Essence of Korea 13 Days

Day 1 (Wednesday) Sydney - Incheon - Seoul

Depart Sydney early morning on Korean Air KE122. Arrive at Incheon International Airport in the evening. Upon arrival transfer to Novotel Ambassador Gangnam Hotel located in the centre of Seoul (about 1 1/2 hour trip) without guide assist by KAL Limousine Express at your own expense. Transfer coupon can be purchased at AU$20 in Sydney upon request. (Ground Floor - Platform 4B or 11A directly to the hotel).

Hotel: Novotel Ambassador Gangnam Hotel or similar

Day 2 (Thursday) Seoul - Hwaseong - Buyeo - Jeonju (B)

After breakfast meet with our tour guide at the lobby of the hotel at 08:25. Transfer to Banpo "Sinsegye Department Store" located in the precinct of Gangnam (Banpo) Express bus terminal and head for Suwon.

Visit Hwaseong Fortress - a UNESCO cultural heritage located in Suwon. An interesting point to note about the Fortress is that it was planned and built using the ideas of practical science. Move to Buyeo, an ancient capital of Baekjae Dynasty (BC18~AD660), visit Goransa Temple and Nakhwaam bluff where 3,000 court ladies of Baekjae plunged into the river to avoid being captured and dishonoured when enemy breached the castle on the last day of the Kingdom (Optional Tour: Cruise US$6). After having dinner at your own and transfer to hotel.

Hotel: Jeonju Riviera Hotel or similar

Day 3 (Friday) Jeonju - Jinan - Namwon - Sunchang - Gwangju (B/L)

After breakfast at hotel, move to Jinan and visit Tapsa Temple of Mt. Maisan National Park. The pagodas at top Mt Maisan were built with native rocks and the top of these towers look as sharp as nails. On the south side of the mountain, it is said that there were over 120 of these pagodas, but only about 80 exist today. There is also something very mysterious about these pagodas. No matter how bad the weather, even during storms, they somehow do not sway or fall. Another interesting thing about Mt maisan is the icicles. if you put water into a bowl during their winter, the water freezes into a pole reaching for the sky. No one knows why or how this happens, but it makes Maisan just that much more mysterious and interesting to visit.

Later drive to Namwon Gwanghallu, which was orginally built by Hwanghee Jeongseung in 1419 during the reign of Joseon Dysnasty's King Sejong, encompassed by breathtaking scenery. It is famous as the location where Lee Mong-Ryong and Chunghyang first met each other and fell in love, and in the 1920's Chungyangsa Temple was established in the precincts and a portrait of her is also contained.

Proceed to Sunchang Gochujang (red pepper taste) Folk Village, a well known for its outstanding deep sweet and savory taste of red pepper taste. The secret of mysterious taste is found in Meju (soybean malt). The soybean malt is made by mixing soybean and sticky rice which is rich in gluten, The sunshine-dried hot peppers are grown in local high lands and they are characterized in its extremely spicy taste. After that visit Damyang Bamboo Theme Park composed of bamboo tree forest in the wide area surrounded by picturesque scenery. After having dinner on your own and transfer to hotel. Take a rest at hotel.

Hotel: Gwangju Prado Hotel or similar 

Day 4 (Saturday) Gwangju - Haenam - Wando - Nakan Eumseong (B/L)

After breakfast at hotel, move to Haenam-gun (province) located at the end of the Korean penisula which is the beginning as well as the ending area where Mt Duryun is the soaring end other main stem of the Baekdu mountains. (Optional: US$15 for a cable car to the top of Mt Duryun 638 above sea from archipelago sea is seen).

Then travel to Wando Island and Sinji Island's long beach through bridges and reach Boseong Tea Plantation, a beautiful green filed where you can throw your bodies to the tea field and enjoy tea fragrance rather than you taste tea. When you fell hungry while playing around the fieldm your faces are blushed and your bodies are relaxed with freshness. Move to Nakan-eumseoung Folk Village built 500 years ago is magnificent and well preserved as it is. The traditional village has 108 families still living recognized as valuable. After that, have your dinner at your own and transfer to hote.

Hotel: Sunchon Royal Hotel or similar

Day 5 (Sunday) Jinju - Busan - Jeju Island (B/L)

Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to Jinjuseong Castle (area 1,760m2 stone castle) - a sacred ground of Jinju in which history and culture of Jinju are well integrated. Originally it had been a mud castle. But it was rebuilt with stones against frequent invasion of sea marauders in the 5th year of King Woo, Goryeo Dynasty (1379). During the Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592, the General Kim, Si-min won a victory at this castle, which was one of the three great victories in the war. And the next year (1593), in the second Jijuseong Battle, about 70,000 militia corps and government troops resisted to the last to die gloriously for their country.

Transfer to Mt. Mireuk Island in Mireuk Island, Tongyeong is not high but there is a valley in which clean water flows down between heavily wooded forest and rock caves in various bizarre-shapes stones. (Optional Tour: US$15 for a cable car to the top to view the whole panoramic scene of the Archipelago water ways)

Move to Gimhae Airport in Busan for the flight to Jeju. Arrive at Jeju and met by our guide. Then transfer to hotel and take a rest.

