Symbol of Peace in President Resident

Cherry blossom bloom in summer

Korean folk Museum

Royal Palace

The entrance of Royal Palace





Tulips are grown everywhere

Model Seoul

Mystery statues, cherry blossoms bloom or row of trees which are symbols of love in Nami island are some of the impression in South Korea. Here are photos of Thu Phuong, a tour guide, recorded on the chance to land this beautiful country.

Tour Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrive in Seoul. Arrive in Seoul at Incheon International Airport. You will be met by local guide and transferred to hotel. After check-in the balance of the day and evening is at leisure. Overnight at Hamilton hotel in Seoul.

Day 2: Seoul. Breakfast at the hotel. AM city stroll through Insadong Antique District, Jogyesa Temple, and Nadaemun Market. PM visit Gyeongbokgung Palace passing by Blue House (Presidential Residence) and National Folk Museum (closed on Tuesdays. Deoksugung Palace and Royal Museum on Tuesdays) and Changdeokgung Palace (closed on Mondays. Changgyeonggung Palace on Mondays). Overnight at Hamilton hotel in Seoul.

Day 3: Seoul - Mt. Seoraksan National Park. Breakfast at the hotel. Travel to Mt. Seoraksan National Park. By cable car to the top and by foot to Gwongeumseong Fortress. After visit back to hotel. Overnight at Kensington Star hotel at the foot of Mt. Seoraksan.

Day 4: Mt. Seoraksan National Park. Breakfast at the hotel. Trekking through Cheonbuldong Valley (with visits to Sinheungsa Temple, Yang Falls, Geumgang Cave). At the late afternoon transfer back to the hotel. Overnight at Kensington Star hotel at the foot of Mt. Seoraksan.

Day 5: Mt. Seoraksan National Park. Breakfast at the hotel. (Packed Lunch on your own will be brought for trekking). Trekking to Heundeul Bawi Rock to Gyejoam Hermitage to Ulsan Bawi Rock. Then transfer Osaek Green Yard hotel for Hot Spring treatment. Overnight at Osaek Green Yard hotel at the foot of Mt. Seoraksan.

Day 6: Mt. Seoraksan National Park - Samcheok. Breakfast at the hotel. Visit Hwanseon Donggul Cave via Samcheok. Then back to Samcheok where the rest of the day is free at leisure. Overnight at Samcheok Palace hotel.

Day 7: Samcheok - Mureung Valley. Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Mureung Valley. Packed Lunch on your own will be brought for trekking. Upon arrival make a trekking through the valley (Mureungbanseok – Gwaneumsa Tmeple – Yongchupokpo – Mt. Cheongoksan – Mt. Dutasan). Then transfer to hotel. Overnight at Mureung Plaza Motel.

Day 8: Mureung Valley - Busan. Breakfast at the motel. Transfer to Busan. Upon arrival visit Beomeosa Temple. Rest of the day free. Overnight at Commodore hotel in Busan.

Day 9: Busan. Breakfast at the hotel. Very early visit to Jagalchi Fish market. Then back to hotel for breakfast. After breakfast visit UN Memorial Cemetery and Dongnae Hot Spring for treatment. Rest of the day free. Overnight at Commodore hotel in Busan.

Day 10: Busan - Mt. Jirisan National Park. Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Mt. Jirisan National Park. Packed Lunch on your own will be brought for trekking. Dinner will be on your own at the shelter. Start trekking from Hwaeomsa Temple to Nogodan Shelter. Overnight at Nogodan Shelter.

Day 11: Mt. Jirisan National Park. Breakfast on your own at the shelter (there are cooking place and eating products on sale at the shelter). Packed Lunch on your own will be brought for trekking. Dinner will be on your own at the shelter. Nogodan Shelter – Byeoksoryeong Shelter (Baemsagol Shelter is closed). Overnight at Byeoksoryeong Shelter.

Day 12: Mt. Jirisan National Park. Breakfast on your own at the shelter (there are cooking place and eating products on sale at the shelter). Packed Lunch on your own will be brought for trekking. Dinner will be on your own at the shelter. Byeoksoryeong Shelter – Jangteomok Shelter. Overnight at Jangteomok Shelter.

Day 13: Mt. Jirisan National Park - Yeosu. Breakfast on your own at the shelter (there are cooking place and eating products on sale at the shelter). Very early wake up to see sunrise at Cheongwangbong Peak. Jangteomok Shelter – Jungsan-ni, then transfer to Yeosu. Overnight at Bellagio Tourist hotel in Yeosu.

Day 14: Yeosu. Breakfast at the hotel. Visit Odongdo Isle, Dolsandaegyo Bridge & Dolsando Isle. Rest of the day free. Overnight at Bellagio Tourist hotel in Yeosu.

Day 15: Yeosu - Jejudo Island. Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport for flight to Jejudo Island (Weekly only two days flights on Fridays & Sundays Yeosu Jeju 13:35 14:20 only one flight). Upon arrival transfer to hotel. Rest of the day free. Overnight at Jeju Oriental hotel in Jeju city.

Day 16: Jejudo Island - Mt. Hallasan National Park. Breakfast at the hotel. Packed Lunch on your own will be brought for trekking. Trekking Mt. Hallasan National Parl. (Ascend: Gawneumsa trail, descend: Seongpanak trail). Transfer back to the hotel. Overnight at Jeju Oriental hotel in Jeju city.

