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Home , Blue House, Bugaksan, Gyeongbokgung, House of Yi, Jeonju, Jeonju Hanok Village

Korean Spring Blooms and Blossoms Tour April 2nd -10th, 2020

Springtime in is an explosion of color and activity, befitting of one of Asia’s most vibrant capitals.

7nts/9days from: $2795 double/triple $3295 single Cancel for any reason up to 60 days prior-FULL REFUND! Maximum Tour size is 24 tour members!

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 . 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 “Korean Spring Blooms and Blossoms” tour, a perfectly balanced itinerary blending art and culture with cherry blossoms, 4 hands-on experiences, hotels in the best locations, time to explore on your own and a complete free last day to finish up all your shopping.

Itinerary/Details

Day 1 – April 2nd, 2022 Saturday – Depart from Honolulu (D/S)

Hawaiian Airlines #459 Departs Honolulu 1:00 pm – Arrive in 7:00 pm

Please meet your Panda Travel representative at the Hawaiian Airlines international check-in counters located in Terminal 1, Lobby 3, a minimum of 3 hours prior to the departure time.

A dinner and a snack will be served in-flight.

Day 2 – April 3rd, 2022 Sunday – Incheon-Seoul (D)

On arrival at the Incheon Airport, 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 first three nights is at the 4-star Seoul Sejong Hotel, in the heart of Myeongdong. 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, Shinsegae Department Store as well as 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 for the street carts and shops found tucked away along the alleys. One of the best times to experience Myeongdong is after the sun goes down. The streets are packed, neon lights are brightly lit up and the smell of street food will make your mouth water. With an estimated two million people visiting this area on a typical day, people watching can be a fun experience.

The remainder of the evening is free. A dinner bento box with bottled water will be provided on arrival at the hotel.

Accommodations: Seoul Sejong Hotel free

Day 3 – April 4th, 2022 Monday – Seoul (B/L)

After breakfast, off on a full day of tour in Seoul.

The morning begins with a drive by , named for the blue tiles that cover the roof. It serves as the presidential home, much like the White House in Washington, D.C. Set in an old royal garden, the Blue House sits with Mount 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 be visiting Palace, nearby to Blue House and probably Korea’s most famous royal palace. Like a phoenix, Seoul’s premier palace has risen several times from the ashes of destruction. Tourists have replaced the thousands of government officials, scholars, eunuchs, concubines, soldiers, and servants who once lived there.

Originally built by King Taejo, the founder of the Joseon dynasty, Gyeongbokgung served as the principal palace until 1592, when it was burnt down during the Japanese invasions. It lay in ruins for nearly 300 years until Heungseon Daewongun, regent and father of King Gojong, started to rebuild it in 1865. King Gojong moved in during 1868, but the expensive rebuilding project virtually bankrupted the government.

Altogether the palace consisted of 330 buildings and had up to 3000 staff, including 140 eunuchs, all serving the . During Japanese colonial rule, most of the palace was again destroyed – much of what you see today are accurate recent reconstructions.

On the palace grounds is the National Folk Museum of Korea, well known for its beautiful architecture. The building was constructed in the traditional Korean style comprising several stories with a pagoda on top. The three main exhibition halls at the museum cover different aspects of Korean life, as well as displaying various local costumes, musical instruments, and festivals.

Blue House Gyeongbokgung Palace

Time now for lunch at a local restaurant.

This afternoon’s touring begins with a visit to Insadong Antique Street, where you will have free time to shop and browse.

Insadong‘s main vein is the walking street, which consists of about five blocks, lined with art galleries and stores selling traditional and handmade crafts. It embodies a great mixture of old and new Korea.

During the Joseon Dynasty, the street was dominated by Dohwawon, a place of study for painters. The area is still a center for the arts, and painters, artisans, and art lovers continue to set up shop along the narrow alleys, making it a unique place full of folk crafts, pottery, and paintings. This folksy neighborhood makes for a great afternoon stroll.

The face of Insadong changes three times a day. In the early morning, it is a quiet and peaceful street, in the afternoon it becomes busy with tourists and at night Insadong is a place where people, Korean and foreigners alike enjoy taking a stroll and simply hanging out.

Insadong Antique Street

Next, view the changing of the guards, an impressive ceremony involving 50 participants, who dress up as Joseon-era soldiers and bandsmen.

Our last stop of the day, visiting 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. Along with the cherry blossoms on each side of the stream, there is also a variety of azaleas, violets, forsythia and apricot blossoms. Enjoy this cherry blossom viewing spot.

Cheonggyecheon Stream

Once back at our hotel, the remainder of the evening is free.

Accommodations: Seoul Sejong Hotel free

Day 4 – April 5th, 2022 Tuesday – Seoul (B/L)

After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby as we are off on another full day of touring.

After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 9:00am

We begin the day with a drive to , 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.

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, chicken BBQ, we will journey back to Seoul and once there, a visit the popular . Here, you can look down over Park and enjoy unobstructed views of the cherry blossoms. This makes for a beautiful cherry blossom viewing spot.

Now, back to our hotel and once there, the remainder of the afternoon and evening is free.

Accommodations: Seoul Sejong Hotel free

Day 5 – April 6th, 2022 Wednesday – Seoul-- (B/L/D)

After breakfast, please meet in the lobby by 8:00am as we bid Seoul good-bye and journey on to Jeonju and Gwangju.

