Dennis Rodman did it — why can’t you?
With the new North Korea Travel app that launched Wednesday, intrepid travelers can plan the best trip possible to the Hermit Kingdom — assuming you want to go to one of the least tourist-friendly countries in the world. But the app aims to be a resource for North Korea-bound adventurers — and those who would prefer to take an imaginary trip.
The app, created by British travel technology startup Uniquely.Travel, is billed by its makers as “the most comprehensive guide to North Korea travel that has ever been developed.” It’s packed with tips from a tour guide with more than 10 years’ experience in North Korea, offering insider information on more than 350 locations that Western travelers can visit in the notoriously closed country. That means tips on good places to score some grub and “secret markets” that used to be, well, secret.
“The app shows how much of the country is open for business, including corners previously thought to be strictly off-limits to foreigners,” the company says.
Some of the listed attractions are typical tourist destinations — or as typical as they come in North Korea (think: restaurants serving “sweet meat,” a.k.a. dog, and comfortable “7 star” hotels). Then there are the experiences you won’t find anywhere else. Get medical care — and everyone’s favorite medicine, booze — at the Rajin Foreigner’s Clinic. While there, the app suggests travelers stop by Rajin Zoo, which is no longer in operation but was given the not-so-coveted title of “world’s worst zoo” by Lonely Planet travel guide. It used to house ducks, foxes, a monkey drawing and a one-armed bear.
Other bizarre stops include Ryongmun Cavern, a 3.7-mile-long system of caves that boasts unusual formations resembling genitalia. In the mood for some light entertainment? Check out the Runga Dolphinarium, where visitors can watch a 20-minute dolphin performance — for $28. Also on the list is a 10-lane deserted road: Youth-hero Highway. Built by “young people” during the famine of the 1990s, it’s been called the “emptiest highway in the world” on the blog OneKorea.
The North Korea Travel app also allows users to build their own custom itinerary by “favoriting” places of interest and then comparing how much it will cost to travel to each site. The locations have been geo-tagged by North Korea maps expert Curtis Melvin — who, the company says, was banned from the country because of his mapping work.
Those who would prefer to take a peek inside the Hermit Kingdom without fear of being put in front of a firing squad can browse through thousands of original photos and read commentary from experts familiar with North Korean history and culture.
“Whether users have no intention to ever visit North Korea or are actively planning a trip there, this 100 percent unofficial app is a great way of seeing just how much of the world’s most secretive nation is now open to foreigners,” the company said.
Around 5,000 to 6,000 Western visitors visit North Korea each year, the company says. If you’re an American, you’d first have to travel to, say, Beijing.
But before booking that plane ticket, would-be tourists might want to listen to this worrisome warning from North Korea Travel: “While visiting the DRPK is extremely safe as long as you follow the rules, the government has, of late, shown itself to be less amenable to negotiation of the release of foreign detainees than was previously the case.”
The app is available for 99 cents in the iTunes store.