Oppa, noona and hyung – welcome to Korea

Welcome to Seoul, the city that never sleeps. After collecting your luggage, guests will be greeted by the guide and taken to the hotel to rest and relax after the trip. They will have steam baths, saunas, a salt cave, swimming pools, and a health center at their disposal. In the 90s, Jimjilbang became a true cultural phenomenon. Koreans come there in droves to relax, to free themselves from stress and regenerate their bodies and minds. For guests, it will also be an opportunity to regenerate, as well as meet and talk to local people.

Early in the morning, guests will go on a trip to the beautiful Gyeongbokgung Palace, where they will see a unique, 500-year-old tradition, changing of the royal guard ceremony. Later, they will go for a walk around the Bukchon village with its traditional Hanok houses. After a short stop in Insadong, they will visit the Gyeongdong Traditional Market, one of the largest herb and ginseng markets in South Korea.

On this day, guests will visit the Demilitarized Zone. Therefore, they are asked to dress in business casual style and wear comfortable shoes, as well as to take their passports, as presenting them is a condition for entering the zone. The Korean Demilitarized Zone is said to be one of the most dangerous places in the world, but visitors will be surprised by the serenity of the green hills and the sight of rare bird species inhabiting the pristine wetlands. Then, guests will go to Andong, 320 km away (approx. 4 hours of travel).

The city of Andong, considered the Korean spiritual and cultural center, the heart of Korean Confucianism, is located in Gyeongsangbuk-do province. Guests will visit the Dosan Seowon Confucian Academy and the open-air museum village of Hahoe, where they will see traditional Korean buildings. The village has belonged to one clan for 500 years - the influential Ryu family - and is famous for its mask dance festival and mask museum. Guests will then travel to Gyeongju (185 km, 2,5 hours).

On this day, guests will visit Gyeongju, the ancient capital of the Silla dynasty (57 BC - 935 AD), which united the Korean Peninsula. There are many monuments in the city and surrounding area included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, including: Bulguksa Buddhist Temple, Seokguram, Yangdong Village. Guests will also go to Daereungwon, also known as Tumuli Park, where there are 23 tombs, including the famous Cheonmachong. This is the tomb of an unknown king from the Silla dynasty, dating back to the 1974th century, excavated in 10, in which over XNUMX items were found.

After checking out of the hotel in Gyeongju, guests will travel to Busan (85 km, 2 hours), the second largest city in Korea and the largest port. Busan is famous for the Jagalchi Market, which is one of the largest seafood markets in Asia.

After checking out of the hotel in Busan, guests will travel to Tongyeong (95 km, 2,5 hours), called the Naples of the Orient, a city beloved by artists, poets, writers and composers. From the nearby Mireuksan Mountain (461 m) you can admire breathtaking views of the sea and surrounding islands. The next stop on the tour will be Hallyeohaesang National Park, which was created to show and protect the unique marine ecosystem covering over 120 km of coastline. Guests will then be transferred to Jinju for overnight stay.

After breakfast and check-out from the hotel, guests will drive to Jeonju, the most important center of Korean culture. There are over 800 KOREA traditional Korean Hanok houses in Jeonju Hanok Village. Guests will have the opportunity to watch local artists create Hanji, a traditional Korean paper, and participate in the making of makgeolli rice wine. Overnight in Jeonju.

After a traditional Korean breakfast, guests will be transferred to Muju, the center of world taekwondo. It is a discipline that for Koreans is more than just a sport - it is a practice that allows you to achieve harmony of body and spirit. Then, guests will go to the Beopjusa Monastery on Mount Songni, where they will be able to take part in Zen meditation, morning chanting and exchange Zen riddles (koan) with monks. Guests are asked to bring towels, cosmetics and comfortable shoes, and clothing will be provided on site.

Before dawn, guests will wake up to the temple bells, signaling the beginning of a new day. After breakfast, they will have the opportunity to visit the monastery on their own, relax by the stream or go for a walk. They will then go to Seoul, from where they will be transferred to the Korean Folk Village. In this village there are 260 traditional houses from the Joseon dynasty, equipped with furnishings from various regions. The day will end with a visit to the Samsung Innovation Museum in Suwon, where guests will learn about the company's efforts to develop new technologies.

Food is definitely the best way to understand a new culture. Therefore, guests will take part in a cooking lesson at O'ngo Food Making and then go to Tongin Market, where they will be able to taste Korean specialties. They will also watch a unique show of traditional Korean MISO dances. Over the last 15 years, the show has become very popular among tourists, with approximately 650 people seeing it.

Guests who want to extend their stay will be able to go on a three-day trip to the volcanic island of Jeju, located in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula. They will be transferred to Gimpo airport, from where they will fly to Jeju (approx. 1 hour). Their guide will greet them on site and take them to the hotel.

Guests will visit the Manjanggul volcanic cave, a natural wonder on the UNESCO list, created by lava, the viewing of which is a source of unique experiences. They will also go to Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak, also on the UNESCO World Natural Heritage List. The crater created by the underwater eruption is 570 m in diameter. Then, guests will visit the Haenyeo Museum, where they will learn about the history and culture of the "women of the sea" living in Jeju, who have been driving the island's economy for hundreds of years. On the way to the hotel, guests will stop at the fortified Seongeup Folk Village, held by the Joseon Dynasty.

Guests will be transferred to Jeju Airport, from where they will fly to Gimpo Airport in Seoul (approx. 1 hour), and then they will be transferred to Incheon International Airport for the return flight to Poland.