| Duration: | 11 Day(s) - 10 Night(s) |
| Tour Category: | Culture Tours |
Hidden Treasure of Korea 11 Days 10 Nights
1) Accommodation & Hotel breakfast
2) Transportation by private minivan or motor coach
3) Vehicle and Driver with English Speaking Guide
4) Lunch (5 times) + Dinner (4 times)
5) Admission fees, Parking, and Toll
DAY 1. Welcome to Seoul
Arrival at ICN → Dragon Hill Spa → Overnight Seoul
Welcome to Seoul, the city that never sleeps. The guide will greet you as soon as you come out of the baggage claim area. You will then be escorted to the famous Yongsan Dragon Hill Spa (Jimjilbang) to rest and rejuvenate your mind and body. The facilities offer sweating rooms, saunas, open-air baths, seawater baths, salt rooms, swimming pools, and a health center. Jimjilbang has become a cultural phenomenon in Korea since the ’90s. Koreans, as individuals and groups, visit Jimjilbangs to relax, relieve stress, and revitalize. It’s a great place to recoup from your flight and meet the locals.
DAY 2. Seoul: Breath of Traditional Korean Culture
Gyeoungbokgung Palace → Bukchon Hanok Village → Insadong Antique Street → Gwangjang Street Food Market → N Seoul Tower
After a restful night’s sleep, we will depart early for beautiful Gyeongbokgung Palace to experience the 500-year-old ceremony of the changing of the Royal Guard. Before attending the Korean food feast with the locals, we will drink in the history by taking a walk around Bukchon Village seeing several traditional Hanok homes. After a quick stop at Insadong, we will go to Gwangjang Street Food Market, the nation’s first market and continues to thrive as a popular tourist destination today. The last stop is N Seoul Tower. N Tower offers panoramic views of Seoul and the surrounding areas. The view is so stunning that many consider N Tower the best tower in Asia.
After the tour, we’ll be transported to your centrally located hotel, where you can spend your evening at leisure.
DAY 3. DMZ: Korean Paradox
DMZ(Demilitarized Zone) – The war memorial of Korea
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel, we will visit the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), attire should be business casual with comfortable walking shoes as we will be doing quite a bit of walking. Please have your passport available as this will be required for entry to the DMZ. It is said that the Korean DMZ is one of the most dangerous places on earth but once there you will be captivated by the tranquility, the lush green hillsides, and rare birds in untouched marshlands.
DAY 4. Andong: Academic center of Traditional Korea
Dosan Seowon Confucian Academy → Hahoe Village(UNESCO) → Mask Museum – Gyeongju
Andong, the heartland of Korean Confucianism is located in Gyeongsangbuk-do province. Andong is considered Korea’s spiritual and cultural capital. Our first destination will be Dosan Seowon Confucian Academy where the Yangban (noble gentleman) students prepared for critical civil service examinations during the Joseon Dynasty (1392 - 1897). Later we will be heading to Andong Hahoe Folk Village. This idyllic village with traditional Korean homes and clay-walled alleys has been a one-clan village and home of the influential Ryu family for over 500 years. Hahoe folk village is also famous for its mask dance festival and Mask Museum. Transfer to Gyeongju (185km / 2.5 hr).
DAY 5. Gyeongju: Museum without walls
Bulguksa Temple & Seokguram Grotto(UNESCO) → Daereungwon Tomb Complex (Cheonmachong Tomb) → Gyeongju
Today we will be visiting Gyeongju, the ancient capital of the Shilla Dynasty (57BC - 935AD) and the first dynasty to unite the Korean peninsula. Gyeongju is home to no fewer than three UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The magnificent Buddhist monastery Bulguksa temple will be our first destination, followed by Seokguram Grotto and Yangdong Village. Later we will visit Daereungwon, also known as Tumuli Park, a tranquil home of 23 tombs. Located in the park is the famous Cheonmachong, the tomb of an unknown 5th century Shilla king that yielded over 10,000 artifacts when it was excavated in 1974.
DAY 6. Busan: Hub of Asia
Taejongdae(Sea Cliff) → Jagalchi Market(Fisherman’s wharf) → Gukje International Market → BIFF Square → Islet Boat Cruise
After the hotel checks out, we will transfer to Busan (85km / 2hr), Korea’s second-largest city with its largest port. Travel to Taejongdae (Sea Cliff), located at the southern tip of Busan. Rock cliffs called Taejongdae to offer some of the best views of the Eastern Sea. On clear days we can see Japan’s Tsushima Island from the observatory. Busan is famous for Jagalchi Market, one of Asia’s largest seafood markets. We will get to meet Jagalchi Ajimae, the middle-aged female merchants, who are tough, salt-of the earth type ladies. No visit to Busan is complete without a stop at the traditional Gukje International Market, followed by an exciting exploration of the enormous Jalgalchi Fish Market. Both markets teem with fascinating products and are a great way to glimpse local life.
