South Korea Explored
Trip Length |
Trip Code |
| 12 days | PCSK |
Countries Visited |
|
| South Korea | |
Start City |
End City |
Come for an adventure like few others. Go beyond the capital, Seoul, to explore the countryside and your adventure truly begins. Serene temples, picture-perfect mountains, unspoiled fishing ports and a visit to the demilitarised zone make up this road-less-travelled journey.
Why we love it:
- See South Korea’s history up close, from the 600-year-old Bukchon Hanok village to a piece of more recent history at the Demilitarised Zone
- Spend a couple of days soaking up the soul of Seoul! This buzzing city has reshaped itself into a culture-filled design-centric capital worth exploring
- Shop for bargains at the traditional markets in the port town of Busan
- Relax on the holiday isle of Jeju – and when you’ve had enough of your downtime there are activities galore to choose from – scuba diving, hiking or museum visits anyone?
Day to Day Itinerary
Day 1: Seoul
Accommodation: IP Boutique Hotel or similar, Seoul
Activities:
- Welcome to South Korea!
- When you arrive in Seoul, you'll be met by one of our local English speaking guides and transferred to the hotel.
- You'll have the day free to explore the capital, followed by a tour briefing in the evening.
Day 2-3: Seoul
Meals included: 2 breakfasts
Accommodation: IP Boutique Hotel or similar, Seoul
Activities:
- We spend the next two days exploring the capital and its surrounds.
- One of our first stops will be Gyeongbok Palace, built in 1395,and the most exquisite of all the five palaces in South Korea.
- South Korea's rich history is explored at the National Folk Museum, and we will also visit the Bukchon Hanok Village to see what daily life was like here 600 years ago.
- Namdaemun Market is next on our hit list. With everything from food to clothes to flowers, we'll spend our time wandering through the stalls, soaking up the ambience of this bustling market.
- The following day we'll head out to the DMZ. Our full day tour will explore some of South Korea's more recent history.
Day 4: Naksansa
Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 dinner
Accommodation: Nakasana Temple or simialr, Nakasana
Activities:
- After breakfast at the hotel, we'll drive out to Yangyang.
- En route, we'll stop off at the Osaek Mineral Springs, where we can test the cosmetic benefits and healing powers of the springs.
- Tonight's accommodation is in the Naksansa Temple. We'll get a tour of the ancient site, as well as a special sunset ceremonial service and meditation insights.
- We'll stay in the monastery, where we'll be broken up into groups (men and women) for sleeping. This is an amazing, spiritual place, and dinner with the monks is a real highlight.
Day 5: Mount Seorak
Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch
Accommodation: Seorak Kensington Hotel or similar, Seorak
Activities:
- An early morning start for a dawn service starts our day, then we'll take tea time with the monks to learn more about their lives and journeys.
- We'll lunch at the temple, then transfer to Mt. Seorak National Park. This is a a magnificent area with towering granite peaks, lush green valleys and clear streams.
- A 1100m cable car takes us to the Gwongeumseong Fortress. Built around 1213~1259, the ruins speak volumes for the rich history of the area.
- A short hike from the Fortress is Biseondae Rock Flat, named after a legend that tells of an angel ascending to heaven from the rock flat. The grand scenery of rocks and cliffs do seem like they are touching the heavens, and Biseondae has inspired many poets and scholars through the ages.
- Tonight we stay in a hotel near the park.
Day 6: Suaedang
Activities:
- We depart for Andong this morning, on the way, we stop off at Buseoksa Temple.
- Built in 676 and known as the Temple of the Floating Stone, it is believed the monk Uisang received help from a lady friend (who had turned into a dragon upon her suicide) when an angry mob tried to stop him building the new temple. Uisang brought down three stones from heaven to stop the crowd that had gathered. One of the stones that floated down from the heavens now stands to the left of the main hall, Muryangsu-jeon. So the temple is named after this “floating rock” story!
- The myth & magic continues as we visit the Jebiwon Buddha, a giant 12m Buddha, carved into a single boulder.
- Tonight we stay in a traditional guest house, where we sleep in an 'Ondol room', on a heated floor, rather than western style beds. A real cultural experience - you'll be surprised at how comfortable the Korean 'yo' (mattress) is.
Day 7: Gyeongju
Accommodation: Gyeongju Hyundai Hotel or similar, Gyeongju
Activities:
- Korea is full of history, and today we feel like we're a part of it! We have a full day tour of Andong Hahoe Village, which has preserved the housing architecture and the village structure of the Joseon dynasty. It was was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List under the category of “Historic Villages in Korea” in 2010.
- Hahoe Village boasts exquisite scenic sights: the elegant Nakdong River flowing around the village, the magnificent Buyongdae Cliff, endlessly unfolding sandy beaches, and lush, ancient pine trees. We can take the boat to Buyongdae Cliff for a panoramic view of the village.
- At the end of our tour, we'll head to Gyeongju, where we'll spend the night.
