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Seoul / Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon / Korean Folk Village / Mt. Seoraksan / Cheongpung Cultural Properties Complex / Chungjuho Lake / Danyang / Andong / Mt. Songnisan / Gongju / Gwanchoksa Temple / Daejeon (Yuseong) / Haeinsa Temple / Gyeongju / Busan / Jejudo Island / Seoul / Panmunjeom / Seoul |
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14 Days / 13 Nights |
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Day 1 ¡ª Arrive in Seoul |
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Arrive in Seoul at Incheon International Airport, where you will be met and transferred to your downtown hotel. After check-in the balance of the day is at leisure. Overnight in Seoul.
Day 2 ¡ª Seoul
A full day tour of Metropolitan city of Seoul, where old meets new in modern Korea. Established by the founder of Joseon Dynasty in 1392, the capital of the Republic of Korea has a population of more than 12,000,000 people. Seoul is a city of incredible contrasts which, despite its immense size, make it one of the most fascinating cities in the world. It is the heart of Korea¡¯s culture and education as well as politics and economics. The tour includes National Museum of Korea which displays rich and priceless artifacts from prehistoric Korea to the end of the Joseon Dynasty£»Changdeokgung Palace (Palace of illustrious Virtue) - constructed in 1405, and is now the best preserved of Seoul's five palaces of the Joseon Dynasty£»Biwon (Secret Garden) - behind Changdeok Palace (illustrious Virtue)
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Are tranquil gardens of unequalled beauty and woodland originally constructed for the recreational area for the royal family and palace women£»Insadong Antique District - called "Mary's Alley" by foreigners, Korea's art and antique district reminds many visitors of a street museum. One undred-odd antique shops, old bookstores, and art galleries are concentrated in this area£»Jogyesa Temple - it is the headquarters of the Jogye sect of Korean Buddhism, and the regional office of the World Fellowship of Buddhism£»Namdaemun Market - one of the oldest and largest traditional markets in Korea, with colorful and bustling spots for bargain shoppers£»and N Seoul Tower on Mt. Namsan for a bird's-eye view of Metropolitan city of Seoul. Overnight in Seoul.
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Day 3 ¡ª Seoul / Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon / Korean Folk Village / Seoul |
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This morning travel to Suwon walled city, where was planned as capital city of Joseon Dynasty in the 18th century with the intention of moving the national capital from Seoul to Suwon and Hwaseong fortress wall was constructed. Enjoy tour of Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon-over 5 km in length, the fortress wall averages 9 m high and its bulwark of stone and brick is considered the masterpiece of Korean fortress construction. The fortress wall was designated as World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 1997. Afterwards visit the Korean Folk |
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Village outside of Seoul to see a superb and truly authentic display of Korean history including folk traditions, legends, and the lifestyles of the nobility, the 14th- 20th centuries, Korea. Return to Seoul. Overnight in Seoul.
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Day 4 ¡ª Seoul / Mt. Seoraksan |
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Today we journey to Mt. Seoraksan National Park, this northern stretch of Korea's eastern coast, which is rugged and mountainous with breathtaking scenery making it the "Alps of Asia", and give this area an unparalleled popularity with the dense forests bordering crystal clear streams, tumbling over cataracts and dropping from precipices to form fleecy waterfalls, as well as awesome sawtooth cliffs spiraling into the blue skies. This afternoon explore Mt. Seoraksan National Park with visits to Sinheungsa Temple -established in |
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653 A.D., claims to be the country's oldest Zen Buddhist temple, and it would be the oldest existing Zen temple in the world£»Cheonbuldong Valley-the most visually stimulating valley in the park£»and Biseondae (Flying Fairy Rock)-a wide, flat rock surface where the river rapids drain into a crystal clear pool and a peak rises majestically above the valley, one hears many legends of the heavenly nymphs who come to laugh and play while they bathes in the placid pools of the many glens hidden from human eyes. Over night at a hotel at the foot of Mt. Seorakasan.
