North Korea Travel

There probably isn't a country more shrouded in mystery than the 122,000 square kilometers of North Korea, as independent tourism isn't allowed. If you want to see it, you got to have a guide with you at all times. They even arrange your restaurant visits.

Western cuisine hasn't caught on here in North Korea, you'll find Chinese, Japanese, and Korean dishes to eat. Avoid dairy products, using bottled or boiled water to drink or brush your teeth.

A big no-no in North Korea is any kind of political talk, and the country itself is quite formal.It's best to keep a low profile when you're here.

That being said, a trip to North Korea is unlike anywhere else on Earth. You'll fall in love with the ancient buildings of Kaesong, and the Exotic Frangrant Mountain, called Myohyangsan, is filled with Buddhist Pagodas, and where you'll find doors made of 4-tons of Bronze at the Exhibition Center.

The capital city of Pyongyang is full of marble buildings, and where you can visit the Palace of Cutlure and the Arch of Triumph. A simple thatched cottage lies as a museum to one of North Korea's most famous leader.

A licensed guide will arrange your nightlife, which mostly consists of operas and musical events. Other than that, you won't find nightclubs or bars in the traditional sense.

Getting around North Korea is all done through your guide, too. Security checkpoints are common outside Pyongyang, but there is no driving if you're not from here. Rail tickets will get you around, with tickets having to be purchased locally. There are a few domestic airports, however, you must be North Korean to use them.

North Korea doesn't make it easy to sightsee around, a few inconveniences and regulations are worth it to see places like the Diamond Mountains, or all the local flora & fauna in Kumgangsan, the largest national park in the country.

Just have your passport, return ticket, and visa all in order. The hardest part about it all is deciding which of North Korea's four seasons you want to see. Keep in mind it can get quite cold in the northern region during the winter, while summer can get wet & hot; making Spring and Autumn the most mild of all North Korea's seasons.

Hmm, you might not have political discussions in North Korea--so best to stick to the weather, huh?