Korea Tour Series III – Seoul, Mt. Songni, Andong, Gyeongju, Yongin 7 days

Incheon Int’l Airport

Welcome to Korea! You will be met at the arrival gate by a local representative holding
a sign.

Upon arrival, you will meet our English-speaking guide and transfer to Seoul.

L7 Myeongdong or similar

Seoul

Today, you will start the tour of Gyeongbokgung which was built in 1395, three years after the Joseon dynasty was founded. The name means the “Palace Greatly Bless by Heaven” The site of Gyeongbokgung was at the heart of Seoul and, indeed, deemed auspicious according to the traditional practice of geomancy. Visit Jongmyo which is the supreme state shrine where the royal ancestral tablets of deceased Kings and Queens are enshrined and sacrificial rites are performed for them. Then, you will tour Bukchon Hanok village where you can see the traditional type of houses in the upper class of the Joseon dynasty. After that, you will walk to Insadong antique street where antique shops, restaurants, galleries and traditional tea houses are. Forward to Gwangjang market which opened its business on 1905.

Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner[Temple Food]

L7 Myeongdong or similar

Seoul / Mt. Songni / Andong

Today, you will take a long trip all day. After breakfast, you will move to Mt. Songni and visit Beopjusa temple[UNESCO Heritage Site], the head temple of the 5th parish of the Jogye order of Korean Buddhism. Beopjusa temple was initially constructed in 553 by monk Uisin of the Silla dynasty. It has been historically associated with Beopsang thought and the worship of the Maitreya Buddha. Beopjusa Temple is designated as Korean Historic Site No. 503. It has a variety of cultural properties, including Palsangjeon Hall (National Treasure No. 55, the only wooden pagoda in Korea. Three state-designated cultural properties, 12 treasures, 21 tangible cultural properties in Chungbuk, and 1 cultural property material exist in Beopjusa Temple. Transfer to Andong, a Confucian city.

Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Hanok ( Rakkojae, Chunghyodang, etc)

Andong / Gyeongju

Enjoy the taste of the Confucian village of Hahoe. Hahoe is the village where the members the of Ryu family which originated from Hahoe village have lived together for 600 years. It is a representative village for one family where tile-roofed houses and thatched-roofed ones have been quite well conserved for a long time. The reason for the village name Hahoe(Ha means a river and Hoe means turning around) was that the Nakdong River flows around the village in an “S” shape. It became more famous after Queen Elizabeth II visited in 1999. And you will visit Byeongsan seowon[World Heritage Site]. Seowon was an educational institution where the disciples of local Confucian scholars gathered to study. Transfer to Gyeongju, the city of 1,000 years of history and capital of the Silla dynasty(BC57~AD935).

Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Gyeongju Kolon or similar

Gyeongju

Today, you will visit Gyeongju which was the capital city of Silla dynasty. The history of Gyeongju, once called Seorabeol, is also the history of the thousand-year-old Silla dynasty. Gyeongju embraces Buddhism, science, and vibrant ancient culture that blossomed by the artistry of the Silla people, and the great spirits of Hwarangdo that enabled the unification of the three dynasties. Thus, Gyeongju is a UNESCO-designated city which should be preserved by the public. With a thousand years of the evergreen spirit of Silla, Gyeongju is truly a museum without a roof. The Bulguksa Temple [UNESCO Heritage Site]
was built in 528, the year after Buddhism was officially accepted by the Silla dynasty. Seokguram grotto[UNESCO Heritage Site] first began construction in 742 A.D. alongside neighbouring Bulguksa Temple. The construction of both religious sites started under the guidance of Prime Minister Kim Daeseong. Seokguram Grotto would be completed in 774 A.D. just shortly after the death of Kim Daeseong. Initially, Seokguram Grotto was called Seokbulsa Temple (Stone Buddha Temple, in English). The Grotto was constructed, according to legend, to appease Kim’s parents from his previous life. Daereungwon, called Tumuri park, is a large-scale ancient tomb area and it is believed to belong to the kings, queens, and aristocrats of Silla. It was designated as Historic Site No. 512. Donggung and Wolji was a separate palace of Silla, where the prince of Silla lived and is one of the representative ancient Korean buildings, and the original form of the Unified Silla Garden was well preserved, and many valuable relics were found to show the architectural style. Cheomsungdae, a heritage so often seen in textbooks, has stood in the same spot for 1,500 years right in the heart of Silla’s history. This unmistakable landmark of Gyeongju has such a unique design that there is hardly anyone who hasn’t bought a souvenir of it. Its unique shape inspired countless scholars to research Cheomsungdae, and there have been many theories about its use. Some say Cheomsungdae was used for heavenly rituals, others say it was simply a symbolic tower. But the most dominant theory is that Cheomsungdae was an astronomical observatory. And you will experience making Silla pottery.

Breakfast / Lunch

Gyeongju Kolon or similar

Gyeongju / Yongin / Seoul

After breakfast, you will transfer to Yongin near Seoul and visit the Korean folk village which is a theme park where you can watch various lifestyles of the Joseon dynasty. Back to Seoul and transfer to the restaurant to enjoy the Royal court cuisine for a farewell dinner.

Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner[Special meal : Royal Court Cuisine]

L7 Myeongdong or similar

Tour ends

After breakfast, you will have free time until checkout time. Transfer to Incheon Int’l Airport.