What To Expect

Day 1: Seoul (or Incheon Int'L airport) - Geumsan - Mt. Daedunsan
• Geumsan-gun

  Meet your guide at your place in Seoul or Incheon Int'l airport. and move to Geumsan. Geumsan is widely known as the largest ginseng market in Korea where you can find and taste fried ginseng from a Ginseng & Herbal Medicine Market.

  Duration: 2 hours

  Admission Included: NOT_APPLICABLE

• Daedunsan Natural Recreation Forest

  Then you proceed to Mt Daedunsan. Daedunsan is especially beautiful in the Fall season when its rock peaks are surrounded by the autumnal tints. You will take the cable car and enjoy the breathtaking mountain view and explore around and walk across the suspension bridge.

  Duration: 2 hours

  Admission Included: YES

Day 2: Gunsan Modern History Museum - Jinpo port - Iseongdang Bakery
• Gunsan Modern History Museum

  Following the opening of its port in 1899, Gunsan became a hub of modern cultural heritage from the Japanese colonial era (1910–1945). After the nation’s liberation from colonial rule in August 1945, however, the city’s seemingly unstoppable prosperity came to a halt and went into limbo. All transactions at the port that relied on Japanese capital were completely cut off. In addition, during the industrialization period after the 1960s, the city fell far behind in terms of development, as it relied on only primary industries and the food processing industry. Although the city is a symbol of the painful history of Japanese exploitation through its shipping of rice to Japan, it has now transformed into a fascinating cultural destination, offering a wide variety of things to see and do in addition to retaining traces of its colonial past.

  Duration: 2 hours

  Admission Included: YES

• Jinpo Maritime Theme Park

  You will go to the Jinpo Maritime Theme Park; on display at the park are vintage tanks, historical artillery, combat planes, and warships including the Wibongham Ship, a vessel that was used in combat during the Vietnam War.

  Duration: 1 hour

  Admission Included: YES

• Iseongdang bakery which is the oldest bakery in Korea. You can relax and enjoy Korean-style shabu shabu. Fresh vegetables, meat, and seafood are parboiled in the pot and then eaten with chili, soy or lemon sauce. You need to grab some Korean shabu while your visiting!

  Duration: 3 hours

  Admission Included: YES

• Seonyudo Beach

  Then, you are going to Gogunsan islands tour. Gogunsan islands consist of 4 big islands, 3 of them are connected with bridges and 58 islands altogether. You will go to the Sunyudo island to see the two very different beach. Okdol beach is the secluded pebble beach. Tucked away behind a small row of houses, the sound of the waves hitting the pebbles is one of the most relaxing sounds you can imagine. Another great place on the island is the main sandy beach. Seonyudo’s main beach is a great place for swimming, catching shellfish, or Zipline activity. Then, you go to Jangjido island for hiking. Just 20 minutes hike to the peak, the summit still provides an excellent vantage point for viewing the many islands that dot the western coast of Korea.

  Duration: 3 hours

  Admission Included: NO

• Gunsan Saemangeum Convention Center

  Visit Saemangeum sea wall and its Exhibition Hall Saemangeum seawall connects Gunsa, the Gogunsan islands, and Buan. It is the longest seawall in the world. The one-hour ride takes you to the Gogunsan islands from the Gunsan city.

  Duration: 50 minutes

  Admission Included: NOT_APPLICABLE

Day 3: Jeonju Hanok Village - Geumsansa Buddhist temple
• Jeondong Catholic Church

  The Jeondong Catholic Church was completed in 1914 It is the largest and oldest western-style structure in the Jeollanam province and is considered one of the most beautiful buildings in Korea.

  Duration: 40 minutes

  Admission Included: NOT_APPLICABLE

• Gyeonggijeon Shrine

  Gyeonggijeon is the hall where the portrait of Lee Seonggae, the founder of Joseon dynasty is enshrined. It was built in 1410. The portrait of Lee Seonggae itself is designated as the National Treasure #317. Pungnam Gate is the south gate of the city wall that enclosed Jeonju during the Joseon Dynasty. It was the only remaining gate after the destruction of the wall.

  Duration: 50 minutes

  Admission Included: YES

• Jeonju Hyanggyo Confucian school Since Goryeo Dynasty (918-1329) and throughout Joseon Dynasty (1329-1910), Hyanggyo had been installed as the public educational institution in provinces. Therefore, Hyanggyo is likened to today’s national universities installed in major regional cities.

