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First-person accounts, guides, ethics debates, and stories from the places most travel writing refuses to cover honestly. Written by guides who actually live in these countries.

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The vast majority of our content is produced in-house, we are always on the look-out for guest bloggers and writers. Want to write for us? Then simply get in touch.

Welcome to the Young Pioneer Tours Blog, the place where we we keep you informed about everything YPT, from current tours, to future tours and a whole lot of eclectic stuff in between.

YPT first started blogging in 2008 and are considered the best North Korean Travel blog that there is.

But, as Young Pioneer Tours have expanded our locations, so have we expanded our blog. Now we have one of the best travel blogs in the world!

And while most of our content is about the numerous destinations we go, including travel guides and what to pack, we also delve into more serious subjects such as the safety of certain destinations, as well as how LGTBQ+ friendly the places we visit are.

By GARETH Johnson 17 APR 2026

How to get a whang od tattoo in 2026

Back in 2023 I wrote the quintessential guide for how to get a Whang Od tattoo, which involved driving a lot and then embarking on a hell on earth 3 hours each way (depending on fitness) hike. Well a lot has changed since then with not only a new bridge being built, but there also being perhaps the worlds least safe “cable car”…

Naoero

Nauru Officially Changed its Name to Naoero in 2026

Nauru is one of the least visited countries in the world, but its presence is far greater than the proportion it occupies on the world map. In 2026, the Republic

Goroka Airport

The Goroka Airport Guide

Goroka Airport is one of the best, least corrupt and most reliable in Papua New Guinea! This is though economies of scale and this does not mean it is perfect.

Chinatowns

Discover Glodok, and Pantjoran PIK, Two Chinatowns in Jakarta 

From ancient alleyways to modern waterfront elegance, Jakarta’s two Chinatowns tell a remarkable story. Most great cities have a Chinatown. Jakarta has two. One is steeped in centuries of history,

Shooting at the Baliem Festival

Shooting at the Baliem Festival in West Papua injures two Tourists

Two tourists were shot during the Baliem Valley Festival in West Papua on August 8, bringing the region’s biggest cultural festival to an early end and prompting a security operation

SHOWING 9 OF 200 ARTICLES

Hazara Folklore – Fascinating Myths and Storytellings Crucial to Hazara Culture and Legacy

Hazara’s are an ethnic group native to Central Afghanistan, particularly in the mountainous regions. Their roots are believed to be Mongol-Turkic, with their own language (Hazaragi) derived from Persian. They also have their own Hazara folklore – their own stories, myths and legends about how the world came to be.

What is the difference between Chaldeans and Assyrians?

Chaldeans and Assyrians are both minority ethno-religious groups native to the Levantine and Iraq region. They are actually very similar – both speak Assyrian, are native to Mesopotamia and share very similar ethnic heritages. So What is the difference between Chaldeans and Assyrians? The differences boil down to which Eastern

 The Shillong Police Bazaar Guide

With a name like Shillong Police Bazaar, you’d expect something rather special and, well, that is exactly what you get here. This is the bustling centre of the city and state where there is even a sign stating you can get “everything you could imagine”. In reality, the sign is

Nicaragua Cancels Elections – What does it mean for tourism?

Usually, a country seemingly ending elections and officially becoming a one party state would be big news, but “Nicaragua cancels elections” has barely seemed to garner much interest at all. In part, this is because in reality it means that not all that much will actually change in the country.

Monsoon Tourism in Cherrapunji Guide: The Wettest Place on Earth

While most regular tourists try to dodge rain in search of brighter locales, we are anything but regular tourists! And this was what led us to Cherrapunji, quite literally one of the wettest places on planet Earth, and for many years recognised as the wettest place on Earth. And boy

Can you use TikTok in India?

