Bulguksa temple
• Round Korea and Western Korea tours:
• Meeting time 08:00AM. Pick up from the Lobby of Amid Hotel Seoul
• This morning, we'll head to Gongju to explore Gongsanseong Fortress (UNESCO World Heritage Site). It is a mountain castle which was established during the Baekje Period (234-678). It is worth the visit for its historical and cultural significance, and also for the beautiful view of the Geumgang riverside and the walking trail.
• Visit the Tomb of King Muryeong. Only seven graves have been discovered so far.Although many artifacts were stolen from the tombs, they still provide crucial evidence of Baekje culture and the foreign exchanges of that era.
• We'll also visit the Gongju National Museum, which houses over 10,000 cultural relics, including 19 National Treasures and three Treasures. The most important artifacts are on permanent display, while others are featured in rotating exhibitions.
• At the end of our day's adventures, we'll settle into our hotel in Jeonju for an overnight stay.

Palace guards

• Our destination today is Jeonju Hanok Village (80km/1hour 30mins distance) with over 800 traditional Korea houses. The village is famous among tourists because of its atmosphere that strongly contrast with the modern city around it. Choose your preferred Hanbok, Korean National Costume and make a special memory wearing Hanbok with your companions. You will explore Gyeonggijeon Shrine which was erected in 1410 and holds the portrait of King Tae-jo, the founder of the Joseon Dynasty.
• Following that, we will proceed to Jangseong, where Baegyangsa Temple is situated within Naejangsan National Park. Upon arrival you will experience Conversation over tea with a Monk. The combination of the mountain and valleys on both sides creates beautiful scenery. Nature reveals its beauty throughout all seasons here, especially through the red maple leaves in fall. Wrapping up our day's explorations after dinner, we'll head back to our hotel in Gwangju for the night.

Yeosu World Expo
• Kick off the morning by visiting Green Tea Plantation produces high-quality green tea and is a popular tourist attraction year-round thanks to the vast rows of tea trees that line the hillside like a deep green carpet. Despite being located on a small peak at just 350 meters above sea level, the observation deck at the summit offers views of the sea on clear days. You will have a chance to taste Boseong Green Tea Icecream!
• After a lunch break, we continue with visits to Suncheon Bay * which is a coastal wetland with a 3.5 km stream, expansive tidelands, and vast reed fields. It’s a key habitat for migratory birds and wildlife, and was the first Korean coastal wetland listed as a Ramsar Wetland in 2006. *
• After fully enjoying Suncheon Bay, we'll head to Busan, South Korea's second-largest city. Based on the numerous reviews you provided, we'll spend two nights in Busan, giving us more time to explore and get to know the city better!

* Sunchonman Bay is closed on the last Monday of every month. Therefore, it will be replaced with Nak-an Fortress.

View on Busan

• Eastern Korea tour: in the morning, departure from Seoul to Busan
• Round Korea and Western Korea tours:
• Visit to The United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Busan, the only UN cemetery in the world dedicated to honoring UN Command casualties from the Korean War. Spanning 14 hectares, it features 2,300 graves, organized by the nationalities of the fallen soldiers.
• Eastern Korea tour: arrival in Busan after 11 am, lunch together with Western Korea and Round Korea tour participants
• Western Korea tour: after lunch departure to Seoul (arrival in Seoul after 7 pm)
• Round Korea and Eastern Korea tours:
• Jagalchi Market, Korea's largest seafood market, renowned for its fresh and dried fish.
• Finally, we'll head to the Songdo Sea Cable Car, now known as Busan Air Cruise. This scenic mile-long ride from Songdo Bay Station to Songdo Sky Park offers stunning views of Songdo Beach, Namhang Bridge, and the coastline. Our official tour is over here in Songdo. If you wish to return to the hotel, please follow the guide.

* Breakfast is not included in the Eastern Korea tour

 


Gyeongju grave hills
• In the morning, we'll begin our day with a visit to Nurimaru APEC House, located on Dongbaekseom Island, an island known for its camellia trees. It was the venue for the 2005 APEC Summit. You can enjoy both the beauty of nature and the building's contemporary design.
• Next you will depart to Gyeongju and have a lunch upon arrival. We continue with visits to Bulguksa Temple which is a representative relic of Buddhist culture from the Silla kingdom. The temple was built during the 15th year of King Beopheung's reign (514-540) to wish for peace and prosperity for all. Unfortunately, the temple caught fire during the Imjin War (1592-1598). After the war, the temple suffered serious damage and was often the target of theft. Starting in 1920, the temple has undergone continual restoration work. The temple now holds seven national treasures and a number of additional important heritages and was designated a World Cultural Heritage Site along with the nearby Seokguram Grotto by UNESCO in December 1995.
• Continue to visit Daereungwon Tomb Complex. This park has more than 20 large and small tombs from the Silla period and has been designated Historic site. The tombs are presumed to be those of kings and court officials.
• And then visit Gyeongju National Museum. Its holdings are largely devoted to relics of the Silla kingdom, of which Gyeongju was the capital.
• Before dinner, we'll stop at Cheomseongdae Observatory which is the oldest existing astronomical observatory in Asia. Constructed during the reign of Queen Seon-deok (r. 632-647), it was used to observe stars in order to forecast the weather.

Hahoe Village

• Waking up in Gyeongju, we will head to Daegu to immerse ourselves in Korean Traditional Culture. Under the guidance of a renowned expert in regional cuisine and a certified master of traditional recipes, we'll learn how to make traditional teatime snacks. After the class, we'll have a brief tasting session to enjoy the treats we've made. **
• Drive to Andong Hahoe Village. This village is one of the most famous folk villages in Korea. Surrounded by the Nakdonggang River, the village is home to descendants of the Ryu clan of Pungsan, which still makes up 70 percent of the villagers. The village became even more famous after Queen Elizabeth of England visited on April 21, 1999 and President George H. Bush of U.S.A. in 2005.
• After the Andong tour, we'll head to Pyeongchang, enjoying dinner along the way

**This class requires a minimum of 8 participants to proceed. If the minimum number is not met, we will substitute the activity with a visit to Buyongdae Cliff: [Alternative schedule: Buyongdae Cliff, at 64 meters high, offers a great view of Hahoe Village, which resembles a lotus flower in shape. The name 'Buyong' means lotus in Chinese, reflecting this resemblance.]

Royal Guards in Seoul

• Upon waking up in Pyeongchang, we'll prepare for a visit to the Jujeongol of Mt. Seorak to enjoy the nature. Don’t miss the breathtaking view from Mt. Seorak! It is the most famous place for fall colors in Seoraksan Mountain, and its handsome valley and rock formations are well-known as well. Keep your eyes open for strange rock formations.
• After the hiking, have some lunch at local restaurants
• Our return to Seoul Insadong is scheduled for around 17:00.