Korea s Festival of Flowers Tour May 3 rd 10 th, 2018

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Korea s Festival of Flowers Tour May 3 rd 10 th, 2018 6nts/8days from: $1995 dbl/tpl $2295 single Flower Festivals in Korea - an explosion of color During a time when everyone's heart is full of

1 Korea s Festival of Flowers Tour May 3 rd 10 th, nts/8days from: $1995 dbl/tpl $2295 single Flower Festivals in Korea - an explosion of color During a time when everyone's heart is full of springtime joy, a wide variety of flower festivals are taking place throughout Korea to welcome the festive season. Spring has officially arrived; the temperatures tell us so. The sun is shining and the real sign of spring, the flowers are blooming, a little yellow here and a little pink there. Join us on the Festival of Flowers tour as we visit three popular festivals on this six-night tour as well Seoul and beyond. We have included the Taean Tulip Festival, one of the world s top 5 tulip festivals, featuring over 1.5 million colorful tulips as well as canola, digitalis, and lupine. We have also included the Boseong Green Tea Festival, offering some of Korea s most breathtaking scenery and then the Morning Calm Spring Flower, where every year the grounds are covered with a rich tapestry of color, from the thousands of flowers and trees in full bloom. Ah, but only the beginning as we have sightseeing and shopping time in one of Asia s most vibrant capital, Seoul. Itinerary/Details Day 1 May 03, 2018 Thursday Depart from Honolulu (D/S) Hawaiian Airlines #459 Departs Honolulu 2:00 pm Arrive Seoul 8:00 pm After checking in with your Panda Travel escort, meet up at our departure gate for our flight to Incheon. A dinner and a snack will be served in-flight. Day 2 May 04, 2018 Friday Incheon-Seoul (D) On arrival at Seoul s Incheon Airport, make your way to the baggage claim area. After clearing customs, we will be met by our local guide. We are allowing time for you to exchange money at the airport before making our way to the hotel.

2 We are now off by private bus transfer to our hotel, The Hotel Ibis Ambassador Seoul Insadong, in the heart of Seoul s Insadong district. The area is famous for traditional antique and art shops. We have arranged for a bento box dinner with water to be delivered to the hotel on our arrival so that you can enjoy a meal before heading off to bed. Accommodations: The Hotel Ibis Ambassador Seoul Insadong Day 3 May 05, 2018 Saturday Seoul-Taean-Jeonju (B/L/D) After breakfast please meet up your guide in the lobby as we are off to Taean to visit the Taean Tulip Festival. The drive time is approximately three hours. A rest stop will be made along the way. Selected as one of the world s top five tulip festivals, enjoy viewing tulips in various stages of development, up to 1.2 million of them in 300 different species. In addition to tulips, there are also lupine, foxglove, lilies, and other advanced breeds of spring flowers. Free time here to walk around and enjoy the flowers and as well the many flower art creations. Past festivals have featured flower art in the form of a trojan horse, various animals, hearts, wings, a fantasy islands in a lake setting, a tunnel of love prayers, and a giant image of Mona Lisa made from the tulips. Beside the flower viewing, you can also enjoy a snack or beverage at the various stands. From here we are off to Jeonju, the largest city in the country's southwest. The city has a vibrant historic district and a fantastic food scene. In 2012 the city was designated a Unesco City of Gastronomy. Among its many titles, Jeonju is known as The Best Taste City in Korea. Jeonju s version of Korea s beloved lunch, bibimbap is regarded to be the best. Bibimbap restaurants can be found at every corner in the city. Once here we will be visiting Jeonju Hanok Village, where Korea's stunning traditional houses are displayed. Self-proclaimed living history, the Hanok Village in Jeonju has more than 700 traditional hanok houses, many of which offer rooms to stay in. We will begin in the historic center, the city's Hanok Maeul. Distinguished by their elegant, sloping slate roofs, hanok are the traditional houses of the Korean upper class; maeul means village. This is one of the largest collections of hanok in the country: there are literally hundreds, side-by-side, their outer walls forming a maze of alleys. It's more than enough to make you feel entirely encapsulated in an alternative Korea not one that is entirely antique as many buildings have been restored or rebuilt. Some hanok are still private homes, but most are now guesthouses, restaurants, boutiques, or artisan workshops. At the heart of the maeul is Gyeonggijeon, a shrine originally built in 1410 (and last rebuilt in 1614) to hold a portrait of Yi Seong-gye, the founder of Korea's Joseon dynasty, whose family hailed from Jeonju. There are also small museums, including the Traditional Wine Museum, which houses an old still where you can see how the traditional local liquor is made. However, the best way to experience the village is just to wander through the crooked lanes, some just wide enough for two people to pass. The village is where many festivals and events are held, and every weekend it is brimming with craft markets and street food stalls. Cafés serving traditional teas and coffees can be found throughout the village, but for the best view stop by the Tomorrow Café, perched high above. It claims to be the only place with a view of the entire village, and is perfect for sunset and a glass of wine. If your preference is caffeine, one, Story, is known for their delicious lattes. If tea makes your day, revive yourself at Gyodong Dawan, specializing in a rare, golden colored tea once reserved for kings. If you're looking for local crafts, like hanji, Korea's hardy traditional paper made from mulberry pulp, stop by the Handicraft Exhibition Hall. For handmade clothes colored with natural dyes, drop in at Demiseam.

