TREKKING EXPEDITIONS IN NORTH KOREA AUGUST 16 to 28 (PDF) .pdf

PAEKTUSAN HIGHLAND TREKKING EXPEDITIONS IN
NORTH KOREA AUGUST 16 to 28, 2018
HIKEKOREA has a unique opportunity to conduct for the first time in history, overland
trekking expeditions of the Paektu Highlands in the northern province of Raynggangdo, in NORTH KOREA. I have been photographing mountains of the Baekdu Daegan
all over North Korea since 2011, and now as a result of that work, have been granted
the trust to lead backpacking expeditions. This inaugural trek will be conducted for
5N/6D inside a 9N/10D and a 12N/13D visit, from August 16 to 28, 2018.

Paektu Highlands
The pristine and untouched Paektu-san
highlands are part of an exclusive
preservation zone at the foot of Korea's
highest and most sacred mountain,
Paektu-san 2750m. The expedition will
cover Paektu-san peak itself, with a
descent into the caldera of Chonji lake,
before ascending out and then down into
the highland forests and volcanic soils of
the plateau. These pristine and mysterious
Larch forest regions are full of wildflowers,
species of deer, bear, and some say tiger
and leopard. The expedition will follow old
foot trails used by the Korean people over
the centuries, including the partisan antiJapanese independence fighters of the
early 20th century.

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The Expedition will see us camp out at the same locations used by Korea's partisan
fighters, known now as secret camps, which are preserved as historic sites. We will
pitch our tents at these sites each night as we move through the plateau. Food will be
delivered to us there, which we will cook as a group, followed by a night of songs
around the open flames of a campfire with the staff that maintain these sites.
Travel to the northern province from Pyongyang will be via a scheduled flight, but
there is also a possibility in the near future to travel by a new train service. This
expedition can be run in two itineraries. Option 1 is a trek only, option 2 is a trek and
sightseeing tour.
This will be one very remarkable journey in an untrodden zone of one of the last
untouched pieces of nature in the world. If this sounds like something you'd like to do,
then please email Roger Shepherd at roger@hikekorea.com for more information.
More images of the Paektu Highlands region can
be seen at my Flickr account, or my Facebook
Page at https://www.facebook.com/koreahike/
Roger Shepherd is a New Zealand citizen
residing near Jiri Mountain in South Korea. He
runs HIKEKOREA, a mountain guiding company,
and is an exhibited photographer, and published
writer. His work is themed on using mountains as
a symbol of Korean identity, in particular Korea’s
Baekdu Daegan Mountain Spine which runs the
length of the Korean Peninsula. His work, photo
art books and exhibitions are recognized in both
North & South Korea. He is proponent of peaceful reconciliation for Korea.

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Option 1(9N/10D): TREKKING ONLY PACKAGE! 10 to 15 Pax only.
Per Person Cost: 2900€ includes return airfare from Beijing to Pyongyang, all internal
and transportation costs including meals. It does not include costs in Beijing, visa, and
personal costs like gifts and drinks. Expeditioners are required to bring and carry their
own equipment, come rain, hail, or shine.
August 16 (Thu)
August 17 (Fri)

August 18 to 23

August 24 (Fri)
August 25 (Sat)

Depart Beijing 14.05 on Koryo Air JS252Y. Arrival in
Pyongyang 16.35. Stay at Yanggakdo Hotel.
Depart Pyongyang 12.00 by air. Arrival in Samji-yon 13.30.
Paektu Museum tour, check into Paegae-bong Hotel, prepare
equipment for trekking in the afternoon. Course briefing after
dinner.
5N/6D of trekking and camping in Paektu Highlands, including
the ascent of Paektu-san 2750m, a descent into Chonji lake,
and then following the historic partisan route through the
mountains and forests of the plateau, sleeping out at the
manned secret camps, cooking local foods. There’s a
possibility that we can stay out on the 23rd and return to Samjiyon on the 24th, board the aircraft and fly to Pyongyang, where
we can shower and wind down there.
Depart Samji-yon 15.30 by air. Arrival in Pyongyang 17.00.
Stay at Yanggakdo Hotel.
Depart Pyongyang 08.30 on Koryo Air JS151. Arrival in Beijing
09.55.

Option 2 (12N/13D): TREKKING and PYONGYANG, PANMUNJOM,
MYOHYANG-SAN 10 to 15 Pax only.
Per Person cost: 3150€ includes return airfare from Beijing to Pyongyang, all internal
and transportation costs including meals. It does not include costs in Beijing, visa, and
personal costs like gifts and drinks. Expeditioners are required to bring and carry their
own equipment, come rain, hail, or shine.
August 16 (Thu)
August 17 (Fri)

Depart Beijing 14.05 on Koryo Air JS252Y. Arrival in
Pyongyang 16.35. Stay at Yanggakdo Hotel.
Depart Pyongyang 12.00 by air. Arrival in Samji-yon 13.30.
Paektu Museum tour, check into Paegae-bong Hotel, prepare
equipment for trekking in the afternoon.

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August 18 to 23

August 24 (Fri)
August 25-27

August 28 (Tue)

5N/6D of trekking and camping in Paektu Highlands, including
the ascent of Paektu-san 2750m, a descent into Chonji lake,
and then following the historic partisan route through the
mountains and forests of the plateau, sleeping out at the
manned secret camps, cooking local foods. There’s a
possibility that we can stay out on the 23rd and return to Samjiyon on the 24th, board the aircraft and fly to Pyongyang, where
we can shower and wind down there.
Depart Samji-yon 15.30 by air. Arrival in Pyongyang 17.00.
Stay at Yanggakdo Hotel.
These three days will be spent sightseeing in Pyongyang, a
day visit to Kaeseong city and the DMZ at Panmunjom, and a
one day visit to the sacred peak of Myohyang-san. All to
alterable and to be confirmed.
Depart Pyongyang 08.30 on Koryo Air JS151. Arrival in Beijing
09.55

2018©RogerShepherd, HIKEKOREA www.hikekorea.com

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