"North Korea is a must-see for any Western traveler. It is a glimpse into a fascinating culture, and indeed into a society without any other on earth like it today. 

The guides were extraordinarily warm and friendly, and the tour was extremely well organized. I was surprised at how much flexibility I was given in regards to the itinerary, and the sightseeing left me impressed and wanting to see more. The food and accommodations were both excellent, as well.

I was worried about traveling to North Korea as an American, but I never felt unsafe or even uncomfortable. The trip is a great value, as well.

Explore North Korea handles all the arrangements, and their representatives communicate everything very clearly to the clients.  Everything on the trip went according to plan. I will be back for a second visit to North Korea, and I will definitely use Explore North Korea to make the arrangements."

This trip has been very unique and special. Yes North Korea is a very very unique place!
And we didn't exactly knew what to expect, but we where nevertheless surprised at how good the organization was!

We also got to do some extra things and see some extra places during our stay in Pyongyang, and the train trip from/to Dangdong is by itself a must-do because its where you actually see the country and the people without the filter of the regime. 

We managed to get in touch with some local jung people during a stop on the highway, this is something very difficult in North Korea, and we cannot complain about the guides: even if not officially, we where able to  take most of the photos and videos we wanted, provided they did not see us. The guides where nice and chatting with them proved to be a very interesting experience.

Overall, we would recomend this trip over any other, specially over trips getting there by airplane or trips with big groups.

Travelling to the DPRK is an experience like no other, and one that no amount of research can prepare you for.

As a person who has been reading about North Korea for many years, particularly since its unfortunate branding by George Bush, I found that all the research I had done paled into insignificance when compared to the experience of travelling there.

The initial train ride is a real eye opener and really is a fast track introduction to North Korea. Regardless of its age, the train has a very warm, homely feel, and the guides made the ride all the more enjoyable by participating in games like hangman. It was even nice to sit with a few members of the train staff. Even if you speak a few words of Korean, they are still warm and friendly, even if they are a little shy at first.

The landscape is beautiful, particularly Mount Myohang which houses the international friendship exhibition centre. The centre has the feeling of a James Bond or a sci fi movie, a vast maze of rooms, marble flooring and bright lighting.

The Yangakdo hotel is excellent, well presented with some great restaurants, facilities, and ultra fast elevators. Warm and friendly restaurant staff who do their best to cater to you. I was even asked if I would prefer European breakfast, showing that they really will go out their way to please you.

All meals were very filling and you are provided with more than you can eat, and eating in a Pyongyang restaurant was a great experience. It even had the homely feel of some restaurants back home, but you can never forget that you抮e in North Korea.

The trip to the DMZ is a definite high point, and the soldiers are friendly. Just go with an open mind and listen to their take on the Korean War and you抣l have a great time.

Be prepared for plenty of time on the road, which is a wonderful feature. Just sit back and absorb as much of the country as you can. It抯 a unique experience to go along roads with such few traffic and see such beautiful lakes and mountains.

One thing pleasant surprise was been able to load up my camera with photos. The only time my guides restricted photography was on the train. It is always worth asking the guides before photographing, but I found myself asking permission much more than necessary. They are much more liberal than you would assume.

The guides were great. They enjoy talking with you, and my English speaking guide was keen to learn about England, and appreciated my interest in North Korea.

Just go with an open mind and no preconceived notions, as no amount of research can prepare oneself for the experience of North Korea. An incredible tour and warmly recommended.

In spring 2010, I travelled to Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea with Explore North Korea Tour group. Explore North Korea offers comparably cheaper tours to DPRK that cost almost half of what other agencies ask. So it is good worth for your money. 

We spent altogether three days in DPRK where we five westerners travelled with a Chinese tourist group. Travelling with Chinese tourists, we weren't watched or restricted as much as we might have been if we had travelled with a western group. Although travelling with Chinese, you can also have an English speaking guide. We also got to see the "real" North Korean countryside outside Pyongyang or other cities while driving through the country. In three days we saw more places than oI might imagine on any other tour. Transportation, meals, hotel etc. were also excellently arranged. 

Whatever is your reason or justification to travel to DPRK, Explore North Korea is the best option for you.