Meet your guide upon hotel pickup and learn what to expect during your time at a Korean spa, or Jjimjilbang."Jjimjil" means heat bath to make people sweat using hot air. In some senses, it is similar to a sauna. However, the far infrared radiation emitted from red clay, elvan stones, and germanium heated to a high temperature (over 700 degrees Celsius), passes 4-5 cm beneath the skin and facilitates cell activities and blood circulation.
When you go to a jjimjilbang, you can find gyms, baths, barber shops, playgrounds for kids, karaoke, PC cafes, golf putting ranges, nailcare shops, massage rooms, cafeterias, restaurants and swimming pools. If you have not visited a jjimjilbang, you cannot say that you know Korea.
In the sauna lobby you will receive sauna ""outfits"" (shorts and shirt) and two small towels. The dry area is for men and women, everyone is wearing a spa outfit. After "jjimjil" in the hot air, soak in hot water and then scrubbing layers of dead skin, a typical Korean cleansing process. Renewed after this ritual, meet your guide for the drive back to your hotel.
You can experience the strange feeling that your car, imed downhill, actually goes uphill. This is an optical illusion created due to the surrounding environment.
It starts at southsan National Park Visitor Center and continues of to Eoseungtaeng-oreum Summit. The trail is 1.3km long and a one-way trip takes 30 minutes. Eoseungsaengak is an oreum (parasitic cone volcano) for hikers who want to go for an easy stroll after visiting the Visitor Center. On clear days Chuja Island, Biyang Island, Seongsan-Ilchulbong and Jeju Island’s east oreums can be seen. At the summit there still remain some Tochikas, which were military facilities used by the Japanese during the occupation of Korea.
Or Glass castle (on a rainy day) (Sultry weather, heavy snowfall, rainy Day Alternative Tour Course)
Jeju Glass Castle opened in October 2008 as the nation's first glass museum. Guests are able to experience state-of-the-art glass art. The museum boasts a modern glass exhibition and a coffee shop among its offerings. Works by Italian, Japanese, and Czech artists are on display, and their works depict scenes from fairy tales and other stories like Jack and the Beanstalk and Cinderella. We also have glass shoes, pumpkins, and traditional statues on display. Guests can make their own glass vases or necklaces.
Hotel buffet nearby green tea plantation.
Jeongbang Waterfall is one of three main Jeju waterfalls, along with Cheonjiyeon Waterfall and Cheonjaeyeon Waterfall. It is the only one in Korea which spills directly into the sea. Harmonized with the sea, two 23m-tall columns of water fall with a sound like thunder and offer us a magnificent view. Cliffs and old pine trees surrounding the waterfall are always scenic. It takes about 5 minutes to walk from the parking lot to the waterfall.
Coffee time at the café beside coast road
It is time to relax at the café which is located right infront of the Ocean. We offer free Americano here.
The Yakcheon temple means “Temple where medicinal water flows.“ The temple with the largest Buddhist status in Asia, it is renowned for mystical stories about the medicinal water. The medicinal water source that continually furnished water to the pond still remains. Many Buddhists stop in the drink this water.
The columnar joints in the Jungmun Tourism Complex were designated as Natural Monument #433 on December 27, 2004. They look like a large folding screen with black hexagon stone pillars. When you visit here and look at the columnar joints with beautiful ocean waves crashing against them, you will be mesmerized by nature's greatness. Columnar jointing is a pillar shaped (tetragonal-hexagonal) appeared in basaltic lava flow. When thick lava (at about 1,100 degrees Celsius) flows from the mouth of a volcano and cools down drastically, columnar joints are created. The columnar joints here are 30-40m in height and extend for about 1km, the largest such structure in Korea.
Petite France, a French cultural village set in the Korean countryside! Petite France serves as both a French cultural village and a youth training facility and consists of 16 French-style buildings where visitors can lodge and experience French food, clothing, and household culture. Namiseom Island is 63 km away from Seoul in the direction of Chuncheon, and is famous for its beautiful tree lined roads. The island is 30 minutes away from Chuncheon and an hour away from suburbs of Seoul. Since it is not far from Seoul, many couples and families come to visit.
