Visit North Korea

Gun bae! Glad you’re thinking about joining us in North Korea!

You probably have some questions. Let’s answer them…

Um… why?

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) is a country trapped in time. It’s off the grid, outside of the system: “a small planet,” in the words of one author. It’s strange, it’s beautiful, it’s tragic, it’s funny — there’s really no place like it. It’s live-action 1984, with a Confucian twist. There’s a reason we go back there every year.

Pyongyang settles into dusk.

Meanwhile, the world’s dictatorships are disappearing. There are (thankfully) fewer and fewer pockets of Big Brother — we’re talking about real, gritty, throwback socialism — and only one Orwellian regime in existence. North Korea is the last totalitarian spectacle, and the only remaining front in the Cold War. Historically, this is a fascinating moment to visit.

Then there’s the seclusion. And the immersion. Without a cell phone (which we can’t bring into the country), with new friends (many of whom are our readers, so you’re part of the family), and on an organized tour (which makes everything safe and easy), we’ll have an opportunity to disconnect from our worlds and reconnect with ourselves as we explore the country.

And then there’s that high you can only get by being somewhere you’re not supposed to be. It’s insane.

That’s a little weird.

Right? Glad you’re with us on this.

What sort of misfits go to North Korea?

Awesome ones. We help dozens of people arrange their trips, including you. That’s the idea: We want this to be a lifelong memory and the beginning of new friendships. No place to bond with interesting new friends than the world’s most secretive place!

Will I be Laura Ling-ing it, or is this legit?

This trip is totally safe and completely legal. We are permitted to visit the DPRK, and the country is safe for tourists. We have a great relationship with our travel sponsor, which in turn has an excellent relationship with the government travel agency. They arrange your visas and all of your logistics. No backpacking over the border for us — we fly through Beijing and do it right.

Fine. But what am I going to do?

Trips to the DPRK usually devolve into propaganda tours — basically, an opportunity for the government to tell you the ‘real’ story of North Korea. Which is fine, and frankly very entertaining.

But as you can tell, we want to know the place. Which means we like to get off the beaten path and really see the country. So we help you design an unusual itinerary.

There are several trips you can choose from — you have some flexibility in the timing, duration and itinerary. Most trips we arrange last around seven days and include the basics: major monuments, museums, performances, etc. But we also help you plan activities like a bike ride in the countryside (amazing), a frisbee tournament with local Koreans (no joke), spelunking in a cave by the China border (stunning), and a visit to the ocean (which might include a swim in the bay and some totalitarian oysters). These places only recently opened up to foreigners, so it’s all new territory.

Each trip is different, and different parts of the country are open at different times, so your itinerary will depend on when you decide to visit. But in general, these are the kinds of interesting experiences we want you to enjoy. In other words, the realest North Korea you can possibly experience without actually living there. And no one wants that, right? (Right?)

What does a trip to the DPRK cost?

Prices depend on duration, timing and itinerary. To give you a sense, a week-long trip will average between $1,500 and $2,000. That’s a general benchmark and not a quote — yours could be a bit higher or a bit lower, depending on what you’d like to do in the country. The price includes everything: a round-trip ticket from Beijing to Pyongyang, all meals, all hotels, and all transportation. Our partners take care of everything for you. The only expenses you’ll incur in the country are things like tips, beer, and admission to the fun fair (all of which are embarrassingly cheap).

Our travel group from the summer 2012 tour.

OK, I’m intrigued! What’s next?

Just tell us who you are and when you’d like to visit. Once you fill out the form below, we’ll reach out to you with our travel partners and give you the special North Korea Blog treatment.

Take me to the travel form »

Finally…

We are thrilled that you are interested in visiting the DPRK. It would be a privilege to help you arrange your trip. This really is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and one you’ll remember forever. We are amped to be a part of it.

A group from 2012 riding a pirate ship with local Koreans at the Pyongyang Fun Fair.

And in the meantime, play around on the site and get to know the place. We recommend starting with the pictures – they are so great — and reading through our posts. You’ll notice that some are funny, some sad, some damning, some endearing. That’s North Korea for you. You’ll understand soon!

Now get excited…

Gabriel and Jordan

The North Korea Blog Team

Still thinking about it? No worries!

If you fill out the form below, we can keep you updated on future trips, and you can join a tour whenever you’d like.

In the meantime, feel free to reach out to us directly with any questions about the trips. We’re here to help!

Take me to the travel form »