Hotel: Jeju Lotte Hotel or similar

Day 6 (Monday) Jeju Island (B/L)

After breakfast at hotel and full day sightseeing including:

Cheonjiyeon Waterfall named the pond of God, consists of 3 parts. Around the fall, a variety of plants thrive. To the east there is a cave where cold water pours from the ceiling to create a waterfall. The water from the first waterfall becomes the second and third waterfalls and then flow into the sea. The Legend of 7 nymphs and mountain God is very interesting.

Gyulimseong, a citrus farm and museum of 1000-odd wild plants and flowers implanted in the basalts produced by volcano.

Optional Tour: Cruise tour US$12 - Seogwipo pleasure boat is the only cruise in Korea where you can enjoy the view from both above and below the sea. Many mysterious and unexplored regions such as some islands including Seogwipo's fantastic coastal scenery are viewed from the boat.

O"Sulloc Tea House (Green Tea Museum), the entire building takes the shape of a green tea cup, seeking to harmonize the cultures of the West and East and past traditions with modern world.

Halim Park - visitors can enjoy checking our Palm Tree Road, Jeju Stone and Bonsai Garden, Water Garden, Subtropical Botanic Garden and much more. The most famous tourist sites in Halim Park are Hyeopjaegul and Ssangyonggul Caves known to be the only two-dimensional caves in the world. In addition, a folk vilage, children's amusement park and outdoor resort facilities make it enjoyable for both children and adults.

Yeongmeori (Dragon Head) Shore (or Sanbanggulsa) - an Oceanside promenade of soaring, weather-blown cliffs. Some are quite drastic and beautiful. note that Yongmeori closes during very high seas. You will see Sangbanggulsa, a natural cave overlooking the fantastic ocean. (Optional Tour: US$10 - Nature Dyeing Experience, a traditional method of dyeing - the tannin of persimmon and natural fiber are combined to make the fiber stiff and well ventilated, resisting moisture despite perspiration during hot summer.)

After dinner at your own, transfer to hotel.

Hotel: Jeju Lotte Hotel or similar

Day 7 (Tuesday) Jeju - Busan (B/L)

Enjoy breakfast at hotel and check out of the hotel and head for Mysterious Road (Dokkaebi Road) - a road on which your vehicle will roll uphill if with the engine turned off and the gearshift in neutral. Move to other place looing around the Amethyst Factory including:

Seonnyeo (nymph) and Namuggun (woodcutter) Theme Park - composed for old film village, old market street, old shanty house village, agricultural museum displaying old farming utensils, embroidery museum, etc.

Seongeup Folk Village - a perfectly reserved Korean tradition with its vast amount of cultural properties. Many cultural heritages such as residential houses, Confucian Shrine and schools, ancient government office, stones statues (run by horses or ox), fortress ruins, stone monuments and intangible assets like folk plays, native foods, local craftsmanship and local dialect have been handed down to date. Wandering around this area, you would feel as if you traveled back to the past. It shows the unique residential culture of the Island with poorly made windscreen stone wall (black lava rock), straight but curvy narrow alleys to block the wind.

After lunch, visit Seongsan Ilchulbong (Sunrise Peak). Then transfer to Jeju Internation Airport and fly to Busan (Gimhae Airport), the largest city in Korea. Upon arrival, met by our guide and have a dinner on your own then transfer to hotel. 

Hotel: Busan Paradise Hotel or similar

Day 8 (Wednesday) Busan - Gyeongju (B/L)

Breakfast at hotel. Visit Yongdusan Park - considered a favorite resting place among the citizens. Passing by Jagalchi Fishery Market, Korea's largest seafood market formed after Korean War, representing the life style of the indigeneous Busan native. You can eat fresh raw fish straight at the market where all kind of fishes are on display in ice or in the aquariums for sale.

Then transfer to Gyeongju, an ancient capital of Silla Dynasty (BC57~AD935) and a museum without walls by bus or van (1 1/2 ride). Visit Bulguksa Temple, which built during the most glorious period of Silla Dynasty. The temple is one of the most frequently mentioned and the best known temple in Korea. The architectural design of the temple is one of the constrained dignity, peace and harmony and the temple still remains as one of the remarkable achievements of the ancient Far East region.

After that, transfer to Seogulram Gotto - the home of serene stone Buddha of the eighth century, built during the glorious period of Silla Dynasty and said to be one of the finest Buddhist shrines in the world. Inside, a white serene statue of a seated Buddha in a sublime state of enlightenment is surrounded by Bodhisattva, disciples and guardians. Both of the Bulguksa Temple and Seogulram Grotto are on the list of UNESCO world cultural heritage.

Proceed to visit Gyeongju National Museum, displaying the 23-ton Emille Bell cast in AD771 and thousands of priceless treasures. Then transfer to Cheomseongdae, known as the world's oldest astronomical observatory built during Silla Dynasty.

Have your dinner at your own and transfer to hotel.

