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

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1 The Bloom of Cherry Blossoms Magical Springtime in Korea March 31 st April 7 th, 2019 Hanami Season Is Here! 6nts/9days from: $2495 dbl/tpl $2795 single From Maui with Reserve by September 1 st - SAVE $50 per person Springtime in Seoul is an explosion of color and activity, befitting of one of Asia s most vibrant capitals. For South Koreans, the arrival of spring guarantees a few things, hard-core hikers out in droves, fresh produce in the markets and trees up and down the peninsula blossoming into great swaths of soft pinks and yellows. Springtime is famed as cherry blossom season and greatly anticipated in several cities and towns across South Korea. A palette of vibrant colors is revealed as nature awakes from its winter slumber and comes to life. The place to be this season is outdoors, whether to enjoy the breathtaking scenery or to participate in the numerous festivals that seem to sprout from the ground. Join us on the Magical Springtime in Korea tour celebrating the best of food, flowers, bullet train ride and so much fun! Itinerary/Details Day 1 March 31 st, 2019 Sunday Depart from Maui (D/S) Hawaiian Airlines #215 Departs Maui 11:30 am Arrive Honolulu 12:08 pm Meet up with your Panda Travel representative at the departure gate area in Honolulu. Your bags will be checked in to Seoul once your check-in in Maui. It is not necessary to come out of the secure area on arrival in Honolulu. Hawaiian Airlines #459 Departs Honolulu 1:30 pm Arrive Seoul 8:00 pm

2 A dinner and a snack will be served in-flight. Day 2 April 1 st, 2019 Monday Incheon-Seoul (D) 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 in Seoul for our four nights is at the 4-star Seoul Sejong Hotel, in the heart of Myeongdong, a destination in itself. The area offers a wide variety of restaurants as well as tasty and unique street foods. The best part about street food here is that you can walk from stall to stall finding whatever looks and smell the best. Street food is inexpensive and tastes great. If your love is shopping, you can find an almost unlimited number of mid to high-end retail stores such as the Lotte Department Store and Shinsegae Department Store and as well street carts and small boutiques. Here, you can find just about anything related to clothes and the latest fashion trends. Great bargains are to be had if you are willing to hunt for them. To find great deals, look past the large department stores and most major brands towards the street carts and smaller shops found tucked away in smaller alleys. One of the best times to experience Myeongdong is after the sun goes down when the streets are packed, the neon lights are brightly lit up and the smells of street food make your mouth water. With an estimated two million people visiting this area on a typical day, people watching can be a fun experience in itself. The remainder of the evening is. A dinner bento box with bottled water will be provided on arrival at the hotel. Accommodations: Seoul Sejong Hotel Day 3 April 2 nd, 2019 Tuesday Seoul-Busan (B/L/D) After breakfast please meet up your guide in the lobby by 8:00am as we make our way to the Seoul Station and experience Korea s bullet train, the KTX. It has been designed to reach speeds of 350 km per hour. It currently operates around 300 Km per hour. Travel time is two hours and forty minutes, arriving in Busan at 11:15am. A luggage truck will separately transport our bags, arriving at our hotel this evening. All you need for today are personal items. On arrival in Busan, a short bus ride to a local restaurant for lunch. After lunch, we are off to tour Busan, bursting with mountains, beaches, hot springs and seafood. South Korea s secondlargest city is a rollicking port town with tons to offer. From casual tent bars and chic designer cafes to fish markets teeming with every species imaginable, Busan has something for all tastes on land or sea. The mountains crisscrossing the city and the coastline define the urban landscape, while events like the Busan International Film Festival underline the city s desire to be a global meeting place. As a rare piece of territory not captured by the Northern army during the Korean War, Busan came through the 1950s intact, serving during wartime as the capital of the Republic of Korea. If you are seeking old urban South Korea, you ll find it here. Our afternoon begins with a visit to Jagalchi Market, Korea's largest seafood market. After the Korean War the market solidified itself as a fish market. Most of the people who sell fish are women, so the women who sell here are called 'Jagalchi Ajumma,' 'ajumma' meaning middle-aged or married women. This market represents Busan and is famous throughout the country. The approach to the fish market is lined with market stalls selling a variety of items from clothes to kimchi, great for shopping and browsing.

