Best of South Korea: 13 Days / 12 Nights

Tour Code:
P318
NZ$5,887
Current Stock:

Duration: 13 Days | 12 Nights
Dates: All year-round possible (May - October recommended).
Countries to be visited: South Korea
Departure & Return Locations: Incheon International Airport, Seoul

Pack Ya Bags Travel offer many tours to South Korea, whether you prefer traditional and accessible Korea sightseeing, or are in the mood for something more obscure. Likewise, Korea offers destinations and experience that cater both to adventurous eco-tourists and culture-minded city slickers.

When it comes to places to visit in South Korea, most travellers default to Seoul (and, in rare cases Busan, the country’s second city). The vast land between the two cities, filled with charming towns and villages, stunning scenery and food so delicious, goes all too often ignored. This tour is an example of a set itineray to introduce you to the best of South Korea with an English Speaking guide and 4* accommodation throughout. It offers you a wide range of attractions, sightseeing and experience with natural wonders, attractive culture and authentic Korean tradition, giving you an immersive impression of Korea.

Detailed Itinerary

This tour commences on a Saturday so you will arrive in Seoul on a Friday (Day 1) and be transferred to your overnight accommodation.

DAY 1: Incheon, Seoul
Upon arrival at Incheon International Airport you will be met by our representative and transfer to Seoul (Hotel check-in is available after 14:00). The rest of day is free at your leisure.

DAY 2: Seoul 
After breakfast, pick up at your hotel around 08:30-09:00 am. Seoul full day sightseeing – Jogyesa temple →Gyeongbokgung Palace(Deoksu Palace on Tue). The Royal Guard Changing Ceremony → National Folk Museum → Korean Ginseng Center or Amethyst shop and transfer to Korean Folk village. At the Korean Folk Village (an hour and half drive away from Seoul) - you will experience the culture of the late Joseon Dynasty, It’s huge village that has about 260 different types of houses of each province. → Return to Seoul and take a rest.

DAY 3: Seoul, Gongju, Buyeo, Jeonju
After breakfast, you will be picked up at your hotel lobby at 8am. Depart Seoul to Gongju(130Km/1.5hours) / Visit The Tomb of King Muryeong(UNESCO)→Gongsanseong Fortress(UNESCO)→Depart to Buyeo (1.5hours), an ancient capital of the Baekje Dynasty. Stop by“NakhwaamCliff’ Observatory” where 3,000 court ladies of Baekje plunged into the river to avoid being captured and dishonored when enemy breached the castle on the last day of the Kingdom → Proceed to Jeonju (80Km/1 hr) to visit Jeonju Hanok Village including about 700 traditional Korean houses called Hanok.→ Check-into your hotel and have leisure time.

DAY 4: Jeonju, Gwangju, Suncheon , Yeosu
Breakfast at your hotel →Transfer to Gwangju (100km / 1hr 20min), the leading city of Honam region and birthplace of a modern democratic movement in Korea→Visit May 18th National Cemetery →Suncheon (100km/ 1hr) where you will visit “Suncheon Bay Garden →Move to Yeosu, a port city and look around the Historic Site of Admiral Yi Sun-sin’s Path→Check-in to our hotel.

DAY 5: Yeosu, Busan, Jeju
Breakfast at your hotel →Jinjuseong Fortress – historically linked to Japanese invasion in 1592.→ Move to Busan(100Km/1.5hrs) →Arrive at Gimhae domestic airport→Depart from Gimhae domestic airport(1st floor, Ticket office of the bus)→Arrive at Jeju and meet the driver. → Transfer to hotel and take a rest.

*Jeju-do’s volcanic island and lava tubes have been registered as UNESCO’s world natural heritage. Jeju-do(island) is the premier tourist destination in Korea because of its stunning natural scenery and superior tourist amenities. Scenic beaches, waterfalls, cliffs and caves lie in harmony and the mild weather makes Jeju-do an even more ideal tourist site.

DAY 6: Jeju
Breakfast at your hotel, and then enjoy a full day of sightseeing. Visit Hyupjae Beach, Hallim Park where you can enjoy Palm Tree Road, Jeju Stone and Bonsai Garden, Water Garden, Subtropical Botanic Garden and much more. and O'sulloc Tea Museum which was opened by Amore Pacific in 2001 with the aim of introducing and spreading Korean teas and the traditional tea culture of Korea. After lunch, take Sanbang Mountain Cruise and Cheonjeyeon falls, named "The Pond of God," consists of three sections. Stop by shopping center and transfer to your hotel.

DAY 7: Jeju, Busan
Enjoy a delicious breakfast at your hotel and then transfer to the farm and enjoy horseback riding, one of fun activity that will make you feel like royalty, The Seongeup Folk Village where shows the unique culture of Jeju Island. After lunch, Visit Haenyeo Museum where exhibits various photos of haenyeo female divers and their activities, to provide an accurate picture of their lives or enjoy woman diver show (Unesco Intangible Cultural asset) and Manjanggul which holds great value for science and conservation studies, having well-maintained formations despite being formed over one hundred thousand years ago. Stop by Korean Jewelry Amethyst or local product store. Transfer to Jeju airport and fly to Busan by domesic air. Arrive at Busan airport, transfer to hotel

DAY 8: Busan, Gyeongju

After breakfast at the hotel, meet a guide for a full day sightseeing in Busan. Visit Haeundae Beach, the most famous beach in Busan. The white sand beach is roughly 1.5 kilometers long, over a 30- to 50-meter wide area, creating a beautiful coastline before a shallow bay. Proceed to Yonggungsa Temple via Dalmaji-gil Road, famous for its views of the blue ocean, white sandy beach, Camellia forest, and pine tree forest, creating one of Busan’s eight scenic sites. Haedong Yonggungsa Temple is situated on the coast of the north-eastern portion of Busan. Transfer to Gamcheon Culture Villiage, formed by houses built in staircase-fashion on the foothills of a coastal mountain, earning this village the nickname "Machu Picchu of Busan. Continue to visit Korea’s largest seafood market, Jagalchi Fishery market and BIFF Square.