Day 8: Gyeongju
Accommodation: Gyeongju Hyundai Hotel or similar, Gyeongju
Activities:
- Our local guide provides us with a tour of World Heritage Listed Gyeongju today.
- The sites include Tumuli Park, a collection of royal tombs from the Shilla period. The Gyeongju National Museum that preserves much of the Silla heritage including magnificent gold crowns, pottery, Buddhist artifacts, stone sculptures and the legendary Emille Bell, one of Asia's largest and most resonant bells-25 tons of bronze standing 11 feet high.
- We also explore Seokguram Grotto, one of Asia's finest Buddha shrines, and Bulguksa Temple, a monument to both the skill of the Silla architects and the depth of Buddhist faith at the time.
- Tonight we stay in Gyeongju.
Day 9: Jeju
Accommodation: Jeju Ramada Hotel or similar, Jeju
Activities:
- Before we fly to Jeju later this afternoon, we'll head to Busan, we're we'll visit the Tongdosa Temple.
- Nestled deep within mountains, and in perfect harmony with the surrounding nature, the Tongdosa Temple is famous for not having any Buddha statue. Built in 646, Tongdosa is known for keeping Buddha's sarira. When returning from the Tang Dynasty, monk Jajang Yulsa brought with him part of Buddha's sarira and robe and enshrined them in the temple.
- Once we arrive in Busan, we'll visit the Jagalchi Fish Market, filled with both fresh and dried seafood. The 'ajumas' (married women) who work the market are a force to be reckoned with and make wandering through the market all the more exciting!
- When we've reached our seafood limit, we'll head over to the Gukje Marekt, where clothing, silk, linen, curtains, bags, glasses, and many imported items are sold.
- By now it's time to head to the airport for our late afternoon flight to Jeju, where we'll spend the next 2 days.
Day 10-11: Jeju
Accommodation: Jeju Ramada Hotel or similar, Jeju
Activities:
- There is so much to do on this volcanic island - beaches, waterfalls, museums and Manjanggul, one of the world's longest lava made caves.
- We'll also visit Seongup Folk Village where many cultural properties and the local dialect are handed down to date, Seongsan Ilchulbong (sunrise peak) that rose from under the sea in a volcanic eruption over 100,000 years ago, the Haenyeo Museum (Museum of Women Divers), a great source of information on haenyeos and the island’s fishing industry and O’Sulloc Tea Museum where you can learn about Korea’s traditional tea culture.
- After 2 action packed days, we fly back to Seoul in the late afternoon.
Day 12: Seoul
Activities:
- Our trip ends this morning after breakfast.
Your Trip
What's Included
- Local tour leader
- Local guides
- Transport
- Sightseeing and entrance fees
Non-included Meals
Most meals are included on your trip (except for North America trips - please refer to your day-to-day itinerary). However, sometimes we think you'll benefit from getting out and discovering the local cuisine. So when a meal is not included, it's a great opportunity to try something new. For group trips, ask your leader for tips on where to get the best meal, or you might decide to dine out as a group and experience the fun together.
Not Included
- International flights
- Departure taxes
- Arrival and departure transfer
- Visas
- Insurance
- Other meals and drinks
- Optional additional tours or activities during free time
- Tips and items of a personal nature
- Daily budget
What to know
VaccinationsVaccinations may be required for this trip. Talk to your doctor about the up-to-date information for this region.
Visas and PermitsIt is your responsibility to ensure you have all required visas for your trip. Rules and regulations governing the issuance of visas are constantly changing, and vary for different nationalities and you should check visa requirements with your travel agent or relevant consular authority well before travel.
South Korea
Several countries do not require Visas to visit South Korea. We kindly ask that you consult with the website of the closest South Korean Embassy to you
You are required to have travel insurance before heading off on a Peregrine trip. Insurance can be organised by your Peregrine representative or your travel agent.
Responsible Travel
Our Responsible Travel ethos is at the heart of everything we do, from getting the basics right like respecting local cultures and the environment, to initiating projects that make positive contributions to communities, to our staff’s fundraising efforts and offsetting our carbon emissions.
Please visit our Responsible Travel (http://www.peregrineadventures.com/rt) page for more information.
Our Pre Departure Information or Travel Dossier (provided upon booking a trip) provides tips on how you can show respect for the local customs and culture in the country you are travelling in.
The information listed above is a brief description of some things you may need to consider when booking a trip. Once a tour is booked you will be provided with a link to your Travel Dossier which will contain detailed Pre Departure information.
Further Reading
South Korea"Korea and Her Neighbours" by Isabella Bird Bishop.
"The Two Koreas: A Contemporary History." by Don Oberdorfer
South Korea, Lonely Planet Guide.
About this Information
The information provided here is given in good faith and has been compiled with all reasonable care. However, things change and some of the information may become out of date. Please keep this in mind when you read it and check with us if you want to be sure about something. The document was correct at time of printing, but you can check online for the most up to date version. If you have any queries, please contact your travel agent or our staff in Australia. We are here to help you!
Last Updated
15 October 2012