Can you use TikTok in India? The short answer to this is that no you cannot as it is banned by both the Indian government, as well as TikTok itself. The longe more nuanced answer is that in reality and like other countries with bans on websites there are ways

Hazara Folklore – Fascinating Myths and Storytellings Crucial to Hazara Culture and Legacy

Hazara’s are an ethnic group native to Central Afghanistan, particularly in the mountainous regions. Their roots are believed to be Mongol-Turkic, with their own language (Hazaragi) derived from Persian. They also have their own Hazara folklore – their own stories, myths and legends about how the world came to be.

What is the difference between Chaldeans and Assyrians?

Chaldeans and Assyrians are both minority ethno-religious groups native to the Levantine and Iraq region. They are actually very similar – both speak Assyrian, are native to Mesopotamia and share very similar ethnic heritages. So What is the difference between Chaldeans and Assyrians? The differences boil down to which Eastern

 The Shillong Police Bazaar Guide

With a name like Shillong Police Bazaar, you’d expect something rather special and, well, that is exactly what you get here. This is the bustling centre of the city and state where there is even a sign stating you can get “everything you could imagine”. In reality, the sign is

Nicaragua Cancels Elections – What does it mean for tourism?

Usually, a country seemingly ending elections and officially becoming a one party state would be big news, but “Nicaragua cancels elections” has barely seemed to garner much interest at all. In part, this is because in reality it means that not all that much will actually change in the country.

Monsoon Tourism in Cherrapunji Guide: The Wettest Place on Earth

While most regular tourists try to dodge rain in search of brighter locales, we are anything but regular tourists! And this was what led us to Cherrapunji, quite literally one of the wettest places on planet Earth, and for many years recognised as the wettest place on Earth. And boy

Can you use TikTok in India?

Can you use TikTok in India? The short answer to this is that no you cannot as it is banned by both the Indian government, as well as TikTok itself. The longe more nuanced answer is that in reality and like other countries with bans on websites there are ways

Syria Travel Update: Opposition Forces Advancement Timeline

8th December 2024: The opposition forces have announced complete control over Damascus. Rebels’ Military Operations Department have broadcast a statement announcing the end of Assad’s rule from the Radio and Television Building in Damascus, the capital of Syria. Now will be an era of transition and the plans of what

US-Iran tensions: what do they mean for your tour?

June 23rd 2019 Tensions have flared recently between the US and Iran following a dispute over the downing of a US drone. Tehran claims that the drone was in Iranian airspace, whilst Washington denies this and alleges that the unmanned craft was in international airspace over the Strait of Hormuz.

The Green Zone of Baghdad reopens

After 16 years of being closed off to the general public, the heavily fortified, high-security zone of Baghdad called the Green Zone has reopened. Located along the banks of the Tigris River, the Green Zone has been like a city within the city, where diplomats and the elite resided. It

Travel Update – Kurdistan

Iraqi Kurdistan Referendum Results   On Monday the 25th of September Iraqi Kurds voted in a historic but controversial referendum and the results have been announced with a huge majority in support of independence. While this may lead to uncertainty in the region, because of the staunch opposition to Kurdish

Most Read This Month

How to Get a Whang Od Tattoo in 2026

Why are there 3 guineas? A complete guide to Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Equatorial Guinea

Monica Macias Interview – The YPT Podcast: S3, Ep3: The Black Girl from Pyongyang

7 afghan drinks you need to try

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New articles, tour announcements, and the kind of destination writing that doesn’t pretend difficult places are straightforward.

EDITOR’S CHOICE

Meet the authors

Every article on this blog is written by someone who has actually been to the place they are writing about. No armchair analysis. No speculative itineraries.