Transfer to Gyeongju(1.5hrs by car) and visit Gyeongju Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond, a secondary palace used by the crown prince of the Silla Kingdom. You can enjoy the reflection of Imhaejeon in Wolji during the night. 

DAY 9: Gyongju, Daegu

Breakfast at the hotel. Met by our guide at 08:30 am. Move to Gyeongju, a museum without walls. In 57 BC, around when Julius Caesar was subduing Gaul, it became the capital of the Shilla Dynasty and remained so for about 1000 years. Gyeongju preserves a vast amount of significant and fascinating historical heritage. Along with Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto, its historical district has been designated as a World Heritage by UNESCO. Gyeongju National Museum,&Cheomgseongdae Astronomical Observatory, Seokguram Grotto (UNESCO world heritage) - an artificial stone temple made of granites, located on the eastern peak of Mt. Toham. Inside the round-shaped main hall, there are the Bonjon Statue, Bodhi-Sattava and his disciples. It was built to preserve these statues. Bulguksa Temple (UNESCO world heritage) – The beauty of the temple itself and artistic touch of the stone relics are as awesome and fascinating as to be highly praised by visitors from all over the world. Move to Daegu city for overnight which is a largest and central city of this province. Check in at Hotel and take a rest.

DAY 10: Daegu, Haeinsa-Temple, Andong, Pyeongchang
After Check-out, move to Haeinsa Temple located in Gayasan National Park. Haeinsa Temple was founded by King Ae-Jang of Shilla Dynasty (802), well known for its famous treasure “ TripitakaKoreana ”(UNESCO world heritage) composed of 81,341
printing woodblocks made to repulse the Mongolian Army Invasion with support of Buddha. And then transfer to AndongHahoe Village which has preserved the housing architecture and the village structure of the Joseon Dynasty. Moreover, the Village was not artificially created; there are people who actually live there. The Hahoe Village has become world-famous for the visit of The Queen Elizabeth II of Britain several years ago. And then transfer to Gangneung, one of 2018 PyeongchangOlympic Cities.

DAY 11: Pyeongchang, Mt.Seorak, Seoul
Move to Seoraksan National Park of which the peaks break through the clouds while jade-like water flows through the valleys, creating breathtaking views and making this Korea’s most famous national park. UNESCO designated this park a Biosphere
Preservation District in 1982 due to so many rare species found here. Visit Sinheungsa-temple located in Mt.Seorak which is an ancient temple with deep historical significance, built by a great monk Jajangyulsa (590~658). (Optional Tour: Gwongeumseong Cable Car – USD15pp). Gwongeumseong is a site of castle ruins located on the steep Dol Mountain of Seoraksan National Park area. After sightseeing of Seoraksan National Park, move to Seoul. Drop off at Seoul hotel

**During the peak season in October, the Seoraksan National Park will restrict buses and medium size bus for entries. Therefore, the bus must park at C District Square and you must walk 3.6km to the entrance from C District Square. So please be aware of that we might not be able to visit Seoraksan National Park for this tour.

DAY 12: Seoul

After breakfast, pick up at your hotel at 08:00 am. DMZ Half day tour (closed on Mon and National Holiday), Passport is required to join. Hotel →Imjingak Park → The Unification Bridge → ID Check → DMZ theater and exhibition hall → The 3rd Infiltration Tunnel → Dora Observatory →Dorasan Station → Amethyst or Ginseng Center → Drop off at Seoul City Hall (please travel back to your hotel on your own by a taxi or subway or on foot after enjoying the city street).

DMZ Tour ,Korea is the only divided country in the world. After the Korean War, Korea and North Korea established a border that cut the Korean peninsula roughly in half. Stretching for 2km on either side of this border is the Demilitarized Zone. The 3rd Infiltration Tunnel, The 3rd tunnel was discovered on October 17, 1978. It is located52km from Seoul. Approximately 10,000 soldiers can move through this tunnel in 1 hour

DAY 13: Seoul

After breakfast at your hotel, you will be picked up at your hotel lobby 4hours before your flight departure.

Tour Price
• Price shown is for a person based on twin share accommodation.
• All prices displayed are subject to availability and can be withdrawn or varied without notice.
• Prices are guaranteed once booking is confirmed by us and paid in full by the due date.
• Depending on your needs and group size (individual, couple, family, group, etc.) we will provide the final pricing for your tour.
• It may not be possible to visit Mt. Seorak at high peak season (Summer & Fall) due to large crowds.

Inclusions:
• Accommodation for 12 nights with Breakfast (Twin Share)
• All transfers throughout the stay including the domestic flights on Day 5 and Day 7
• English speaking guide
• Tickets to attractions mentioned in the itinerary
• Transfer to and from the airport

Exclusions:
• International airfare
• Travel Insurance (required)
• Airport taxes and charges
• Any Private Expenses
• Meals not mentioned (Lunch & Dinner)
• Personal Incidentals such as Telephone calls, Room Service, Laundry
• Tip to Guide/Driver, Porterage Fee and others which are personal in nature
• Other services not mentioned in the itinerary

Please refer to our Standard Booking Conditions for booking terms and conditions.