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Day 5 ¡ª Mt. Seoraksan / Cheongpung Cultural Properties Complex / Chungjuho Lake / Danyang |
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This morning drive to Chungjuho Lake and visit Cheongpung Cultural Properties Complex - located on a ridge above Chungjuho Lake, this complex has reconstructed the beauty of Cheongpung, a village that became submerged after the construction of Chungju Dam. It took three years to relocate the buildings and structures of this historic village to the current site. Many of the old and unique buildings were transferred to the new complex. These include pavilions such as Hanbyeong-nu, Geumnam-nu, Paryeong-nu, and Eungcheong-gak, as well as the Cheongpung Confucian School during Joseon Dynasty. Then, take a venture of Chungjuho Lake by cruise starting from ferry terminal, covering 53 km in 2 hours. All seats allow wonderful views of the passing scenery. Chungjuho is a multi-purpose lake made by a river dam. This large lake is very clean and well-preserved. Later, transfer to Danyang - Gosudonggul Cave which is located less than one mile from Danyang town center. It contains glistening stalactites in all shapes and sizes.The cave is so breathtaking that it is also called the "Underground Palace".Overnight at Daemyung Condo in Danyang. You are having Hot Spring |
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bath at Daemyung Condo Aqua World. Aqua World within the Daemyung Condo, opened in July 2003, is an indoor great water park. With numerous hot springs and amusement facilities which are open year round, it is the perfect spot for vacationers and tourists. The hot spring is known as one of the Korea¡¯s premier hot springs. Approximately 250m under the hot springs, the water can be found with alkalinity (pH) reaching 8.3 and temperatures of 53 degrees Celsius. The hot springs contain many minerals beneficial to the body, such as sodium, calcium, fluorine, and magnesium. |
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Day 6 ¡ª Danyang / Andong |
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This morning travel to Andong, one of the last living vestiges of old Korea, where still is very conservative and traditional, a stronghold of Confucianism, which has deeply influenced all aspects of the lives of its people. En route to Dosanseowon Confucian Academy - founded by Korea's foremost Confucian scholar, Yi Toe-gye during the Joseon Dynasty and was the hub of Korea Confucianism which ruled all Koreans in their ethical-moral way and still conduct the ethical behavior in Korean society. Arrive in Andong and visit Andong Folk Museum which displays rich folk artifacts collected in variety in Andong and its surrounding county£»the Korean Traditional Paper-making Factory£»and Hahoe Village-the best preserved traditional village of the Joseon Dynasty, where residents still live in traditional thatched and tile-roofed houses and one of the few remaining examples of a classical Joseon Dynasty Confucian village layout. Continue to Jirye Artists' Colony (Jirye Art Village) for Home Stay Program in Andong for accommodations - Jirye Artists' Colony is located near Imhaho Lake and a great place to have a unique experience of traditional Korean culture. Every month there are events such as traditional Korean ancestral rites, making rice cake or Kimchi and you can stay in traditional Korean houses. The village is 350 years old and there are houses with rooms of Ondol, Korea's unique system of floor heating with wood. The colony has lavatories, bathrooms with hot water. Because the village has preserved the old customs with small details, it is a great place to experience and understand Korean traditional culture. Jirye Artists' Colony is a |
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cultural inquiry spot for foreigners and a creative space for the artists to work.It is also used as a traditional life study site and as Confucianism institute. Recently, many Koreans and foreign visitors have been gathering in Andong to spend a night in the traditional Korean way in old tradition al Korean houses, known as ¡®Hanok¡¯. Dinner at the colony restaurant to taste typical regional food. Overnight at the houses of the Colony in Andong.
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Day 7 ¡ª Andong / Mt. Songnisan / Gongju / Gwanchoksa Temple / Daejeon (Yuseong) |
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This morning travel to Mt. Songnisan National Park, one of the most popular tourist spots in the central part of Korean peninsular. You will enjoy exploring Beopjusa Temple-established in 553 A.D. during the Silla Dynasty, with many famous artworks including 108-foot-high bronze statue of Buddha, etc. Travel to Gongju, the capital of the ancient Baekje Dynasty, still many of Baekje's treasures in evidence. Visit King Muryeong's Tomb (A.D.501-524)-Korea's greatest discoveries of the twentieth century, and Gongju National Museum which displays hundreds of artifacts uncovered from King Muryeong's Tomb. Continue to Gwanchoksa Temple - Gwanchoksa Temple was built by Monk |
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Haemyong during the Goryeo Dynasty, and is located at the foot of Mt. Panyasan, within 40 minutes¡¯ drive from Daejeon. It has one of Korea¡¯s most interesting Buddha statues, Unjinmiruk, whose disproportionate earlobes, head and crown attract immediate attention. Afterwards, transfer to Daejeon, the fifth largest city. We take a few minutes' drive from Daejeon to Yuseong, one of the country's most famous hot spring resorts. Overnight in Yuseong.
