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South Korean Trails Header Anapji in Gyeongju at night, South Korea

Essence of Korea - 8 Days - includes Train Journey



Summary


This tour itinerary includes Airport pick-up and drop-off.

Exploring Seoul, Gongju, Jeonju, Gwangju, Suncheon, Yeosu, Jinju, Busan, Gyeongju, Andong, Wonju, Pyeongchang, and Mt. Seorak. This tour includes a high speed train journey between Seoul and Busan.


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Itinerary


Day 1 (Tuesday) Arrive into Incheon Airport


Meet your tour guide at Incheon Airport (upon exiting) and transfer to hotel.

Check into your Hotel. Remainder of the day free time at leisure.

Hotel: Travelodge Myeongdong Euljiro or similar.


Day 2 (Wednesday) Seoul Tour


After breakfast, pick up at your hotel around 08:30-09:00 am for Seoul half day sightseeing tour.

Visit Gyeongbokgung Palace, The Royal Guard Changing Ceremony, National Folk Museum, Korean Ginseng Center.

Continue to visit Insadong Antique Shop Alley, Namsan Hanok Village, and Seoul Tower for an unobstructed view of Seoul city.

Return to the hotel. .

Hotel: Splaisir Hotel Myeongdong or similar.


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Day 3 (Thursday) Seoul DMZ Tour - Busan


After breakfast, pick up from your hotel at 08:00 am for DMZ Tour (Closed on Mon and National Holidays). You are required to bring Passport for security check. Visiting Imjingak Park, The Unification Bridge before your ID Check. Continue to DMZ theatre and exhibition hall, The 3rd Infiltration Tunnel, Dora Observatory, Dorasan Station, and Shopping center.

Drop off at Seoul City Hall  where you will meet a driver.

Transfer to Seoull station to catch a KTX Train from Seoul to Busan (2.5hrs by high speed train).

Meet a driver at Busan Airport, where you will be transferred to your hotel.

Enjoy your own free time at Haeundae Beach where the sandy shore stretches between the sea and Busan's tall buildings.   

Hotel: Haeundae Ramada or similar.


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Day 4 (Friday) Busan - Gyeongju


After breakfast at the hotel, meet a guide for a full day sightseeing tour of Busan.

Visit Haeundae Beach, the most famous beach in Busan. The white sand beach is roughly 1.5 kilometers long, over a 30- to 50-meter wide area, creating a beautiful coastline before a shallow bay.

Proceed to Yonggungsa Temple via Dalmaji-gil Road, famous for its views of the ocean, white sandy beach, Camellia forest, and pine tree forest, creating one of Busan’s eight scenic sites.

Haedong Yonggungsa Temple is situated on the coast of the north-eastern portion of Busan.

Transfer to Gamcheon Culture Village, formed by houses built in staircase-fashion on the foothills of a coastal mountain, earning this village the nickname "Machu Picchu of Busan".

Continue to visit Korea’s largest seafood market, Jagalchi Fishery market and traditional market.

Transfer to Gyeongju and visit Anapji Pond and Tumuli Park (a night tour). This secondary palace was used by the crown prince of the Silla Kingdom. You can enjoy the reflections of Imhaejeon in Wolji.

Hotel: Commodore Hotel or similar.


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Day 5 (Saturday) Gyeongju - Daegu


Breakfast at the hotel.

Meet your guide and enjoy a full day tour of Gyeongju - a "museum without walls". In 57 BC, around when Julius Caesar was subduing Gaul, it became the capital of the Shilla Dynasty and remained so for about 1000 years. Gyeongju preserves a vast amount of significant and fascinating historical heritage.

Visit Gyeongju National Museum, Cheomseongdae Astronomical Observatory, Seokguram Grotto (UNESCO world heritage) - an artificial stone temple made of granites, located on the eastern peak of Mt. Toham. Inside the round-shaped main hall, there are the Bonjon Statue, Bodhi-Sattava and his disciples. It was built to preserve these statues.

Bulguksa Temple (UNESCO world heritage). The beauty of the temple itself and artistic touch of the stone relics are as awesome and fascinating as to be highly praised by visitors from all over the world.

Move to Daegu city for overnight which is a largest and central city of this province.

Check in at Hotel and take a rest.

Hotel: Daegu Inter Burgo EXCO Hotel or similar.


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Day 6 (Sunday) Daegu - Haeinsa Temple - Andong - Pyeongchang


After breakfast we check-out, then move to Haeinsa Temple located in Gayasan National Park. Haeinsa Temple was founded by King Ae-Jang of Shilla Dynasty (802), and is well known for its famous treasure “ Tripitaka Koreana ”(UNESCO world heritage) composed of 81,341 printing woodblocks made to repulse the Mongolian Army Invasion with support of Buddha.

And then transfer to Andong Hahoe Village which has preserved the housing architecture and the village structure of the Joseon Dynasty. Moreover, the Village was not artificially created; there are people who actually live there. The Andong Hahoe Villagehas become world-famous following the visit of The Queen Elizabeth II of Britain.

Transfer to your hotel

Hotel: Ramada Hotel Pyeongchang or similar


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Day 7 (Monday) Pyeongchang - Mt. Seorak - Seoul


After breakfast, drive to Seoraksan National Park where the peaks break through the clouds while jade-like water flows through the valleys, creating breathtaking views and making this Korea’s most famous national park. UNESCO designated this park a Biosphere Preservation District in 1982 due to so many rare species found here.

Visit Sinheungsa Temple, located at Mt Seorak which is an ancient temple with deep historical significance, built by a great monk Jajangyulsa (590~658). (Optional Tour: Gwongeumseong Cable Car–USD15.00).

Gwongeumseong is a site of castle ruins located on the steep Dol Mountain of Seoraksan National Park area.

After sightseeing of Seoraksan National Park, we move to Seoul.

Hotel: Splaisir Hotel Myeongdong or similar.


Day 8 (Friday) Seoul Departure


Breakfast at your hotel

Meet your driver at the hotel lobby (4 hours before your flight time)

Private transfer to Incheon Airport

*Check-out before 12:00 noon to avoid an additional night’s charge


* Above schedule and Hotels are subject to change due to local circumstances such as weather, traffic and big events.


Inclusions:


Accommodation with Breakfast

High Speed Train from Seoul to Busan

English speaking tour guide

Admission Fees (some attractions optional and not included)

Transportation


Excludes:


International Flights

Lunch & Dinner

Optional Tour Admission Fees

Travel Insurance


TTA Protected

Price Guide:


US$ 2395 per person- based on 2 sharing a room and airport transfers.

Single Supplement: US$ 595


*Peak Season Prices: (1st week of May, July, August, & Holidays)


US$ 2395 per person- based on 2 sharing a room and airport transfers.

Single Supplement: US$ 595


This tour operates with a minimum of 2 persons.

Child Price on this tour: Infant under 24 months goes free. Child 2-5 years sharing bed with 2 adults: 80% Adult Price. With extra bed, sharing room with 2 adults: Full Adult Price. Child with 1 Adult sharing a room is Adult Price.


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