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Overview

Customized travel in Korea

The sheer immensity of Asia makes it practically impossible to visit this continent in its entirety. Nestled in the northeastern corner of this vast land is a small country whose rich traditions and ancient culture have shone for hundreds of years: South Korea, one of Asia’s “Four Tigers”. With cities whose historical heritage baffles the imagination, this country is a hidden gem just waiting to reveal its beauty to travelers with a thirst for discovery. On this customized trip to South Korea, you’ll discover this country’s main highlights: Seoul, a bustling metropolis whose many palaces are bursting with ancient treasures, vivid reminders of this country’s once-powerful royalty. The museums here are among Asia’s finest. Your journey will also take you to the heart of the country, to cities like Gyeongju and Hahoe, where you’ll feast you eyes on Buddhist temples, Confucian sanctuaries, rural homes, and delicate parks. Between spirituality, monumental architecture, and traditions that manage to remain very much alive, there’s a surprise at every step of this customized trip to South Korea. Clearly making the most out of its promising economic future and unparalleled heritage, this country will surely fulfill each and every one of your travel needs.

Make sure you contact Uniktour’s Korea expert for more information on this magnificent customized trip!

Itinerary

Day 1| International flight

Day 2| Arrival in Seoul
On arrival at Incheon Int’l airport, transfer to hotel.

Day 3| Seoul
Gain an insightful understanding of Korea through this essential tour of Seoul, the capital of Korea.
Visit Gyeongbokgung Palace was served as the main palace of Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) which was the last dynasty ever to exits in Korea. Its major buildings such as Geunjeongjeon throne hall, Gyeonghoeru banquet hall and Hyangwonjeong Pavilion have been well preserved and reflect the beauty of Korean traditional cultural heritage. Then proceed to National Folk Museum, located in Gyeongbokgung Palace ground, National Folk Museum shows the legacies of Korean culture and history. Then you will visit enjoy the pleasant walk along Insadong, the antique alley which is lined with art galleries, antique shops, crafts shops, traditional restaurants and tea house.
You will have a chance to experience Korean culture - making Kimchi, One of Korea's most traditional and representative foods, made by salting cabbage, and adding red-pepper powder, garlic, ginger, scallions and radishes. And then visit Cheonggyecheon Stream which runs through the heart of downtown Seoul with the picturesque views and Seoul Tower for a bird’s eye view of whole city.

Day 4| Seoul - Mt. Seoraksan
This morning, leave for Mt. Seorak National Park, one of the most beautiful national parks in Korea with its granite peaks, lush green valleys and dense forests.
Afternoon tour of Mt. Seoraksan National Park including Gweongeumseong Peak, commanding a fine view of Mt. Seoraksan; Sinheungsa Temple, one of the world's oldest Zen temples.

Day 5| Mt. Seoraksan - Gangneung - Andong
This morning leave Mt. Seoraksan for Andong along the beautiful coastline of East Sea.
En route to Andong, visit Chamsori Gramophone Audio Museum, the only biggest gramophone museum in the world, displaying from Edison Tin Foil to the newest of Audio system and Gangneung Unification Park which is composed of unification security pavilion and you can see the sea at a glance and Warship Pavilion.
Visit Dosanseowon Confucian School, taking you into the world of Confucianism, Korean's spiritual home.

Day 6| Andong - Gyeongju
You will visit Hahoe Folk Village in which about 130 traditional houses from nobility to commoners have been well preserved by the same families for generations; Andong Folk Museum where you can experience Confucian culture and traditional games of Korea and Traditional Korean Paper Factory where you can view the process of making traditional Korean paper and purchase the traditional paper products.
Transfer to Gyeongju which was served as the capital of Silla Kingdom (57BC-935AD). The entire city of Gyeongju is a living history museum containing the remnants of the Silla Kingdom as well as relics pertaining to Buddhism, the national religion at the time.

Day 7| Gyeongju
Full day Gyeongju tour including Seokguram Grotto, one of Asia’s finest Buddhist shrines surrounded by Bodhisattva, disciples, devas and guardian king; Bulguksa Temple, an architectural masterpiece built during the glorious period of Silla Kingdom; Gyeongju National Museum, displaying 23ton Emille Bell cast in AD771 and many thousand priceless treasures; Tumuli Park, a collection of royal Silla tombs; Cheomseongdae Astronomical Observatory, known as the world’s oldest astronomical observatory; Anapji Pond where the Silla royal family spent their leisure times.

