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Seoul / Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon / Korean Folk Village / DMZ & 3rd Tunnel / Ganghwado Island / Daeseungsa Temple-Temple Stay Program / Chungjuho Lake Cruise / Danyang / Andong / Seoul
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12 Days / 11 Nights |
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Day 1 ¡ª Arrive in Seoul
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
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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 |
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palaces of the Joseon Dynasty£»Biwon (Secret Garden) - behind Changdeok Palace (illustrious Virtue) 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 Village outside of Seoul to see a superb and truly authentic display of |
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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 / DMZ & 3rd Tunnel / Seoul |
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A tour includes North Korea¡¯s 3rd Infiltration Tunnel-this is located within DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) area and is 44 km away from Seoul and found in October, 1978, and 30,000 armed military forces with field artillery may permeate through this tunnel per one hour£»Dora Observation Platform - located at a western front line and from here you can get a view of the North Korean territory including Propaganda Village, People's School and Gaeseong city which was a capital of Goryeo Dynasty through telescope£»and Dorasan Railroad Station- recently opened in DMZ by South Korea according to the |
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agreement between South and North Korea to connect the broken railroad. Afterwards, proceed to Imjingak-this spot located at 40 km northwest of Seoul was dedicated for 5 million people who lost home in North Korea and its major facilities include North Hall where you can get a view of lifestyle of North Korea and Exhibition Hall having old tanks and planes used for Korean War. Return to Seoul. Overnight in Seoul.
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Day 5 ¡ª Seoul / Ganghwado Island / Seoul |
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A full day excursion travels to Ganghwado Island, the fifth largest island of Korea at the mouth of the Han River just northwest of Seoul, provides visitors a look at Korea's rural life and natural beauty, and offers numerous prehistoric remains and historical attractions. See the Ganghwa Historical Museum - exhibits historical records of the entire spectrum of Korean existence, from the time of Tan' gun, the mythical founder of the Korean nation, to the opening of Korea, to the Western World£»Birthplace of 25th Joseon (Yi) King - King Cheoljong was born in this house and it was the residence of King Cheoljong before he ascended the throne in 1849£»the Oldest Anglican Church - is the oldest Anglican Church in the country, with Western, Korean, Christian, Buddhist and Confucian influences which is definitely the most unusual£»the Prehistoric Dolmen - a granite dolmen from the Neolithic period which more than 2 m high, its one-m-thick oblong capstone rests on 2 sturdy upright supports, and open at each end, its high enough to crouch through£»Continuing tour of the island visits Jeondeungsa Temple-a major Buddhist temple that was built about 1,600 years ago during Goguryeo Kingdom. Here, in |
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the 1230-40s, 81,258 wood printing blocks were made. Collectively known as the Koreana Tripitaka£»the Gwangseongbo Fortress-Ganghwado is still a fortress island of sorts, with a large but relatively unobtrusive military presence, this fortress was constructed in 1656 with additions in 1679 and 1745 and saw battle in 1866 against the French and in 1871 against the American Navy£»and Ginseng Center - Ganghwado Island is one of the largest concentrations of ginseng farming in the country, five to six years are required to raise the plant to maturity, while great care and expertise are needed in its cultivation, thatched straw-roof lean-toss are erected in long rows to protect the tender plants from too much rain, wind or direct sunlight. This Ginseng Center is the largest wholesale market in the island for all kinds of Ginseng products being sold directly by the farmers. Return to Seoul. Overnight in Seoul.
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Day 6 ¡ª Seoul / Daeseungsa Temple-Temple Stay Program |
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Travel to Mungyeong. Visit Buddhist Hermitage belong to the Daeseungsa Temple which was established in 587 during the Silla Dynasty. Make ceramics by yourself through the monk¡¯s teaching at the Hermitage for the making experience. Dinner at the Hermitage. Later, move to the Daeseungsa Temple. You will have Special Program for Temple Stay at Daeseungsa Temple to experience Temple life and Buddhism as follows : Take temple stay uniform. Talking with the monk. Accommodations at lodging quarters in the Temple (all women-same room-share/all men-same room-share basis on the mats on the floor room. In chilly weather, the rooms are warmed by system of floor heating).
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Day 7 ¡ª Daeseungsa Temple / Chungjuho Lake Cruise / Danyang |
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You are having ¡°ChamSeon¡± the Meditation. Early morning meditation is a work for enlighteningyourself. You sit cross-legged on the floor. You embrace spirits and take away earthly thoughts and worldly desires You are having ¡°YeBul¡± the Worship. The early morning worship pronounces the vow that we wish Buddha for giving us the peaceful day and repenting our sins of that day.You are taking ¡°GongYang¡± the morning meal. You come to eat in the ¡°HuWon¡± where food is prepared at the same time. The planting food grown in the Temple on the menu. The food doesn¡¯t have spices and is neither hot nor |
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salty. You are taking ¡°DaDo¡± Tea. The tea makes our mind, eyes and ears clearer. It helps our stomach accelerate digestion and can cure a hangover. It also reduces the need for sleep and gets rid of thirst and fatigue. You can increase the ability to resist hit and cold. These disturbances are a big issue for self-discipline. This is the reason why monks take teas in the temple.Tour of the Temple and another Hermitage.Talking with the monk and free time at leisure.Lunch at the temple.Drive to Chungju and 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. 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 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 8 ¡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 |
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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. Overnight in Andong.
Day 9 ¡ª Andong / Seoul
Drive back to Seoul. En route to Sosuseowon Confucian Academy - founded in 1542, Sosuseowon was built to honor the brilliant Goryeo Dynasty scholar An Hyang (1243-1306), who introduced the Neo-Confucian philosophy of Chu Hai to Korea, and to educate students in Confucian doctrine. Arrive in Seoul and the balance of the day is at leisure. Overnight in Seoul.
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Day 10 ¡ª Seoul |
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Today is shopping tour day. The shopping tour includes Itaewon Shopping District - world widely well known and very popular to foreign visitors as a shopping paradise£»Insadong Antique District - called ¡°Mary¡¯s Alley¡± by foreigners, Korea¡¯s art and antique district reminds many visitors of a street museum. One hundred-odd antique shops. Old book stores, and art galleries are concentrated in this area£»Dongdaemun Market - the market is Korea¡¯s representative wholesale and retail market. It has established itself as the shopping kingdom of Seoul with about 20 shopping malls, 30,000 stores, and around 50,000 wholesalers. It is especially famous for night shopping. Not to mention retail sellers from all over the nation, but foreign visitors from all parts of the world form the hordes of people that come here at nights£»and Namdaemun Market - the market opened in 1964 and is the first largest traditional market in Korea with various goods in store such as children¡¯s, men¡¯s and women¡¯s wear. The displayed goods are sold at a reasonable price and it also functions as a wholesale market.Most of the goods are produced directly from shopkeepers. The market is crowded with retailers from all over the country. Return to the hotel. Overnight in Seoul. |
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Day 11 ¡ª Seoul
Enjoy a full day at leisure or for your independent activities. This evening there will be a farewell dinner with a Korean folklore dance and music performance at Korea House (optional). Overnight in Seoul.
Day 12 ¡ª Seoul / Depart Korea
Transfer to Incheon International Airport for departure. |
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