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Day 8 ¡ª Daejeon (Yuseong) / Haeinsa Temple / Gyeongju |
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This morning travel to Haeinsa Temple which is one of three greatest temples of Korea, established in 803 A.D., chiefly known today as the repository of the Tripitaka Koreana, set of over 80,000 wooden printing blocks engraved with one of the most comprehensive compilations of the Buddhist scriptures in all of Asia, and the Depositories and the Tripitaka Koreana Wooden Printing Blocks were added to UNESCO's World Cultural Heritage List in 1995. After a visit to Haeinsa Temple, continue to Gyeongju, where was the capital of the Silla Dynasty from 57 B.C. to 935 A.D. and designated by UNESCO as one of the world's ten most historically significant sites with numerous relics of that era, and is called the "Museum Without Walls".An afternoon tour of Gyeongju includes Bunhwangsa Pagoda-erected in 634, is the oldest datable pagoda in the country, and along with Cheomseongdae, one of the country's oldest stone structures, and originally 9 stories high, only 3 remain today£»Gyeongju National Museum, which has the best collection of Silla Dynasty artifacts with more than 100,000 pieces£»Anapji Pond-constructed in 674 A.D. as a pleasure garden to commemorate the unification of the peninsula by the Silla forces, used the recreational area for the Silla royal family and banquet garden to entertain royal important guests£»Cheomseongdae Astronomical Observatory-built in 634 A.D., is considered the world's earliest known existing observatory and admired by archaeologists worldwide£»and Royal Tumuli Park-a collection of royal Silla tombs located in the middle of Gyeongju with 20 tombs, of which Cheonmachong (Flying Horse Tomb) is the most famous with its excavation which yielded more than 10,000 treasure-artifacts. Overnight in Gyeongju.
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Day 9 ¡ª Gyeongju / Busan |
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A morning tour visits Bulguksa Temple-originally constructed in 535 A.D., the most frequented and best-known temple in Korea, was added to UNESCO's World Cultural Heritage List in 1995, and Seokguram Grotto-dating back to the same era as Bulguksa Temple, one of Asia's finest Buddhist shrines, an attempt to represent physically the highest spiritual aspirations, the crowning achievement of Silla religio-artistic work, was added to UNESCO's World Cultural Heritage List in 1995. Continue to Busan, the country's principal international port city, second largest city with a population of 4 million, and is the San Francisco of Korea built along the sea at the site of an excellent harbor.The balance of the day is at leisure or for independent activities for shopping, etc. Overnight in Busan.
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Day 10 ¡ª Busan |
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A full-day tour visits Yongdusan Park, where provides a pleasant touch of greenery on a hill in the heart of the city and a very popular public park with Busan Tower£»Busan Tower-Yongdusan Park crowned with the tower, 120-m-high tower observatory dominates the most of the area of the city, and the sea and harbor views spreading below the tower are spectacular£»Beomeosa Temple which is located at the edge of a famous Geumjeongsan mountain in Busan. Busan's greatest temple, Beomeosa translates as "Fish of the Buddhist Scripture Temple". Beomeosa Temple was founded in 678 AD by monk Uisang during the reign of King Munmu of Silla Dynasty and most of the present buildings date from reconstructions of the 17th and 18th centuries, representative of mid Joseon Dynasty temple architecture£»Daeungjeon Main Building of the Beomeosa Temple which was rebuilt during Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) and is one of the most delicate and luxurious architectures of Joseon Dynasty£»Iljumun of the Beomeosa Temple- the three story pagoda with four pillars, built in the 9th century, and seven royal palace wings, |
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pavilions, three gates, and eleven hermitages (natural monument)£»Mt. Geumjeongsan Fortress is located on the peak of Mt. Geumjeongsan (801.5m) in Busan. Its original name was Dongrae Mountain Fortress, but it was changed because of its location. Its length is 17,377m, and 1.5m~3m high; it is the largest fortress in Korea. But now there is only a 4 km section remaining from the original£»Jagalchi Fish Market -Busan's most active fish-dealers' cooperative, the colorful spectacle is also a great attraction for tourists and camera buffs£»Taejongdae Seaside Cliff Park - the scenery of rugged cliffs dropping straight down to the sea is breathtaking, along with a panoramic sea view from the Park, overlooking the Korean Strait-on a very clear day you can even see the Japanese island of Tsushima on the horizon to the southeast£»UN Memorial Cemetery where the Korean War (1950-53) dead from the sixteen UN allies rest in honored serenity and is the unique one in its kind in the world£»and Busan Municipal Museum-has a decent collection of artifacts, most from the Busan area. Overnight in Busan.
