Korea in Winter
During an entertaining and informative tour, which combines short walks and moving on an ordered vehicle, we will get acquainted with the history and modernity of the capital of South Korea - Seoul. (On Tuesdays, the palace we visit is Changdeokgung, Gyungbokkung on other week days.)
A futuristic glass wave rises above the old City Hall, blending past and future in one bold design.
Powered by nature and home to the world’s largest indoor vertical garden, it’s one of Seoul’s greenest landmarks.
Open to visitors — step inside and see the living wall for yourself.
In the heart of Seoul stands a hidden architectural gem — a cathedral first envisioned in the 1920s.
A British design, built with Korean devotion, but left unfinished during colonial rule. Then came the miracle: in 1993, the original blueprints were found in an English library.
Finally completed in 1996, the cathedral now stands in its full, intended glory — a story of faith, time, and perseverance.
A blend of nature and urban design, this stream winds through downtown Seoul — though entirely man-made today.
Once a natural river, it was buried after the Korean War and revived in 2005 as a tranquil walkway.
Fountains, illuminated bridges, and the Palgakdam weir make it one of the city’s most beloved evening spots.
The complex of the central Gwanghwamun Square in front of the Gyeongbokgung Royal Palace, which is the compositional center of the capital of Korea, offers amazing views of Seoul: on one side is the main residence of the kings of the Joseon state (now a museum). But along the Sejong-daero Avenue, departing from the square, there are high-rise modern buildings: government, embassies, Kyobo - the largest bookstore in Korea. Further down the avenue we can see the Seoul City Hall and still further - the Great South Gate of Namdaemun (National Treasure No. 1).
The main palace of the Joseon dynasty — rebuilt more than once, but never lost its grandeur.
Its perfect symmetry, royal guard ceremony, and the chance to wear a hanbok turn your visit into a journey through time.
Winding lanes, wooden hanoks, hidden cafés — this is where time slows down.
Samcheong-dong charms with its hills and galleries, while Bukchon preserves the everyday beauty of Joseon-era homes.
Together, they offer a quiet, romantic escape — a walk through history lined with soft light and gentle stories.
Insadong is famous for the abundance of souvenir shops, traditional restaurants and tea houses, boutiques.
Insadong-kil Pedestrian Street is the central street of the area.
Often you can see street performances - traditional Korean samul-nori percussion quartet or martial arts tekkyon, taekwon-do or performances of youth groups in the fusion style, etc.
In the heart of Seoul stands Jogyesa — the head temple of Korea’s largest Buddhist order.
Small in scale but rich in atmosphere, it changes with the seasons: lotus lanterns in spring, bright chrysanthemums in fall, and peaceful stillness in winter.
No matter the time of year, it’s a place of quiet reflection.
One of the central streets of Seoul, Jongno (literally "Bell Avenue") is named after the pavilion of the same name, which houses the main bell of the country. It is this bell that the best people of the country beat on New Year's Eve.
However, even mere mortals can hit it for good luck: at 12:00 noon, the pavilion is usually opened for visitors. However, a limited number of guests are allowed.
A bustling hub of shopping, street food, and K-beauty.
Amid the trendsetting stores stands Korea’s main Catholic cathedral — a striking symbol of faith and history.
Style meets soul in this lively part of Seoul.
Explore the ethnography of late Joseon-era Korea at the Yongin Folk Village, where every nook and building transports you back in time.
At Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon, a masterpiece of Korean military architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, we uncover the formidable secrets of the 18th-century Joseon Dynasty court and its unique defensive technologies.
The first and largest Korean folk village in terms of area and exposition.
There are more than 260 buildings in the village, including houses of representatives of different classes, government agencies, pharmacies and mills, and craftsmen's workshops.
The village recreates in detail the atmosphere of rural life of the Joseon era. Buildings were brought from all regions of Korea: here you will also find houses made of volcanic tuff from about. Jeju (and the famous black pigs from there, by the way!), And thatched houses from the southern provinces of Korea, and the house of the provincial governor, and the Confucian village school. You can taste traditional Korean dishes at the village market.
The journey begins with a fascinating walk through the narrow streets surrounded by traditional Korean houses - hanoks. Each house is a living museum that reflects the unique style and architecture of ancient times.
Travelers hungry for knowledge can discover the craftsmanship of folk artisans.
