Korea Tour Series VIII – Seoul, Paju(DMZ), Andong, Gyeongju, Busan 8 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.

Lotte 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. After that, You will experience trying on Korean traditional costume, Hanbok. Onward to Jongmyo Royal Shrine[World Heritage Site] which enshrine 27 King’s ancestral tablet of the Joseon dynasty(1392-1910). 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 in 1905.

Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner[Temple Food]

Lotte Myeongdong or similar

Seoul / Paju(DMZ) / Seoul

Depart for Imjinggak at DMZ, see the Freedom Bridge and Mangbaedan which is an altar for the Koreans to come to pay respect to their families in North Korea. It is especially crowded during the Lunar New Year and Korean Thanksgiving Holidays, “Chuseok”, as this is the closest families can get to North Korea. After, transferring to the DMZ, you will see the 3rd tunnel and Dorasan observatory. One can see parts of North Korea from the observation deck. The Media Hall offers an insight into the disparities between the divided countries. Back to Seoul.

Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner[Soy Sauce Marinated Crab]

Lotte Myeongdong or similar

Seoul / Andong

Transfer to Andong, a Confucian city. You will visit Byeongsan seowon[World Heritage Site]. Seowon was an educational institution where the disciples of local Confucian scholars gathered to study. Enjoy the taste of the Confucian village of Hahoe. Hahoe is the village where the members of the 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.

Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner[Andong-style Braised Spicy Chicken with Vegetables]

Hanok ( Rakkojae, Chunghyodang, etc)

Andong / Gyeongju / Busan

Transfer to Gyeongju, the city of 1,000 years of history and capital of Silla dynasty(BC57~AD935). 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. Then, forward to Cheomseongdae. 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. Transfer to Busan.

Breakfast / Lunch[Steamed Rice Wrapped in a Lotus Leaf] / Dinner[Beef Ribs]

Lotte Busan or similar

Busan

Today, you will start the tour of Gamcheon culture village which is a representative landmark of the original downtown of Busan. It can be said to be a successful example of great results from urban regeneration projects through the Sanbok Road Renaissance Project which is nicknamed Machu Picchu or Santorini in Korea. However, it is not attached to the coast like Santorini in Greece, and the scenery is not similar to Santorini. Forward to Jagalchi fish market, the largest fish market in Korea that represents Busan. It is said that the name Jagalchi did not come from the name of the fish, but was given because there were many gravels on the floor. Of course, gravel is not found now that the inside of the market has been modernly renovated. Then, forward to BIFF Square and Gawangan Bridge. BIFF square is a square and street located in Nampo-dong which is like Myeongdong in Seoul. BIFF stands for the Busan International Film Festival and is the origin of the Busan International Film Festival. Gwangan bridge, nicknamed as Diamond Bridge, is the longest bridge in Korea and has landscape lighting facilities that can produce more than 100,000 different colours by time, day of the week, and season. It is the first two-story maritime bridge in Korea, and the suspension bridge is also the largest in Korea. In addition, the nation’s largest three-story two-story truss bridge was built on both sides of the suspension bridge for 360m, making it a famous place in Busan along with the night view of Gwangan Beach.

Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner[Set Menu with Sliced Raw Fish]

Lotte Busan or similar

Busan / KTX(Bullet Train) / Seoul

Transfer to Busan station for boarding on KTX(First class seat) for Seoul on clients’ own. Transfer to Seoul Sky Observatory. It is located at the highest point of Lotte World Tower, the world’s fifth-largest, 123 stories high, and 555 meters high, the Seoul Sky Observatory (4th in the world, 500M) is the tallest place in Korea and offers a 360-degree view of Seoul, the capital that implies Korea’s most brilliant history and dynamic modern culture. The dizzying and thrilling experience from 500 meters above the sky, various exhibition contents on the theme of Pride of Korea, the ease of a cup of coffee on the clouds and various souvenirs on the theme of the tower will make the experience at the observatory even more special. Transfer to the restaurant where you can taste the meal that was served to the Royal families during the Joseon dynasty.

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

Lotte Myeongdong or similar

Tour ends

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