Korea s Autumn Colors Tour A Journey through the fall foliage

Transcription

1 Korea s Autumn Colors Tour A Journey through the fall foliage October 25 th November 2 nd, nts/9days from: $2295 triple $2395 double $2795 single EARLY BOOKING DISCOUNT- RESERVE BY June 1 st - SAVE $50 PER PERSON! Cool temperatures and colors change from the vibrant greens of summer to a rich palette of red, orange, and yellow, signaling the arrival of autumn. South Korea is renowned for having some of the most beautiful autumn foliage and fall landscapes in the world. Though numerous areas across Korea offer brilliant displays of autumn leaves, the mountains are still considered the quintessential destination. On this tour, not only can you enjoy the fall foliage in Seoul, but we have also included Pyeongchang, the site of this years Winter Olympics for specular mountains colors along with an experience of temple life at Woljeongsa Temple and a walk along the spruce tree road. While here an opportunity to practice Buddhist meditation as well as lotus lantern making. We have also included the coastal city of Gangnueng and a visit to the Haslla Art World Museum with over 100 artistic and sculpture elements, indoors as well as outside, representing the harmony between art and humankind in nature. We guarantee this will be one of the tour s more memorable stops. Itinerary Day 1 October 25 th, Thursday- Departure from Honolulu (D/S) Please meet your Panda Travel escort at the Hawaiian Airlines check-in counter, Lobby 3, Makai side at least 3 hours prior to the departure time. A dinner and snack will be served on your flight. Hawaiian Airlines # 459 Departs Honolulu at 2:30pm Arrives Incheon at 8:00pm + 1 Day 2 October 26 th, Friday-Seoul (D)

2 On arrival at the Incheon, please make your way to the baggage claim area as we need to clear immigration and customs. On exiting our local English speaking guide will be there to meet us. The drive into the city is approximately 1 hour, but first we will give you time to exchange currency. Accommodations for six of our nights on tour is at the, ideally located in the heart of Myeongdong, the epicenter of fashion and culture. Famous Namdaemun Market and Seoul City Hall are within a 15-minute walk. Every room at Myeongdong Days Hotel features city views, flat-screen satellite TV, refrigerator, and sofa to make for a pleasant stay. The remainder of the evening is free. A dinner bento box with bottled water will be provided on arrival at the hotel Day 3 October 27 th, Saturday-Seoul (B/L) After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby as we are off on a full day of touring. The morning begins with a visit to Seoul Tower, as iconic as kimchi. Opened to the public in 1980, it has since become a major tourist attraction. Sitting atop Namsan Mountain, Seoul Tower offers panoramic views of the entire city and surrounding areas. Enjoy fall foliage viewing from here. While here don t miss the countless locks of love, literally thousands of padlocks attached to the fences and trees. It is a ritual among courting couples as a symbol of their affection. After hanging their locks, they throw away the key in the hope for eternal love. Seoul Tower & views from the top Locks of Love at Seoul Tower From here we are off to the Trick Eye Museum, a 3D interactive museum located in the heart of the student district Hongdae, Seoul. The museum offers a unique experience using a technique called trompe-l'oeil (trick of the eye). The purpose of this art is to intentionally confuse the audience by making flat 2D paintings into 3D images. Enjoy time to walk around and freely touch, take photos, and interact with the art. The Ice Museum, located inside of the Trick Eye Museum, is the biggest ice sculpture experience museum in Seoul. From famous cartoon characters to ice slides, you can see all types of ice sculptures as soon as you enter the museum. We will visit here next.

