The DMZ Train- kids welcome!

We took the DMZ Train from Seoul Station to Dorasan Station earlier this month. It was a great way for my kids (who are too young to go on trips offered through base) to see the DMZ. There is no age restriction. My 2 year old and 8 year old came along with my sister and me.

The train itself is small, 3 cars long. It's brightly colored, has pictures of the Korean War displayed throughout each car and even has a place to buy snacks.

Before you may enter into the civilian controlled area at the DMZ, you must show Korean soldiers your passport. The train stops at Imjingang Station where everyone de boards the train and shows their passports (*or Korean IDs if you're Korean*). You then receive a badge that must be worn at all times while in the civilian controlled area.

Yahaira and the train conductor

Then it's back on to the train and off to Dorasan Station!

Once you arrive at Dorasan Station, you get off the train and head into the train station. After passing through the turnstile (*which there are 3+ people counting the number of people entering...same at Imjingang...*) you need to go to your right and get in line to buy your tour tickets. There is very little English, just 2 signs: one says Shuttle the other says Walk to. THESE ARE REFERRING TO HOW YOU GET DOWN TO THE 3RD TUNNEL! THAT IS THE ONLY DIFFERENCE!!! Both tours go to the exact same places, at the exact same times. For the shuttle one you ride a little train type thing down into the start (I guess end really) of the 3rd Tunnel. For the walk to, you have to walk down a very long and steep incline to reach the actual tunnel.

*As of Jan 2015* The Shuttle one was 11,700 won per adult and the Walk to was 8,700 won per adult. We had 2 adults, and the 2 kids ended up being free...I do not know if this is always the case, or if it was because it was the "slow" winter season. Upon buying your tour tickets, you receive another badge to wear, it is color coded to show if you are walking to the 3rd Tunnel or taking the shuttle.

So once you leave the station, you walk out to the waiting buses. You should be directed to the correct bus, but really they both go to the exact same spots, at the exact same times. Our Shuttle one was the 1st bus when we went.

You ride the bus up to the Dorasan Observatory. You can go inside and watch a video about the DMZ and what it is you are looking at out in the distance. It has a nice 3-D model of the landscape. THE MOVIE IS ALL IN KOREAN! So, you might just want to head out to the binoculars on the left hand side of the building and scope out the area. There's a shop where you can buy snacks and souvenirs, but you are not given much time there, ESPECIALLY if you sit through the video. Make sure you leave when you see a heard of people heading back to the buses...there were other groups (like a military one) that arrived after we had watched the video, so check the bus you are getting on!

Then it's off to lunch! The buses drive out to a restaurant. They herd you into a large cafeteria where you sit down and they bring your group a bowl of soup. There are the standard Korean sides and a small cup of rice. The meal is not included in the tour price! After the meal a worker walks around collecting the money for lunch. It is 6,500 won per person. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO GO IN AND EAT THE FOOD! You can pack your own lunch & sit outside and enjoy the little break. There is a store that sells souvenirs, snacks and dry goods. The bathrooms are in a separate building to the right when looking at the restaurant. 

After lunch you jump on the bus again and head out to the 3rd Tunnel. You first go see a video about the Korean War and the 4 discovered tunnels. The movie is in Korean, but you are given headphones to hear it in English (channel 2). After the video you go straight to the tunnel. To get to the shuttle you go out the building and to your left, then through a little breezeway. Bags must go in *free* provided lockers (which come with a key). Adults and tall children must wear hard hats since the tunnel is not very tall. You ride a roller coster-like-train down to the actual tunnel. From there you get off and can walk to just before the actual DMZ line. After checking out the tunnel, you take the train back to the surface and gather your belongings. You have just enough time to use the bathroom and snap a few pictures before heading back onto the bus. Once back on the bus, the drive collects your tour badges you were wearing.

The next AND FINAL STOP on the bus is the Peace Park. Take everything with you when you get off the bus here because you will not get back on the bus again. The buses actually leave you there; you walk as a group (about a block) back to Dorasan Station. We left a hat and some Cheez-Its on our bus. There is a guide that meets you there and explains the different sculptures and ideas/hopes behind the park. Our guide only spoke Korean, but it didn't stop us from wandering around enjoying the space. There are some deer (native I think) that are in a pen at the back of the park. There is also a building about some of the animals from the area, but we did not go inside since the kids wanted to stay and try to get the deer to come over to the fence.

After walking back to the train station, you have time to buy some souvenirs, get a commemorative stamp (off to the left when you first enter the station doors) or use the bathrooms. They will let everyone know when it is time to start heading to the train. You pass through the turnstile again (*where a number of different people are counting passengers again). The train attendants also collect the DMZ badges you were given at Imjingang Station. Once back on the train you settle into your seats and enjoy the ride back to Seoul Station. Along the way the train attendants play some games with the passengers and take your picture (if you want). In the snack car there is an area but the attendants where you can get a postcard and stamp it with 1 (or 2) of the 2 commemorative stamps.

The trip is an all day adventure. Our train left Seoul at 10:30am and we arrived back in Seoul close to 6pm. The train tickets *as of Jan 2015* were 8,900 won for adults, 6,200 won for kids.