Hotel: Gyeongju Hyundai or similar 

Day 9 (Thursday) Gyeongju - Andong - Mt. Seorak (B/L)

After breakfast at hotel, transfer to Andong which is well-renowned for the home of the intellectual aristocratic class of Korean society and Confucius scholars during Joseon Dynasty (1392~1910), giving the aroma of traditional culture as the birth place of Hahoe masks, Chajeon games and Hahoe spirit rituals. As Queen Elizabeth of United Kingdom has been visited here in 1999, marking it as a popular international tourist attraction.

Proceed to Andong Hahoe Village, a preserved housing architecture and the village structure of the Joseon Dynasty. The village was not artificially created and still houses a small community of villagers. Three sides of Hahoe Village are surrounded by the Nakgonggan River. The village got its name from the way in which the river meanders through it. Directly translated, Hahoe means spinning river. Next to Hahoe Village have many pine trees and a soft sand plain and across from it are beautiful cliff.

After sightseeing of Andong, you will have an opportunity to take an optional tour (US$17 p.p.) of taking a sea train running for an hour (between Smcheok and Gangneung) along East Sea on the way to Mt. Seoraksan Park (for taking the sea train, early booking is required). In the late afternoon, you will get to have dinner on your own near Mt. Sorak Park. Then transfer to hotel.

Hotel: Hotel Maremons, Seorak

Day 10 (Friday) Mt. Seorak - Seoul (B/L)

After breakfast transfer to Mt. Seorak National Park, designated as a natural monument preservation area and as a Biosphere Preservation District by UNESCO. Seorak has been named because the snow would not melt for a long time keeping the rocks in a permanent state of white. The park is spread across 4 cities and counties: Sokcho, Inje, Goseong and Yangyang. The highest peak is Daecheongbong (1,708m), to the east is OeSeorak (outer Seorak) and to the west is NaeSeorak (innder Seorak), which is divided again into North Naeseorak and South Naeseorak. North NaeSeorak is composed of Bukcheon, which flows to Ingyecheon and Baekdamcheon. There are numerous valleys in NaeSeorak. Follow the Baekdamcheon valley where all the streams meet and you will reach Baekdamsa Temple.

You will be transferred to take a cable car to Gwongeumseong Fortress (Optional Tour US$15) which is the site of fortress ruins, located on the steep stone Mountain of Mt. Seoraksan. It is believed to have been built by the 23rd King of the Goryeo Period (918~1392), Gojong (1213-1259) reign). At the plateau of Gwongeumseong Castle, there are 80 sections of rocks you can see the East Sea and the city of Sokcho. Also to the west, you can see all kind of fantastic rocks and stones which make up the Seoraksan Mountains. Shinheungsa Temple is at short walk away from the entrance. This temple used to be called Hyanseongsa built by Jajangyulsa (AD590~658), who travelled to famous mountains all over the nation during Queen Jindeok of Silla Dynasty. It was destroyed and rebuilt manu times since. On the path to Shinheungsa, there is a great bronze statue call Bronze Jwabul Statue, which is well over 10 metres high. Just beyond the statue on a granite terrace, there is a bridge to the right called Hyeonsugyo, which was newly built for crossing the ravine. Past the bridge there is a long stone wall with a Cheongwang door and you can enter the temple.

After looking around Mt. Seorak Park,  transfer to Goseong Unification Observatory (700m) built by an army unit in1983, was the closest place from which you could view the Mt. Geumgangsan in North Korea before it was opened to South Koreans. The closest part of Mt. Geumgangsan is 16km away and the farthest part is about 25km away.

Transfer to Seoul and have a dinner on your own and transfer to hotel.

Hotel: Koreana Hotel or similar

Day 11 (Saturday) Seoul - Korea Folk Village (B/L)

Pass-by Cheongwadae (Presidential residence), Gyeongbok Palace, a main palace during Joseon Dynasty (1392~1910), is particularly charming tourist spot representing a colorful and turbulent aspect of the Capital's 500 year-old history.

Korea National Folk Museum will help familiarize the visitors with the cultural wealth of this friendly and picturesque nation. Stop by Insa-Dong Street, a place known as the centre of traditional Korean art and antiques.

Korean Folk Village, an open-air real life museum recreating the Korean real life of several centuries agi, preserving some of the country's rich traditional and cultural heritage. A wide assortment of residential structures from the straw-thatched cottages of commoners to the 99-room mansions of the noble class has been reproduced to help illustrate the diversity of Korean lifestyle and culture. The farmer's dance and music, one of Korea's most popular forms of entertainment, is performed on daily basis.

Then, have a dinner on your own before transfer to hotel.

(Evening Optional Tour: Traditional Performance US$35 or NANTA performance US$50)

Hotel: Koreana Hotel or similar 

Day 12 (Sunday) Seoul - Incheon - Sydney (B)

Individual check-out on arrangement. Move to Seosomun KAL building (5 minutes walking distance). Transfer tp Incheon International Airport by KAK Limousine Express Bus at your own expense for KE121 departing in the evening or you could extend your stay upon request before your departure from Australia.

Day 13 (Monday) Sydney

Arrive Sydney approximate 09:00 on KE121.

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