Golden Ring
В 22-50 (по корейскому времени) прибытие в аэропорт Инчхон, встреча с гидом принимающей компании. Трансфер в Сеул на комфортабельном 45-ти местном автобусе, заселение в отель.
После раздачи ключей от номеров, гид проведет краткую ориентацию о магазинах и кафе в округе и покидает группу.
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.
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...
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.
On the coast of the East Sea, there is one of the most picturesque and oldest temples in Korea - Naksans.
One of the oldest Buddhist temples in Korea, founded by the legendary monk Uisan (7th century AD).
In addition, Naksan-sa is considered (and rightfully) one of the "Beautiful Eight Places of Gwangdong" (Gwangdong - part of Gangwon Province between the East Sea and the Taebaek mountain range). Judge for yourself...
A beautiful park, spread out on the shores of the East Sea, with its own "zest" - entertainment for adults only. But the largest karst cave in South Korea is an attraction available to all ages.
The cave, located in the heart of the "spine" of Korea - Taebaek, impresses with its size. Even is remenicent of the "Palace of the Mountain King." and, by the way, lighted accordingly!
The total length of the passages of the cave - 6.5 km. The cave is situated at an altitude of approx. 800 m. above the sea level.
The park and sanctuary of the goddess who patronizes fishermen - Hesindan - is amazing: according to legend, it was the images of the phalluses that propitiated the spirit of a virgin who for a long time did not give rest to the surrounding fishermen, and later became their patroness.
It was there, on this lake, where the cult film director Kim Ki-Duk filmed his "Spring, summer, autumn, winter and spring again."
A walk through the valley of Chuwansan Park will leave an indelible impression, because it is considered one of the most beautiful in Korea.
Chusanchzhi - a small reservoir located in theChuvansan National Park. Chusanchzhi was built in 1720-1721 gg. For nearly 300 years, this artificial lake has provided water for drinking and irrigation for the residents of the village down in the valley. Chusanchzhi length reaches 100m, width - 50m, and depth - about 7-8m, but it has never, no matter what the drought in the country were, shown its bed not, it does not show its bed.
The dense forest surrounding the reservoir, and around thirty 150-year-old willows growing in the middle of the lake, combine perfectly, creating a unique picture. The reservoir becomes all the more mysterious and picturesque when it is covered with a blanket of the morning mist.
The best time to travel to the reservoir - spring and autumn.
It was there, on this lake, where the cult film director Kim Ki-Duk filmed his "Spring, summer, autumn, winter and spring again."
One of the most picturesque waterfalls in the Chuwangsan national park.
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!
Представление "Хахве Тхальчум" (танцы с масками деревни Хахве) начинается в 14:00. Возможны изменения.
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.
Korean War (1950-1953). Busan is South Korea's last hope. Streams of refugees from all parts of the country are trying to settle in the city; slums, famine, barter with foreigners in the markets - these are the realities of military Pusan. During the tour, you will get acquainted with the relics of the war, ennobled by the efforts of local residents and turned into attractive bustling neighborhoods of central Busan.
A very piquturesque district in Busan, which was originally founded by some refugees during the Korean War.
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.
Once - a place of barter between Koreans and foreigners, now it is a busy shopping area, quite civilized.
This market owes its origin to the Korean War.
This is the only such kind of cemetery in the world. During the Korean War UN forces sided with the Republic of Korea. They consisted of not only the US forces as it is sometimes thought. Many of those foreign nationals who died during the war are buried in this cemetery.
Sinsege Sentum department store got into the Guinness Book of Records. This is the world's largest department store.
Nearby is another Guinness record: the world's largest cantilever roof. It belongs to the Busan Cinerma Center building.
A picturesque 2-storey bridge over the sea in Busan is one of its most exquiste landmarks.
Most popular beach in Busan and a vivid resort district.
Despite the name, which implies a small area, this "garden" is, in fact, a huge park, consisting of several zones that are completely different from each other.
The ecological park, located about 15 minutes by transport from the Garden, allows you to enjoy nature and, in the winter season, an extraordinary variety of migratory birds.
The ecological park is included in the excursion during the winter months (December-February). Please note that due to quarantine it is sometimes closed to the public!
