North Korea Travel Tips
1.Passport and VisaYou need to carry your passport (Visa) and air tickets always in North Korea. Just a kind reminder: you need six months validity on your passport.
2.Hotels in Pyongyang
Basically you will be arranged to stay in Yanggakdo Hotel or Taedong Hotel. They are both the appointed hotels for foreign visitors by the North Korean government, two of the nice hotels with good facilities. Kindly reimind you that most of the hotels have no toiletries and you'd better bring your own personal care. In addition, as a power shortage country, there sometimes happen blackouts in North Korea, so your understanding is much appreciated.
3.Sightseeing in North Korea
Sightseeing in North Korea is uniformly charged in a comprehensive travel package. Entrance tickets are not refundable for individuals no show. North Korea's highway facilities are sometimes under renovation, so you may encounter road repair or renovation. In this case, the local travel agency will adjust your travel route or shedule. No refund or extra payment for a changed itinerary, which is not an act of breaking tourism contract according to north Korea's law.
4.Food on Your Tour
North Korea has a unqiue habit of eating cool food. Naturally, sometimes your food served will be cool. In this case, we suggest you can bring some snacks ( instant noodles or bread ). If you need extra dish and food for your meals, you need to inform your tour guide one day in advance. You can carry food, alcohol and tobacco, but you need to be checked.
5.Tourist Van or Bus
North Korea's tourist buses are all used vehicles that are classified into 2 categories: one from Japan, South Korea, Russia and two from others countries. Normally all the tourist vehicles have been used more than 10 years, but their maintenance is relatively good, clean and comfortable. There are also buses made in China. You cannot request any type of tourist vehicles and all are arranged by the local tourism department.
6.About Currency
According to Chinese customs regulation, tourists at each entry or exit can take RMB 20000 and US $5000. More than this amount, you need to be declared at customs. RMB, dollars and euros can be used directly in North Korea. Note: it is convenient to bring some cash of small notes on hand.
7.Mobile Phone and Long-distance Call
You should abide by the regulation of the North Korea's customs：you can carry your mobile phones into North Korea, but you cannot use them. If you need to use your mobile phone, the phone call is extremely expensive. It is not recommended to buy sim cards. You are able to make long distance phone call in your hotel after paying need the deposit.
8.Computer and Internet
You can bing your computer, but you don't have any access to internet. No wirelss internet (If found, the consequence is very serious). In North Korea, you are alway offline.
9.Political Matters
Don't comment on the economic, political matters about North Korea and leaders of North Korea.
10. Type of Camera and taking Picures
You are allowed to carry compact digital cameras or video camera, but you are prohibited to carry professional cameras and a camera with a long focal length and powerful telescope. You are only permitted to take pictures without the permission of your tour guide.
11.About Tips
In North Korea, the basic tipping standard is between 5 and 8 Euros a day. Tipping fee is often included in your tour package.
12.Extra Expenses for Added Activities
In North Korea, you are not foreced to take part in or pay for other activities or sights excluded in your finalised travel plan, but during the period of Arirang mass performances ( July to September every year ), everybody must take part in the mass performances at the entrance fee of RMB 800/pax. Some other formal activity excluded in your travel plan includes the presenting of a bouquet to the bronze statue of President Kim II-sung at Mansu Hill (about 15 Euro/ bunch ).
13. Public Security in North Korea
Generally speaking, North Korea's public security is very good, but still you need to take care of your personal belongings.
14. North Korea's Standard Time
North Korea standard time is UTC + 9, one hour ahead of Beijing Time.
15. Dressing Code
Don't comment on the clothes local people wear walking on streets or the figures in pictures. You are not allowed to wears too-revealing clothes.
16. School Visit
If you are going for a school visit, you are kindly reminded that you cannot visit a school in the period between July and September each year simply becuase most students have summer vacations and take part in the arirang mass cultural and artistic performance.
Questions & Answers:
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