But that's not all! This wonderful complex offers unique shows and concerts featuring traditional Korean dances, music and rituals.
Each show and concert is organized with love for details and leaves a unique impression. You will be delighted with beautiful costumes, incendiary rhythms and incredible talents of artists. The atmosphere will be filled with energy and delight, and you will find yourself a real witness to the beauty and splendor of Korean culture.
Hwaseong is more than just a fortress — it’s a royal dream set in stone. In the late 18th century, King Jeongjo envisioned building a new capital of the Joseon Dynasty here: modern, fortified, and meticulously planned.
The project was designed by the brilliant reformer Jeong Yakyong, one of the leading figures of the “Practical Learning” movement. For the first time in Korean history, both Korean and European engineering techniques were used in construction.
👉 By the way, why did the king never move to his new capital?
Thanks to detailed blueprints from 1800, the fortress has been faithfully restored — and today, it’s recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
During such serious campaigns of the ruling king, as, say, visiting the graves of his ancestors, the king had to stop somewhere on the way. In the Hwaseong fortress, such a travel palace has been preserved. Charming and small by the standards of Seoul, however, it is a real intricate maze, which we will dive into to get to know the history of King Jeongjo, his parents and grandfather, as well as the famous banquet he hosted in honor of the anniversary of his mother , Queen Hongyeong.
The Starfield Library in Suwon is not only a paradise for book enthusiasts but also one of the most popular photography spots in the area. With its impressive bookshelves stretching from floor to ceiling, the library provides a unique backdrop for your photos, making each capture special. This visually stunning cultural hub will be a highlight of your trip to Suwon.
Excursion to the north of Gyeonggi province: an unusual Buddhist temple, a UNESCO world heritage site - the largest park of mounds (burial places) of the kings of the Li dynasty, a beautiful private garden located in the picturesque mountains of Gapyeong County.
The country's largest Joseon Royal Burial Park, Tongurung - literally "Nine Royal Burial Mounds East [of Seoul]" - is a vast area specially selected for the construction of royal burial mounds according to the principles of Pungsu (Fenshui). Through the mounds in this park you can get acquainted with the intriguing history of the Land of Morning Freshness - Joseon, because kings such as the founder of the dynasty - Taejo; Seonjo - it was under him that the country experienced the largest invasion of Japan; Yeongjo is a long-liver among the kings of the dynasty, and others.
In the park you can meet wild roe deer - there are a lot of them here, but they are cautious, so not everyone has such luck...
Garden of Morning Calm was founded by Mr. Han Sangkyeon in 1996. This private garden is rightfully recognized as one of the most beautiful in South Korea. The name comes from the poetic name of Korea - "Land of the Morning Calm". The founder and his team tried to introduce the natural beauty of Korea, the oriental mystique and the spirit of the Korean people to visitors.
The design of the garden focuses on curved lines, space, balance and asymmetry, unique natural beauty, classic elegance and the uniqueness of Korea.
During each of the four seasons - winter, spring, summer, autumn - you will find in the garden echoes of a particular "theme" of that season...
A picturesque Buddhist temple situated a short distance from Seoul. Originally built by National Preceptor Beobin in 969, it was rebuilt many times since.
On the way to Seoraksan National Park, we will visit the city of Chungcheong, where we will have a master class in cooking traditional cold buckwheat noodles "makguksu".
Seoraksan National Park (literally "Snowy Peaks") is considered the most beautiful national park in South Korea. In 1982, the park was included in the list of "Most Important Natural Heritage Sites by UNESCO".
The area of the park is 373 square kilometers, the park is located in the province of Gangwon-do.
In the city of Chungcheong, we will have a master class for making traditional cold buckwheat noodles "makguksu". They did what they ate! The noodles prepared by us will be our dinner. Delicious sauce of your choice (spicy and slightly spicy, or salty, based on soy sauce, attached).
There is a gondola in the park, which we will use to get almost to the top of one of the peaks of Seoraksan, on which the ruins of the ancient Kwonggeum Fortress (lit., "Kwon Geum Fortress") are located. We get to the peak on foot - it's about 20-30 minutes. From this peak, a magnificent panorama of the East Sea, the resort town of Sokcho and the mountain range of the park opens.
