Monday, March 29 (Day 01)
HONOLULU TO SEOUL
Our tour commences this morning when we assemble at the Korean Airlines lobby at the airport for baggage check-in procedures. We will depart Honolulu on a direct flight to Seoul, the capital of South Korea. A meal will be served on board the flight.
Tuesday, March 30 (Day 02)
ARRIVE SEOUL (D)
We’ll arrive at the Incheon International Airport in the late afternoon and after completing entry and customs formalities, we’ll transfer to our hotel in Seoul to check in for two nights. Dinner will be provided for you this evening.
Accommodations at Seoul Lotte World Hotel or similar
Wednesday, March 31 (Day 03)
SEOUL (B)(L)(D)
Enjoy a full day of sightseeing in the city of Seoul, including a visit to the Kimchi School to observe the art of making kim chi. Experience a session of making some on your own to take with you. Have fun wearing the hanbok - the traditional Korean style costume for a memorable souvenir photo. Standing high on Mt. Namsan in the heart of Seoul is N Seoul Tower, the symbol of Seoul and the city’s most recognizable landmark. We’ll ride a cable car to the top of the tower providing a breathtaking view of the city from the observation deck. A scene in the encore Korean drama “Beautiful Days” was filmed in the pavilion located adjacent to the tower.
Accommodations at Seoul Lotte World Hotel or similar
Thursday, April 1 (Day 04)
SEOUL - JEJU ISLAND (B)(L)(D)
This morning we’ll transfer to the Gimpo Airport for our flight to Jeju-do, Korea’s largest island off the south coast. On arrival, we’ll embark on a brief sightseeing tour of this semi-tropical paradise - often called ‘samdado’ - the island of three abundances: rocks, wind, and women. Two of the island’s symbols are the “dolharubang” (stone grandfather) - a black lava statue of a kindly old man and “haenyeo” - the island’s women divers who search for abalone, shellfish and sea urchins. We’ll make a photo stop at Yongduam Rock - an unusual lava formation shaped like a dragon’s head with its mouth wide open and is noted as a famous Jeju Island landmark. Enjoy a stroll through ‘The Spirited Garden’ - also known as Bunjae Artpia (Bonsai Art Park), the only park in Korea specializing in potted plant and bonsai cultivation with over 1,000 plants laid out along the paths of the park with rocks and other garden trees. We’ll check into the elegant Jeju Lotte Hotel to spend the next two nights. Stroll through the gardens of the hotel, providing a romantic atmosphere with Dutch windmills overlooking a lakeside cliff - a scene used in the popular Korean drama “All In”. Take a picture of the famous bench that was also used to film a scene in this popular drama series for a memorable souvenir.
Accommodations at Jeju Lotte Hotel or similar
Friday, April 2 (Day 05)
JEJU ISLAND (B)(L)(D)
On the rocky shores of Jeju Island’s beautiful beaches, we’ll visit Seopjikoji, a picturesque site overlooking the Pacific with a romantic atmosphere and well known as a shooting location for TV dramas and movies. Scenes of the popular Korean drama “All In” was filmed here, including the famous ‘All In House’ located on the hillside displaying many photos and memorabilia of the famous actor, Lee Byung Hun who starred in the film. The Seongeup Folk Village is a living folk village and you’ll have an opportunity to see some of the friendly island villagers who still live here in Jeju-style thatched-roof houses with stone and clay walls. Unique characteristics found here include folk songs, traditional foods, crafts and a souvenir shop selling an assortment of traditional Korean products.
Accommodations at Jeju Lotte Hotel or similar
Saturday, April 3 (Day 06)
JEJU ISLAND - JINHAE - BUSAN (B)(L)(D)
This morning, we’ll transfer to the airport for our flight to Busan, a beautiful port city and gateway to the Halleyo Maritime National Park. Busan is blessed with great geographical advantages: the sea to its south and east, the river to its west and the mountains soaring in the city like beautiful twin towers. On arrival we’ll proceed to Jinhae, a well-known port on the south coast and famous for its gorgeous cherry blossoms. Weather permitting, every street is lined with blooming cherry trees and a festival is held here annually to enjoy the arrival of spring. We’ll return to the city of Busan to spend the night. Before checking in, we’ll make a stop at the Jagalchi Fish Market located along the Busan Harbor to shop for some dried local seafood specialties at discounted prices.
Accommodations at Busan Grand Hotel or similar
Sunday, April 4 (Day 07)
BUSAN - GYEONGJU - DAEGU (B)(L)(D)
Our journey continues north to Gyeongju, once the capital city of the Silla Kingdom. Now boasting glorious historical and cultural remains, the city is known as the ‘museum without walls’. Enjoy a tour of Tumuli Park with an extensive collection of royal Silla tombs, including the most famous Cheonmachong (Flying Horse Tomb). One of the tombs will be open for viewing and we’ll have an opportunity to see how these huge tombs were built and how various items were arranged in them. At the Gyeongju National Museum, precious relics of the Silla Kingdom are contained including magnificent gold crowns and Buddhist artifacts. In front of the main building stands another famous symbol of the Silla people’s artistic and religious spirit, the bronze Divine Bell of King Seongdeok. We’ll continue on to spend the night in the city of Daegu.