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Odyssey51853265557 profile picture
Odyssey51853265557
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5 star trips Trip with YTP is a true experience! Just joined them again for South Sudan trip, truli fascinating and authentic experience. YPT is not only great for group travel but also when u need a solo trip!! 5 star responsiveness, organization and treatment
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Ruadhán M
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Two weeks in Ethiopia Just did almost two weeks in Ethiopia with YPT (Addis, Bahir Dar, Gondar, Lalibela, and the Danakil Depression). Very well organised trip, and the YPT guide in particular - Yvonne - was easily one of the best I've ever travelled with. If you've ever been interested in checking out that part of the world, I would highly recommend their tour there.
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Max Adrian S
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Ethiopia & Danakil Depression Just finished Ethiopia with the Danakil depression extension with YPT. This was my second tour with YPT as a solo traveler and the group could not have been better. Everyone was very interesting and fun to hang out with and the YPT tour guide Yvonne organized it very well with the local guides. The tour itself contained a good mix of nature, history and religion. Despite having multiple domestic flights it was all handled very well and without a problem. Even the Danakil extension went very well for such a harsh area.
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Nick I
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West Africa with YPT: Brutal, Beautiful, and Absolutely Worth It This was, without question, the hardest trip I've ever done — and I mean that as a compliment. Every single day brought something: catastrophic roads, mechanical breakdowns, hotels that had sold our reservations out from under us (in towns with exactly one hotel), border crossings that swallowed hours, 300km drives that took 16 hours, and a truly creative array of "fees" along the way. The food was a challenge. The heat was a challenge. Everything was a challenge. But here's the thing — that's West Africa. This is one of the least-touristed regions on earth, and anyone booking this trip should know what they're signing up for. I was probably the least-travelled person in our group, and even the seasoned veterans agreed this ranked among the most gruelling trips they'd done. What made it work was YPT's team. Our guide Morgan was exceptional — calm, unflappable, and genuinely good-humoured in the face of every setback. Local fixer Sarnor worked incredibly hard behind the scenes to keep things moving on a logistically nightmarish route. YPT pulled off something genuinely complicated. If you want easy, book a beach resort. If you want a real adventure in a part of the world most people will never see, this delivers. I look forward to see what tweaks/changes they make to future iterations of this trip- with some wrinkles ironed out, it's going to be an epic and popular adventure.
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Peter B
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West Africa Overland Tour This tour arranged by YPT was a transforming tour. Coming from a western country it really makes you appreciate what you have. Putting together this tour was a masterpiece and YPT did an excellent job with the logistics when arranging this tour. The tour guide, Morgan, was absolutely amazing; calm, professional, caring and never lost his temper even though many things didn’t go as planned. I highly recommend this tour to everyone with a deeper interest in exploring West Africa.
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Martin Lacey Photo
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YPT Gulf Trek, Lebanon, Syria tours review - an unforgettable experience I did the Gulf Trek (including Kuwait & Saudi Arabia), Lebanon, and Syria tours with YPT in January and February 2026. My first tour with YPT was this time last year when I did their Least Visited Countries (LVC) tour of island countries in the southern and western Pacific. The Gulf, Lebanon, and Syria tours were outstanding. I’ve done many group tours and I’ve found that in addition to the destination and activities, the quality of the experience comes down to two things: (a) the tour leader, and (b) how well the group gels. Our tour leader, Caitlin, was outstanding. In addition to being an excellent problem-solver and organizer, she has a genuine passion for this region and people, which comes through in her personal interactions and ways of working. She also kept the group ticking over nicely, always accounting for different traveling styles and personalities to maintain group harmony. The sights and sounds of the Gulf and Levant were incredible - from the edge of the world in Saudi Arabia, the sublime food in Lebanon, the mildly chaotic souks of Bahrain and Kuwait, and the grace of the Syrian people in the face of profound hardships. With the current situation, it feels even more fortuitous that we got to see these amazing places. If I were to pick one thing to improve, it would be to add free time to the itinerary to wander around and absorb the local sights and atmosphere. That said, I understand that one of the goals of the tour is to have many experiences in a limited period of time. Perhaps a compromise would be to remove one or two items from the itinerary and replace them with free time at some of the more interesting and popular places of interest. Overall - an unforgettable experience, enhanced by a highly capable tour leader and a top-notch travel group.
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Melinda D
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Angola carnival and waterfall tour with Sara Really enjoyed this 5 day tour to Angola with YPT. Hotels were a good standard - especially the one opposite the waterfall which had stunning views. The itinerary was varied and kept us all interested despite a few long car journeys. The vehicles were comfortable and the local guide and drivers were friendly and helpful. Visits to the river Kwanza and local villages were great. The falls were obviously a highlight - especially at sunset! Biggest thanks are reserved for the YPT tour leader, Sara, who was amazing. A massive plus that she spoke fluent Portuguese - friendly, super flexible and organised. Would highly recommend
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White Wayne B
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Freezing My Gonads Off in Mongolia I’m 77 & my wife Amy 60. We had concerns that YP would Not be a Good Travel Fit. We traveled the last 8 days of our 75 day sojourn with YP to the Blue Ice Festival in Upper Mongolia. Contrary to our concerns, YP hit a Grand Slam Homer! Guides were informative & caring; 22 yo Chinese Punk Tour Leader was Magnetic, gracious & informative. He spoke English like it was his First Language. YP goes were other tour agencies Don’t and we are planning more with YP.❤️❤️ FIVE STAR experience 4 us!
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Guide112189
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Libya Tour An excellent exciting very nice and safe trip with excellent service.
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Georgios C
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Great memorable tour in Mainland Yemen I had a great experience in Mainland Yemen with an organised group tour by YPT at the end of February 2026. I was in the Yemeni island of Socotra for 8 days, 5 years ago... However , for a more complete Yemen picture, please get the chance to visit Hadramaut region of Mainland Yemen because then you get a better idea about the country. YPT did a great job in the selection of tour guides, tour leader and hotels. I felt all the time safe together with fellow travellers during this epic adventure. No words can describe the travel emotions experienced through unique landscapes, architecture and local hospitality! Thank you guys for the memorable trip!
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Young Pioneer Tours
🇰🇬 YPT started our day in Kyrgyzstan with a hike up Fairy Tale Canyon, named after the multi-coloured rock formations that make up the landscape.After this, we had another nature stop at Seven Red Bulls Gorge, where we enjoyed a picnic surrounded by red sandstone cliffs and mountains further afield. The nature in this country is unparalleled!In the late afternoon, we arrived in the modest city of Karakol. We toured a unique mosque built by the local Dungan people, descendants of Chinese settlers from the 19th century, and a stunning Russian Orthodox Church before grabbing some local souvenirs. 🕌⛪We ended the day with dinner at a local restaurant that served Dungan options and were entertained by traditional musicians. 🎶#youngpioneertours #Kyrgyzstan #5Stans #ypt ...
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17 hours ago