Take your appetite for a ride on this 2.5-hour journey through Korean food culture! Your night food tour will take place in the popular district of Jongno-gu. Treat your taste buds to a different kind of drink! We'll visit one of Seoul's enticing jujeoms (or bars in English) to taste the Makgeolli, a traditional Korean wine.
Makgeolli is alcohol that's produced by mixing rice, barley or wheat, with yeast and water, which is then left to ferment. Its alcohol content is 6 to 7 percent, but is a fairly mild drink with a mellow, nutty taste. This drink is typically served with Bindae Tteok, a savory Korean pancake made from ground mung beans. Just experience good time with Makgeolli and soju while enjoying some fun Korean drinking games with your group or possibly a few new local friends!
Your tour of Seoul begins with hotel pickup and then you will head to N Seoul Tower, which sits atop Namsan Mountain. The letter ""N"" stands for the tower's ""new look"" since it was remodeled in December of 2005.
Ride the elevator up to the observation deck, a major attraction that opened to the public in 1980. You’ll have about an hour to take in the 360-degree views of Seoul and the surrounding area from the 774-foot-high (236-meter) tower, which includes an outdoor terrace. The tower, standing at 236.7 meters, offers breathtaking panoramic views of Seoul and its surrounding areas. You can enjoy a budget food court at the ground floor or try Western cuisine at the revolving N Grill Restaurant. Enjoy the evening breeze and the surrounding scenery.
We will then continue to the traditional village of Namsan Hanok where you'll see five restored Korean houses, a pavilion, a pond and a time capsule among others. Take a leisurely stroll around the area and see antique items and furniture.
Next, we will transfer to Insadong Street, located in the heart of the city. There is one main road in Insadong with alleys on each side. Within these alleys are galleries, traditional restaurants, traditional teahouses, and cafes.
Horses can be seen all around Jeju island. Horses were the most preferred gifts to be presented to the King from Jeju because the island was popularly called “the pasturage of horses”. Horse riding on a Jeju trip is something that should not be missed. The horses used for riding are known as Jejusanma and are of mixed breeds. Experiencing actual horse riding will make you feel closer to horses. If the weather condition doesn't allow outdoor activity, you will visit Horse Museum instead.
Located at the foot of Mt. Halla on Jeju Island, Seongeup Folk Village is a small town that holds a vast amount of culture.
Cultural properties in the folk village have been handed down from generation to generation and include treasures such as residential houses, Confucian shrines and schools, ancient government offices, stone statues, large millstones (pulled by horses or ox), fortress ruins, and stone monuments. Among the cultural gems of the folk village are intangible cultural assets such as folk plays, native foods, local folk craftsmanship, and local dialect. Even the trees are an important part of the area's heritage. Several zelkova and nettle trees that are hundreds of years old stand at the center of the village, preserving the dignified atmosphere of a bygone era.
The Seongeup Folk Village shows the unique culture of Jeju Island: the black lava rock walls, the straight but curvy alleys to block the wind, and the stone grandfather statues (Harubang), which have become a prime feature of the landscape. The local black-haired pigs and tongsi (pigsty / restroom) are especially well-known characteristics of Jeju folk culture. The Jeju black pork is said to be very nutritious.
Enjoy your lunch with delicious local food of Jeju Black Pork BBQ. (Or you can choose Bibimbap)
Wild black boar meat is marinated in a special sauce then grilled over a steel pan with various vegetables.
Bibimbap(Rice Mixed with Vegetables)
Bibimbap is a delight, which offers a variety of tastes and colors. It is filled with all sorts of vegetables and is good for your health.A dish made by mixing rice with various other cooked vegetables. It's great for experiencing different vegetables, pleasing to the eye, and full of nutrients.