3 The market is massive with hundreds of fish stalls. There are all sorts of street food vendors and various other stalls i.e. herbal medicines, ginseng etc. mixed in between them. The main building ground floor is full of restaurants where you can buy live fish, and have it cooked for you. The top floor is a restaurant with Korean style tables, no chairs. Jagalchi Market is a Busan highlight for sure and a good spot to sample local culture. Next, we are off to Busan Tower, a symbol of Busan that stands proudly 69m above sea level at a height of 120m. The top of the tower is modeled after the baldaquin of Dabotap Pagoda in Bulguksa Temple, Gyeongju. It remains one of the best spots to see the whole city water and land in a sweeping 360-degree view. At 120 meters, tall it s Busan s most obvious and well-known landmark. Jagalchi Market Busan Tower Busan Skyline We are now off to Haeundae by way of the Gwangan Bridge, opened in 2003, connecting the neighborhoods of Haeundae and Suyeong, and instantly became one of the city s most recognizable landmarks. Also, referred to as the Diamond Bridge, it s a beautiful structure, especially after dusk when brought to life by colorful lights. Built by the world-famous Korean manufacturing company, Daewoo, the Gwangan Bridge stretches just under 4.7 miles. Construction on the eight-lane, five-story bridge started in 1994 and took almost an entire decade to complete. It is one of Pusan's most notable landmarks and when illuminated at night, reveals an impressive panorama. Now off to our hotel for this evening, Sea Cloud Hotel Busan, followed by dinner. Arrival will be approximately 6:30pm. Our hotel is ideally located in the main tourist spot of the city, right in front of the the nationally renowned Haeundae Beach. It is one of the top neighborhoods offering a wide variety of nightlife, shopping, and dining. After dinner, the remainder of the evening is. Accommodations: Sea Cloud Hotel Busan Day 4 April 3 rd, 2019 Wednesday Busan-Gyeongji (B/L/D) After breakfast, please meet your guide by 9:00am as we are off for a full day of touring. The morning begins with a drive to Gyeongju, known as the museum without walls. This area holds more tombs, temples, rock carvings, pagodas, and palace ruins than any other place in South Korea. The drive is approximately 1.5 hours. Today we will be visiting Bulguksa Temple, Seokguram Grotto, Tumuli Park, and Anapji Pond. Lunch at a local restaurant is also included in today s itinerary.

4 Gyeongju was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Silla. According to Korean records, Silla was formed in 57 BC when six small villages near present-day Gyeongju were united by King Park Hyeokgeose. Hatched from an egg laid by a white horse, Park is the progenitor of the Park surname, which is shared by about nine percent of all Koreans. By the mid-7th century, Silla had conquered the neighbor kingdoms of Baekje and Goguryeo to create the first unified Korea. At its height, Gyeongju is estimated to have had 1 million inhabitants, and its awesome prosperity was known as far away as Egypt. The greatest legacy of Silla s golden days, is Bulguksa Temple in Gyeongju, one of a precious few remaining examples of Silla architecture. Located on the slopes of Tohamsan Mountain, Bulguksa temple is one of Korea s largest temples and it s considered a masterpiece of Buddhist art built at the height of Silla s greatness. The temple and the nearby Seokguram Grotto were the first Korean sites to be included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Founded in the early sixth century by King Beopheung for his queen, the temple s exquisite design is thanks to Kim Daeseong, an architect whose talent and ugliness are both legendary. Nicknamed the Big Wall for his massive forehead, Kim found refuge in Buddhism and was eventually reincarnated as a future king s prime minister. Completed in 774, Kim s temple was always dwarfed in size and importance by other Silla temples. However, today it s his magnificent Bulguksa temple that s familiar to virtually every Korean. Seokguram Grotto where we will visit next along with Bulguksa Temple form a religious architectural complex of exceptional significance. It is an artificial grotto constructed of granite that comprises an antechamber, a corridor, and a main rotunda. It enshrines a monumental statue of the Sakyamuni Buddha looking out to sea with his left hand in dhyana mudra, the mudra of concentration, and his right hand in bhumisparsa mudra, the earth-touching mudra position. Together with the portrayals of devas, bodhisattvas, and disciples, sculpted in high and low relief on the surrounding walls, the statues are a masterpiece of East Asian Buddhist art. The domed ceiling of the rotunda and the entrance corridor employed an innovative construction technique that involved the use of more than 360 stone slabs. Bulguksa Temple From here a visit to Tumili Park, containing 23 of the over 200 royal tombs found in Gyeongju. At times, the sense of history, and of secrets buried along with the royals, is almost palpable in the quiet between the large grass-covered mounds. Of the various round burial mounds, only the 43 foot Cheonmachong (Heavenly Horse) Tomb has been excavated. The excavation of this tomb, presumed to be from the 5th century, revealed over 10,000 treasures inside, including a wellpreserved ceremonial saddle piece made of painted bark stitched with leather. The tomb is named after a painting of a galloping horse -- the first pre-shilla Dynasty painting found in Korea -- and is open for you to see how it was constructed and how the artifacts were arranged. The street around is lined with cherry trees which should be in bloom making for yet another cherry blossom viewing site. Our last stop of the touring day is at Anapji Pond. It was created during the Shilla Dynasty and was within the walls of the royal palace. A 1974 excavation revealed three underwater mounds, indicating that the pond used to have artificial islands within it. At the same time, the pond draining revealed several artifacts, including gold and bronze bowls, gilt ornaments, various jewelry, door knockers, and mirrors, which are now on display in the Gyeongju National Museum. Anapji Pond is famous for its Pagoda reflection onto the lake. It is a beautiful spot to visit year-round as makes it for distinctively different photos at each season. Remember to look at the reflection of the pagoda onto the pond for it s quite a famous image captured by many photographers who visit here. Enjoy cherry blossom viewing here. We will now make our way to our hotel for the evening, Gyeongju Kolon Hotel, walking distance from Bulguksa Temple.