Jeonju Hanok Village Accommodations: Ramada Jeonju Hotel Day 4 May 06, 2018 Sunday Jeonju-Boseong-Suncheon-Gwangju (B/L/D) After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby as we are off on a full

3 Lunch and dinner is included in today s itinerary and will be at local restaurants. From here we are off to our hotel for the evening, Ramada Jeonju Hotel, ideally located in a nice surrounding area with shops and restaurants as well as supermarket close by. Jeonju Hanok Village Accommodations: Ramada Jeonju Hotel Day 4 May 06, 2018 Sunday Jeonju-Boseong-Suncheon-Gwangju (B/L/D) After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby as we are off on a full day of touring. The morning begins with a drive to Boseong, located on the southern coast of Korea. It is one of the most famous green tea producing regions in Korea, with forty percent of the country s green tea originates from its fields. We are here today to enjoy time at the Boseong Green Tea Festival. The drive time will approximately two hours. From the base of the fields, you will be in awestruck with these beautiful surroundings. Straddling the mountainside and rising 350 feet up, the green tea bushes are separated into very neat, terraced rows. If you decide to hike up the mountain, viewing platforms are stationed along the way. It is even possible to walk through the rows of green tea, surrounding yourself in the lushness of the bushes. The festival is a great occasion to sample green tea and experience the tea culture. Now on its 44th year, the festival will include around 70 hands-on activity programs such as making tea, picking tea leaves, and sampling green tea. There will also be a variety of exhibitions, performances, and contests. Enjoy free time here to explore on your own. From here we will be visiting Songgwangsa Temple, located on the west side of Jogyesan Mountain, and is a famous sambosachal in Korea. Sambo means "three treasures" in Korean, and in Buddhism there is bulbo, beopbo, and seungbo. Songgwangsa Temple qualifies as a seungbo temple, which refers to the disciples and practitioners of Buddhism at the temple. The reason Songgwangsa Temple became a seungbo temple is because many high monks were produced from this temple. The road to the temple is covered by beautiful tall trees. If you cross the valley from the road, a bridge called Cheongryanggak appears. On the bridge is a pavilion, where you can have a rest. Inside the temple, you can see the Daeungbojeon, the main building. This building has a roof shaped to look like it has two roofs. To one side of the main building is Jijangjeon Shrine, where there is a statue of Buddha, and Seungbojeon Shrine, which tells the world that this is a seungbo temple.

Songgwangsa Temple has three great treasures: the Bisari Gusi, Ssanghyangsu, and Neunggyeonnansa. Bisari Gusi is a rice container that was made from a large tree.

Lastly, Neunggyeonnansa is a plate belonging to Songgwangsa Temple, and it was built with many intricate designs. Make time on your trip to see the many national treasures that are located here.

In 1980 a peaceful pro-democracy demonstration, known as the May 18 Democratic Uprising was put down by the then military government and remains a strong part of the identity here.