3 Optical Illusion at Trick Eye Museum Ice Museum Next, we are off to the Hongdae University area, a vibrant, energetic, and youthful neighborhood. In the 1990s, many artists, performers, and musicians moved into the area thanks to cheap rent. They all had the hope of making a living doing what they loved whether it be creating street artwork, performing for a group of people on the streets, or jamming with their band in small indie music venues. Today it is a neighborhood known for its youthful and romantic ambience, underground cultures, and freedom of selfexpression. Unique cafes, cozy galleries, accessory stores, fashion shops, live cafés and clubs, art markets, and gourmet eateries make this a popular hang-out for locals in their 20s and 30s and a fascinating place to walk around. We are headed to the main street shopping area. On one side are a wide variety of places to eat and drink. On the other side, a busy street of small shops and boutiques. It is known as Korea s Harajuku. Being that it is a university are, the prices are quite reasonable. Being that it is a Saturday, this area will be quite busy. For the Daiso lover, we have one here just waiting for you. Enjoy time to shop the 4 large floors of bargains. Our touring day winds down this afternoon with visits to Junbu Market and the Lotte Department Store. First, a visit at Jungbu Market, where you can find a a wide assortment of dried food such as laver, seaweed, anchovies, yellow corbinas, squid, pollack, and dried filefish fillets are available at low prices. Known for both wholesale and retail sales, prices are considered the best. Each store only sells one or two types of seafood products, allowing for easy price comparison and top-quality goods. Popular products include dried filefish fillets, laver, and pollack. Lastly, a fun stop at the Lotte Department Store, one of Korea's iconic shopping venues featuring a wide variety of goods from reasonably priced Korean labels to world famous luxury brands. Lunch is included in today s itinerary. We now make our way back to our hotel and once back the remainder of the evening is free. Day 4 October 28 th, Sunday-Seoul-Pyeongchang (B/L/D) After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby as we are off to Pyeongchang, the host to two Olympic games, the 1988 Summer Olympics and this years Winter Olympics.

4 The morning begins with a transfer to Seoul Station where we will be taking the KTX bullet train to Jinbu. Our luggage will be sent along separately and meet up with us later at the hotel. Beside being one of South Korea s finest ski areas, it is also home to several Buddhist temples, including Woljeongsa Temple which we will be visiting. Woljeongsa Temple, best described as a temple within a forest of fir trees is where we begin our touring day. We begin with a walk along the path through this dense fir tree forest, not only magnificent in appearance, but equally relaxing and refreshing. We will be entering through Iljumun Gate, the first of three gates through which one must pass before entering the temple. This gate has no doors as it is open to all people. The name ilju originates from the pillars (ju) erected in a straight line (il) on both sides to support the gate. This forest is regarded as one of the three main needle colonies in Korea. Enjoy this fall foliage display. Iljumun Gate Entrance Fir Tree Walking Path Various art works along the path Once at the temple, time to explore and enjoy temple food lunch. Woljeongsa Temple was founded by the Monk Jajang in 643 and survived for more than one thousand years. Other national treasures found here include an octagonal nine-story stone pagoda. This is quite unique as in Japan the pagodas are constructed of wood, but here with stone being in abundance, construction was of stone. During our visit enjoy an experiencing temple life with an opportunity to practice Buddhist meditation as well lesson on making a lotus lantern. Temple grounds view from inside the temple stone pagoda