5 Dinner will be at a local restaurant and then the remainder of the evening is. Tumili Park Anapji Pond Accommodations: Gyeongju Kolon Hotel Day 5 April 4 th, 2019 Thursday Gyeongji-Yongin-Seoul (B/L/D) After breakfast, please meet your guide by 8:30am as we are off for full day of touring as we slowly make our way back to Seoul. The day begins with a drive to Yongin, where we will be visiting the Korean Folk Village after lunch at a local restaurant. The drive time is approximately 3 hours. 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 time here. Korean Folk Village We now make our way to Seoul. The drive time is approximately 1.5 hours. Once back 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.

6 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. Insadong Antique Street From here we are off to dinner at a local restaurant and then time to check in to our hotel for the evening. We will be staying here for the remainder of the tour. Accommodations: Seoul Sejong Hotel Day 6 April 5 th, 2019 Friday Seoul (B/L/D) 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 breakfast, please meet your guide by 9:00am as we are off on a full day of touring this great city with 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. 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

7 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 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. Blue House Deoksugung Palace Now we are off to lunch at a local restaurant. This afternoon, a truly fun experience as we are off to visit KBS Studios, located within the KBS broadcasting station. Dedicated to the history and evolution of the Korean broadcasting industry, you can experience radio and television broadcasting production firsthand. The tour starts from the main hall on the second floor and continues onto the fourth and fifth floors. In addition to the small museum, radio drama studio, sound effect instruments, 9 o'clock news corner, hologram corner, stereoscopic media experience hall and chroma key corner, visitors have the chance to observe TV production and radio programming process through a window that looks out into the broadcasting studio. If you are a fan of Korean drama, the visit here will make for a truly unique experience, especially knowing that there is the possibility of meeting one or more celebrities. The Drama Gallery consists of drama posters and cut-outs of popular dramas including many favorite actors. Enjoy taking a picture besides a cardboard cutout from dramas like Boys Over Flowers, Dream High and Baker King Kim Tak Goo. Another fun part of the tour is the Blue Screen Room where you will have the opportunity to become a weather forecaster. Point out to various imaginary locations to indicate the shifting of the rain clouds and predict the weather s next move. You will also be visiting the special effects department to see many mannequins and props used in thriller or horror dramas. They have real like features that can be a bit scary. The last part of the tour is the outdoor shooting sets, houses and streets that look so real. You will feel as though you are walking along an olden day Korean street.

8 From here, we are visiting Cheonggyecheon Stream, a soothing green space that 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. Now ae are off to enjoy a traditional art performance at the Chongdong Theatre, provides a wonderful cultural experience. You will enjoy seeing and hearing 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 and dinner. After dinner, the remainder of the evening is. Cheonggyecheon Stream Accommodations: Seoul Sejong Hotel Day 7 April 6 th, 2019 Saturday Seoul-Chuncheon-Seoul (B/L/D) 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. 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.

9 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. Another reason that we are here today is that this island makes for a beautiful cherry blossom viewing spot. Nami Island After lunch, we will journey back to Seoul arriving at approximately 3:30pm. The remainder of the afternoon will be for local sightseeing and shopping. Come, join us as 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 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 from 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. One, last shopping experience 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. Now, dinner and then we return to our hotel. The remainder of the evening is.

10 Accommodations: Seoul Sejong Hotel It s our last day in South Korea! Day 8 April 7 th, 2018 Sunday Seoul-Incheon (B/L) After breakfast, you have a time until we check out from our hotel at 12:00pm. Enjoy a morning here in Myeong-dong for some last-minute shopping. We will now make our way towards Incheon for our flight home later this evening, but our tour is far from over as we have included a couple of fun activities, visiting two very popular museums. First, 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 ly 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. Optical Illusion at Trick Eye Museum Ice Museum From here, a short distance to the Incheon Airport as we begin the check-in process for our flight home Hawaiian Airlines #460 Departs Incheon 10:00 pm Arrive Honolulu 11:30 am On arrival in Honolulu, you must first clear passport control, then claim your bags and clear customs. Do not exit outside, remain inside this secure area and re-check your bags with the special Hawaiian Airlines counter. From there you will proceed to your neighbor island flight without having to go through TSA. Hawaiian Airlines #326 Departs Honolulu 2:22 pm Arrive Maui 3:05 pm