Private & Luxury Tours to Korea

1. Tour Code: GT-SE-2D

2. Tour Name: Highlights of Seoul (2 days)

3. Level: Luxury

4. Type: Private tour

5. Price

6. Schedule: Daily departure

7. Tour Overview

Highlights of Seoul tour provides an excellent overview of the city, as well as South Korea’s traditional customs and rich history. Touring in the capital city includes Changdeokgung Palace, the National Museum, Namdaemun Traditional Market, and a leisurely stroll through the narrow shopping streets of Insadong alley, known for its antiques and local handicrafts.

8. Duration: 2 days

9. Location: Seoul

10. Tour Highlights:

• Our quote is all inclusive. It means there is nothing you will have to pay us except the price in our quote. If you are with us, there will be no extra charges, no hurry, no strangers in your group, and no forced shopping for a hidden commission.
• Discover the most refined Korean cuisines through our wide selection of restaurants. A unique selection of fine dining is our pride.
• The itinerary can be customized to fit your preferences.

11. Terms and Conditions

• Inclusions
  • Transportation services
  • Food
  • Traditional Korean performance (A Program is subject to change depending on conditions)
  • English speaking guide
  • Hotel pick up & drop off
  • Entrance fees
• Payment
  • Once we get your firm confirmation, we will send an invoice requesting 20% of total price. The balanced amount will be handed to the guide on your departure date.
• Cancelation and Refund
  • If you cancel at least 8 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is no cancellation fee.
  • If you cancel between 3 and 7 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is a 10% cancellation fee
  • If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, there is a 20% cancellation fee.
• Additional Information
  • Confirmation will be received within 24 hours, subject to availability.
  • The schedule of the visiting location is subject to change depending on weather conditions.

12. Itinerary

• Day 1

09:00 Pick up at your hotel

09:30 ~ 10:30 Bukchon Hanok Village

While much of the rest of Seoul rushes headlong into the high-tech glitz of the 21st century, the quaint neighborhood of Bukchon hangs on tenaciously to its traditional past.

Located between the Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung palaces, this quarter of endlessly winding alleys and old-fashioned Korean traditional hanok homes is one of Seoul’s most picturesque areas — every turn yields a myriad of charming images. From above, it seems as if the roofs blend in to form an undulating sea of black tile. From within, it’s an enchantingly Byzantine labyrinth of rustic stone and clay walls, handsome wooden gates and private courtyards. It’s a breathing reminder that even in the heart of the urban jungle, the slower, simpler ways of old still live on. Or, to put it another way, Seoul is a city dashing towards the future with one foot firmly rooted in the past.

10:30 ~ 11:30 Changdeokgung Palace

Changdeokgung was built in the 5th year (1405) of the reign of King Taejong of the Joseon Dynasty, as a separate palace of Gyeongbokgung, the original main palace of the dynasty. Located to the east of Gyeongbokgung, it has also been called Donggwol, the east palace. Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung were burned down during the Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592. Changdeokgung was reconstructed in 1609 and served as the royal seat for 300 years until the reconstruction of Gyeongbokgung at the end of the Joseon Dynasty.

Changdeokgung is well tuned to its natural backdrop of hilly terrain and lush woods. Taking advantage of the surroundings, the palace’s magnificent halls, pavilions, and rear garden are laid out in a rather liberal way, which makes it a landmark of palace architecture and garden landscaping.

The rear garden is adorned with precious trees, some of which are now 300 years old. It represents the zenith of Korean garden landscaping techniques. The royal family and court functionaries enjoyed both reposeful moments and garden entertainment here.

For the unique configuration of its palatial buildings and its rear garden (Biwon Garden), showing an ideal example of Oriental architecture, Changdeokgung was registered on UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage List in December 1997.

12:00 ~ 13:00 Insa-dong

Insa-dong is “well known as a traditional street to both locals and foreigners” and represents the “culture of the past and the present”. It contains a mixture of historical and modern atmosphere and is a “unique area of Seoul that truly represents the cultural history of the nation.”

13:00 ~ 14:00 Lunch with Korean table d´hôte

14:30 ~ 15:30 Jogyesa Temple

Jogyesa, a representative temple of Korean Buddhism, is the head temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, and the central monastery. Jogyesa is located in the heart of Seoul, in Jongno-gu, the very center of the metropolis. It is a modern temple with the additional advantage of being superbly positioned as a historical site, thus embodying the past and present of Korean Buddhism.

