Itinerary
- Intro
Introduction
- Day 1
Seoul
Seoul- Accommodation
- Hotel 3* (Botanik Sewoon Myeongdong)
Optional Activities
- Visit Bukchon Hanok Village (600-year-old village with alleyways and artisan displays)
- Dinner with Tour Leader at 7:45pm (if available and interested)
Landmarks Bukchon Hanok Village - Day 2
Seoul
Seoul- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Traditional Korean cuisine at Gwangjang Market food street (gimbap, mung bean pancake, tteok-bokki, eomuk))
- Accommodation
- Hotel 3* (Botanik Sewoon Myeongdong)
Included Activities
- Walk through Gwanghwamun Gate
- Visit Gyeongbokgung Palace (main royal palace of Joseon Dynasty, originally built 1395, expanded 1867)
- Visit National Museum of Contemporary Korean History
- Visit Cheonggyecheon Stream
- Explore Tapgol Park
- Walk through Insadong neighbourhood
- Explore Ikseon-dong Hanok Village
- Stroll through Myeongdong
- Visit Gwangjang Market (food sampling at traditional market food street)
Landmarks Gwanghwamun Gate Gyeongbokgung Palace National Museum of Contemporary Korean History Cheonggyecheon Stream Tapgol Park Insadong Ikseon-dong Hanok Village Myeongdong Gwangjang Market - Day 3
Seoul - DMZ
Seoul - DMZ- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel 3* (Botanik Sewoon Myeongdong)
Included Activities
- Visit Third Infiltration Tunnel (North Korean tunnel built to breach border, wide enough for 2000 troops per hour)
- Visit Imjingak Park
- Visit DMZ Museum
- Visit Dora Observatory
Optional Activities
- Walk with Tour Leader at Naksan Park and explore Hanyangdoseong defensive city wall (built 600+ years ago, approximately 1-2 hours)
Landmarks Third Infiltration Tunnel Imjingak Park DMZ Museum Dora Observatory Naksan Park Hanyangdoseong - Day 4
Seoul - Andong - Gyeongju
Seoul - Andong - Gyeongju- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel 4* (Lahan Select Gyeongju)
Included Activities
- Walk to Buyongdae Cliff viewpoint (approximately 10 minutes each direction, views of Hahoe Village, Nakdonggang River and mountains)
- Explore UNESCO-listed Hahoe Folk Village (Joseon Dynasty architecture with thatched-roof houses and tile-roofed mansions)
- Visit Mask Museum (collection of over 800 masks from over 50 countries in five exhibition halls)
Optional Activities
- Visit 500-year-old Byeongsan-seowon Confucian Academy (renowned for architectural design and harmony with natural landscape)
Landmarks Buyongdae Cliff Hahoe Folk Village Mask Museum Byeongsan-seowon Confucian Academy Nakdonggang River - Day 5
Gyeongju
Gyeongju- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Korean cuisine at local restaurant (e.g. Gyeongju Milmyeon with chewy wheat noodles in cold broth in summer))
- Accommodation
- Hotel 4* (Lahan Select Gyeongju)
Included Activities
- Namsan Mountain hike (3-hour moderate hike, approximately 6km/4 miles, 465 metres/1525 feet ascent and descent, well-maintained trail with over 100 temples, 80 stone Buddha statues and 60 stone pagodas)
- Lunch at local restaurant (Korean cuisine, e.g. Gyeongju Milmyeon in summer)
- Visit National Museum (Silla dynasty art, culture and history)
- Stroll through Daereungwon tomb complex in Tumuli Park
- View Cheomseongdae observatory
- Visit Family Choi's House (oldest house in area, built 1600s)
Optional Activities
- Skip morning hike and spend morning at leisure in Gyeongju
Landmarks Namsan Mountain National Museum Daereungwon Tumuli Park Cheomseongdae Observatory Family Choi's House - Day 6
Gyeongju
Gyeongju- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Simple vegetarian dinner at Golgulsa Temple)
- Accommodation
- Hotel 4* (Lahan Select Gyeongju)
Included Activities
- Visit Seokguram Grotto (part of Bulguksa temple complex)
- Temple experience at Golgulsa Temple with participation in archery, meditation, and Sunmudo
- Simple vegetarian dinner at temple