4 Songgwangsa Temple has three great treasures: the Bisari Gusi, Ssanghyangsu, and Neunggyeonnansa. Bisari Gusi is a rice container that was made from a large tree. It was used to store the rice for monks, and because it was so large, it contained enough rice for 4,000 monks. Ssanghyangsu refers to two large Chinese Juniper trees. Lastly, Neunggyeonnansa is a plate belonging to Songgwangsa Temple, and it was built with many intricate designs. Make time on your trip to see the many national treasures that are located here. From here we make our way to Gwangju, Korea s sixth largest city. While it may look like any other city, its history sets it apart. In 1980 a peaceful pro-democracy demonstration, known as the May 18 Democratic Uprising was put down by the then military government and remains a strong part of the identity here. Gwangju also has a long history of harboring artists and this is reflected in civic support for the arts that shines through at every turn Lunch and dinner is included in today s itinerary and will be at local restaurants. Boseong Green Tea Fields Songgwangsa Temple Tonight s accommodations are at the Holiday Inn Gwangju, overlooking 5.18 Freedom Park. Accommodations: Holiday Inn Gwangju Hotel Day 5 May 07, 2018 Monday Gwangju-Yongin-Seoul (B/L/D) After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby as we are off on a full day of touring, destination, Korea s vibrant capital, Seoul! The day begins with a short drive to Yongin, where we will be visiting the Korean Folk Village. The drive time is less than one hour. The Korean Folk Village is a wonderful place to experience Korean culture where customs and lifestyles of past generations have been preserved. Experience the natural atmosphere with over 260 traditional houses reminiscent of the late Joseon Dynasty, including various household goods from different regions. All these features have been relocated and restored to provide visitors with a broad understanding of Korean food, clothing, and housing style of the past. About twenty workshops, various handicrafts such as pottery, baskets, winnows, bamboo wares, wooden wares, paper, brass wares, knots, fans, musical instruments, iron wares and embroidery are practiced. Enjoy free time here. Lunch is included in today s itinerary and will be at a local restaurant.

Korean Folk Village We now make our way to Seoul. The drive time is approximately 1.5 hours. Welcome to Seoul, a 24-hour metropolis of 10.5 million people.

Having endured the catastrophe of the Korean War barely 60 years ago, the Miracle on the Han has its eye clearly on the future, while history clings tenaciously to many of its corners.

The area is famous for traditional antique and art shops.

Enjoy not only sightseeing, but also time for shopping and eating. Seoul is heaven for passionate foodies.

5 Korean Folk Village We now make our way to Seoul. The drive time is approximately 1.5 hours. Welcome to Seoul, a 24-hour metropolis of 10.5 million people. From atop any of Seoul s four guardian mountains and you ll sense the powerful pungsu-jiri (feng shui) that has long nurtured and protected the city. Having endured the catastrophe of the Korean War barely 60 years ago, the Miracle on the Han has its eye clearly on the future, while history clings tenaciously to many of its corners. After dinner at a local restaurant we will check in to our hotel for the next three nights, The Hotel Ibis Ambassador Seoul Insadong, in the heart of Seoul s Insadong district. The area is famous for traditional antique and art shops. Accommodations: The Hotel Ibis Ambassador Seoul Insadong Day 6 May 08, 2018 Tuesday Seoul (B/L) After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby as we are off to discover this great city, Seoul. Enjoy not only sightseeing, but also time for shopping and eating. Seoul is heaven for passionate foodies. Our day begins with a drive by Blue House, named for the blue tiles that cover the roof, Seoul s Blue House serves as the presidential home, much like the White House in Washington, DC. Set in an old Joseon Dynasty royal garden, the Blue House sit 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 visit Insadong Antique Street, the artsy side of Seoul. It is a whole lot of Korea wrapped up in one street and a few alleyways. This commonly known art district of Seoul is a favorite among Koreans and foreigners alike. Many of the buildings in the area were once owned by merchants, bureaucrats, and government officials during the Joseon Dynasty. Go and get a little bit lost in the tiny alleyways. It s in those alleys behind the steaming pots of mandu, the smells of traditional Korean food and the old man selling antiques on the cobblestone street where Insadong s true nature comes alive. Insadong is one of the best places in Seoul to find tea, calligraphy materials, folk crafts, antique furniture, hanbok (traditional clothing) and hanji (traditional paper). Many Korean ceramics, some dating back thousands of years, are bought and sold here every day. Their prices range from a few won to millions of won.

Blue House Insadong Antique Street Next, we are off to Deoksugung Palace, originally an aristocratic villa, it became a palace in 1593 when King Seonjo moved in after all of Seoul s other palaces

Despite two kings being crowned here, it became a secondary palace from 1615 until 1897 when King Gojong moved in after leaving the nearby Russian legation.

His son, Sunjong, reigned as a puppet emperor until 1910 when he too was forced to abdicate by the Japanese, who then annexed Korea, bringing the Joseon dynasty to an undignified and abrupt end after

Behind a grand wooden audience hall in traditional Korean style is a fusion-style tea pavilion Heonggwanheon designed by a Russian architect.

