Korean Job Discussion Forums

[lorenchristopher]

So I'm finally giving in, I want to take a tour in N. Korea.....but I don't want to do a day trip to see a mountain and a fake hotel resort near the border. I want to see Pyeongyang, the mass games, and spend more than a day there.

It's the first week of August and tour prices are around $1,500 for a week trip, but that DOESN'T include the flight to Beijing which is the point of departure. It does, however, include the flight to N. Korea and all food and accommodation, etc.

Questions:
Has anyone done the mass games trip? Recommendations/advice?

Is anyone interested in going with me? If we go together we are more likely to get an English speaking guide and can share a room and hang out with each other. Most of my friends are Koreans so they can't go, haha.

[lorenchristopher]

Also, I am 99% sure that a thread like this has been posted before, but the search engine isn't working, and the other optional eslcafe search site gave me no decent results. So I apologize for the repeating thread.

[ThingsComeAround]

I'm dying to go.

But, the price is a major turn-off. $1,500 for some dudes to tell me where to go, what I can & can't take pictures of, and eating sh!tty food?

[tealeeds1]

this is high on my list of stuff to do in korea - i would love to go.

even with the restrictions and military guides telling where to look and so on, if those werent there then it wouldnt be north korea, its just part of the whole experience imho.

$1500 isnt too bad for flights and full board for 7 days, not cheap, but not unaffordable.

[lorenchristopher]

Well yeah, the trip is expensive....but then again it is truly a unique opportunity. If you are an int'l relations dork like me then the price is well worth it.

[northway]

Do they grant visas to Americans to go? I've heard that it's really difficult to get one.

[Caffeinated]

This is on my list of things to see as well.

Here's some previous threads.

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=175722

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=185008

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=131150

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=50498

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=161738

[ThingsComeAround]

[lorenchristopher]

[northway]

[samd]

I'm planning a trip in April. I'll let you know how it goes. If it's fun, I might even join you again in August for the Mass Games.

[lorenchristopher]

@Caffeinated: Thanks for those links, I've bookmarked them and will read them later.

@Samd: Yes, please do let me know how your trip is....and if you want to join in August for the mass games (although I will probably buy my ticket next month or in March). What tour company are you going with? Are you just doing a day trip or longer?

[tealeeds1]

[samd]

At forst I was going to go with http://www.explorenorthkorea.com/the-signature-tour---4-days-from-dandong.html because I like trains, and I've always wanted to check out Dandong, but then a friend of mine who lives in HK wanted to join me, and with limited time-off would prefer to fly in and out of Beijing, which is understandable, so we'll probably go with Koryo Tours due to their good reputation.

On a side note, I just tried to go to the Koryo Tours website which is now blocked! I checked it out last week so it must be recent - very annoying and I hope it doesn't prevent me from booking.

[northway]