- Optional walk on Woljeong Bridge (historical gateway connecting royal palaces of Silla to south)
Landmarks Seokguram Grotto Bulguksa Temple Golgulsa Temple Woljeong Bridge - Day 7
Gyeongju - Busan
Gyeongju - Busan- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel 3* (Fairfield By Marriott Songdo Beach)
Included Activities
- Visit Bulguksa Temple main temple group
- Visit United Nations Memorial Cemetery (Korean War memorial site)
- Explore Gamcheon Cultural Village (neighbourhood settled by wartime refugees with colorful, tightly-knit houses)
- Scenic walk on Dongbaekseom Island raised walkway (island of camellias, located at Haeundae Beach)
Optional Activities
- Watch sunset at Dalmaji Hill with panoramic views of Haeundae Beach (approximately 30 minutes walk each way, weather permitting)
Landmarks Bulguksa Temple United Nations Memorial Cemetery Gamcheon Cultural Village Dongbaekseom Island Haeundae Beach Dalmaji Hill - Day 8
Busan
Busan- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel 3* (Fairfield By Marriott Songdo Beach)
Included Activities
- Visit Gukje Market (one of oldest markets in city)
- Visit Jagalchi Fish Market (South Korea's largest seafood market)
- Board Busan Sky Capsule (scenic aerial rail journey, 2km along coast to Cheongsapo Station)
- Walk back along same route and explore Haeundae Beach
Optional Activities
- Cooking class (minimum 4 clients, learn authentic regional specialties with clear English instructions and demonstrations, includes lunch featuring prepared dishes)
- Visit to traditional brewery specializing in makgeolli rice wine (minimum 5 clients, approximately 80 minutes including brewing, straining and tasting)
Landmarks Gukje Market Jagalchi Fish Market Busan Sky Capsule Cheongsapo Station Haeundae Beach - Day 9
Busan - Gwangju
Busan - Gwangju- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Gwangju specialty cuisine including kimchi, hanjeongsik (Korean table d'hote), Mudeungsan boribap (barley rice), tteokgalbi (grilled galbi patties), ori tang (duck soup))
- Accommodation
- Hotel 3* (Holiday Inn Gwangju)
Included Activities
- View panoramic views of Gwangju from Sajik Park Tower observatory platform
- Walk through historical site and missionary houses of Yangnim-dong village
- Visit Lee Lee Nam Studio (writer's studio, Media Art Museum and coffee shop)
- Visit 5-18 Memorial Park and May 18th National Cemetery (honours victims of 1980 Gwangju Uprising with informative museum exhibits)
Landmarks Sajik Park Tower Yangnim-dong Lee Lee Nam Studio 5-18 Memorial Park May 18th National Cemetery - Day 10
Gwangju - Jeonju
Gwangju - Jeonju- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Bibimbap at local restaurant (birthplace of this famed Korean dish))
- Accommodation
- Hotel 3* (Best Western Plus Jeonju Hotel)
Included Activities
- Easy 40-minute hike to Jeungsimsa Temple at Mudeungsan National Park
- Visit Uijae Museum of Korean Art (located on mountainside)
- Lunch featuring bibimbap (birthplace of this famous Korean dish)
- Visit 14th century Pungnammun Gate (only city gate of four left standing)
- Visit Jeondong Catholic Church
- Visit Gyeonggijeon Shrine (houses royal portrait of founder of Joseon Dynasty)
Optional Activities
- Visit Nambu Market (bustling traditional market with fresh produce, local crafts and restaurants)
- Explore Hanok village in evening (lit up, lively with street food options)
Landmarks Mudeungsan National Park Jeungsimsa Temple Uijae Museum of Korean Art Pungnammun Gate Jeondong Catholic Church Gyeonggijeon Shrine Nambu Market Jeonju Hanok Village - Day 11
Jeonju - Seoul
Jeonju - Seoul- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel 3* (Botanik Sewoon Myeongdong)
Included Activities
- Stroll through Jeonju Hanok Village (cobbled alleyways, restored traditional architecture with slate-tile roofs, whitewashed adobe walls, hidden courtyards)
Landmarks Jeonju Hanok Village - Day 12
Seoul
Seoul- Meals
- Breakfast