16:00 ~ 17:00 Gwangjang Market

Gwangjang Market is one of few markets retain traditional Korean atmosphere. You will find a wide range of products, including hanboks (traditional Korean clothing), linen, and lacquerware with mother-of-pearl inlay.

Most shops have both wholesale and retail sales, so prices are relatively lower than regular retail shops. No wonder so many brides come to this market during the wedding season!

While visiting the market, do not forget to look at the pyebaek (traditional food presented to in-laws by a bride at a wedding ceremony) shops on the first floor. Just browsing them is an interesting experience for foreigners.

18:00 ~ 19:00 Dinner with a Bibimbap, is mixed rice with vegetables and red pepper paste

Bibimbap is a popular Korean dish. The word literally means “mixed rice.” Bibimbap is served as a bowl of warm white rice topped with namul (sautéed and seasoned vegetables) and gochujang (chili pepper paste). A raw or fried egg and sliced meat (usually beef) are common additions. The ingredients are stirred together thoroughly just before eating.

20:00 ~ 21:20 Traditional Korean dance & music performance

Dazzling spectacles of traditional Korean culture, including traditional dance, instrumental music, “phungmulnori” (a traditional folk musical act featuring a percussion quartet) and “pansori” (a type of traditional narrative vocal music)

22:00 Drop off at your hotel

• Day 2

09:00 Pick up at your hotel

10:00 ~ 12:00 National Museum of Korea

The National Museum of Korea is the flagship museum of Korean history and art in South Korea and is the cultural organization that represents Korea. It was first established in 1945. In October 2005, the museum opened in a new building in Yongsan Family Park in Seoul, South Korea. The museum contains over 150,000 pieces in its collection with 11,000 on display at one time. It claims to be the largest museum in Asia and the sixth-largest museum in the world in terms of floor space, covering 307,227 square feet (28,500 m²).

13:00 ~ 14:00 Lunch with grilled pork with marinade

15:00 ~ 17:00 COEX Convention & Exhibition Center, or Noryangjin Fish Market

COEX is located in the business district of Samseong-dong, the underground complex of the COEX Mall is Seoul’s largest shopping center. Its colossal size, over 85,000 square meters, comes complete with everything from restaurants, two food courts, a 16-screen multi-cinema complex, a world-class aquarium, and a video arcade, to a large-scale bookstore, nail shops, hair stylists and a fitness center. There is even a gaming area that plays host to computer game tournaments and both indoor and outdoor stages used for public appearances by celebrities and seasonal events.

Even if you didn’t come here to shop, the COEX Mall has something for everyone. Its proximity to the COEX Convention & Exhibition Center, where numerous international events take place throughout the year, the World Trade Center and two hotels also adds to its overall character, cementing its global appeal. Much different from the city’s myriad other outdoor markets of, say, Dongdaemun and Hongdae, the COEX Mall is a nice retreat for those looking to get in from the heat of summer or the chill of winter and comfortably stroll around through the endless shops and boutiques.

Noryangjin Fish Market is Seoul’s largest marine products market. Covering over 66,000 square meters, the warehouse is a teeming wonderland of all that swims in the sea. There are over 700 small shops, and several bigger ones, that sell everything from shrimp, flounder, and live octopus to the exotic spoon worm, sea cucumber, and sea ray. If you can’t find your favorite aquatic food here, it probably doesn’t exist in Korea.

18:00 ~ 20:00 N Seoul Tower and dinner at the restaurant here

N Seoul Tower is located on top of Namsan Mountain and is a place where you can get fine views of Seoul. The tower first was built in 1969 as a satellite tower to accommodate television and radio broadcast in the Seoul area. It was opened to the public in 1980. Since then, it has been popular place to relax for Seoul citizens. One of the Korean companies, CJ rented the tower for 10 years. The company renovated the tower in 2005 and it has become more popular than before. There is lighting show every night in N Seoul tower and it begins at 5PM until 11PM with various color presentations. The lighting show of N Seoul tower is very impressive and it is one of the must-see attractions when you visit Seoul.

21:00 Drop off at your hotel

Last updated: May 14th 2010

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