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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”…
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 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.
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,
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
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 of Nauru officially changed its English name to the Republic of Naoero. This article will take you through the background
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. In fact, there are a lot of idiosyncrasies related to flying in and out of Goroka, not least time of
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, where incense drifts through ancient temples and narrow lanes overflow with traditional medicine shops, street food, and family-run businesses. The
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 in the surrounding area. The shooting took place near the entrance to the festival in Walesi, Jayawijaya Regency, in Highland
While YPT have somewhat branched out from purely communist tours since our inception, we still offer some great trips for red tourists out there. The good news, though, is that you do not have to be a card-carrying member of the Bolshevik Party to join! Quite the contrary, in fact.
Turkish Airlines will resume flights from Istanbul (IST) – Minsk (MSQ) after they were cancelled in 2022 following the start of the so called Russian special military operation in Ukraine. The flights, which are due to resume on September 21st, 2026, will initially consist of 6 flights per week before
At Young Pioneer Tours we have more than a passing interest in unrecognised countries, with my passion running so deep that I even spent a month living in Transnistria literally for no other reason than the sheer sake of it. We run tours to almost all of the unrecognised or
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 of Nauru officially changed its English name to the Republic of Naoero. This article will take you through the background
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. In fact, there are a lot of idiosyncrasies related to flying in and out of Goroka, not least time of
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, where incense drifts through ancient temples and narrow lanes overflow with traditional medicine shops, street food, and family-run businesses. The
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 in the surrounding area. The shooting took place near the entrance to the festival in Walesi, Jayawijaya Regency, in Highland
While YPT have somewhat branched out from purely communist tours since our inception, we still offer some great trips for red tourists out there. The good news, though, is that you do not have to be a card-carrying member of the Bolshevik Party to join! Quite the contrary, in fact.
Turkish Airlines will resume flights from Istanbul (IST) – Minsk (MSQ) after they were cancelled in 2022 following the start of the so called Russian special military operation in Ukraine. The flights, which are due to resume on September 21st, 2026, will initially consist of 6 flights per week before
Iraq has incredible food – and yes, there is so much more than just kebab! While it may be overlooked as a top food destination in the Middle East compared to tough competition of Syria, Lebanon and Turkey, Iraq has unique cuisine worth tasting. From street food to high dining,
When you think of Amman, what comes to mind? Bustling markets, ancient ruins, perhaps even a night out at the Rovers Return? Sure, there’s plenty to keep you occupied, but if you want to dive into something truly surreal, the Royal Automobile Museum is where you need to be. A
Westerners have largely avoided this ancient and beautiful land since the Islamic Revolution of 1979. With warming relations with and an increase of foreign visits in the last two years, this country is finally getting the recognition it deserves after years of failed isolationist policies. Here’s why Iran should be
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 in the surrounding area. The shooting took place near the entrance to the festival in Walesi, Jayawijaya Regency, in Highland
Turkish Airlines will resume flights from Istanbul (IST) – Minsk (MSQ) after they were cancelled in 2022 following the start of the so called Russian special military operation in Ukraine. The flights, which are due to resume on September 21st, 2026, will initially consist of 6 flights per week before
Owners of foreign SIM cards have been blocked from accessing Western websites, meaning the last “loophole” for bypassing Russian internet restrictions has now been closed. This comes on the back of further legal restrictions on VPNs and access to certain non-Russian websites. Previously, when you entered Russia with a foreign
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EDITOR’S CHOICE
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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The self-proclaimed “King of the Twin Kingdoms of Papaala and Meekamui” in Bougainville, David Peii II, who passed away in Tannu City, Bougainville, on
