South Korea Tours

Day 1 -  ARRIVE SEOUL
Check-in to Hamilton Hotel for 3 night stay.
 

Day 2 -  SEOUL
This morning you will be collected from your hotel at approximately 09.00 and join a group for a full day excursion by coach. Start with a visit to the 15th-century  Changdeok Palace*, the best preserved of Seoul's palaces. The palace grounds cover over 110 acres and includes a multitude of wooden pavilions, ponds and splendidly patterned walls plus many other beautiful structures, all perfectly balanced in natural settings. (Please note that Changdeok Palace is closed on Mondays. If this excursion is taken on a Monday Changgyeong Palace would be visited as a substitute. To enter the secret garden of the Changdeok Palace a 5000 Korean Won charge (approx £3) will  need to be paid locally.) The tour will continue with a visit to Jongmyo Royal Shrine, which is an ancestral shrine where the ancestral tablets of the kings and their queen consorts of the Joseon Dynasty are worshipped.  A short stop will be made at the Ginseng Centre before having lunch in a local restaurant. In the afternoon, visit the Suwon Hwasung Fortress, which is a mixture of both western and oriental castle styles. Return to your hotel at approx 17.00. (B/L) 

Day 3 GANGHWA ISLAND EXCURSION
This morning you will be collected from your hotel at approximately 0900 and join a group for a full day excursion to Ganghwa Island. Gangwha Island is the fifth largest island in Korea and played an invaluable role in the history of the Korean people. The first stop will be at the Gang hwa history house, followed by a visit to Gang Sung Po, one of the fortresses which kept the Gang hwa Straits. Koryo moved its capital to Gang hwa in order to evade the Mongolian invasion and it is a castle constructed with a mixture of soil and stones. Last stop before lunch will be the Jeon Deung Temple. After lunch, visit The Dolmen and Koryo Royal Palace before departing the island. Return to your hotel at approximately 17.30 (B/L)
 

Day 4 -  SEOUL TO ANDONG
This morning check out of your hotel and make your own way to the train station to depart at 08.20 (schedules TBC) on the train to Andong. the ‘folk, academic and spiritual capital’ of Korea Arrive Andong early afternoon where you will be met by your local guide and commence a tour of Andong, which will include a visit to Andong Hahoe Village and Hahoe Traditional Market and a traditional Mask Museum. Tonight will be spent in a traditional home-stay. (B)
 

Day 5 - ANDONG – HAEINSA
After breakfast, depart the home-stay and visit Mt Gaya National Park and The Haeinsa Temple founded during the third year of King Ae-Jang’s reign in 802 by two monks Suneung and Ijung. The name ‘Haein’ originates from the expression ‘Haeinsammae’ which means ‘truly enlightened world of Buddha and our truly underfiled mind’. Tonight will be spent at the Haeinsa Tourist Hotel located near Haeinsa Temple and Mt. Gayasan National Park (B)
 

Day 6 - HAEINSA – GYEONGJU -  SEOUL
After breakfast transfer to Gyeongju and visit The Gyeongju National Museum (please note this is closed on Mondays), Tumuli Park, Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto. After this excursion you will be transferred to Gyeongju train station and part with your guide. You will travel on the train to Seoul (departing at around 17.30 and arriving at around 19.30). On arrival in Seoul this evening, make your own way back to the Hamilton Hotel, where you can check-in on arrival to your room for a two night stay (B)

 

Day 7 -  SEOUL
Today is free for you explore Seoul at your leisure (B)
 

Day 8 -  SEOUL -  UK
This morning check out of your hotel make your own way to the airport for departure to the UK or onward travel in Asia. (B)