Not far from the lower gondola station is Sineungsa Temple (originally built in the 6th century, but later rebuilt many times). The temple complex includes a statue of the Buddha of Unification (Thonil Buddha), the name of which reflects the desire of Koreans to unite the country.
A picturesque route leads us to Hyndyl Pawi ("swinging rock"). A huge rock will sway at the touch of one person.
Optional, if everybody is in: hiking to the top of Mount Ulsan Pawi; you will have to strain a little - the height of the rock is 873 m.
A village with rather elderly population. So, what is so special about it? It is included in the UNESCO World Heritage! Not only, the late Queen Elizabeth II had her birthday celebrated in this very village! So, let's see, what is so special about it!
On the way to the village of Hahoe, there is a small factory that produces traditional Korean hanji paper. The plant is open to the general public: you can walk through the workshops and get acquainted with the process of making paper, raw materials.
Hahoe - a village surrounded on three sides by the Naktong River, as if located in a loop of this river; from this geographical feature comes the name of the village - literally "fifth of the river".
Hahoe is famous for its old houses that have been preserved and are still used by the owners - both peasant and aristocratic houses; the famous dance with masks "Thalchhum", as well as the oldest surviving set of these same wooden masks for dancing. In 1999, Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain celebrated her birthday in the village.
A regular masked dance performance will be a nice live addition to the tour (the performance may not take place on a given day, depending on the season and day of the week).
A typical private educational institution (now a museum), in which representatives of the ruling elite of Joseon - the yangban - received a decent Confucian education in order to pass state exams in the future and enter the service.
The name, which includes the word "sowon", was given to this place in memory of the famous Prime Minister of Joseon, Ryu Seongnyeon, who moved to Andong in the 16th century. The official name "Pyeongsang Sowon" was established in 1614, the 6th year of the reign of King Gwanghaegun.
Ah, what a view of the romantic mountains and river from Byeonsan Seowon!
The city of Gyeongju, the ancient capital of the Korean state of Silla, is famous for its monuments included in the UNESCO world heritage: burial mounds, ancient Buddhist monasteries, and the artificial grotto Seokguram.
Gyeongju is also a unique national park. Korea's only historical national park!
Attention! If the tour ends before dusk, we visit the National Museum of Gyungju instead of the Eastern Palace.
The Buddha statue in this small temple in an artificial grotto is considered the most elegant in All of Korea! The grotto is located on the slope of Mount Tkhohamsan, where the winding serpentine of the mountain road leads.
The walk to the temple through the mountain forest from the parking lot takes about 15-20 minutes; depending on the weather, either a mysterious foggy landscape awaits us (fogs are not uncommon on this mountain), or breathtaking bird's-eye views of the thousand-year-old Gyeongju.
In the grotto, which is formally the hermitage of the Bulguksa temple, located below the slope, the dominant position is occupied by the above-mentioned statue of Buddha, sitting in a lotus position on a pedestal in the shape of a lotus. Around it at different heights are bas-reliefs and statues of bodhisattvas, arhats, Indra and Brahma, the Four Heavenly Kings.
If the group agrees, we can go down the mountainside to the temple of Bulguksa.
The main Buddhist temple of United Silla, it is now a place of pilgrimage for many guests of Korea.
The temple was built in 774 under the leadership of the premier of the state of Silla, Kim Taesong. Legend has it that Bulguksa was dedicated to the parents of the current, so to speak, Kim Taesong. While Seokguram, the temple-hermitage under Bulguksa, was intended for Kim Taesung's parents from his previous incarnations.
In 1995, Bulguksa and Seokguram were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Cheomseongdae is one of the oldest observatories in the world (7th century). The tower of the observatory is full of symbolism: the total number of hewn stones from which it is built; the number of rows of these stones before and above the small window, the shape of the stones... Reasonable Silakians paid attention to everything.
Cheomseongdae was built under the reigning Queen Seondok - one of three in the history of Silla. The queen ended up in a drama that, of course, was filmed in Gyeongju.
The only mound which inner parts are open to the public (though filled with replicas, it shows the inner construction of a Shilla mound)
The main state Gyeongju temple from the Silla period, the "Temple of the Yellow Dragon", Hwanyeongsa, has not survived; however, we still have a unique opportunity to get acquainted with the pagoda of a hermitage temple of Hwanyeongsa. The hermitage temple is called Punghwansa.
