1. Tour Code: PT-EK-5D
2. Tour Name: Essentials of Korea (5 days / 4 nights)
3. Level: Luxury
4. Type: Private tour
5. Price:
| # of person | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prices in USD | $3,100 | $3,380 | $4,130 | $5,200 | $5,940 | $7,020 | $7,760 |
※More than 7 persons: please contact us
6. Schedule: Departure upon request
7. Tour Overview
Essentials of Korea tour is committed to revealing South Korea from the traditional aspect into our history and architecture. It will begin with the tour of our capital city, Seoul; Places and activities include Changdeokgung palace, National Museum, and a stroll through the streets of Insa-dong, known for its antique and local handicraft shops.
We will also visit the Korean Folk Village, an outdoor heritage museum devoted to Korea’s traditional arts, cuisine, and heritage.
We will then head for Gyeongju. Gyeongju is known for its “open-air treasury of cultural relics and architectural wonders, with ancient temples and grottos.”
8. Location: Seoul, Suwon, Gyeongju
9. 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 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.
10. Terms and Conditions
- Inclusions
- Transportation by a private car
- English speaking guide
- Meals
- All 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
- A confirmation will be received within 24 hours, subject to availability.
11. Itinerary
- Day 1 - Seoul City Tour
09:00 Meet at your hotel or Incheon Airport
10:00 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.
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.
13:00 Lunch with Korean table d´hôte
14:00 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.”
16:00 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 Myeong-dong
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.
21:00 Check in hotel
Meals: Lunch / Dinner
Accommodation: 4.5 star grade hotel (ref. on expedia.com) Grand Ambassador Seoul
- Day 2 – Seoul City Tour
09:00 Meet in the hotel lobby
10:00 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 Lunch with grilled pork with marinade
15:00 COEX Convention & Exhibition Center
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.
18:00 N Seoul Tower and have a dinner at a restaurant on top of N Seoul Tower
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 Back to hotel
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Accommodation: Grand Ambassador Seoul
- Day 3 - Korean Folk Village and Hwaseong Fortress
09:00 Meet in the hotel lobby
10:00 ~ 15:00 Korean Folk Village incl. lunch
Korean Folk Village is a living museum type of tourist attraction in the city of Yongin, a satellite city in the Seoul Metropolitan Area in the province of Gyeonggi in South Korea.
The purpose of Korean Folk Village is to display elements of traditional Korean life and culture. There are multiple sections to the park. There are numerous replicas of traditional houses of the different social classes (peasant, landowner, yangban) and the various regions.
The park also has a traditional street market, restaurants, and showcases of traditional wordworking and metalworking techniques. There are performances of traditional dances, equestrian skills, marriage ceremonies, and recreational activities.
15:30 ~ 17:30 Hwaseong Fortress
The fortress sprawls on both flatland and hilly terrain, something seldom seen in neighboring China and Japan. It is designed to serve political and commercial as well as military functions. Under the influence of Silhak, or Practical Learning, which was the new trend of thought gaining ground at the time, the fortress was built scientifically utilizing newly invented construction equipment. Fortification facilities were enhanced by properly combining stones, bricks, and wood and by incorporating drainage, rampart slit embrasures, crenellated parapets with embrasures, and bastions. The Hwaseong Seongyeok Uigwe (Archives of the Construction of Hwaseong Fortress) was published in 1801. It records every detail of the project, from blueprints to engineering methods, required materials, workforce, budget, timetable, and so on.
The fortress was registered on UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage List in December 1997.
18:00 ~ 19:30 Dinner
21:00 Back to hotel
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Accommodation: Grand Ambassador Seoul
- Day 4 – Gyeongju Tour
08:00 Check out hotel
08:00 ~ 13:00 Move to Gyeongju
13:00 Lunch at a restaurant, its building is aged more than 250 years old
14:30 Get an overview of Shilla dynasty at Gyeongju Museum
17:00 Royal Tomb of King Naemul
The royal tomb of King Naemul is one of approximately 200 Silla tombs scattered in Gyeongju City, and is adjacent to the west of Gyerim Fortress. It has an early five-tomb style with only a large round mound on the ground. Different mounds with the same style are scattered around this tomb, and the nearby royal tomb of King Michu also has the same type of mound. King Naemul was the 17th king of Silla, and since he died at 401 A.D., this tomb is about 1,500 years old.
