The Best of South Korea

Day 1: Seoul
Arrival at Incheon airport and meeting with representative to take a regular shuttle to the hotel. Accommodation for 2 nights, with breakfast.


Day 2: Seoul
After breakfast at the hotel, full-day city tour.

For departures until 09/12/2024: Visit to Changdeok Palace and Huwon, also known as “the Secret Garden”.

For departures starting from 06/01/2025: Visit the Changdeok Palace and the COEX Mall, a leader in trends and culture, where you can take a break to visit the Byeolmadang Library, better known as the Starfield Library.

Next, visit Gwangjang Market, one of the most famous street food markets in Seoul. Continuation to the National Museum of Korea, built in 2005, presents a large collection of Korean arts and relics. Finally, visit the N Tower on Mount Namsan for stunning views of the city.


Day 3: SEOUL - SONGNISAN NATIONAL PARK - DAEGU
Breakfast and check-out at the hotel. Transfer to the Folk Village in Suwon, where the villagers keep their old traditional houses and continue to live the lifestyle of the 18th and 19th centuries. Continue to Songnisan National Park to visit the

Beopjusa Temple, where the largest Buddha statue in Korea is located.

After the tour, drive to Daegu and accommodation for 1 night, with breakfast.


Day 4: DAEGU - GYEONGJU
Breakfast and check-out at the hotel. Tour to the Yangnyeongsi Museum of Oriental Medicine where you will have the opportunity to receive a foot bath in herbal medicine and to the Seomun Market, one of the three main markets during the Joseon Dynasty.

Transfer to Gyeongju, known as the “Museum Without Walls”, as it houses 52 important historical and cultural sites. Visit the Cheomseongdae Astronomical Observatory and the Tumuli Park or Daereungwon Tomb Complex, where it houses ancient tombs from the Silla dynasty known for their mound shapes. Enter one of the excavated tombs to see the construction and process behind the royal graves.

For departures starting from 06/01/2025: Instead of the foot bath experience in Daegu, the traditional tea experience will be offered at the Traditional Tea coffee shop in Gyeongju.

Accommodation for 2 nights, with breakfast.


Day 5: GYEONGJU
After breakfast at the hotel, full-day city tour. Visit the Bulguksa Temple, a Buddhist temple dating back to the period of the Silla Kingdom and declared, in the 2000s, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Seokguram Cave, which houses a granite statue of the Buddha, sculpted in the 8th century. In the

afternoon, visit the 4-Faced Buddha and the Tomb of King Wonseong.

Finally, a panoramic car ride to Guryongpo port.


Day 6: GYEONGJU - BUSAN
Breakfast, check-out at the hotel and transfer to Busan, with a stop for a tour to the Unmoonsa Temple. Accommodation for 1 night, with breakfast.

Half-day tour to Jagalchi Market, famous for its fresh seafood, and Nampodong Street, a famous shopping street. Then, visit the Busan Tower with its observatory that offers breathtaking views of the city.


Day 7: BUSAN - HAEINSA TEMPLE - ANDONG - CHUNGJU
Breakfast and check-out at the hotel. Transfer to Mount Gayasan National Park and visit to Haeinsa Temple. With its world-famous Korean cultural treasure, the Tripitaka Koreana, which was made during the Goryo dynasty to protect the country from the invasion of Mongol troops by the power of Buddha.

Continuation of the trip to Hahoe village in Andong, one of the best preserved villages with its noble houses in traditional style. Hahoe Village is famous for its own masked dance.

After the visit, arrival in Chungju and accommodation for 1 night, with breakfast.


Day 8: CHUNGJU - TEMPLESTAY
After breakfast and check-out at the hotel, boat ride to enjoy the views of Chungju Lake (subject to weather conditions).

Continue to the Woljeongsa/ Samhwasa/Shinheungsa temple (subject to availability) to enjoy a unique experience. Upon arrival, exchange your clothes for the clothes prepared by the temple. Accommodation for 1 night, with half board.

Remarks:

• Accommodation at the temples is in a shared room, and it is possible to choose to spend the night in a hotel near the temple, in standard accommodation. If you choose to spend the night at the hotel, breakfast will be served there instead of experiencing a Buddhist ceremony in the morning at the temple.
• Alcoholic beverages are prohibited in the temple.
  
  
  

Day 9: TEMPLESTAY - GANGNEUNG - DMZ - MT. SEORAK
At 03:00am, morning worship ceremony (optional activity). Breakfast at the temple and transfer to Gangneung to visit the Seongyojang House, the home of a high-ranking official from the Joseon Dynasty period. This traditional house has been well preserved for about 300 years and is a famous tourist attraction that showcases the house culture of the Joseon Dynasty with the surrounding nature.

Continuation to the Korean Demilitarized Zone Unification Observatory, the closest place to see Geumgangsan Mountain in North Korea. The DMZ Museum, which is located inside the observatory, allows visitors to learn about the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) based on its historical records and the ecological importance of the area.

Finally, a trip to Mt. Seorak and accommodation for 1 night, with breakfast.

Note: The visit to the Korean Demilitarized Zone Unification Observatory may be canceled depending on local circumstances, in which case it will be replaced by another tour.


10th day: MT. SEORAK - SEOUL
After breakfast and check-out at the hotel, tour of Mt. Seorak, including a visit to Shinheungsa Temple and cable car to Gwongeumseong Fort.

Travel to Seoul with a stop in Gapyeong to visit the “Garden of Morning Calm” and the Tree Park, which displays unique wild flowers and Korean trees in a garden nestled in a mountainous valley.

Arrival in Seoul and accommodation for 1 night, with breakfast.


Day 11: SEOUL
Breakfast and check-out at the hotel. Self-presentation at the airport.