6 Blue House Insadong Antique Street Next, we are off to Deoksugung Palace, originally an aristocratic villa, it became a palace in 1593 when King Seonjo moved in after all of Seoul s other palaces were destroyed during the Japanese invasion. Despite two kings being crowned here, it became a secondary palace from 1615 until 1897 when King Gojong moved in after leaving the nearby Russian legation. Although the Japanese forced him to abdicate 10 years later, Gojong carried on living here in some style until he died in His son, Sunjong, reigned as a puppet emperor until 1910 when he too was forced to abdicate by the Japanese, who then annexed Korea, bringing the Joseon dynasty to an undignified and abrupt end after more than 500 years. The palace used to be three times as big as it is now, but it still contains small gardens and ponds amid an extraordinary potpourri of contrasting architectural styles. Behind a grand wooden audience hall in traditional Korean style is a fusion-style tea pavilion Heonggwanheon designed by a Russian architect. The tea pavilion has pillars, a veranda and metal railings decorated with deer and bats both auspicious creatures. This is where King Gojong drank the soothing beverage while discussing current affairs and poetry with his visitors. The stone mythical creatures in the main courtyard are haetae, which are supposed to protect the palace from fire, but in 1904 they must have fallen asleep the palace burnt down. King Gojong s living quarters, Hamnyeongjeon, was where he died in 1919, an event which sparked off nationwide protests Japanese rule. The earlier of the two Romanesque buildings is Seokjojeon (built between 1900 and 1909 and designed by a British architect), which now houses art and craft exhibitions (usually free admission). The other one (designed by a Japanese architect and built in the late 1930s) houses the Deoksugung Museum of Art. With four large galleries on two levels, the exhibitions include major international art shows. The changing of the guards is an impressive ceremony involving 50 participants, who dress up as Joseon-era soldiers and bandsmen. Lunch today is a Samgyetang (gingsing chicken soup), an iconic summer dish in Korea, made with a small, whole chicken and ginseng.

The afternoon begins with a visit to an amethyst factory and gift shop. South Korea has been a treasure-trove of purple amethyst, smoky topaz, and white jade for centuries.

Enjoy learning some background here at the amethyst factory and then if you like have an opportunity to ship.

2 miles of wooden walkways lining the stream. During Seoul s hot summer months, it is a favorite family gathering place.

7 The afternoon begins with a visit to an amethyst factory and gift shop. South Korea has been a treasure-trove of purple amethyst, smoky topaz, and white jade for centuries. While the native gemstone, jade is the most popular, amethyst, a quartz crystal, found in many shades of purple is also high on the list. Enjoy learning some background here at the amethyst factory and then if you like have an opportunity to ship. From here we are off to visit Cheonggyecheon Stream, soothing green space proffers a respite from the bustle, with tranquil waterfalls, bridges, and landscaped rock formations adorning the 5.2 miles of wooden walkways lining the stream. During Seoul s hot summer months, it is a favorite family gathering place. Once a small watercourse hidden by an overpass, it was restored in 2005 and has been transformed into a haven of natural beauty amidst the bustle of city life. Open year round, enjoy a stroll along the steam and where flowers and trees bloom during this springtime. Next, we are off to Gwangjing Market, the oldest traditional market in Seoul. It is popular with foreign visitors and is one of the best places to find delicious street foods. It is one of the best places in Seoul to witness Korean culture and to sample street foods. Here you can can find over 5,000 shops and stalls selling food, textiles, silk, linens, bed sheets, and more.. One of the most famous street foods sold here is bindaetteok or mung bean pancake. This Korean style pancake, fried in oil until it is golden brown, is made using ground mung beans, kimchi,and vegetables such as green onions and peppers. The sight and smells of watching the vendors prepare and cook bindaetteok is a great sight. Other foods commonly found at affordable prices are dukbokki, an extremely spicy Korean snack, fresh sashimi on a bed of clear noodles accompanied with soy sauce with wasabi, and sundae, a type of blood sausage made out of pig s intestines. If shopping is your goal, head to the second floor. Here you will find all sorts of textiles, quilts, bed sheets, and traditional Korean outfits known as hanbok. The collection of fabrics sold are some of the largest and most famous in Seoul. All sorts of colorful fabrics including silk, satin, and linen can be found here. These high quality, yet inexpensive goods sold by many shops are often used to supply other markets in Seoul. Cheonggyecheon Stream Gwangjang Market Now ae are off to enjoy a traditional art performance at the Chongdong Theatre, provides a wonderful cultural experience. You will enjoy to see and hear the traditional musical instruments and dances. Opened in June of 1995, Jeongdong Theater is historically significant in that it represents the restored Wongaksa, the first modern theater in Korea. Founded on modern artistic inspirations, Jeongdong Theater has been featuring numerous criticallyacclaimed productions, such as Traditional Art Performance, Masters Exhibition, and Art Frontier, as well as programs like Art Stage at Noon that are geared toward the public. Thus, Jeongdong Theater has become one of Korea's representative traditional arts performance theaters.

