Young Pioneer Tours
Young Pioneer Tours
5
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Full view
About
Young Pioneer Tours is an adventure travel company formed in 2008 and based in mainland China. Specialising in travel to North Korea, we are an adventure tour operator that provides "budget tours to destinations your mother would rather you stayed away from".
We are renowned and rated as one of the best tour operators to the DPRK (North Korea) with our unparalleled experience, fun way of doing things, and most importantly, excellent relations in country; this makes us the best choice for your Korea tour.
Aside from the DPRK, we travel to a number of other destinations such as Iran, Cuba, China, Antarctica, Iraq, and other former Soviet countries. All our tours are founded on the YPT ethos of fun, thrill seeking and adventure at a great price. All ages welcomed!
Beijing, China
Awards
Travellers' Choice
2023
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5.0
1,073 reviews
Excellent
1,041
Very good
21
Average
4
Poor
1
Terrible
6
Ol T
1 contribution
Nov 2023 • Solo
Fun and interesting trip to Northern Cyprus with Ravi who guided us all around, from castles to donkeys and from national day festivities to ghost towns
Written 23 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jonhull55
Kingston-upon-Hull, UK8 contributions
Nov 2023 • Solo
An excellent trip to Northern Cyprus, led by Ravi Mistry. Lots of interesting sites, particularly the visit to Varosha
Written 22 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lucy s
2 contributions
Oct 2023 • Solo
I had the privilege of going to Afghanistan on an all women's tour group with six other women. We shared an alternate reality for a little over a week by conversing and interacting with Afghan women which was far removed from our privileged lives back home. Every day was an exciting adventure with our fearless tour leader Paris who helped to guide us every step of the way. Even though we were banned from entering Band-e-Amir National Park by the Taliban I wasn't particularly disappointed as it wouldn't have felt right as a foreign woman to be allowed access when Afghan women have recently been banned from entering (apparently they should stay at home.) We attended a wedding celebration and visited a school as well as visiting many historical landmarks. Special shout out to our wonderful guides who made our trip safe and so much fun. My life is all the more richer and will never be the same after this trip!
Written 18 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tori D
20 contributions
Sep 2023 • Friends
My husband and I and two friends (35, 40, 44, 52) stumbled upon YPT when I had the crazy idea to hitchhike on the Mauritania Iron Ore Train for my 40th birthday. I reached out to YPT as I saw they offered a tour that included seeing some of Mauritania along with experiencing the train. Our five day tour started as soon as our boots hit the ground in Nouakchott. We landed at 2am and had to get a visa on arrival ($60 USD cash only). We out our guide, Békry, and our drivers Mohammed and Sayidi. Both Mohammed and Békry spoke English very well, but Sayidi didn't really speak English at all. Our hotels were comfortable and spacious with air conditioning (it was about 110 during the day and 80 at night). The hotels or places we stopped for breaks all offered us food that was fresh and delicious (the veggie stews were to die for!). We stopped at the Oasis in Terjit, a library and mosque in Chinguetti, markets in Atar, Fort Siganne, and a place where there were lots of rock drawings dating back to the early 1900's. Before the train we got to hang out in a room with couches and a fan so we weren't outside baking in the hot sun all day (this was a must!). Our train ride was as epic as you could imagine and Békry was great the entire time helping us re-wrap our heads, providing water, and answering questions. After the train we got to see a camel market, a fish market, and an artisan market. The entire tour we felt safe and valued, and everyone we saw was interested in who we were and why we were there as Mauritania doesn't get more than 5,000 tourists a year. The experience we had for what we paid was ABSOLUTELY worth it and we will DEFINITELY do other tours with YPT in the future! I will say that "western toilets" are very hard to come by in Mauritania (there was always one at the hotels we stayed at), but toilet paper and soap is very rare to come by so bring your own TP and hand sanitizer! Most of the time it's a hole in the ground with a cup in a bucket of water nearby. There will be hundreds of kilometers driven over very rough "roads" at high speeds (otherwise your truck won't go anywhere) with no bathrooms nearby, so be prepared to step out of the truck and go on the side of the road in the middle of the flat, sandy, wide open desert. It's all part of the experience and the adventure, so just be prepared!
Written 12 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mekz383
4 contributions
Oct 2023 • Solo
What an experience!
If you’re thinking about travelling to this region I highly suggest doing it with YPT. We visited ancient sites, local markets, and got a chance to interact with locals which was the highlight of the trip.