Next, visit BIFF Square, Busan’s modern movie district. At the square, we can see the hand printings of famous movie celebrities on the street. And then move to board Islet Boat Cruise. To make it even more seductive, a cruise by night delivers all the beauty of Korea’s No. 1 coastal city shrouded in shimmering light.
DAY 7. Tongyeong: Naples of Orient
Tongyeong(Geoga Bridge) → Mt. Mireuksan (By Cable car) → Sebyeonggwan Hall → Hallyeohaesang National Park → Jeonju
After the hotel checks out we will transfer to Tongyeong (95km / 2.5hr) via Geoga Bridge. Tongyeong is known as the Naples of the Orient minus the volcano and has been home to many respected artists, poets, writers, and composers. Situated in Tongyeong, Mireuksan mountain (461m) is home to ancient temples and provides a breathtaking view of the sea and nearby islands. A 2km cable car, the longest in Korea, is available for those who wish to minimize walking. Before the move to Hallyeohaesang National Park, we stop by at Sebyeonggwan Hall, well known as one of the widest buildings of the Joseon Dynasty Period along with Gyeonghoeru Pavilion in Gyeongbokgung Palace and Jinnamgwan Hall in Yoesu-si.
Our next stop is Hallyeohaesang National Park - Jewel of the Sea (70km / 1.5hr) Hallyeohaesang National Park was designed to protect and showcase a unique marine ecosystem that stretches over 120km of shoreline. Hallyeosudo is known as the most beautiful waterway with 69 uninhabited islands and 30 inhabited islands spread out across the sea like jewels. Hallyeohaesang National Park is home to 1,142 plant species, 24 mammal species, 115 bird species, 16 reptile species, 1,566 insect species, and 24 freshwater fish species. Transfer to Jeonju (200km / 2.5hr) for overnight stay.
DAY 8. Jeonju: Discovery of Korean Artistry & Temple Stay
Jeonju Hanok Village → Gyeonggijeon Shrine → Jeondong Catholic Church → Hanji(Traditional Paper) in making & Markguli tasting → Beopjusa Temple Stay(Mt. Songni)
Jeonju is one of Korea’s most important centers for traditional arts, food & culture. After savoring your first meal in Jeonju, the guide will show us around the Hanok Village. Jeonju Hanok village is located in the city of Jeonju and overlaps Pungnam-dong and Gyo-dong districts where there are over 800 traditional Korean Hanok houses. We will look around Gyeonggijeon Shrine, erected in 1410 and holds the portrait of King Tae-jo, the founder of the Joseon Dynasty, and Jeondong Catholic Church, built in honor of Roman Catholic martyrs of the Joseon Dynasty on the very same spot the martyrs lost their lives.
You can also observe local artisans creating Hanji, traditional Korean paper, and participate in making Makguli, Korean rice wine.
Transfer to Beopjusa Temple on Mt. Songni (90km/2.5hr) for Temple Stay. Beopjusa Temple stay will be a memorable experience where you can follow the path of 1,400 years of tradition through nature and tranquility. Join the group for Zen meditation, chants, and exchange Zen riddles (koans) with a monk. Listen to the monks’ rhythmic chanting before lights out for a peaceful night’s rest. Please bring personal towels, toiletries, and comfortable shoes. Uniforms will be supplied during your stay.
DAY 9. Back to Seoul
Beopjusa (Mt. Songni) → Korean Folk Village → Suwon Innovation Museum
Awaken before dawn, and listen as temple bells signal the start of a new day. After washing up, enjoy a temple breakfast. You can explore the temple complex on your own, relax by a mountain stream or take a walk. Once you tidy up your room and pack up, we’re accompanied by bus back to Seoul, where we’ll transfer to Korean Folk Village. In the village, visitors can experience the natural atmosphere with over 260 traditional houses reminiscent of the late Joseon Dynasty, including various household goods from different regions. Our last stop is Samsung Innovation Museum in Suwon before being dropped off at your hotel. Inside the museum, we can read about the technology companies’ consistent efforts to find new things. Especially Samsung is the first company to establish a museum that not just showcases its products but also provides a history of the global consumer electronics industry.
DAY 10. Cultural experience
O’ngo Food making Experience → Tongin Market(Antique coin trading experience) → MISO Performance
To understand a new culture, the best way is to experience its food. KIM’S TRAVEL gives you Korean cooking classes at O’ngo Food Making. It will be available to offer visitors greater insight into Korean culture. Next, we will visit Tongin Market and enjoy traditional food with traditional coin, Yeopjeon. Before finish the tour, MISO Performance is ready. The performance was adapted into a traditional dance drama/love story chronicling the four seasons of Korea. Over the past 14 years, MISO has attracted a total of approximately 650,000 people and has been particularly well-received among international fans, as an exceptional show of Korean tradition and culture. After the performance, the guide will return us to our hotel, and we finish the trip.
Day11. ICN Airport: Farewell Friends
We hope you have had a truly wonderful time and that you return home with great memories and experiences from Korea. We look forward to welcoming you back again soon!
