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Overview

Customized trip to South Korea

On the other side of the globe, South Korea hangs from China’s northeastern coast like a precious jewel dangling delicately from a woman’s ear. Filled with mystery, this small country is ready to cast its spell on you. On this customized trip to South Korea, your English-speaking guide will take you to the highlights of a brilliant civilization whose rich and priceless historical heritage never fails to impress. The monasteries basking in the light of Buddhism are beautiful reminders of a dynasty whose power and glory have nothing to envy when compared to that of the Ming. With such an incredible variety of landscapes in such a small territory, you’ll need to have a serious appetite for discovery and lots of travel curiosity to be able to absorb it all. Tradition, nature, and spirituality are the three pillars of this country’s wisely balanced culture. The authenticity of the people and the immensity of the culture offer themselves to you on this customized trip to South Korea. Be warned: after this trip, you’ll never look at Asia the same way.

Contact Uniktour’s South Korea expert today for more information on this exceptional customized trip to South Korea!

Itinerary

Day 1| International flight

Day 2| Arrival - 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 enjoy the pleasant walk along Insadong, the antique alley which is lined with art galleries, antique shops, crafts shops, traditional restaurants and tea house; Cheonggyecheon Stream which runs through the heart of downtown Seoul with the picturesque views and visit Seoul Tower for a bird’s eye view of whole city; Namdaemun Market which is the largest conventional market of the country and boasts for its various merchandise including clothing, leather goods, shoes, accessories and gift items, etc.

Day 4| Seoul - Danyang - Andong
Leave for Danyang and Chungju tour visit to Dodamsanbong Peak, three rocks create a large “S” figure as it stands tall in the middle of Namhangang River; taking Chungjuho Pleasure Boat that travels to Oksunbong, Gudambong and many magnificent rocks along the Chungjuho Lake (Pleasure boat tour is subject to change according to the weather condition and local circumstances. If boat tour not available, tour will be replaced by visit to Gosu cave)
Transfer to Andong and visit Byeongsanseowon Confucian School, taking you into the world of Confucianism, Korean's spiritual home.

Day 5| Andong - Mt. Songnisan
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.
Depart for Mt. Songnisan National Park.
Well known for its striking scenery, Mt.Songnisan National Park is home to the ancient Beopjusa Temple, giving the mountain a very traditional Korean atmosphere. Weather-beaten wooden buildings and exquisite paintings of the temple in intense colors and the distinctive resonant rhythm of a wooden moktak drum beaten out by meditating monks are in harmony with its surrounding scenic landscape. Built in 6th century, Beopjusa Temple is also famous for many famous Buddhist artworks, including Palsangjeon Hall, one of the oldest wooden building in Korea and a famous 108-foot-high bronze statue of Buddha.

Day 6| Mt. Songnisan - Hapcheon - Gyeongju
Depart for Hapcheon to visit Haeinsa Temple, one of the most famous temples in Korea.
Located in Gayasan National Park, Haeinsa Temple is known for housing the collection of more than 80,000 wooden printing blocks, which is composed of the Tripitaka Koreana, the most complete collection of the Buddhist canon found in East Asia. In 1995, Haeinsa Temple’s Janggyeong Panjeon, the depositories for the Tripitaka Korea Woodblocks, were recorded on UNESCO’s prestigious World Cultural Heritage list and Goryeong Daegaya Museum, consisting of 'Daegaya Royal Tomb Pavilion' that restored Jisanri Tumulus No. 44 the tomb of the living with the dead during the time of Daegaya, 'Daegaya History Pavilion' that displays the history and culture of Goryeong region around Daegaya and 'Ureuk Museum' that refocused the Musical Saint Ureuk and Gayageum systematically.
Transfer to Gyeongju. Served as capital of Silla Kingdom (57B.C.-935A.D.), the entire city of Gyeongju is a living history museum, containing 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 and enlisted to World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO; Bulguksa Temple, an architectural masterpiece built during the glorious period of Silla Kingdom and enlisted to World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO; Gyeongju National Museum, displaying 23ton Emille Bell cast in AD771 and many thousand priceless treasures; Tumuli Park, a collection of royal Silla tombs; Yangdong Folk Village Korea’s representative folk village, showcasing the traditional culture of the Joseon Dynasty and the beautiful natural surroundings. And this village is enlisted to World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 2010.

Day 8| Gyeongju - Busan - Jeju
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; Kukje Market where a variety of stores are selling garments, electronics products, etc. on the cheap.
Transfer to Gimhae domestic airport to board the flight to Jeju, known as ‘Island of the Gods’, Jeju Island is the volcanic island with its scenic natural beauty, unique cultural traditions and temperate climate. On arrival at Jeju airport, transfer to hotel for overnight.

Day 9| Jeju
Today’s tour of Jeju Island starts with visits to Cheonjiyeon Waterfall, one of the major falls in Jeju; trekking tour of Jeju Olle which is the Jeju word for a narrow pathway that is connected from the street to the front gate of a house. For the global traveler looking for a unique destination, the Olle walking paths on Jeju Island are highly appealing. These are 200km of connecting paths that will take travelers all along the south coast of Jeju Island. The Jeju Olle, which were inspired by the famous Pilgrim’s Trail in Spain, was made from the hidden, forgotten routes of Jeju Island, which cars cannot access. The route will take you to forests, mountains, beaches, and remote places and offer unrivalled views over Jeju’s unique, dramatic, volcanic landscape; Jusangjeolli Cliff the scenic rock pillars piled up along the coast; Hallim Park consisting of botanical gardens, lava caves and folk village; Hyeopjae Beach which boasts for its cobalt-colored water with white sand.

Day 10| Jeju - Seoul
Continue Jeju Island tour including visit to Manjanggul Cave which is the longest lave tube in the world and is enlisted to World Natural Heritage by UNESCO; Seongsan Sunrise Peak, a volcanic crater which is enlisted to UNESCO’s World Natural Heritage; Seongeup Folk Village which is designated as a Folklore Preservation Zone and the villagers still living the traditional thatched roof houses with stone and clay walls there; Dongmun Market, Jeju’s biggest traditional market. Transfer to Jeju airport to board the flight to Seoul.

Day 11| Seoul - DMZ
After breakfast, transfer to DMZ (Demilitarize Zone) that was established by the Korean armistice agreement which was signed in 1953 to bring a truce to the Korean War. DMZ tour includes visit to the 3rd Tunnel, infiltration tunnel built by North Korea in 1978; Dora Observatory where you can view villages of North Korea; Dorasan Station, a train station built on the northernmost part of South Korea. After DMZ tour, transfer back to Seoul enjoy shopping at Itaewon, a shopping district which is popular among foreigner residents and tourists.

Day 12| Seoul - Departure
Transfer to Incheon Int’l airport for your departure flight

Budget

**Rates published on this website are for information purposes only and are not legally binding (since departure dates are not given). Prices on this website are known to fluctuate frequently in relation to changes in currencies and hotel pricing. In order to obtain a definite quote, please click here.

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.