| Purpose: | Discovery, Culture, History |
| No. of days: | 5 days – 4 nights |
| First & Last Cities: | Seoul |
| Other cities: | Gyeongju |
| Starting cost: | $1,539 |
Day 1: Seoul
Upon arrival at Seoul Incheon International Airport, you’ll be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is free.
Day 2: Seoul
After breakfast at the hotel meet your guide and start your full-day Seoul tour at Gyeongbok Palace, a large complex comprising numerous buildings, one of which is the National Folk Museum that sits in the northern section. The museum encompasses three interconnected buildings (If today is a Tuesday you’ll visit Deoksu Palace instead because Gyeongbok Palace is closed). After the palace tour continue to Jogyesa Temple the main Buddhist temple in Korea. Visit Insadong Antique Alley and enjoy a walking tour and shopping at Bukchon Hanok Village. Then go to the top of Seoul Tower on Mt. Namsan for a bird’s eye view of the city. The last stop is Namdaemun market where most of the goods are made directly by the store owners. The site of busy shoppers bustling around the market creates a unique scene that attracts tourists worldwide. Return to the hotel. In the evening dinner at a local restaurant with Pork BBQ (Samgyeopsal) with SOJU, or Chicken and Beer. [B/D]
Day 3: Seoul, Gyeongju
Breakfast at hotel before transfer to Seoul train station (train ticket will be delivered to your hotel). Upon arrival at the station, take a KTX express train to Gyeongju where you’ll meet your English-speaking local driving guide. In the afternoon take a tour of Gyeongju, including the Gyeongju National Museum exhibiting all kinds of relics dating from the Shilla Dynasty. Next visit is Tumuli Park (known as Daereungwon in Korean) that has more than 20 large and small tombs from the Shilla period. Most of the tombs here are presumed to be of the same type. On the way to the hotel, visit Cheomseongdae Astronomical Tower and make a last stop at the Donggung and Wolji pond for an evening view. Overnight in Gyeongju. [B]
Day 4: Gyeongju, Seoul
After breakfast, check-out and start a morning city tour including Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple, both located on Toham Mountain. Seokguram Grotto, designated as a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1995, is an artificial stone temple made of granite. The construction was started by Kim Dae-Seong in 751 and was finished twenty-four years later in 774, during the reign of King Hye-Gong. Inside the round-shaped main hall are the Bonjon Statue, Bodhisattva and his disciples. The rounded ceiling looks like a half-moon or a bow and has a lotus flower decorated cover on it. Continue to Yangdong village, one of Korea’s largest traditional villages, showcasing the traditional culture of the Joseon Dynasty in beautiful natural surroundings. Thanks to its many cultural heritages, including national treasures, and folklore materials, the entire village has been designated a UNESCO Cultural Heritage site. Mt. Seolchangsan and its four spines of mountains can be seen beyond the village. Approximately 160 traditional hanok homes and 500-year-old thatched-roof cottages are nestled within the valley. Fifty-four of these homes are over 200-year-old and have been excellently preserved in their original state, offering a rare opportunity to view a variety of unique Korean traditional houses in person. After the tour your guide will take you to the railroad station to board the KTX express train to Seoul. On arrival in Seoul, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. [B]
Day 5: Seoul (Departure)
Breakfast at the hotel and some free time depending on your flight schedule. At the appointed time you’ll be picked up and transferred to the airport to board a flight to your next destination. [B]
[B] = Breakfast
TOUR INCLUDES
- Private arrival and departure transfers
- Railroad stations transfers
- 4 nights’ accommodation:
- Seoul – 3 nights
- Gyeongju – 1 night
- Meals
- Breakfast daily
- 1 Dinner
- Private Seoul city tour
- Private tour of Gyeongju
- Visit to Seokguram Grotto
- Visit to Yangdong village
- KTX round trip ticket Seoul/Gyeongju
- Entrance fees for sites visited
- English speaking driver/guide
- Transportation by A/C vehicle
- All local taxes
NOT INCLUDED IN TOUR
- International or domestic airfares
- Taxes related to airfares
- Visas
- Travel insurance
- Optional tours and activities
- All alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks
- Other meals not mentioned in the itinerary
- Extras and gratuities
- Early check-in, late check-out (Most hotels begin check-in around 2:00pm).
- Expenses of personal nature
- Any service not specifically listed under “included”