Accommodations at Daegu Interburgo Hotel or similar
Monday, April 5 (Day 08)
DAEGU - JEONJU - CHEONGJU (B)(L)(D)
We’ll travel west to the cultural city of Jeonju, known for its traditional mulberry paper called hanji - used in calligraphy and also to make umbrellas, fans and other items. We’ll visit the Pan Asia Paper Museum, the only museum in Korea devoted to the history, development, use, and culture of paper. We’ll see a demonstration on the procedure of traditional paper making and craftsmanship and also have the opportunity to participate in the paper making process. Jeonju is also well-known for its culinary dish called bibimbap (a bowl of rice mixed with meat and vegetables) and there is an old saying “don’t leave Jeonju without tasting it”. We will continue on to spend the night in Cheongju. Dinner will be provided for you this evening at the hotel.
Accommodations at Cheongju Ramada Hotel or similar
Tuesday, April 6 (Day 09)
CHEONGJU - SEOUL (B)(L)(D)
This morning we’ll visit Sangsu Herb Land, the largest herb farm in Korea where you can see, feel, and taste everything about herbs. The farm is divided into a greenhouse and an outdoor garden composed of separate areas - each one specializing in a particular herb, such as rosemary, thyme, and etc. A unique but delightful dish - Flower Rice Pot (rice in a pot garnished with flowers and herbs) will be served for our lunch. We’ll continue on to the exciting city of Seoul to spend the next three nights. En route, we’ll visit ‘Everland’ - ranked as the 4th theme park in the world with five main festivals and exciting entertainment all year around. Enjoy the day exploring five theme areas with more than 30 kinds of thrilling and fun attractions: Global Fair, American Adventure, Magic Land, European Adventure and Zootopia.
Accommodations at Seoul Hotel Lotte or similar
Wednesday, April 7 (Day 10)
SEOUL (B)(L)(D)
This morning, we’ll travel to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) - one of the most fascinating places in the world. We’ll visit The 3rd Tunnel - dug in 1978 by North Korea to infiltrate South Korean territory and Dora Observatory - the only place in South Korea where visitors have a clear view of Gaeseong, the second largest city in North Korea through telescopic lenses. We’ll visit Imjingak Park - a park built to console the refugees who left North Korea during the Korean War - including Mangbaedan - an alter set up for refugees so they could bow in the direction of their ancestral graveyards and Freedom Bridge - a bridge used by prisoners of war to cross over to freedom in the South. This afternoon we’ll visit the Suwon KBS Drama Center, the famous television and movie filming center. Many scenes of the popular soap operas and historical drama series were filmed here at this production center in the indoor and outdoor sets. A popular setting used to film a scene in the popular drama “Wife” can be seen as you walk through the streets of the outdoor village.
Accommodations at Seoul Hotel Lotte or similar
Thursday, April 8 (Day 11)
SEOUL (B)(L)(D)
We’ll visit Gyeongbokgung Palace - the most comprehensive and grandest of the five palaces of the Joseon Dynasty and the National Folk Museum of Korea - the only national museum focusing on folklore with items and exhibits displaying the traditional way of life. Enjoy a visit to an open set of the village built for the drama series - Dae Jang Geum (Jewel in the Palace) at the MBC Studio theme Park in the province of Gyeonggi-do. Relive the memories of this historical drama with many interactive sites - featuring a ride on a carriage, trying on royal costumes, and more. The set was erected to look exactly like Chosun Dynasty buildings in the 15th century. You can also take pictures beside life size models of some of the characters in the series. Enjoy shopping at Namdaemun Market - the nation’s largest wholesale center and popular among local residents to shop for merchandise at discounted prices. Known as a shopper’s paradise, Itaewon is a popular spot for bargain hunters. The main street is lined with shops and sidewalk stalls offering a wide selection of merchandise at a fraction of the normal price. Have fun bargaining with the local vendors for the best prices here.
Accommodations at Seoul Hotel Lotte or similar
Friday, April 9 (Day 12)
SEOUL - HONOLULU (B)
After enjoying breakfast, the day is at your leisure to relax or do more shopping until our departure to the airport in the early afternoon. Stroll through Myeong-dong, Korea’s trendiest shopping area located near our hotel. We will transfer to the Incheon International Airport for our evening flight home to Honolulu, arriving in the morning on the same day due to the crossing of the International Dateline. A late meal will be provided for you on board the flight.