| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
ovechkin
Joined: 03 May 2008
|
 Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 11:21 am Post subject: North Korea tours |
 |
|
| what do you guys think about taking a Tour? Has anyone here done it? Do you guys think it's safe? |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Roving_gypsy_gurl
Joined: 29 Nov 2007
|
| Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 5:20 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I've done Geumgangsan and Kaesong.
It's completely safe -- probably the safest trip you can take as you are very out of sight of a local, bilingual guide.
You only see what the government allows and get to photograph less than that, but it's interesting to read between the lines of what they say and to observe and interact with people with so little experience with foreigners. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
cazzy3
Joined: 07 May 2008
Location: kangwon-do
|
| Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 5:26 pm Post subject: |
|
|
i went w/ adventurekorea last feb. and although you are VERY restricted in what you can/can't do, it's worth going w/ some friends just to see parts of n. korea. for me, the most interesting part was the bus ride through the countryside where you can see some of the villages off in the distance.
the hiking and outings they have are a complete waste according to me because i hate hiking w/ hundreds of people queued up and waiting to move. plus, if you go ahead of the group in some places, they call you back to wait because you can't wander off on your own.
the village you stay in is rather nice, but not the real n. korean experience. they even have a family mart!!
it was worth doing and seeing....but definitely only once. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
KimchiExplosion
Joined: 01 Jul 2007
Location: Nowhere near Seoul
|
| Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 5:33 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Are NK tours available to Americans? I've heard mixed reports.
Do they stamp your passport? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
justaguy
Joined: 01 Jan 2008
Location: seoul
|
| Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 7:03 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I've never gone there because I'm sure the North Koreans don't want to see me. So why would I want to see them? They are not exactly inviting people there.
I guess my question is why do you want to see people who don't want to see you? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
victorology
Joined: 10 Sep 2007
|
| Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 7:10 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I went on the Geumgangsan tour. It was a bit expensive since I went during the peak Fall season but I would say it was worth it in a, "I want to visit at least once in my life" way. You're practically in a fenced off tourist resort but you will get to cross the DMZ and go through North Korean "immigration."
As an American, you will probably get a lot of curious looks from the North Koreans you come into contact with. I'm practically fluent in Korean so I chatted with a few of them. One asked, "is life in America difficult?" Pretty interesting. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ovechkin
Joined: 03 May 2008
|
| Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 7:33 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Thanks...what's the cost?? what do you recommend for tour...3 days? 1 day? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
jkelly80
Joined: 13 Jun 2007
Location: you boys like mexico?
|
| Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 7:46 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| justaguy wrote: |
I've never gone there because I'm sure the North Koreans don't want to see me. So why would I want to see them? They are not exactly inviting people there.
I guess my question is why do you want to see people who don't want to see you? |
I need constant validation as well, so I agree with you. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
jkelly80
Joined: 13 Jun 2007
Location: you boys like mexico?
|
| Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 7:47 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| ovechkin wrote: |
| Thanks...what's the cost?? what do you recommend for tour...3 days? 1 day? |
The three day trip w/ adventure korea is 375k won, but it's booked for this june. i'm sure they'll have more in the future though. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ovechkin
Joined: 03 May 2008
|
| Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 7:52 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| ah, so i guess this one is the best tour out there? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
victorology
Joined: 10 Sep 2007
|
| Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 8:03 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Pricing depends on the season you go.
http://www.mtkumgang.com/
There are two tours to North Korea. One is to the mountain. One is to the industrial complex. I've only been to the mountain so I can't say which one I would recommend over the other.
The tour to the industrial complex is a 1 day tour. To the mountain, you can stay there either 1 night or 2 nights. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
jkelly80
Joined: 13 Jun 2007
Location: you boys like mexico?
|
| Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 8:10 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| ovechkin wrote: |
| ah, so i guess this one is the best tour out there? |
I'm doing the mountain tour, with AdventureKorea. We take a bus overnight, leaving from Seoul on Friday, get there Sat morning. Hike on Saturday, get back Sunday. I'm not sure who else organizes them. My co teacher says there's a ferry that goes from Seokcho to Geumgangsan as well, but I don't know how that works. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
spliff
Joined: 19 Jan 2004
Location: Khon Kaen, Thailand
|
| Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 8:14 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| I would not spend any money that will help support the N. Korean junta. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Apple
Joined: 29 May 2007
Location: S. Korea
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
silentwhispers
Joined: 24 Mar 2008
Location: Louisville/Atlanta
|
| Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 7:23 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| victorology wrote: |
| I'm practically fluent in Korean so I chatted with a few of them. One asked, "is life in America difficult?" Pretty interesting. |
How long/how much work does it really take to become nearly fluent in Korean? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
