cinema (80 RMB entry fee paid on the spot). A Koryo Tours exclusive and sure to provide you with motivation ahead of the big event.

Sun 14 Apr

The big event! The Pyongyang Marathon 2024!

The 2024 Pyongyang Marathon | This is your chance to run the streets of Pyongyang in the DPRK’s largest annual sports event! Join the Full Marathon, Half Marathon, 10km or 5km race — all of which follow a return course that starts and ends in Kim Il Sung Stadium in front of a 50-000-strong capacity crowd of local Koreans. The full route, which has been certified by both the IAAF and AIMS, leads right through the city centre, past a number of iconic landmarks, and then out into Pyongyang's less urban districts. Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to see more of the capital and interact with people along the course.
Shower, resting time and lunch | After the marathon's closing ceremony, we'll be heading back to the hotel to recharge, shower and rest before heading out for a relaxing afternoon in Pyongyang.
Kim Il Sung Square | Pyongyang’s central square lined with government ministries, museums, and The Grand People’s Study House.
Foreign Languages Bookshop | Store selling Korean publications translated into English, German, French, Russian, Chinese, and Spanish. Also pick up DVDs, postcards, and small works of art.
Kwangbok Department Store | Opportunity to use Korean currency and shop with the citizens of Pyongyang! Try the snack stand on the first floor for some of Pyongyang’s best local eats.
Local Beer Bar | Relax at one of Pyongyang’s local bars to wrap up an exciting day.
Pyongyang Marathon Banquet | Dinner tonight will be at the annual Pyongyang Marathon Banquet. Celebrate your run and toast the marathon with your fellow runners, guides and local event organisers. A casual affair, no dress code requirements.

Overnight | Yanggakdo International Hotel, Pyongyang.

Mon 15 Apr

Pyongyang City Tour

National Gift Exhibition Hall | One of North Korea’s two gift exhibition halls, this one houses all of the gifts given to North Korea’s leaders from Koreans in North Korea, South Korea and from all over the Korean Diaspora, including items gifted by many well known Koreans.
Mangyongdae Native House | Birthplace and childhood home of President Kim Il Sung. A traditional Korean house in what is today a quiet suburban park.
Pyongyang Metro Tour | One of the deepest metro systems in the world with stunning artwork reflecting the name of each station. Ride six stations on the Chollima Line.
Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum | Tour this world-class museum led by a local museum guide. Renovated in 2012 and it exhibits the Korean War from the DPRK perspective containing artefacts, documents, photos, and lifelike dioramas. The exterior grounds house the War Victory Monument and displays of Korean People’s Army Hero Equipment and captured equipment from the US military, including the USS Pueblo. Central to the understanding of the country today and highlight of the trip.
Mansudae Fountain Park | The historic centre of Pyongyang popular with local citizens after school and on weekends. Flanked by examples of ancient and modern architecture from different eras.
Mansudae Grand Monument | Enormous bronze statues of President Kim Il Sung and Leader Kim Jong Il overlooking downtown Pyongyang. A presentation of flowers and bow by the group is customary here (5 EUR). Please note this is a government-administered sight and visits are subject to cancellation. Visits are optional and require a certain dress code (close-toed shoes and covered legs and shoulders).
Chollima Monument | or ‘thousand ri (400 km or 250 mile) horse’ -a symbol of speed- commemorating the quick rebuilding of the country in the 1950s following the Korean War.
Tower of the Juche Idea | Iconic tower dedicated to the DPRK’s guiding philosophy on the Taedong River. Take the elevator to the top for great views of the city (elevator ticket is 5 EUR).
Party Foundation Monument | Iconic structure featuring the hammer, sickle & writing brush which make up the emblem of the Worker’s Party of Korea and represent workers, farmers, and intellectuals.
Golden Lane Bowling Centre | Where Pyongyang locals go for their ten-pin fix (2.5 EUR per person per game). Also has billiards and arcade games. Non-bowlers can head next door to the Kumrung Leisure Centre for an airgun shooting range (approximately 6 EUR per 20 round cartridge) and some of the best coffee in Pyongyang.

Overnight | Yanggakdo International Hotel, Pyongyang.

Tues 16 Apr

Historic Kaesong and the DMZ Tour

Drive 160 km south the 'Reunification Highway' to Kaesong, the historic capital of the Koryo Dynasty (918-1392) and today located near the Korean Demilitarized Zone. A 3-hour drive.
Panmunjom Armistice Village and DMZ | The site of the signing of the 1953 armistice that ended the Korean War and the demarcation line between north and south. On some days it is possible to visit the hut straddling the line, where negotiations between both sides once took place. Here we will be accompanied by military guides from the Korean People's Army.
Kaesong Koryo Museum | Once the Songgyung Academy, a Confucian school, and now a museum on the Koryo Dynasty exhibiting historical objects, statues, pagodas, and porcelain from that era. A UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Kaesong Korean Stamp Exhibition Hall | Store selling stamps, postcards, local ginseng, souvenirs, art, and more! One of the best postcard collections in the country and friendly staff.
Traditional Royal Korean Lunch (pangsanggi) | A meal made of 12 dishes served in brass bowls fit for the kings of old. The more dishes, the more distinguished the guest! Traditional Korean 'sweet meat soup' is an option here (5 EUR).
Drive back to Pyongyang via Sariwon Folk Village and City View | Mock-up of a traditional Korean town which includes a history museum, food street, and pavilions. There is a small tavern selling Makkoli, traditional rice wine. Climb a nearby hill for a view of Sariwon City and the surrounding plains.
Monument to the Three-Charters of the Reunification | Iconic arch over the Pyongyang-Kaesong Highway dedicated to joint meeting between Koreas, north and south. Also known as the ‘Arch of Reunification’.
Duck Barbecue Restaurant | South Pyongyang’s famous grilled duck restaurant.

Overnight | Yanggakdo International Hotel, Pyongyang.

Wed 17 Apr

Please note that the itinerary may differ slightly to what is above, but your tour leader will do their best to ensure that as much is covered as possible and will also add in extras when there is time such as a visit to a local bar, funfair or impromptu city walk.

Visa Information

We arrange your North Korean visa as part of your tour package [60 EUR]. However, given the tour starts and finishes in China you may also need to arrange a Chinese visa for your trip obtained at a Chinese diplomatic mission abroad. We recommend obtaining at least a double-entry Chinese visa for your trip.

Over 50 nationalities can obtain a visa-waiver for up to 144 hours when in transit through Shenyang Taoxian Airport (SHE) using direct international flights. Most other nationalities can transit for up to 24 hours.

Please be sure to check your visa status for travel through China while planning your trip. We are unable to arrange Chinese visas, but can provide documentation in support of visa applications upon payment of a tour deposit.

TOUR FEE INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING

NOT INCLUDED IN THE TOUR FEE

Marathon registration fees - to be paid in cash (clean USD notes only) before the race in Pyongyang, amounts are 5 km: $50 USD / 10 km: $70 USD / Half Marathon: $100 USD / Full Marathon: $150 USD
North Korean (DPRK) visa 60 EUR
Optional single room supplement of 40 EUR per night
Tips for the Korean guides and driver (approx 40-60 EUR total per tourist)
The lift up the Juche Tower (optional) 5 EUR
Meals include a complimentary beer and water, but you will need to purchase extra drinks if needed
Spending money for souvenirs

PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU WILL BE REDIRECTED TO KORYO TOURS APPLICATION SYSTEM TO COMPLETE YOUR BOOKING

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