Day 8| Gyeongju - Busan - Seoul
Leave for Busan Korea’s principal port city as well as second largest city and visit Busan Tower located at Yongdusan Park, which provides the spectacular view of whole city; Jagalchi Fish Market where you can view the vivid life of local peoples as well as various kinds of marine products caught in this area. Return to Seoul.

Day 9| Seoul
Explore the essence of Korea on this highlight tour of Seoul, the capital of Korea.
Tour will begin with a visit to National Museum of Korea showing the grandeur of Korea’s cultural and historical heritage and enjoy shopping at Itaewon street, one of the most famous shopping district in Seoul, which is popular with both foreign tourists and residents; Changdeokgung Palace, designated as World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 1996, Changdeokgung Palace is known for its beautiful garden named ‘Huwon (or ‘Secret Garden’) showing the remarkable balance between the nature and architectures and enjoy Jeongdong Theatre, offering you the opportunity of appreciating the spirit of Korean culture with various types of performance including traditional dance, court music, folk songs, etc, this cultural performance will offer you the opportunity to experience the true spirit of Korean traditional art.

Day 10| Seoul - Departure
Transfer to Incheon Int’l airport for your departure flight.

Budget

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Other fees

Lodging

Major Tourist Sights

SEOUL
Seoul, the capital city of Korea, is the heir to intriguing treasure and sagas of a rich past. As the home of some 12 million people, it covers an area of 650 square kilometers. Only 2 hours from Tokyo and Beijing, it ranks among the world’s largest cities. Founded by the first king of Joseon Dynasty in 1392(exactly a hundred years before Columbus discovered America), Seoul is a rich brew of the old and the new. The city offers many things to do and a multitude of places to see. For a glimpse of the kingly splendor of its great heritage, stroll through one of five royal palaces in this city. On the grounds of Gyeongbokgung Palace you’ll find the National Folk Museum, repository of 5000 years of Korean heritage. Then there’s Changdeokgung Palace with its mysterious inner passageways and fabulous its Secret Garden, in and around Seoul, there are Buddhist temples, Confucian shrines, royal tombs and much more than you’ll probably have time for.
After all, there’s new side of Seoul waiting for your attention, too. Fabulous cuisine including traditional Korean food as well as diverse ethnic one-French, Japanese, Chinese, Swiss, German, Mexican, Indian, Pakistan, Thai, Vietnamese, etc.
Then visit shopping malls or local markets to offer you various selection of shopping item or just mingle with locals on the street to feel the vivid life of Koreans. And after a busy day getting to know Seoul, there’ll be the welcome comforts of a fine hotel.

GYEONGJU
Heart of the thousand-year Silla Kingdom, founded during the days when Caesar held away Rome, this is a town where the Land of Morning Clam continues to live with the true beauty of its name. Tucked away in quiet glens are willow-swept ponds, grand temples, pagodas, and immense memorial tombs of ancient monarchs. Direct Seoul-Gyeongju express train called “Saemaeulho” and buses, traversing the picturesque Korean countryside, make the trip to this time-honored city in 4 and a half hour. Designated by UNESCO as one of the world’s ten most historic city sites of the world, Gyeongju is also called ‘Museum without walls’ with its numerous relics.

BUSAN
Busan is Korea’s second largest city with the population of 3.6 million people. It also serves as the country’s main port for international cargo, as well as passenger ferries to Japan and Jeju. The city is famous for its excellent beaches, natural scenery and various tourist sites including impressive temples, fish market, hot spas and beautiful park with the observation tower. Linked by air, rail and bus transportation with all part of the country, Busan can be reached from Seoul in about 3hours by the bullet train or one hour by air.

JEJU ISLAND
Jeju was dubbed “Island of the Gods” in a 1975 Newsweek article on the undiscovered worldwide tourist destinations. Like Hawaii, it’s volcanic in origin, and is famous for its unspoiled natural beauty, unique cultural traditions, and mild climate. Charming villages of straw-roofed houses and teams of hardy diving women lend the land a note of quaintness that sets it way apart from the rest of the Orient. As a result of its isolated location and romantic tropical image, Jeju Island has become the most favorite retreat of the country for honeymooners as well as tourists.
Just an hour by air from Seoul and major cities, Jeju can also be reached by direct flights from Japan and China.