Young Pioneer Tours
Our Unseen Soviet Armenia Tour continued, with giant Jesus, Nazi-era telescopes and Soviet mosaics. What else does one need? 🇦🇲✝️ We started on the outskirts of Yerevan, where an enormous statue of Jesus Christ is currently being assembled. Once completed, the 33-metre-high statue will stand on a 77-metre pedestal atop Mount Hatis.Next, we explored Armenia’s Soviet scientific heritage at the Byurakan Observatory, once one of the USSR’s leading astronomical research centres. Here, we met Henrik Sargsyan, an engineer who has worked at the observatory since its opening in 1958! Among the instruments we saw was the famous Schmidt telescope, originally ordered as a gift from Adolf Hitler to Benito Mussolini.📡 We then explored the abandoned ROT54 radio-optical telescope near Orgov. Designed by Armenian scientist Paris Herouni.We then continued to Gyumri, Armenia’s second-largest city, to see the imposing Mother Armenia monument and the Black Fortress, a 19th-century Russian imperial stronghold near the Turkish border. We also walked around the city, stopping to buy Soviet memorabilia. “You only ask about the rarest pieces”, a seller pointed out. Well, yeah - it’s a YPT group, not your usual tourists. 😂#YoungPioneerTours #Armenia #YPT ...
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