The garden, which hosted the 2013 World Gardens Exhibition, impresses with its variety of landscapes, abundance of plant species and modern garden design.
The zones of the countries participating in Expo 2014 have been preserved, as well as separate zones created by excellent Korean gardeners.
From April to October 2023, the World Garden Expo 2023 will be held again at the Suncheon National Garden!
Ecopark is famous for its thickets of reeds, reaching heights higher than human height. This is the densest reed thickets in all of Korea. In addition, this place is known for the fact that cranes, storks, spoonbills and other rare birds fly here. There are about 140 different species of birds throughout the park.
A unique and extremely picturesque village surrounded by an ancient fortress wall
600-year-old village surrounded by a stone wall
Буддийский храм/монастырь Сонгванса является одним из трех знаменитых монастырей триратны - храмов, посвященных Будде, учению Будды и монашеской общине. Сонгванса посвящен именно монашеской общине, сангхе. Основателем монастыря является знаменитый корейский монах, создатель школы чоге, Чинуль.
One of the three triratna Korean temples. This one is dedicated to sangha.
Literally, the city's name, Jeonju, translates to "complete, perfect, untouched area." The fertile lands around Jeonju have long been the breadbasket of Korea and the subject of encroachment by the inhabitants of neighboring Japan, and the cuisine of Jeonju is considered one of the most delicious in the country (Jeonju-style bibimbap - rice mixed with minced meat and vegetables - is one of the most recognizable dishes in Korea).
Let's go down to the historical center of Jeonju; many institutions associated with the Joseon era have been preserved here, such as the Gyeonggijeong Shrine, dedicated to .... a portrait! A portrait of Lee Song, the founder of the Lee/Joseon Dynasty we already know.
Itinerary (content and sequence may vary slightly): Omoktae - Imoktae - Chaman Graffiti Village - Pungnammun Castle Gate - Jeonju Catholic Cathedral - Gyeonggijeong Shrine - Self-guided walk through the village of traditional hanok houses.
Omokdae-Imokdae
Imokte is in a small area called Chaman Graffiti Village; the walls of the houses here are painted by professionals and amateurs: the world of Japanese manga and Korean manhwa; korean alphabet, fantastic, disney cartoon characters, traditional korean stories.
Unfortunately, the Confucians were not very tolerant of Catholicism. We are reminded of this by the Jeonju Catholic Cathedral (built in 1908-1931), located on the site of the executions of Catholics.
A shrine that houses a portrait of the founder of the Joseon Dynasty, King Taejo (Lee Songye). An extensive complex of buildings, including the sanctuary itself, the state sago archive, a museum, the burial place of the placenta of King Yechzhon, and a complex of auxiliary buildings.
Why and who made portraits of kings, what is a historical archive, why bury the royal placenta - we will try to find answers to these questions in Gyeonggijeong.
In the very historical center of Jeonju, you will find yourself in a fabulous atmosphere. Traditional Korean hanok houses with tiled roofs line the romantic narrow streets. Here, each house is a unique masterpiece of architecture, reflecting the richness and depth of Korean history.
Walking along these streets, you will notice how each house merges with the surrounding nature and creates a harmonious image. You will see small gardens with flowers, well-kept courtyards, as well as traditional decor elements that recreate the atmosphere of antiquity, and sometimes, on the contrary, remind us of modern design trends.
Recently, it has become fashionable for Koreans and guests of the Land of the Morning Calm to rent stylized costumes - traditional hanbok, or European costumes of the era of the first half of the 20th century, which is closer to us. In Jeonju, you will see many such couples or families looking exotic against the backdrop of historical buildings and traditional hanok houses...
Probably, fairy-tale creatures, relatives of trolls, used to live here; no one has seen trolls for a long time, but the entourage remains!
Literally "Horse Ears". The two main peaks of the complex really do look like horse ears. The peaks represent the feminine (higher - 673 m) and masculine (lower - 667 m) principles - yin and yang.
The park is famous for its many man-made pagodas, collected in one place by a zealous monk. The pagodas are also "paired", also carrying the feminine and masculine principles.
The road to the park goes under the shade of majestic cherry trees - some of the latest to bloom in Korea!
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.