North Korea . . .

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Country information

Train operator in North Korea:

State Railways

Ferry operators to North Korea:

Time:

GMT+9 all year.

Currency:

£1 = approx 280 North Korea won  -   Currency converter

Tourist information:

Page last updated:

17 November 2008.

Above:  The Moscow-Pyongyang through sleeping-car attached to the Moscow-Beijing 'Vostok'  Photo courtesy of Roger Kidley

Visiting North Korea...

Visas are not normally granted to foreign independent travellers to North Korea, only to visitors on an organised tour with a guide.  Several companies can arrange visits to North Korea.  Try Regent Holidays (in the UK) at www.regent-holidays.co.uk who can arrange group or individual tours to North Korea, including booking the Beijing-Pyongyang and Moscow-Pyongyang trains.  Also try Koryo Tours (Beijing-based) at www.koryogroup.com  or VNC Travel (in the Netherlands) www.vnc.nl.  Each of these companies can book the Beijing-Pyongyang sleeper train.  Although talks are progressing, there are no trains (nor any access) across the border between North and South Korea.

Moscow - North Korea

Moscow ▶ Pyongyang				Pyongyang ▶ Moscow
Moscow (Yaroslavski)	depart	23:53 Fridays		Pyongyang	depart	10:10 Saturdays
Pyongyang	arrive	19:30 next Friday		Moscow (Yaroslavski)	arrive	17:59 next Friday

This train consists of several through sleeping-cars from Moscow to Pyongyang in North Korea, attached to the weekly Moscow-Beijing Trans-Manchurian train for most of the way.  There are 1st class 2-berth and 2nd class 4-berth compartments.  A restaurant car is also available.  You'll need both Russian, Chinese and North Korean visas, as the train travels the Trans-Siberian Railway via Ekaterinburg, Irkutsk, Ulan Ude in Russia then the Trans-Manchurian line via Harbin in China.  You can see a timetable of this train from Moscow as far as Harbin on the Trans-Siberian timetable page.  Russian/Chinese border points are Zabaikalsk & Manzhouli.  The point of entry into North Korea is Sinuiji (on the same day you arrive/depart Pyongyang).  Note that this route is approved for foreigners - there's another weekly through sleeping-car between Moscow & Pyongyang attached to the Moscow-Vladivostok 'Rossiya' for most of its journey, which crosses directly from Russia into North Korea, but this is not normally an approved route for foreigners.

Beijing - North Korea

Beijing ▶ Pyongyang				Pyongyang ▶ Beijing
Beijing	depart	17:25 Mon, Wed, Thur, Sat		Pyongyang	depart	10:10 Mon, Wed, Thur, Sat
Pyongyang	arrive	19:30 next day		Beijing	arrive	09:23 next day

The train has soft & hard class sleepers & restaurant car.

Above:  Pyongyang station. Photo courtesy of Roger Kidley

Traveller's report...

Traveller David Eerdmans visited North Korea using the Beijing-Pyongyang train: 

"...Using the train is very recommendable, because it gives a unique insight in the poor rural areas of North-Korea that are not otherwise shown to tourists (although the villages along the railway are probably still among the best there are in the country). You also pass the site of the large train explosion two years ago, which is still very visible.  The train usually consists of two through cars attached to respectively a Chinese and Korean train on both sides of the border (and on some days also a part from Moscow). The train is pretty comfortable and very comparable to the usual trains in China and Russia, although it's state was somewhat less. Track quality is horrible in North-Korea, with the train travelling very slowly.  Stations are in a very poor state of repair (and of course always spot a portrait of the Great or the Dear Leaders...sigh...). Delays are very frequent due to power outages.  There are, as you state, indeed two classes.  Both are pretty similar and consist of 4-person compartments.  From Pyongyang, western tourists are only allowed on the Soft Sleeper, which is only used by foreigners (mostly Chinese). From Beijing, you can also use the Hard Sleeper, which is also used by North-Koreans ...which creates about the only opportunity to speak with 'normal' North-Koreans without having a guide with you. On the way back from Pyongyang I also had an interesting conversation, because I shared the compartment with the Indian ambassador in North-Korea..!  The through cars are fenced off from the rest of the train (!), so you can't use the restaurant car [although other reports say that they have managed to do so!].  In Korea, however, a meal can be brought to you by the car attendant [Note:  Regent Holidays report that meals in the restaurant car are included in the fare].  The quality of the food is pretty good considering the food shortages in the country.  Do expect dog meat however, which is actually quite tasty.  The border crossing is very slow, but not the pain I expected it to be.  The border officials are usually not too friendly, but not rude or intimidating.

North Korea - South Korea trains...

Although there have been talks, proposals an test runs, there is currently no service between North & South Korea, and the border remains closed.

Train, bus and ferry times for every country in Africa, Asia, America and Australasia are shown in the famous Thomas Cook Overseas Timetable, published every two months.  It's essential for every serious overland traveller, and an inspiration for armchair travellers..!

It costs around £13.50 from the bureau de change section of any branch of Thomas Cook, or you can order online at www.thomascooktimetables.com.

Get an online quote from both Direct Line & Columbus Direct...

Travel insurance is a boring subject, but it's a real necessity, so make sure you budget for it.  Make sure the cover is adequate - for example, at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover, from a reliable insurer.  Remember that an annual multi-trip policy is often cheaper than several single-trip policies even for just two or three trips a year.  Here are some suggested insurers.  Seat61 gets a small commission if you buy after clicking these links.

  If you're a UK resident, try Direct Line whom I've used myself on many occasions, or Columbus Direct.

      If you're resident in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland or the EU, try Columbus Direct Australia.

  If you're resident in the USA or Canada, try Travel Guard USA.

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