This has been my third trip with YPT this year having done Iraq and Syria before and all lead by Paris Hailwood. I cannot say enough about Paris, she is passionate about her job, energetic, attentive, caring, and always making sure everyone on her tour is taken care of. She always goes above and beyond EVERY SINGLE TIME!!!
YPT has a true gem in Paris Hailwood!
If you’re thinking about travelling to this region I highly suggest doing it with YPT. We visited ancient sites, local markets, and got a chance to interact with locals which was the highlight of the trip.
This has been my third trip with YPT this year having done Iraq and Syria before and all lead by Paris Hailwood. I cannot say enough about Paris, she is passionate about her job, energetic, attentive, caring, and always making sure everyone on her tour is taken care of. She always goes above and beyond EVERY SINGLE TIME!!!
YPT has a true gem in Paris Hailwood!
Written 9 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Luigi D
3 contributions
Oct 2023 • Solo
I will be short, because I'm kinda becoming a YPT aficionado.
My experience was - as usual - amazing, and Joelle was the perfect guide for the trip: nice, thoughtful and skilled. Her knowledge of the arabian culture and language proved to be invaluable throughout the whole tour.
My experience was - as usual - amazing, and Joelle was the perfect guide for the trip: nice, thoughtful and skilled. Her knowledge of the arabian culture and language proved to be invaluable throughout the whole tour.
Written 8 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Outimarkka
Helsinki, Finland18 contributions
Nov 2023 • Solo
I am usually not giving rates for tours, but this one is only written because of lovely Paris Hailwood. I was amazed by her presence.
5 stans tour in 18 days with 23 people takes a lot of stamina and she did it with such kindness and humour. She was put in tough spots along the way, but as a strong woman she is, handled everything with grace.
I loved there were group dinners and you could join if you wished. I felt safe as a solo traveler who has no sense of direction and is not comfortable wandering alone. Also the tour was a true timesaver and one could just enjoy the ride.
I hope Paris still continues doing tours, since I can hand in my heart say that I would book one just to be lead by her.
♥️
5 stans tour in 18 days with 23 people takes a lot of stamina and she did it with such kindness and humour. She was put in tough spots along the way, but as a strong woman she is, handled everything with grace.
I loved there were group dinners and you could join if you wished. I felt safe as a solo traveler who has no sense of direction and is not comfortable wandering alone. Also the tour was a true timesaver and one could just enjoy the ride.
I hope Paris still continues doing tours, since I can hand in my heart say that I would book one just to be lead by her.
♥️
Written 4 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mike B
Richmond, VA5 contributions
Oct 2023 • Solo
I have traveled for 50 years, to more than 170 countries using dozens of different companies. But this was my best tour yet.
Written 30 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christer D
.Stavanger4 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
We had a wonderful week in Saudi Arabia, travelling in a crescent from Riyadh, through Buraidah, Hail, Al Ula and Medina, ending up in Jeddah. All professionally led by Joelle and Bahaa. Highlights: Edge of the world, Al Ula and Jeddah.
Written 26 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
James L
Oakland, CA7 contributions
Oct 2023 • Solo
After the Soviet Union broke up, its five Central Asian -Stan republics each found their own paths, based on their history, geography, resources, and relationships with Russia. I was worried that three weeks to see all five Stans would not be enough time. Yet, with Young Pioneer Tours, we got to experience deeply the unforgettable beauty and uniqueness of each country.
This was my third tour with YPT in 12 months, and all three were under the tour leadership of the energetic and tireless Paris Hailwood. In terms of quality, this tour was at the same high level and professionalism as my previous YPT trips to Iraq and Iran.
The YPT Five Stans trip ran smoothly and with lots of fun. Any potential issues that arose were quickly taken care of by Paris. We also had a great group of tour members who came from over a dozen different countries. My only complaint is that I gained 1.3 kilos from all of the good food (but I suppose that this was partially my fault!).
With YPT, there are always memorable surprises on each trip. One unforgettable memory on this tour was landing in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, and being greeted by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s private jet, along with the presidential planes from all Five Stan countries. The Commonwealth of Independent States summit took place a few miles from our hotel.
Crossing international borders five times (and taking two internal flights) is not necessarily easy. When a potentially serious hiccup arose at one busy border crossing with one tour member, Paris went behind the scenes with border officials and—after some time and negotiations—straightened things out. Typical Paris.
Even before the trip started, we were well cared for by Paris. With Turkmenistan being somewhat strict with granting the Letters of Invitation needed to get a visa, Paris gathered all of our necessary information, presented it properly to the Turkmenistan officials, maintained communications with these officials, and kept us all informed during the process. In the end, we all got our LOIs. (I am aware that a competing tour company had clients rejected for their LOIs during the same time period.)