Overview

Korea is a mystery. With its back to Japan and its eyes looking west, this little tiger sitting discretely where the sun rises looks like it’s jealously guarding its secrets. Like all rapidly changing countries, this small country sandwiched between China and Japan is still forging its identity. Caught between many personalities, Korean culture features a unique blend of Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Christianity, shamanism – and western excess. All this is yours to discover. Born from the clash between modernity and tradition, there is a Korean vitality everywhere, and we invite you to come explore this fantastic cultural mosaic.
Its mountains offering their benevolent protection, Korea is blessed with breathtaking landscapes featuring caves, countless temples, fortresses and city walls…Right in the heart of the chaos of Seoul, discover the Confucian peace of Jongmyo Shrine. Come meet a welcoming and endearing nation, both hardworking and fun loving, at once proud and humble – a nation of contrasts, like its country.

Geography

Since 1948, the Korean peninsula is split into two nations: the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Korea forms a peninsula that stretches for 1100 kilometers at the eastern tip of the Asian continent, bordered in the west by the yellow sea, by the Japan Sea in the east, and by the strait of Korea and the East China Sea to the south. The landscape is made up of mountainous regions partially covered in forests that are separated by deep and narrow valleys in the east. In the West and the South lie cultivated coastal plains. The tallest peak is an extinct volcano, Paektu, which rises to an altitude of 2774 meters above sea level close to the northern border with Manchuria.

South Koreans say their culture is a mixture of Confucianism, Korean, and national pride. The country’s superb landscape has also contributed to forging their national identity: they are fascinated by nature, especially their mountains. Wherever you go, you will see Koreans enjoying the fresh air, wearing the trendiest sports outfits, always ready to climb higher. The country features many national parks, including the granite peaks and cascades of Mount Seoraksan and the strange rock formations of Mount Wolchulsan, which are sure to delight any hiking enthusiast.

Culture

Cuisine
Korean cuisine is delicious and certainly one of the healthiest in the world: there are plenty of vegetables and very little fat, since frying is rarely used.
On a typical Korean dinner table, you’ll find many of the following dishes: boiled rice (bap), porridges (juk), soups and broths (guk or tang), stews and casseroles prepared right on the table (jjigae, jeongol, sinseollo), simmered soya based dishes (jjim, jorim), grilled meat or fish (gu-I, bul), fried doughnuts or biscuits (jeon, toekkim), raw fish or meat (hoe), stuffed raviolis (mandu), rice cakes (tteok, hangwa). Jeongsik and baekban are copious meals featuring plenty of rice, soups, a dozen banchan, grilled meats and/or fish…

Heritage
South Korea’s rich heritage is particularly obvious in the cities of Seoul and Gyeongju.
Buddhism is one of the most influential schools of thoughts of the country. Many Buddhist temples are hidden in its caves, giving visitors the chance to make breathtaking discoveries as they walk to the heart of dense forests and happen upon wooden buildings whose once-bright colors have faded with the passage of time, sometimes decorated with sculptures and paintings that inspire a divine calm.
Though Confucian scholars chose to build most of their academies and retreats in the mountains, some of these can be found in the cities, which explains why they are found in such large numbers in modern times.
While Seoul is a very modern and lively city, Gyeongju is filled with relics of the Silla Kingdom and is thus often called a museum-city. Sites of interest include Hwangnyongsa, the Temple of the Yellow Dragon, and the ruins of Wolseong, the Half-Moon Palace. There are also many UNESCO world heritage sites to visit, including Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto.

Climate

Korea lies in the temperate zone and has four distinct seasons.

Spring : Late March through May
Periods of warm weather can be expected but normally temperate conditions (15 ℃) prevail.
Cherry blossom, forsythia, azaleas, magnolias and lilacs bloom March and May.

Summer : June to early September
It is hot and humid, with average temperatures around 25 ℃. Half the annual rainfall occurs during the monsoon month of late June to early July. Mid July through mid August is the hottest period, with peaks at 30 ℃ and also the most popular Korean vacation season.

Autumn : Mid September to November
Mild days and clear weather make the fall months the most pleasant time of the year. The temperature varies greatly between day and night. The mountains, when attired with vivid golden and red autumnal leaves under the clear blue sky, present a grand spectacle.

Winter : December to mid March
Cold (0℃ and sometimes below -10 in January) and dry with a typical cycle of three cold days followed by four warm ones. Heavy snow in the north and east makes for good skiing conditions.