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Day 11 ¡ª Busan / Jejudo Island |
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This morning fly to Jejudo Island, Korea's largest Island which is often described as "Emerald Isle", "Island of Gods" or "Korea's Hawaii" and most "exotic" region, and is one of Korea's premier tourist regions as undiscovered and unspoiled tourist destinations, and has been a Korean honeymooners' retreat, a paradise where love can bloom in planned seclusion amidst the serenity of its easygoing ambiance. An afternoon tour of Jeju city, capital and hub of Jejudo Province, includes Mokseokwon-a public park which contains naturally sculpted rocks and dried tree roots imaginatively representing various |
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animal and human forms and figures£»the Jeju Folklore & Natural History Museum-has a huge exhibition room decorated with black volcanic rocks and a large collection of folkcrafts, as well as exhibits of geology, flora and fauna of the island£»Samseonghyeol Holes (Ancestral Spirit Holes)-the shrine to the island's 3 legendary clan progenitors, emerged from the three small holes in this meadow, and annually grand worship ceremony is given by the islanders£»and Yongduam (Dragon Head Rock)-an unusual lava formation set at the edge of the ocean, gets its name from the fact that it looks like a dragon head which is opening its mouth to roar. Overnight in Jeju city. |
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Day 12 ¡ª Jeju / Seoul |
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A full-day tour includes Mt. Hallasan-which is the highest peak in the Republic rising to 1,950 m above sea level and this mountain is the island of Jejudo-crossing over 1,100 m pass£»Cheonjiyeon Waterfall-cascades down a cliff 22 meters high and 12 meters wide into a natural tropical pond inhabited by eels and surrounded by lush vegetation, and many fossils can be found around the falls£»Cheonjeyeon Waterfall- got its name from a legend that seven fairies descended every night to bathe in the falls by the moonlight and is a gorge that contains a series of 3 falls and pools£»Yeomiji Botanical Gardens-located at the heart of Jungmun Resorts and it is the largest botanical garden in Asia with an area of 13,373§³, and the indoor garden contains over 2,000 different sub-tropical and tropical plants and there is a 38-meter-high observation tower overlooking the whole Jungmun Tourist Complex and its surrounding seashore, and an outdoor garden where are areas devoted to the styles of other countries such as traditional Japanese, Italian, and French gardens as well as traditional Korean garden£»Jusangjeolli - stone pillars piled up along the |
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coast and is a designated cultural monument of Jejudo Island. The Jusangjeolli was formed when the lava from Mt.Hallasan flew to the sea of Jungmun. They are rock pillars shaped like cubes or hexagons of various sizes. The administration of the district named them 'Jisatgae Rocks' from their old name 'Jisatgae'.It is also famous for its 20m cliff with the high tides and sea angling£»Seongeup Folk Village-the only non-coastal town of significance, is the island's best preserved old community and has been designated as a "folklore preservation zone", where the villagers still live behind the stone courtyard walls in thatched-roof, and mud and rock homes£»Sangumburi Crater-it is 438 meters above sea level and is located in an elegant wilderness, the circumference measures 2 km and the center area is about 298,000§³ in which grows at least 420 species of sub-tropical, temperate and alpine zone plants providing ample opportunity for botanical study£»and Seongsan Ilchulbong (Seongsan's Sunrise Peak)-rising from the double-headed peninsula at the eastern end of the island, this volcanic crater rises 182 m straight up from the water, and the whole crater is surrounded by 99 sharp, basalt pinnacles which looks like an ancient western-style castle or crown from a distance and reflects marvelous scenery. Transfer to Jeju Airport. Fly to Seoul via evening flight. Overnight in Seoul.
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Day 13 ¡ª Seoul / Panmunjeom / Seoul |
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A full day tour to the armistice village of Panmunjeom where the agreement ending the Korean conflict was signed in 1953 and scene of many international headlines in recent years. The day includes the Korean Border Line and the Demilitarized Zone (D.M.Z.) including the Freedom House, the Conference Site, the Bridge of No-Return and the Joint Security Area. Lunch is included. Return to Seoul. Overnight in Seoul.
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Day 14 ¡ª Seoul / Depart Korea
Transfer to Incheon International Airport for departure. |
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