Golden Route of Korea 8 Days

Fri Day 1: Arrive Seoul (No Meals)
**This is a set-departure group (coach) tour with Day 1 being a Friday.
Fly to Seoul. (Flight not included.). On arrival take a group transfer to your hotel.
Stay two nights at the Swiss Grand Hotel (Run-Of-House room), or similar, in Seoul.

Sat Day 2:  Seoul (B)
(08:30 am) Be collected from your hotel for a guided Seoul city tour including Jogyesa Temple, Gyeongbokgung Palace (or Deoksu Palace on Tuesday), the Royal Guard Changing Ceremony, National Folk Museum and a shopping center. Travel by road (about 1 hour and 30 minutes) to the Korean Folk Village, a living museum that showcase traditional Korean culture and architecture from the Joseon Dynasty.

Sun Day 3: Seoul – Jeonju (B)
(07:30 am) Transfer to the meeting point, Donghwa Duty Free Shop Building’s bus parking lot, nearthe Gwanghwamun Intersection, Seoul
(08:00 am) Travel by bus from Seoul to Gongju. Explore the UNESCO listed tomb of King and the UNESCO listed Gongsanseong Fortress, a mountain castle which was established during the Baekje Period (234-678). Continue by road onto Jeonju. Visit Jeonju Hanok Village that consists of around 700 traditional Korean houses known as Hanok.
Stay one night at the Jeonju Lahan, Best Western Plus Hotel (Run-Of-House room), or similar, in Jeonju.

Mon Day 4: Jeonju – Yeosu  (B)
Travel by road to Gwangju, the leading city of Honam region and birthplace of a modern democratic movement in Korea. Visit May 18th National Cemetery (Gwangju, hometown of BTS member J-Hope and his song “Ma City” contains the May 18 Gwangju Democratization movement.) before continuing to Suncheon where you will visit Suncheonman Bay National Garden (closed on the last Monday of every month). Drive onto Yeosu, a romantic coastal city with a stop at Yi Sun-shin Plaza
Stay one night at the Yeosu Ramada Hotel (Run-Of-House room), or similar, in Yeosu.

Tue Day 5: Yeosu – Gyeongju (B)
Transfer to Jinju and visit Jinjuseong Fortress that was historically linked to the Japanese invasion in 1592. Drive onto to Busan. (the touring vehicle will stop at Gimhae domestic airport to collect tour passengers who book on the shorter version of the trip). In Busan, visit Jagalchi Market and BIFF Square, Busan’s old downtown, Haeundae Beach and Dongbaek Park then drive to Gyeongju.
Stay one night at the Gyeongju Commodore Hotel (Run-Of-House room), or similar, in Gyeongju.

Wed Day 6: Gyeongju – Pyeongchang (B)
Visit the UNESCO listed Seokguram Grotto that was constructed by Kim Dae-Seong during the reign of King Gyeong-Deok (742-765) of the Silla Kingdom. Also tour the UNESCO listed.
Bulguksa Buddhist Temple. Drive to Andong and visit the UNESCO listed Andong Hahoe Village which has preserved the housing architecture and the village structure of the Joseon Dynasty. It has become world-famous since the visit of Queen Elizabeth II of The Great Britain.
Continue on to Pyeongchang, Korea’s 2018 Winter Olympic host city.
Stay one night at the Ramada Pyeongchang Hotel (Run-Of-House room), or similar, in Pyeongchang.

Thu Day 7: Pyeongchang – Seoul (B)
Drive around the venues of 2018 Winter Olympic Games before travelling by road to Sokcho. Visit UNESCO listed Seoraksan National Park. The peaks of the Seoraksan Mountains break through the clouds while jade-like water flows through the valleys, creating breathtaking views and making this Korea’s most famous national park. Due to the many rare species found here, UNESCO designated this national park a Biosphere Preservation District in 1982.

Important notes
*Cable car to Gwongeumseong Fortress is not included (USD20 extra per person to be paid locally if required)
*During the peak season in October, Seoraksan National Park will restrict entries for tour buses. All tour buses must park at C District Square which is about 3.6km from the entrance. Therefore, a visit to Seoraksan National Park may not be feasible during the peak season

Travel by road to the tour drop-off point, the Donghwa Duty Free Shop Building in downtown Seoul, arriving there around 17:00 pm. From there, you will be transferred to your hotel.
Stay one night at the Swiss Grand Hotel (Run-Of-House room), or similar, in Seoul.

Day 8: Seoul – Tba  (B)
Leisure time until the group transfer (vehicle with driver) to Seoul Incheon airport. (Flight not included.) – InterAsia’s arrangements end.