
Long regarded as one of the world’s most secretive countries, North Korea has relented and allowed intrepid holidaymakers to go on helicopter tours of its capital city for the first time.

Tom Hingley, a lawyer from London, was one of the first to get a bird’s-eye view of Pyongyang after its airspace was unexpectedly opened to sightseeing chopper flights.

The 26-year-old and other curious tourists flew over landmarks such as the so-called ‘Hotel of Doom’ in an old Russian Mil Mi-17 military helicopter, but were barred from snapping photos of ‘sensitive’ areas.

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Holidaymaker Tom Hingley said the pyramid-shaped Ryugyong Hotel, known as the Hotel of Doom, dominates Pyongyang's skyline

Tourists were taken on a 40-minute flight over the North Korean capital's landmarks, including the May Day Stadium (pictured)

Those on board were allowed to snap photos and record videos of all sights, except 'sensitive' areas between the city and airport

The helicopter did a circuit of Pyongyang, flying up and down the Taedong River and over its science centre (left) and stadiums (right)

Hingley, who booked the holiday with Koryo Tours, told MailOnline the 40-minute flight was an ‘incredible’ experience that became part of the itinerary after they had arrived in the country.

He said the helicopter flew ‘pretty low’ as it did a circuit of Pyongyang, allowing the tourists to see neighbourhoods, squares used for public gatherings, the May Day Stadium and the unfinished pyramid-shaped Ryugyong Hotel like none have before.

Hingley said: ‘It’s a really incredible place to see from the sky, and the hotel dominates the skyline.

‘Pyongyang looks very dystopian from above. You’ve got Orwellian tower blocks everywhere and this mad, big skyscraper and huge chimney stacks belching out black smoke in the distance.

‘It’s a really fascinating place to see from the air. It was good fun inside the helicopter. People were jumping from one side to the other and swapping windows to have a look.’

The group of 11 was accompanied by a guide and was barred from taking photos or video when they flew between the airport and the city on an overcast day.

Hingley said: ‘I don’t know why they were restrictive, those were the rules.’

The lucky holidaymakers, who happened to be in the country when the flights were approved, flew in an old Russian military helicopter

Tom Hingley said the pilots were friendly to the tourists, who spent time hopping from window to window to see the sights

Hingley said Pyongyang looks 'very dystopian from above', with a 'big, mad' skyscraper and huge chimney stacks belching out smoke

An overcast day didn't ruin the excitement for the tourists, who flew over 'Orwellian tower blocks' during a circuit of the city

WHAT DO TOURISTS SEE WHEN THEY VISIT ONE OF THE MOST SECRETIVE STATES IN THE WORLD? Beijing-based Koryo Tours takes about 2,500 holidaymakers to North Korea every year, with a four-night trip costing about €1,300 (£915 or $1,375) a person. In 2016, the travel firm’s group tours will include visits that coincide with public celebrations for the birthdays of Kim Jong-il’s and Kim Il-sung, Pyongyang’s marathon, and Victory Day, a national holiday that marks the end of the Korean War. Koryo Tours’ next trip is already sold out and will give tourists the opportunity to ring in the new year with a fireworks display in Pyongyang, under the watchful eye of government-appointed minders. Here is a sampling of the itinerary, which is subject to change: Day 1 After a one hour and 30 minute flight from Beijing to Pyongyang, the group meets its local guides and visits the Arch of Triumph, which was built in 1982 to commemorate Korean independence from Japan. It is modelled after Paris Arc de Triomphe, but bigger. Day 2 During a tour of Pyongyang, the group visits the Mansudae Grand Monument, where giant bronze statues of former leaders Kim Jong-il and Kim Il-sung are displayed. Tourists are asked to follow local customs by placing flowers at the monument and bowing in front of the statues. Later, the group goes for a ride on the Pyongyang metro, which is the deepest subway/underground system in the world, before going bowling alongside locals. The visitors can fire a gun at a shooting range next door. Day 3 The first stop is the Kumsusan Memorial Palace of the Sun, where the former leaders lie in state. Men should wear a shirt and tie and women should dress smartly. The group also visits Kim Il-sung Square, where mass dances and military parades take place. In the afternoon, the itinerary includes a stop at the USS Pueblo, an American spy ship captured by North Korea’s navy in 1968. Day 4 Tourists enter the Korean Demilitarized Zone on the border between North and South Korea. Day 5 The group returns to Beijing by train. Advertisement

After the flight, the tourists posed for photos in front of the helicopter, said Hingley, adding the pilots were smiley and friendly throughout the trip.