The show is 80 minutes in length and afterward we will make our way back to our hotel. We have allowed time for dinner on your own tonight.

We begin the day with a drive to Chuncheon, surrounded by gorgeous mountains and the well-loved setting for the enormously popular TV drama Winter Sonata.

Once here, our first stop is at the Morning Calm Spring Flower Festival, a botanical garden that is home to thousands of colorful flower and tree species.

It is an artistic space with a beautiful balance between Korean concepts of natural curves and asymmetry, plants, and other various materials.

8 The show is 80 minutes in length and afterward we will make our way back to our hotel. We have allowed time for dinner on your own tonight. Accommodations: Hotel Ibis Ambassador Insadong Day 7 May 09, 2018 Wednesday Seoul-Chuncheon-Seoul (B/L) After breakfast, please meet your guide by 9:00am for a full day of touring. We begin the day with a drive to Chuncheon, surrounded by gorgeous mountains and the well-loved setting for the enormously popular TV drama Winter Sonata. Its proximity to Seoul makes it a popular weekend getaway. The drive time is approximately 1.5 hours. Once here, our first stop is at the Morning Calm Spring Flower Festival, a botanical garden that is home to thousands of colorful flower and tree species. The moment you enter the garden, you will see that it is a paradise for photographers and flower enthusiasts. It is the oldest among private Korean gardens. It is an artistic space with a beautiful balance between Korean concepts of natural curves and asymmetry, plants, and other various materials. It was the first to adopt the concept of a garden in Korea, and it is a special place that harmonizes classical grace and modern beauty. As a result, it attracts about 700,000 tourists annually. Every year during this festival, the garden is covered with a rich tapestry of color from the thousands of flowers and trees in full bloom. The garden, under a shining spring sun surrounded by green vegetation, creates a beautiful landscape in unison with the Chukryeong Mountain. Diverse spring flowers such as magnolia, Japanese apricot, forsythia, and cherry blossom bloom so that you can appreciate all of Spring s bliss. Enjoy some free time here to take it all in. From here we will be visiting Nami Island, a tiny half-moon shaped island that attracts lovers and families who stroll along the tree lined paths and enjoy a tiny taste of nature outside the city. Nami island is also famous for filming a well-known scene of a famous Korean drama called Winter Sonata, making it a must visit for lovers and fans of Korean Drama. Access to the island is by ferry. When you arrive, there is a visa line, but don t panic, its only to give this island an imaginary independent country feel. It is also known as Namimara Republic and has its own currency. You can purchase currency here on island and it is accepted at several shops. Nami Island

After lunch which is included in today s itinerary, we will journey back to Seoul arriving at approximately 3:30pm.

This market is one of the oldest continually running markets in South Korea, and one of the largest retail markets in Seoul.

Much of the market is outdoors, but there are also stores which line the streets. Many retailers purchase their goods here to resell in their own stores in other cities.

9 After lunch which is included in today s itinerary, we will journey back to Seoul arriving at approximately 3:30pm. Once back we will be visiting Namdaemun Market, dating back to 1414, during the reign of King Taejong, as a government managed marketplace. This market is one of the oldest continually running markets in South Korea, and one of the largest retail markets in Seoul. The streets here were built in a time when not cars existed, so the market is only accessible by foot. Goods arriving or leaving here are transported either by motorcycle or hand-drawn carts. Much of the market is outdoors, but there are also stores which line the streets. Many retailers purchase their goods here to resell in their own stores in other cities. The market is on the Seoul list of Asia s 10 greatest street food cities for hotteok, a popular Korean sweet pancake stuffed with a sweet sugar syrup. From here we make our way back the hotel. Once back, the remainder of the evening is free. Namdaemun Market Accommodations: Hotel Ibis Ambassador Insadong It s our last day in South Korea! Day 8 May 10, 2018 Thursday Seoul-Incheon (B/L) After breakfast, you have a free time until we check out from our hotel at 12:00pm. We are now off for last minute shopping and sightseeing. We will make our way to Myeongdong for the afternoon. Enjoy free time here. Lunch will be at a local restaurant. Myeong-dong is one of the busiest places in Seoul with over 1 million shoppers passing through each day. Located in the heart of Seoul, Myeong-dong is a stunning shopping district with countless shops and restaurants. At 5:30pm we will depart for Incheon Airport for our return home. Hawaiian Airlines #460 Departs Incheon 10:00 pm Arrive Honolulu 11:40 am c

The Bloom of Cherry Blossoms Magical Springtime in Korea March 31 st April 7 th, 2019 Hanami Season Is Here!

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