  Duration: 40 minutes

  Admission Included: NOT_APPLICABLE

• Geumsansa Temple

  Geumsansa Buddhist temple During the Baekjae reign of King Beop (599 C.E.), the temple was built to pray for the king’s prosperity and good fortune. Later it was expanded and established as the Head Temple for the worship of Maitreya. Maitreya, regarded as the future Buddha. When you step in Geumsansa, you would see valuable relics and cultural assets. The most eye-catching among all undoubtedly is the three stories Mireukjeon (Maitreya Hall). From the outside, it seems like a three-story building, but inside is completely open all the way up to the high ceiling.

  Duration: 1 hour

  Admission Included: YES

• Jeonju Hanok Village

  Jeonju Jeontong Hanjiwon Jeonju Jeontong Hanjiwon sells various types of Hanji(Korean traditional paper) from the ones for calligraphy, oriental painting and to the crafts. This place is not just a Hanji shop but it a workshop where people can experience how to make Hanji.

  Duration: 1 hour

  Admission Included: YES

Day 4: Tongyoung - Busan

• The Tongyeong Jungang Market is formed along a long stretch of quay-side kiosks. Visitors can easily see that the city is one of the busiest ports in Korea with its abundant fishery products. The market is full of noise as merchants and visitors try to make a deal while live fish try to jump out of their tanks, splashing water everywhere. In Tongyeong, people can eat the freshest fish at a very reasonable price. Stroll around the market to see various Korean foods including fish, seafood, meat, vegetables and ingredients that play important roles in Korean cuisine. Enjoy tasting fresh raw fish cut in slices, spicy fish soup, fish cake, traditional honey bread.

  Duration: 2 hours

  Admission Included: YES

• Tongyeong Cable Car is the longest (1.975m) cable car in Korea installed on Tongyeong Mt. Mireuksan (461m above the sea), one of the 100 celebrated mountains (the Office of Forestry) in Korea. Visitors can reach the top of Mt. Mireuksan in this Gondola and there waits for jewelry-like islands of Hallyeo Waterway, Tongyeong Harbor.

  Duration: 1 hour

  Admission Included: YES

• Hwangnyeongsan Mountain

  At the end of the tour, you will be escorted to Hwangnyeongsan Mountain in Busan. The mountain is the second highest mountain in the Geumnyeon Mountain Range. So it is really easy to catch the beautiful night view of Busan city on the Hwangnyeongsan Mountain.

  Duration: 50 minutes

  Admission Included: NOT_APPLICABLE

Day 5: Busan

• Haeundae Beach is the most popular beach in South Korea, with 1 million visitors a day during the summer season. Offering various water sports activities, festivals, concerts, and parties, Haeundae Beach is a destination worth visiting for an exciting getaway. There is Dongbaek Island at the western end of Haeundae beach.

  Duration: 1 hour

  Admission Included: NOT_APPLICABLE

• Dongbaekseom

  Dongbaek Island is translated into Camellia which is growing in islands of southern provinces of Korea, blossoming around March. There is Nurimaru APEC house in the island, around three-story building exclusively built for the final summit meeting for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference in the island.

  Duration: 1 hour

  Admission Included: NOT_APPLICABLE

• Haedong Yonggungsa

  Haedong Yonggungsa Temple is situated on the coast of the north-eastern portion of Busan. This superb attraction offers visitors the rare find of a temple along the shore line most temples in Korea are located in the mountains.

  Duration: 2 hours

  Admission Included: NOT_APPLICABLE

• UN Memorial Cemetery

  UN Memorial Cemetery in Korea is a memorial park established to glorify the help & sacrifice by UN Forces soldiers who fought in the Korean War.

  Duration: 30 minutes

  Admission Included: NOT_APPLICABLE

• Busan Gamcheon Culture Village

  During the height of the Korean War in the 1950s, this area was where refugees from all over the country made their home.

  Duration: 40 minutes

  Admission Included: NOT_APPLICABLE

• Tombstones village - The stairs and the walls in this village are different from what you normally see. They are all tombstones. That's why the village is called Tombstone culture village. People began living here in tents since 1951. When it became more settled, the tents became too small, so people began building on top of Japanese graves.

  Duration: 40 minutes

  Admission Included: NOT_APPLICABLE

Day 6: Gyeongju
• Bulguksa Temple

  Bulguksa Temple is the most famous Buddhist temple in Korea and the home to a number of important relics from the Silla period, including most obviously the two stone pagodas Dabotap and Soekgatap. It also dates from the 8th century but has been rebuilt on a number of occasions.

  Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

  Admission Included: YES

• Seokguram

  Seokguram Grotto is a hermitage that is part of the Bulguksa temple complex. The grotto overlooks the East Sea and rests 750 meters above sea level. It holds some of the best Buddhist sculptures in the world, including the main Buddha. Construction lasted from 742 to 774. Inside the round-shaped main hall are the Bonjon Statue, Bodhi-sattva, and his disciples. The Bonjon figure wearing a generous smile is seated on the stage engraved with a lotus flower design.

