| Tips for getting around North Korea posted by real travelers and North Korea locals. Map |
 | North Korea Transportation | Tips 1 - 10 of 21 |  |
 Highway traffic on way to
Panmunjom by DSwede
Your tours in P'yongyang will likely include a visit to the city Metro, where you will ride only one section and see the stations on both ends.
Buses for locals are common and relatively cheap (less than $0.05), but you will not be allowed to use these. Taxis must exist, because I saw one at the airport during my five days in DPRK (but there was no driver, only the parked car).
Anywhere that you go will be escorted and coordinated by your guides. You will not even be able to walk the city without escort.
The upside to the transportation in DPRK, is that you will likely have the road all to yourself. Extremely few people can afford cars, even fewer the fuel (we even saw a truck that ran by means of a wood-fired steam engine). Pedestrians and bicycles will be most common all the way to the farthest corners of the country. Theme: Bus
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 Downtown P'yongyang streets by DSwede
Reasons are simple mostly... economics. Only a select few can afford cars, and even fewer can afford fuel. Fuel is the most common concession during negotiations with foreign countries.
However, if you thought there were few cars on the road on most days, Sunday will truly show you the possibilities. It is illegal to drive on Sunday in DPRK, unless you have prior authorization. That means that only the rich and/or influential people will be on the roads on Sunday.
As another point of control over the masses, DPRK institutes a 6-day work week. The one day they have as holiday (Sunday) is limited due to the fact that they cannot freely travel anywhere. Buses are full on these days and times required for a day trip negate most of the options. Theme: Bus
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 Air Kyoro - check out the
fenders on that car!! by DSwede
There is also a train that comes from China, passing through Dandong boarder over the Yalu River.
But you will need an invitation Visa to enter into DPRK. Processing time can be ~1 month or longer. Contact the North Korean travel agency, "KITC" - Korean International Travel Company for details. You will have to spend a day or two in Beijing in order to pick up your Visa at the DPRK Consulate, therefore additional time and two-entry Chinese Visa will be required.
KITC
Jungsong-dong
Central District
Pyongyang
D.P.R. of Korea
Tel: (+850-2) 18111 ext. 8901, 8574, 8283
Tel: (+850-2) 3818859, 3817201, 3817202, 3818901
Fax: (+850-2) 3817607, 3814645
http://www.kitc.or.kr/
Or as most do, since you will enter and tour as a group, go through a foreign agency and let them do the work. There are a few in England, Spain, Germany, etc. that offer packages. But in the USA, there is only one that I know of, Asia Pacific Travel Ltd (http://www.northkorea1on1.com/). Theme: Airplane
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 NK station scene by steaminchinaLeave a Comment Theme: Train
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 by ColmNugent
By minibus driven by one of your three guides. There is no alternative available. You'll be taken on a short ride on the underground in Pyongyang - absolutely amazing - the stations are works of art. If your guides think you can be trusted, they might let you ride on a trolley-bus. Unfortunately, the locals will move to the opposite end of the bus in case one of them should be caught speaking to you. The local kids will wave at you though. Leave a Comment Theme: Train
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After France put Air Koryo on its "Black List" I decided to enter North Korea rather by train than plane. Another advantage in my opinion is that you have the chance to see some more of North Korea without beeing watched too much. But still a lot of North Korean more-or-less-officials are on the train. Please watch your language and do not take too many pictures out of the train.
Trains are leaving Beijing on 5.25pm (Train No. K27) on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. It takes 25 hours for 1349 km, also because the Tracks in North Korea are in very bad shape and the train can not go faster then about 30 km/h...
Very annoying: Custom and Immigration in China and North Korea might take up to 5 hours (!) including a lot of questions, going through your luggage, your purse, your pockets.
Also expect low temperatures in winter (especially for North Korean Trains), bad air (smoking), power breakdown (waiting up to an hour possible) and immigration officers who would like some presents to speed up processes. Cigarettes and Chocolote might be very helpful. Leave a Comment Theme: Train
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The only way to move around from A to B in the country is with you car (provided with guides and driver only) to you.
There are some exeptions, domestic flights are provided most on charter basis, there are some trains you could take, as example from Pyongyang to Myohyang. We used also to take a one station trip with the Subway in Pyongyang, the stations are really art and are great looking... Leave a Comment Theme: Train
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 by swissgabe
Other routes to Macao, Bangkok (Thailand), Sheyang (China) are operated on regular basis. Routes to Seoul (!!! new !!!) and Moscow are operated on a charter basis.
For Domestic Flights you have to contact the North Korean Travel Agency. Mostly the flights are on charter basis and you will have to pay for the whole flight if you like to go anywhere... Leave a Comment Theme: Airplane
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 by WillettsworldLeave a Comment Theme: Bus
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Both the trolleybuses and trams are just like the ones I saw in St Petersburg. The tram system runs for 53km (33 miles) whilst the trolleybus system runs for 150km (93 miles). One thing that I noticed is that waiting passengers seem to face in the opposite direction to where the tram or trolleybus was coming from, which I didn't understand and thought was a bit strange. Also, given the power shortages that happen in the city, they must have plenty of delays. Of course, you're not allowed the opportunity to ride of them. Leave a Comment Theme: Other
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