HISTORICAL-
  CULTURAL TOURS
COMBINED KOREA-JAPAN
  TOUR, Korean Portion
SPECIAL INTEREST TOURS
COMBINED HISTORICAL-
  CULTURAL / MOUNTAIN
  TREKKING TOURS
MOUNTAIN TREKKING TOURS
JEJUDO ISLAND, MT.
  HALLASAN TREKKING(1,950m)
  - 10 hours Trekking
COMBINED HISTORICAL-
  CULTURAL /FESTIVAL TOURS
ROOTS DISCOVERY TOURS
JAPAN EXTENSION
CHINA EXTENSION
HONGKONG EXTENSION
 
   
  
 
 
  16 Days / 15 Nights in Korea
 
 



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 / Korean Folk Village / Seoul
A morning tour of the city of Seoul, where old meets new in modern Korea, including Gyeongbok Palace (Palace of Shining Happiness)-the main palace during the Joseon Dynasty-via the Blue House (Presidential Residence)£»the National Folk Museum-the collections display complete items from every region of Korea which illustrate all aspects of traditional life£»and Seoul Tower on Mt. Namsan for a bird's-eye view of Metropolitan city of Seoul. Drive to Korean Folk 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.

Day 3 ¡ª Seoul / Mt. Songnisan / Gongju / Daejeon (Yuseong)
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. 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.

Day 4 ¡ª Daejeon (Yuseong) / Buyeo / Baekyangsa Temple / Gwangju
Transfer to Buyeo, the last capital of the Baekje Dynasty. Visit Nakhwaam Rock (Rock of Falling Flowers) - the site of a tragic legend, some 3,000 ladies of Paekche court flung themselves into the river from this bluff to avoid dishonor at the hands of their enemies during the fall of the Baekje Dynasty£»Goransa Temple, below Nakhwaam Rock bluff£»Buyeo National Museum, which houses abundant artifacts from the Baekje Era£»and Jeongnimsa Temple & its famous 5-Story Stone Pagoda-typically representative of Baekje style and one of the oldest pagodas in Korea. Continue to Gwangju. En route visit Baekyangsa Temple ? founded during the reign of King Mu of the Baekje Dynasty (632), Baekyangsa Temple is located within Mt. Naejangsan National Park. The combination of the mountain and valleys on both sides creates beautiful scenery. Nature reveals its beauty throughout all seasons here especially the red maple leaves during autumn. Arrive in Gwangju, then visit Gwangju National Museum, which was built to house the precious Chinese porcelains that were salvaged in 1976 from a Chinese trading ship wrecked at Sinan 600 years ago, and the museum also displays relics and paintings from the Baekje and Unified Silla Dynasties an d the Joseon Dynasty. Overni ght in Gwangju.

Day 5 ¡ª Gwangju / Haeinsa Temple / Gyeongju
This morning travel to Haeinsa Temple which is one of the 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. 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.¡± Overnight in Gyeongju.

Day 6 ¡ª Gyeongju
A full-day tour of Gyeongju includes 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£»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£»Bunhwangsa Pagoda-erected in 634, is considered, with Cheomseongdae, one of the country's two oldest stone structures, and the pagoda was 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£»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£»and the 15th century built Family Choi's House. Overnight in Gyeongju.

Day 7 ¡ª Gyeongju / Busan
Travel 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. A tour of Busan includes 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£»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£»and 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. Overnight in Busan.

 
   
 

Day 8 ¡ª Busan / Jinhae-Cherry Blossom Festival / Busan
This morning travel to Jinhae to view Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival whichopens from late March to early April, 2009.Enjoy Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival:The Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival, held annually since 1963, is one of the most famous cherry blossom events. The Jinhae area is an outstanding sightseeing destination in the springtime, when it is flooded with tourists who come to witness the spectacular blossom-filled streets. The origin of the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival goes back to 1953, when a statue of the famous Korean Admiral Yi Sun Shin was erected at Bukwon Rotary. This marked the first annual memorial service in honor of the admiral. Today, the festival features assorted cultural, artistic, and athletic programs, providing visitors with plenty of things to see and enjoy, in addition, of course, to the cherry blossoms. Event Programs: The Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival kicks off the evening before the 2-week festival begins with a breathtaking fireworks display and a ritual in commemoration of Admiral Yi Sun-shin.Visitors will be thrilled by the sight of a parade of marchers dressed in traditional military uniforms carrying huge banners and pulling large carts, performances of traditional Korean instruments and nongangnori (Korean traditional folk music, n traditional military uniforms carrying huge banners and pulling large carts, performances of traditional

Korean instruments and nongangnori (Korean traditional folk music, which farmers play and enjoy with their neighbors). When you visit the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival, don¡¯t forget to take a stroll along other famous streets as well including Anmin Road, the Street of Culture, Coastal Road, and Yeojwacheon Bridge, where it was the film location for the famous 2002 TV drama ¡°Romance,¡± starring well-known actors Kim Jae-won and Kim Ha-neul. Yeojwacheon Bridge is considered one of the best sites for viewing the cherry blossoms even in Jinhae. Walking across the secluded bridge as cherry blossoms shower down is sure to be an unforgettable experience. To reach Yeojwacheon Bridge, take a right turn at the Jinhae Citizens¡¯ Hall and go straight ahead 1.5 meters. Along Anmin Road there is a cherry orchard spanning 5.6 km. Be sure to catch every inch of Jinhae¡¯s awe-inspiring scenery with its 300,000 cherry trees. The best way is to hike along the 17 km mountain path is by passing Mt. Jangbok, Anmin Ridge, Siru Peak, Cheonja Peak to Daeballyeong. Major Highlights: As the most famous cherry blossom festival in Korea, the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival draws more than one million tourists from home and abroad to Jinhae every year during the festival period. Most visitors especially come here when the cherry blossoms burst into bloom, so it is recommended that you visit during the weekdays to avoid the crowds. For a better view of the cherry blossoms, it¡¯s a good idea to hike up Mt. Jangbok. To get there, take a 30 minute intra-city bus ride (bus no. 105) from downtown Jinhae to the Eoeun-dong bus stop.

 
 



Day 9 ¡ª Busan / Jejudo Island

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 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.

Day 10 ¡ª Jejudo Island
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£»Jeongbang Waterfall-this 23-meter-high waterfall is the only one in Asia to plunge straight into the sea, and on the beautiful beaches around the falls, visitors can watch the women divers collecting shellfish and abalone£»Jusangjeolli - stone pillars piled up along the 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£»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£»Manjanggul Cave-at 13.4 km in length, this cave is reputed to be the world's longest lava tube, and has many interesting and grotesque-shaped lava stones and lava pillars along its length. Drive back to Jeju city. Overnight in Jeju city.

Day 11 ¡ª Jejudo Island / Seoul
This morning fly to Seoul. The balance of the day and evening is at leisure. Overnight in Seoul.

Day 12 ¡ª Seoul / DMZ & 3rd Tunnel / Seoul
Today 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 Koryo Dynasty through telescope£»and Dorasan Railroad Station- recently opened in DMZ by South Korea according to the 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.

Day 13 ¡ª Seoul / Ganghwado Island / Seoul
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 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.

Day 14 ¡ª Seoul
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. Overnight in Seoul.

Day 15 ¡ª Seoul
Enjoy a full day at leisure or for your individual 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 16 ¡ª Seoul / Depart Korea
Transfer to Incheon International Airport for departure.