5 From here we make our way to our hotel for the evening, Kensington Flora Hotel, a non-smoking property located on Odaesan Mountain. After dinner at the hotel, do take the opportunity to take a walk by the lit garden to enjoy the scenic views. Kensington Flora Hotel in public areas Day 5 October 29 th, Monday-Pyeongchang-Gangneung (B/L/D) After, breakfast, please meet your guide as we are off on another full day of touring. The morning begins with a drive to Gangnueng, less than one hour. Once here, we will be visiting the Ojukheon Municipal Museum, a beautiful and historic museum with intriguing contents. Enjoy time to immerse yourself in the lives of Korea s wealthy classes from the past as you wander beneath ornate arched doorways and stop to admire traditional architecture. Artifacts and displays are from the Joseon Dynasty era of 1392 to 1910 and include statues and other objects dedicated to the 16th-century scholar Yulgok Yi-I, an important figure in Korean history. He appears on South Korean bank notes to this day. The buildings of the museum have different origins and ages. Although a house has stood on this spot for centuries, parts of the current structure were restored in Visit the Mongryongsil room, where Yulgok Yi-I is said to have been born. Outside, see the peaceful cross-legged statue of his mother, Shin Saimdang. Look for the statue of Yulgok Yi-I himself as well. Enter the Yulgok Memorial Hall to see pieces of art created by members of the Yulgok family. Wander through the other halls to find other fascinating objects, such as pottery and housewares. Miniature figurines populate the tableaus of important historic scenes in the Folk Tradition Hall. Next, a stop at the Gangneung Coffee Museum, learn a little about the history of coffee while enjoying a complimentary cup of coffee or tea! Gangneung is famous for its coffee and even hosts a coffee festival that attracts more than 400,000 people. Drinking coffee here is unlike anywhere else as it offers a unique experience to glimpse into the coffee culture of this region. There are now approximately 150 cafes and, very few from the global chains we are accustomed to. It has morphed into a coffee paradise, where visitors can taste various kinds of coffee from around the world. Some of the country's best baristas have opened their businesses there, which also helped solidify its coffee reputation. From here we will be visiting Jeongdongjin Beach, known for its great sunrises and Hourglass Park. At Jeongdongjin Beach, the early morning sun rising over the ocean and outlining the train station and surrounding pines is a sight that has been described as "straight out of a fairy tale". This beach was made famous by the popular drama Hourglass, shot in The actual beach is 250 meters of white sand and nice clear blue water with some rocky areas popular for divers. Shellfish, mussels, sea urchins and other sea life make the rocks their abodes which of course makes for lots of happy children and divers in the water. Close-by, Hourglass Park, located at Jeongdongjin Beach is a big tourist attraction, highlighted by the world s largest hourglass sculpture as its centerpiece. The larger than life hourglass is filled with approximately 8 tons of sand and weighs some 40 tons.

6 Next, we are off to Haslla Art World, an indoor and outdoor art museum that combines natural elements with innovative modern art in a 27-acre setting. Enjoy ocean views of sparkling blue waters from a bench overlooking the East Sea. Walk through gardens and seek peace from the calming green sights and pleasant scents. Enjoy fall foliage viewing here. Haslla Art World Inside, Haslla Art World has the Stone Gallery with its hanging stone and Cow Dung Gallery with hanging cow dung. Artist Choi Ok-Yeung designed the unique arrangement of animal waste to represent stars floating in the universe and deliver a message about recycling. There are five exhibition areas, an art shop and a restaurant which is an art museum in itself. Indoor Museum Artwork From here, off to our hotel for the evening, St. John s Hotel, beachfront on Gangmun Beach. After checking in and time to freshen up, please meet your guide as we are having dinner here at the hotel. St. John s Hotel Day 6 October 30 th, Tuesday-Gangneung-Seoul (B) After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby as we are off on a full day of tour, ending the day back in Seoul. The morning begins with a drive to Yongin and a stop at the Korean Folk Village for an introduction on traditional culture from the late Joseon period. Opened in 1974 as an open-air folk museum, it remains one of the best-known of Korea's folk villages. The village is home to Korean heritage and many features of Korean culture that have been collected and preserved for future generations. A traditional marketplace offers exotic flavors of Korean food from various regions, and numerous shops sell a variety of traditional handicrafts and souvenirs, many of which were made on the premises.