The peculiarity of the pagoda of Punghwansa is that it is built of stones, hewn in such a way that they resemble bricks in shape. What can you not do if you are not familiar with the technology (brick production, in this case)!
Though made anew, it is a nice and quite picturesque place, especially at night.
Busan has long been one of the main ports of Korea. Currently, it is its largest port and the second largest city in the country. The rich history of this picturesque and dynamic metropolis has left its traces in its appearance: here you will also find artifacts related to the Korean War of 1950-1953 - the UN Memorial Cemetery, etc. "International market"; and Buddhist monasteries, ancient and modern, but surprisingly colorful; and landscaped seaside parks; and beautiful beaches.
This sightseeing tour includes the following objects:
The picturesque beaches of Haeundae and Gwanalli
The famous Chagalchi fish market
Haedongyonggungsa Buddhist Temple, located right on the rocky shore of the East Sea
External inspection of the world's largest department store (listed in the Guinness Book of Records)
the world's largest cantilever roof Busan Cinema Center
Camellius Island, a picturesque meeting place of APEC presidents in 2005 with a magnificent view of the Diamond Bridge (Gwanan Daegyo)
Unforgettable impressions of fresh, forever young Busan - the largest port of Korea and the second largest city in the country.
Options (depending on the route, the agreement of the entire group may be required):
- For an additional fee ($20 per person), you can visit the observation deck located in the tallest building in Busan (2nd tallest in Korea) - Busan X the Sky.
- Cable car over the sea Songdo Cable Car: $20/person
- Yacht trip (50 minutes) by sea: $35 per person (price may vary depending on the season)
The name of the temple literally translates to "Dragon Palace Temple of the Country East of the Sea", 해동용궁사 海東龍宮寺.
The construction of the temple was completed in the 2nd year of Wu-wang's reign in 1376.
The temple was built by the sea thanks to the prophetic dream of the founder of the temple, the teacher [king - van] Hegyn. In a dream, a Dragon appeared to him (whose responsibility includes the seas and oceans) and "advised" to build a temple on the seashore, devote himself entirely to prayers - and then the great drought that Korea suffered from would pass ... Initially, the temple was called Pomunsa.
The current name of the temple was given in the 1970s. The abbot responsible for the restoration of the temple named it so after the Bodhisattva of Mercy appeared to him in a dream.
Most popular beach in Busan and a vivid resort district.
A picturesque 2-storey bridge over the sea in Busan is one of its most exquiste landmarks.
The largest seafood market in Korea, where you can see all kinds of marine creatures, both from the plant and animal worlds (and from the border worlds too!).
You can also eat deliciously at the market: fried or raw fish, as well as seafood, is served at the table in numerous restaurants in the market.
If you prefer something less exotic, we recommend the food court at the Lotte department store next door. The observation deck at the department store offers a magnificent view of Busan from a bird's eye view.
Initially, the capital of the state of Baekje was located in the fortified city of Wire in the territory, presumably, of modern Seoul. However, with the fall of the Vire fortress at the Battle of the Hangang River in 475, the capital was first transferred to the city of Unjin (modern Gongju), then to the city of Sabi (modern Buyeo).
It is these two cities that we will visit during our tour.
According to legend, during the fall of the last capital of Paekche - Sabi (now - the city of Buyeo) - 3,000 Paek women rushed from the Nakhwa-am cliff into the waters of the Kymgang River. Currently, a pleasure boat runs along the rock, from the deck of which a beautiful view of Nakva-am opens. On the boat, we will make a short trip to the Pusosan-son fortress, which is included in the UNESCO list and was the last stronghold of the Baekje state.
In Buyeo, we recommend trying the local dish, yeongnimbap, rice baked in lotus leaves, served with soy paste soup, dowenjang, and a variety of appetizers and salads, panchang.
The only burial of Pek rulers that has survived to this day.
The majestic fortress, perched high above the Geumgang River, has witnessed both times of great prosperity—when it was the heart of the Baekje capital—and more modest days. We’ll walk along its mighty walls and talk about kings, fortresses, and the city of Gongju.
In Buyeo we will get acquainted with the treasures of Baekje, including those included in the register of the State Treasures of the Republic of Korea (Buyo National Museum), we will visit the place where the Buddhist temple of Jeongnimsa was located, with a unique 5-step pagoda.