The morning begins with drive 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, is regarded to be the best. Bibimbap restaurants can be found at every corner in the city.

Once here we will be visiting Jeonju 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.

After a traditional bibimbap lunch, we make our way to Gwangju.

Welcome 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.

We have quite a cultural afternoon scheduled beginning with experiencing dressing in traditional Korean costume, mulberry paper fan making and rice cake making.

Now, off to our hotel, accommodations for the next two nights are at the Ramada Plaza Gwangju, city center and close to the Lotte Mall.

Lunch and dinner are included in today’s itinerary and will be at a local restaurant.

Accommodations: Ramada Plaza Gwangju free

Day 6 – April 7th, 2022 Thursday – Gwangju-Boseong--Gwangju (B/L)

After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 8:30am.

The morning begins with a drive to Boseong, located on the southern coast of Korea. It is one of the most famous producing regions in Korea, with forty percent of the country’s green tea originates from its fields. As one of Korea’s landmarks, this time of the year is when most come to see the new leaves on the tea bushes.

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. There is something mesmerizing watching Korean ladies carefully picking the tea leaves. For photography buffs, there is a specially designed photo area with a well- groomed patch of field.

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. Enjoy free time here. Do enjoy sampling green tea and green tea ice cream.

We are off to Suncheon, known as a rising eco-city in Korea. We will be visiting Suncheonman National Garden, the crown jewel of the city. With eleven different gardens, each representing a different country, there is much to see. We plan on remaining here for two hours. Enjoy this cherry blossom viewing spot.

After lunch, we make our way back to Gwangju, including a drive-by Dongcheon Cherry Blossom Road, yet another cherry blossom viewing spot.

Once back at the hotel, the remainder of the afternoon and evening is free.

Accommodations: Ramada Plaza Gwangju free

Day 7 – April 8th, 2022 Friday – Gwangju--Seoul (B/L)

After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby by 8:30am as we are off to enjoy local touring before making our way back to Seoul this afternoon.

The morning begins with a visit to Yangnim-Dong History Culture Village, a living museum of history, architecture, culture, and art. During the Japanese Occupation, the foreign missionary-built churches, schools, and hospitals in Yangrim-dong; thus earning for the area nicknames like "Jerusalem of Gwangju" and "Occidental Village."

Early Christian relics and traditional Korean sites remain just as they were in the old days along narrow alleys; lining Minsok- gil are traditional hanok (traditional Korean-style house) homes including the House of Choe Seung-hyo and the House of Yi Jang-u. Enjoy free time to explore the various modern architectural buildings and the 100-year-old forest.

After lunch at a local restaurant, off to Nonsan to enjoy strawberry picking and eating. The fields of Nonsan are blessed with rich soil, clean water and ample sunshine, the perfect environment for growing high quality strawberries.

From here, we are off to visit the Pottery Village and enjoy a pottery making experience. This village is in a small neighborhood and specializes in pottery shops. It is said that there about 80 pottery factories within this village. Besides our hands-on experience, you can also observe pottery production and purchase items ranging from traditional kimchi pots to contemporary ceramic styles.

Now, off to Seoul for our remaining two nights on tour. Our arrival will be approximately 6:00pm and the remainder of the evening is free.

Accommodations: Seoul Sejong Hotel free

Day 8 – April 9th, 2022 Saturday – Seoul-DMZ-Seoul (B/L)

This morning, a visit to the extraordinary Korean Demilitarized Zone to learn about the war between the North and South and how the demilitarized strip of land came about. Get a rare glimpse of North Korea from the Dora Observatory.

After lunch we make our way back to Seoul and along the way visit the , ranked as the 9th most visited museum in the world. Historically significant, this museum originally opened in 1945, the same year Korea gained independence from . Since then, it was moved to various locations until October 2005, when it was given its final and current setting in Yongsan Family Park.

Housing more than 220,000 pieces of art and relics in total, some 13,000 works are on display at any given time.

The grand, marble-lined, modernist building cleverly channels plenty of natural light to show off Korea’s ancient treasures. Among the must-see exhibits on the ground-floor galleries are the Baekje Incense Burner, an extraordinary example of the artistry of the 6th- to 7th-century Baekje Kingdom; and the Golden Treasures for the Great Tomb of Hwangham. On the 3rd-floor sculpture and craft galleries, search out the Pensive Bodhisattva from the 7th century. Also look down on the top of the - dynasty Ten Story Pagoda carved from marble.

The surrounding park is best appreciated in good weather, when the Great Hall is perfectly reflected in the large Reflecting Pond. The original Bosingak Bell is in the grounds near the picturesque Dragon Falls. Enjoy free time here to explore on your own and then we are off to lunch at a local restaurant.

National Museum of Korea

From here, a visit to 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. It comes as no surprise that this 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.

Once back at our hotel, the remainder of the evening is free.

Accommodations: Seoul Sejong Hotel free

Day 9 – April 10th, 2022 Sunday – Seoul-Incheon (B)

After breakfast, please enjoy you last day at leisure, shopping, sightseeing, or a little of each. Check-out from rooms is by 11:30am. Your bags will be stored by the until we meet for the airport transfer.

Please meet your guide in the lobby by 5:30pm as we are off to the Incheon Airport.

Hawaiian Airlines #460 Departs Incheon 9:25 pm – Arrive in Honolulu 10:55 am

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