Time to start planning my next YPT trip in 2024 with Paris Hailwood!
This was my third tour with YPT in 12 months, and all three were under the tour leadership of the energetic and tireless Paris Hailwood. In terms of quality, this tour was at the same high level and professionalism as my previous YPT trips to Iraq and Iran.
The YPT Five Stans trip ran smoothly and with lots of fun. Any potential issues that arose were quickly taken care of by Paris. We also had a great group of tour members who came from over a dozen different countries. My only complaint is that I gained 1.3 kilos from all of the good food (but I suppose that this was partially my fault!).
With YPT, there are always memorable surprises on each trip. One unforgettable memory on this tour was landing in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, and being greeted by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s private jet, along with the presidential planes from all Five Stan countries. The Commonwealth of Independent States summit took place a few miles from our hotel.
Crossing international borders five times (and taking two internal flights) is not necessarily easy. When a potentially serious hiccup arose at one busy border crossing with one tour member, Paris went behind the scenes with border officials and—after some time and negotiations—straightened things out. Typical Paris.
Even before the trip started, we were well cared for by Paris. With Turkmenistan being somewhat strict with granting the Letters of Invitation needed to get a visa, Paris gathered all of our necessary information, presented it properly to the Turkmenistan officials, maintained communications with these officials, and kept us all informed during the process. In the end, we all got our LOIs. (I am aware that a competing tour company had clients rejected for their LOIs during the same time period.)
Time to start planning my next YPT trip in 2024 with Paris Hailwood!
Written 26 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DMilagrosDM
Santiago, Chile78 contributions
Hi, how are the accommodations offered in the longer tours? Can be arranged triple rooms?
1Dallasite
Dallas, TX119 contributions
I am flying into Beijing on the 4th of June and looking for tour for the 5th and 6th of June. How do I find out your charges and make reservations ? How many people in your groups ? If I make reservations with you will you be picking at Hotel ? I am staying at : Beijing Hotel NUO Wangfujing.
Do you offer airport pickup ? what do you recommend.
Steven D
8 contributions
Oops, excuse that answer haha
Tonio
Washington DC, DC22 contributions
Can you go if you are an American but also have dual citizenship with an European country?
lonehats
Merrylands, Australia67 contributions
Yes. But our guides had mentioned that it’s best to use the other non-American passport for traveling into and out of DPRK. Best to email YPT and check with them directly
Anna M
Tel Aviv, Israel5 contributions
Hi, guys! We also plan to make North Korea trip with YPT and no standing at the point of no return - when we need to make big international money bank transfer, actually getting nothing - no contract, no paper from YPT in exchange. Is it common practice here? We just need to trust them, that in case of some difficulties (closed border, visa rejection etc) they will return us our money? Thanks for answer.
TroyKunming
Kunming, China3 contributions
Hi Anna,
Our terms and conditions are clear that you will receive a full refund if the visa is refused through no fault of your own. (If you've given incorrect information or not disclosed any published articles etc about North Korea you've produced, you will not receive a refund- as noted in our Terms of Travel agreement we sent to you).
We will return your money if the border is closed or the tour cancelled for any reason, this is also noted in our terms and conditions.
If a contract would make you more comfortable before making the transfer, please send us one to your liking and we'll sign it providing it doesn't contradict our provided T & C or travel agreement.
Generally our invoices/receipts perform that role, but we are happy to do that for your peace of mind.
Regards,
Troy
tcollinszdf
New York City, NY
Hello,
Quick question regarding US-travelers.
Is it still possible to book a YPT tour even though one has a US-citizenship? The website says yes, however a recent Facebook post says differently.
I would appreciate responses from either a staff member or past travelers.
Thanks in advance
Tim
TroyKunming
Kunming, China3 contributions
Hi Tim,
Thanks for your question. To help clarify we don't take Americans on tours to North Korea wether they are dual citizens or not, especially now that there is a congressional ban on travel for US citizens in place. If you have any further questions please feel free to drop us an email.
Thanks,
Troy
barger
Melbourne, Australia52 contributions
I would like to get some pricing and travel options
Oscar K
4 contributions
Whats a better tour option ttth capital or north east?
P P
Orlando, Florida92 contributions
The capital tour builds your base (remember you take a few day trips up to 2 hours away). The north east is further off the beaten path.
In the US - it would be like going to Washington DC or New York City vs going to Dallas or Denver. While unique in their own way, Dallas and Denver are still secondary stops on a US tour whereas DC and NYC give the intro to the America people see on television. Just my opinion :)