7 Enjoy free time to experience an authentic atmosphere with over 260 traditional houses. Also included are various household goods from the different regions. All these features have been relocated and restored to provide visitors with a general view of Korean food, clothing, and housing styles from the past. In over a dozen workshops, visitors can see artisans practice their handicraft skills in pottery, basket and bamboo weaving, paper making, and many other traditional arts. Watch as these master craftsmen (and women) create beautiful designs in brass, embroidery, iron, and clay. Lunch today is on your own at Jangteo, the marketplace area of the village Korean Folk Village Souvenirs Farmer s dance From here, we make our way back to Seoul and check-in at our hotel,. Once checked in, the remainder of the afternoon and evening is free. Day 7 October 31 th, Wednesday-Seoul (B/L/D) After breakfast, off on a full day of tour in Seoul. The morning begins with a drive by Blue House, named for the blue tiles that cover the roof. It serves as the presidential home, much like the White House in Washington, D.C. Set in an old Joseon Dynasty royal garden, the Blue House sits with Mount Bugaksan as its backdrop in a spot deemed auspicious. Built in the traditional Korean architectural style, the Blue House has more than 150,000 tiles on its roof, each formed and baked individually and thought to be strong enough to last for centuries. From here we will be visiting Gyeongbokgung Palace, nearby to Blue House and probably Korea s most famous royal palace. Like a phoenix, Seoul s premier palace has risen several times from the ashes of destruction. Tourists have replaced the thousands of government officials, scholars, eunuchs, concubines, soldiers, and servants who once lived there. Originally built by King Taejo, the founder of the Joseon dynasty, Gyeongbokgung served as the principal palace until 1592, when it was burnt down during the Japanese invasions. It lay in ruins for nearly 300 years until Heungseon Daewongun, regent and father of King Gojong, started to rebuild it in King Gojong moved in during 1868, but the expensive rebuilding project virtually bankrupted the government. Altogether the palace consisted of 330 buildings and had up to 3000 staff, including 140 eunuchs, all serving the royal family. During Japanese colonial rule, most of the palace was again destroyed much of what you see today are accurate recent reconstructions. While here, enjoy watching the changing of the guard ceremony.

8 Next, a stop at Cheonggyecheon Stream and Plaza, a public square in central Seoul that commemorates the restoration of this stream which was once an elevated highway. Restored in 2005, Cheonggyecheon is a cool respite from Seoul s summer heat. It is one of the best places to go for a spring or summer stroll. On weekends from April to November, the plaza hosts events for the Cheonggyecheon Cultural Festival. We may be in luck! Blue House Gyeongbokgung Palace We are now off to enjoy a cruise on the Han River, one of the best ways to enjoy Seoul s river front and as well capture fall foliage colors. Our last stop of the day is at Namdaemun Market, the largest traditional market in Korea with over 10,000 stores. Due to the wholesale nature of the market, the prices are attractive and competitive. It a popular destination for both locals and international visitors alike. The market sells nearly every item under the sun including clothing, food, living essentials, etc. So, it comes as no surprise that Namdaemun Market is always bustling day and night. Retailers from all over the nation flock to the market at night and local consumers flock to the market during the day. Many tourists come during the day as well to experience the charm of a traditional Korean market. The market's success is largely due to its independent distribution system. Although the shops are small, most of them produce the goods they offer themselves, allowing customers to purchase goods directly from the manufacturers at wholesale prices. After dinner at a local restaurant, back to our hotel and the remainder of the evening is free. Day 8 November 1 st, Thursday-Seoul (B) After breakfast, enjoy a complete free day to shop and sightsee on your own. Our hotel as you have probably known by now is in one prime location, Myeongdong, one of the primary shopping streets in Seoul. Besides shopping, there are so many dining options, family restaurants, fast food, Korean, Western and Japanese. Go out and enjoy the day! Day 9 November 2 nd, Friday-Seoul-Incheon (B/L)

9 After breakfast, enjoy free time until out check-out time of 12:00 noon. Please meet your guide in the lobby as we are off to lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, one final touring and shopping opportunity with a visit to Insadong Antique Street. Insadong-gil is well known as a traditional street to both locals and foreigners and represents the culture of the past and the present. It contains a mixture of historical and modern atmosphere and is a unique area of Seoul that truly represents the cultural history of the nation. Most the traditional buildings originally belonged to merchants and bureaucrats. Some larger residences, built for retired government officials during the Joseon period, can also be seen. Most of these older buildings are now used as restaurants or shops. The face of Insadong changes three times a day. In the early morning, it is a quiet and peaceful street, in the afternoon it becomes busy with tourists and at night Insadong is a place where people, Korean and foreigners alike enjoy taking a stroll and simply hanging out. Insadong Antique Street Now, off to Incheon Airport to begin our check in for our flight home. Our arrival will be by 7:00pm. Hawaiian Airlines #460 Departs Incheon 10:00 pm Arrival Honolulu 11:45 am