So far, Koryo Tours has arranged four flights for dozens of holidaymakers at a cost of about €180 (£125 or $190) each, said Simon Cockerell, general manager of Beijing-based Koryo Tours, which takes about 2,500 people a year to North Korea for about €1,300 (£915 or $1,375) a person over four nights.

With surfing and train journeys already on offer, the flights are the country’s latest push to lure more tourists.

Cockerell said he first inquired about sightseeing helicopter tours of Pyongyang about 10 years ago and would occasionally raise the topic with tourism bosses.

He was never given no for an answer, but officials never agreed to the flights until this month.

Cockerell said he doesn’t know why officials finally agreed, adding: ‘Who knows? It’s well-known to be a non-transparent place. Where is the final decision made is the first question.’

Tom Hingley said the pilots of the Russian Mil Mi-17 military helicopter smiled and waved, and were willing to be photographed

Hingley, a 26-year-old lawyer from London, said he decided to visit North Korea due to its intrigue and has no regrets

Holidaymakers booked the 40-minute flight with Beijing-based Koryo Tours, which has been taking people to North Korea for 22 years

So far, Koryo Tours has arranged four flights for dozens of holidaymakers at a cost of about €180 (£125 or $190) each

Koryo Tours has chartered helicopters to transport its groups between Pyongyang and provincial towns and cities, but the flight on November 18 was the first strictly for sightseeing.

Cockerell, who is originally from Thornbury, Gloucestershire, told MailOnline: ‘They loved it, especially as they were doing something for the first time and it was unexpected.’

Hingley’s group was on a packed four-night visit which included tours of the mausoleum where former leaders Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il lie in state, public squares with giant statues of the father and son and current leader Kim Jong-un, factories, the Nampo Dam on the west coast, and the Korean Demilitarized Zone, a buffer zone between North and South Korea.

They were accompanied at all times by three minders, who were quick to intervene when the tourists snapped photos they didn’t approve of.

Simon Cockerell, from Koryo Tours, said he first inquired about sightseeing helicopter tours of Pyongyang about 10 years ago

North Korean tourism bosses never rejected or committed to the idea, and gave no reason for allowing the flights this month

In addition to a chopper tour, the group visited the mausoleum where the bodies of former leaders Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il lie in state

Hingley said: ‘It seems like we were given a longer leash than previous groups, but fairly regularly they’d shout “No photos here, no photos”.

‘If you did take photos they would ask to go into your camera and delete those photos, and when taking pictures of the statues of the leaders, they don’t want close-ups or funny poses.

‘I took pictures of the helicopter before, including a photo of the tail, and they rushed over and asked me to delete it.’

Tourists are barred from snapping photos inside the mausoleum and museums on the heavily-monitored tours, and they aren’t allowed to leave their hotel at night.

Hingley said they rode the Pyongyang metro and had very limited interaction with locals, who are reluctant to be seen chatting with Westerners.

He said his group’s chaperones were interested in hearing stories about life in London and discussing football.

Since current leader Kim Jong-un took control North Korea has stepped up its efforts to lure Western tourists to the country

It's not known why North Korea finally relented and allowed holidaymakers to go on helicopter tours of its capital city for the first time

Critics argue visits to North Korea, a dictatorship known for appalling human rights abuses, serve as a form of propaganda

Hingley said he decided to book a trip to North Korea due to its intrigue.

He added: ‘I like to see new and interesting places, and having ticked off quite a few places, you kind of look at a map of the world and think, “Where’s next?”

‘North Korea kind of stuck out as the most different and the most out there, and kind of the only place remaining that is closed off.’

Critics argue visits to North Korea, a dictatorship that is widely condemned for appalling human rights abuses, serve as a form of propaganda and are not ethical. Hingley said he questioned whether it was appropriate to visit before booking the trip.