19:00 Dinner with Galbi, grilled beef with marinade
20:30 Check in hotel
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Accommodation: 4 star grade hotel (ref. on expedia.com) Gyeongju Hilton
- Day 5 - Gyeongju Tour
08:00 Meet in the lobby and check out hotel
08:30 Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple
Bulguksa, the Temple of the Land Buddha, sits mid-slope on Mt. Tohamsan. Its construction was completed under the supervision of Prime Minister Kim Dae-seong in the 10th year of King Gyeongdeok’s reign of the Silla Kingdom (751). The temple manifests both terrestrial and celestial abodes: the mundane world as represented by Shakyamuni Buddha’s Lotus Sutra; the paradise governed by the Amitabha Buddha as described in the Book of the Constant Life, and the other paradise, the Land of Perfect Bliss of the Vairocana, the Resplendent Buddha, as described in the Avatamska Sutra.
Seokgatap and Dabotap are the most eye-catching of these architectural masterpieces. Dedicated to the Shakyamuni Buddha and the Prabhutaratna (the Buddha of Abundant Treasures), these two pagodas represent these Buddhas as residing in the temple, well exemplifying the Silla people’s desire to embody Buddhist ideals in the mundane world.
Tucked away on the eastern slope of the peak of Mt. Tohamsan is Seokguram Buddhist Grotto, a hermitage of Bulguksa, also known to have been built by Kim Dae-seong. This granite sanctuary sums up the religious enthusiasm, architectural technology, and immaculate workmanship of the Silla people, making it a rare landmark of world religious art.
Seokguram consists of an antechamber which holds reliefs of eight guardian deities and two Vajrapanis; a short corridor carved with four heavenly kings; and the main rotunda which enshrines in its center the seated main Buddha, Shakyamuni Tathagata (the Incarnation of Truth). Along the lower part of the circular wall are reliefs of an 11-faced Avalokitesvara, ten disciples, Manjusri, Sakradevanam Indra, Mahabrahmandah, and Samantabhadra. Above these at about eye-level are ten niches, each enshrining a bodhisattva.
The main Buddha under the vault of the rotunda wears a smile of serene benevolence which has been appreciated as the zenith of what man can achieve through stone sculpture. It is as if the Buddha is about to preach to us at any moment, to enlighten the good human nature innate within us. For its sheer culmination of Buddhist beliefs, aesthetics, and advanced engineering, Seokguram was registered on UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage List, together with Bulguksa Temple, in December of 1995.
12:00 Lunch
14:00 Yang-dong Village
A village of noblemen, it was formed by the families of Yeogang Lee and Wolseong Son during the Joseon dynasty (1392-1910). Here, 150 well-preserved traditional houses of various sizes and shapes still stand. Most of the tile-roofed houses are situated in a higher area, and the straw-thatched houses are on the flat land. The village is home to many historical figures including Eon-jeok Lee (1491-1553), a noted Confucian scholar of the Joseon Dynasty. Preserved there are three Cultural Treasures, twelve Important Folk Materials, three Tangible Cultural Properties designated by Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, and many other historic items. Of the six folk villages in Korea, Yangdong is recognized as most valuable in terms of village size, degree of preservation, and its numerous cultural assets. On December 24, 1984, the entire village was designated as Important Folk Material No.189.
15:00 ~ 19:00 Move to Seoul
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch
Accommodation: Not included
Last updated: May 5th 2010
The itinerary was good, I enjoyed the historical and cultural side of Gyeongju and the drive through the beautiful countryside was great. The locations in Seoul were great but maybe a few more could be added. I wasn’t a big shopper and could have done some different things instead of going to a lot of markets although the experience was good.
The food was the best part of the whole trip as I never liked to eat spicy food before. It also helped me with losing weight and I eat spicy Korean food all the time now. The range of food was amazing and I tried everything. The meal experience was also a good experience compared to Western meal time. Sitting on the ground was new to me, as was being able to choose a large variety of foods at one time and not be restricted to a set course (entre, main, desert). I thought only Australians were good at BBQ, but Korean BBQ is fantastic, particularly the marinated Galbi.
The guide had a good grasp of english and was very knowledgable about the itinerary and about other general knowledge questions I had. He was very passionate about all topice and enjoyed talking about them. He was very flexible and allowed me to go at my own pace in most cases.
A very enjoyable and easy going holiday with plenty to see and offer whether you are travelling alone, in a group or with family. The guides are friendly and know what they are talking about. A great way to see Korea.