Day 17: Jejudo Island. Breakfast at the hotel. AM Free at leisure. PM city tour (Jeju Folklore & Natural History Museum, Samseonghyeol Holes (Ancestral Spirit Holes), Yongduam (Dragon Head Rock). Overnight at Jeju Oriental hotel in Jeju city.

Day 18: Jejudo Island - Seoul. Breakfast at the hotel. AM Transfer to the airport for flight to Seoul. Upon arrival transfer to hotel. PM Free time for shopping, etc. Overnight at Hamilton hotel in Seoul.

Day 19: Seoul - Demilitarized Zone & 3rd Tunnel - Seoul. Breakfast at the hotel. Visit Demilitarized Zone (North Korea’s 3rd Infiltration Tunnel, Dora Observatory and Dorasan Railroad Station). Rest of the day free. Overnight at Hamilton hotel in Seoul.

Day 20: Departure. Breakfast at the hotel. Free time until check out. Transfer to Incheon International Airport for flight to next destination.

Notes:
- This tour is your own Private Tour, not to join other persons as group on the specific dates
- Local 4* and 5* Hotels:
* Seoul: 4 Nights at Hamilton hotel or similar (local 4*)
* Mt. Seoraksan: 2 Nights at Kensington hotel or similar (local 5*)
* Mt. Seoraksan: 1 Night at Osaek Green Yard hotel (local 4*)
* Samcheok: 1 Night at Samcheok Palace hotel (local 5*)
* Mureung Valley: 1 Night at Mureung Plaza motel
* Busan: 2 Nights at Commodore hotel or similar (local 5*)
* Mt. Jirisan National Park: 3 Nights at Shelter
* Yeosu: 2 Nights at Bellagio hotel or similar (local 4*)
* Jejudo Island: 3 Nights at Jeu Oriental hotel or similar (local 5*)
- 3rd Person for extra bed or children under the age of 12 at the time of travel will have 10% discounted price from the rates on double/twin-share basis.
- Children under the age of 12 at the time of travel who are 3rd person for extra bed will have 20% discounted price from the rates.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Prices:
- 2 Travelers: $6485 p/p
- 3 Travelers: $5129 p/p
- 4-5 Travelers: $4178 p/p
- 6-7 Travelers: $3227 p/p
- 8-9 Travelers: $2750 p/p
- Single Supplement: $865 p/p.

Price Includes:
- 19 Nights accommodations on double or twin-share basis
- Daily buffet or American breakfast at hotels (16)
- All transfers and sightseeing tours as per itinerary by private appropriate vehicle
- Demilitarized Zone & 3rd Tunnel, cable car riding & trekking at Mt. Seoraksan, hot spring for teatment in Busan, cup of tea & green tea bath in Boseong.
- English speaking local guide.

Price Excludes:
- International airfares
- All lunches and all dinners
- Expenses of a personal nature
- Insurance.

Notes:
- The above prices are valid from March 1 - February 28, 2011
- Please contact us for a quote for your own larger group.

You can take the monorail of the 3rd Tunnel.
There are shuttles in the tunnel area to travel much safely. Only within limits can persons use the monorail into the tunnel. We secure to take the monorail under the tunnel with assistance from Paju City and North Gyeonggi Tourism Conference.

Special Feature

• Departure from Donghwa Duty Free Shop everyday at 08:20 (except Mondays and National Holidays.)
• Koreans may join.
• The shuttle bus appointed by Paju City comes to the Donghwa Duty Free Shop
• You do not need to transfer another shuttle bus, so more safer and more convenient.

Capacity of application

• All foreigners who have a foreign passport can apply up to 1 day before.
• We need your full name and passport number on your passport for foreigners and ID number for Koreans.

1. You should come to the tour desk before 20 minutes.
2. You have to bring your passport on the tour day.
3. You should not drink before the tour.
4. You should follow the tour guide while your tour.
5. There is no Dress code.
6. Please reconfirm because of it may change by military conditions, visit of VIP and military training.

Korea is a shopper's paradise! Great prices can be found for shoes, clothes, handbags, suitcases, leather goods, silk, antiques, reproductions, and all kinds of souvenirs. You can easily find makers of custom-made clothes and shoes of varying quality. Although department stores and most shops have fixed prices for items, bargaining can usually get a lower price with street vendors and in the major open air markets such as Namdaemun and Dongdaemun. However, do not expect the same level of haggling conditions that exist in Thailand. Also, do not forget about Korea's duty-free stores and Life in Korea's own Online Shopping sections for Products and Services and Online Reservations.

The Korean peninsula is located in Northeast Asia, where it is bordered on the north by China and Russia and faces Japan to the southeast across the Sea of Japan. Since 1948 the country has been divided along the 38th parallel, with the Republic of Korea to the south and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to the north. The Republic of Korea, the subject of this country page, is made up of nine provinces with Seoul, in the northern part of the country, as the capital city. Other major cities include Pusan, Daegu, Incheon, Gwangju and Daejeon.

Dragon on drum. Photo courtesy of Brian Flynn.

Pilbong dancers. Photo courtesy of Brian Flynn.

Bulguksa. Photo courtesy of Brian Flynn.