  Duration: 1 hour

  Admission Included: YES

• Gyeongju National Museum

  Gyeongju National Museum is where you can appreciate the significance of this ancient city in one fell swoop. The main archaeological hall has dazzling displays of jewellery, weaponry and other ceremonial items from the Shilla dynasty, including a 5th-century gold crown

  Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

  Admission Included: NOT_APPLICABLE

• Gyeongju National Park

  Visit the Tumuli Park. It has more than 20 large and small tombs from the Shilla period. The tombs are presumed to be those of kings and court officials. As those excavated were all found to be stone-pilled wood-lined chamber type, most of the tombs here are presumed to be of the same type. During the excavations of chenmachong and Hwangnamchong , numerous artifacts were uncovered.

  Duration: 1 hour

  Admission Included: YES

• Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond

  Anapji Pond was built in 674 after the unification of the Korean Peninsula. Small mountains were created inside the palace walls, beautiful trees, and flowers, as well as rare birds and animals were brought from all over to the islands and hills surrounding the pond. Also, a number of pavilions were constructed around it and used for state festivals and banquets and as a prince’s palace.

  Duration: 40 minutes

  Admission Included: YES

Day 7: Andong - Hahoe village
• Andong Hahoe Folk Village

  Andong Hahoe Folk Village [UNESCO World Heritage] Today you will visit a village of 500 years, leaving behind the thousand-year-old city. Hahoe is the village where the members of Ryu family which originated from Hahoe Village have lived together for 600 years. It is a representative village for one family where tile-roofed houses and thatched-roofed ones have been quite well conserved for a long time. The Korean Hahoe mask show takes place in the village.

  Duration: 3 hours

  Admission Included: YES

• Dosanseowon Confucian Academy [UNESCO World Heritage] Like other Korean Confucian academies, Dosan Seowon serves two purposes: education and commemoration. The site was well known in Korea as one of the leading academics and was home to the Toegye School of Thought for over 400 years. Although the educational function of the facility has long since ceased, the commemorative ceremonies have been and are still held twice a year.

  Duration: 40 minutes

  Admission Included: YES

• Andong Old Market

  Andong traditional market In order to experience this Andong’s ingenuity, visit Jjim-dak Golmok, the food alley located inside of Andong Traditional Market. The alley is specifically known to be packed with jjim-dak specialty stores and most of them will offer a good hearty meal at a similar price range.

  Duration: 1 hour

  Admission Included: YES

Day 8: Mountain Range Canyon Train (V-Train) - Taebeck - Gangneung

• You will leave for Buncheon-Yeog from Andong to take V-train in the morning. The ‘V’ in V-Train stands for "valley," as it travels through the beautiful valley of Cheoram in Gangwon-do as well as Buncheon in Gyeongsangbuk-do. Riding on the V-Train is especially refreshing as the windows can be opened to feel the breeze. Traveling at a leisurely speed that is slower than regular trains, passengers can easily enjoy the changing views of the mountains and valley. After an hour's train trip, you move to Taebaek city, which was famous for the coal industry in the past.

  Duration: 90 hours

  Admission Included: YES

• Gangneung

  Visit the Gyeongpo Lake and Beach Gyeongpo Lake and Beach is a sandbank formed between Gyeongpo Lake and the ocean. This beautiful beach extends to a length of 6 km and is covered with fine sand. It is a very well-known tourist attraction in Korea: a flawless combination of nature and cultural relics.

  Duration: 1 hour

  Admission Included: NOT_APPLICABLE

Day 9: Sokcho - Mt Seoraksan - Seoul
• Seoraksan National Park

  Visit the Jujeongol valley at Mt Seoraksan. On the last day of your nine-day tour, you will trek along the beautiful valley and go up one of the peaks by cable car in Mt. Seorak. Jujeongol got its name from the fact that bandits made counterfeit coins at this valley. Jujeon in Korean means coin minting and gol means valley. An easy hiking course even for children and senior. The valley is filled with wildflowers in spring. In summer, the heat is washed away by the clean and cold water of the valley. In the fall, the changing colors of the leaves make a fantastic scenery. Also during this hike, you will stop at Yongso waterfall. A short, wide waterfall surrounded by greenery.

  Duration: 1 hour

  Admission Included: NOT_APPLICABLE

• Sinheungsa Temple

  Sinheungsa Temple is a short 10min walk away from the entrance to Sogongwon. In fact, many visits because of its close proximity to Sogongwon. You also can see a local landmark such as the 33-foot-high bronze Buddha statue at shinheungsa temple.

  Duration: 1 hour

  Admission Included: YES