NORTH KOREA TRAVEL AGENCIES

To visit the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), you must join an officially approved tour group. This always involves one hosting partner from North Korea, typically a state-run travel company, and usually a foreign travel agency that arranges your trip from abroad. Independent travel is not allowed, and all visitors are accompanied by government-assigned guides throughout their stay.

A number of domestic and international travel agencies have operated in this space. Inside North Korea, the Korean International Travel Company is the main operator, handling most tours. Other domestic companies include Korea International Youth Travel Company and Korea Pektusan Travel Company, each offering slightly different focuses depending on the tour’s theme or audience.

Generally speaking, though, foreign guests tend not to book directly through Pyongyang based North Korean travel agencies, but rather through one of the many international or national travel North Korean travel agencies that arrange tours to the country. Major players on the international circuit include Koryo Tours and Young Pioneer Tours . There are, though, a number of other agencies of varying size, importance, and indeed quality.

Aside from regular agencies, there are others that take a more specialized approach to bringing visitors to the country. These range from those encouraging people-to-people exchanges, such as Visit The DPRK, to the ardent communists of the Korean Friendship Association. Throughout all these spheres, there are also a number that have come and gone over the years.

This guide provides an overview of the North Korean Travel Agencies, past and present, that have made travel to North Korea possible, despite international restrictions and the many difficulties associated with visiting the DPRK.