Women divers, one of distinctive symbols of Jeju, dressed in black rubber driving suits, have been fighting the cold water waves of the sea. You could see them with your own eyes, taste fresh seafood they catch, and take pictures with them.
Yangban(the noble) is highest status could be achieved by passing a series of national exams which is the only way to become a government official in Chosun Dynasty. They are high social status but not always of high income. Most of Yangban were mainly interested in study not making money and mainly affected by Confucianism. They are so into honor and Confucian manner and culture which was always prior to practicality. They did care more about books than money, food, and other basic life.
Bukchon was the area with full ofthe nobles (Bukchon traditional Korean house village is included to Cosmojin Seoul daily city tour course number 3) while Namchon is the place for a little lower class including ruined noblemen or scholars who did not pass enough series of national exams to become a real Noble or government official. Namchon is located at the foot of Mt. Namsan. There were ideologists who was just studying with doing nothing else was called ""namsangol nerd"" while respected scholars called ""Sonbi"" lived there too.
To restore the old traditional atmosphere, Seoul city has built traditional garden at Namsan in old way of gardening. It took 4 years to finish from 1993 to 1997. There are 5 traditional houses showing different living style for each social status to give senses of how people in Chosun lived. Furniture designs are different depends on the social status. Seoul city still keeps adding more interesting elements and activities for visitors like time capsule, experience center, and performances.
No te pierdas lo mejor del Seúl viejo y nuevo con una excursión de día completo que te permitirá conocer la historia y cultura de la capital coreana.
Destacamos
- Visita el palacio más grande de la dinastía Joseon
- Vistas excepcionales de la ciudad desde lo alto de la emblemática Torre N
- Descubre Namsan Hanok, un pintoresco pueblo que conserva la esencia cultural coreana
- Entrada al Seoul Trick Eye Museum
La primera parada del tour es el Palacio de Gyeongbokgung, situado en la parte norte de Seúl. Después de sufrir un incendio y de que fuera abandonado durante casi tres siglos, el palacio más grande de la dinastía Joseon fue reconstruido en 1867. Dirígete a continuación al Museo Folclórico Nacional, ubicado en el interior del palacio. Aquí encontrarás más de 4.000 objetos históricos que explican la cultura y tradición coreanas.
Seguidamente pondremos rumbo a la cima de la montaña Namsan para visitar la Torre N, remodelada en 2005. Un ascensor te conducirá hasta la plataforma de observación, desde donde podrás disfrutar de vistas de 360 grados de la ciudad a 236 metros de altura. La torre cuenta asimismo con una tienda de regalos y restaurantes en la planta baja.
Continuaremos el viaje por Namsan Hanok, un pueblo tradicional que alberga cinco casas coreanas totalmente restauradas, un pabellón, un estanque y hasta una cápsula del tiempo. Pasea por la zona y observa antigüedades únicas antes de hacer una parada en el mercado de Tongin, inaugurado en junio de 1941. En la mayoría de los 75 puestos que tiene este mercado se venden alimentos y artículos industriales como ropa y zapatos.
Finalmente nos adentraremos en el Seoul Trick Eye Museum, cuyo nombre se refiere a una técnica artística que transforma dos pinturas bidimensionales en imágenes tridimensionales. Pasea por sus salas temáticas y contempla numerosas ilusiones ópticas. No sólo podrás explorar a través de la vista, sino que también podrás utilizar tus manos y hacer tantas fotos como desees.
Korea House was built in the typical style of an upper-class house from the Joseon Dynasty and offers international visitors an excellent introduction to traditional Korean culture and lifestyle. The shop sells traditional Korean cultural items made by master craftsmen including china, hanji (handmade paper) and wooden craft items.
There is also the chance to sample a Hanjeongsik (Korean table d'hôte) offering a selection of rare royal cuisine of the highest quality. Korea House is ideal for those who want hands-on experience of traditional Korean culture and the nearby Namsangol Hanok Village is also well worth a visit.
Beyond Haeringwan is Garakdang which is anchae (the main building of a hanok). Garakdang has three dining rooms, all of them named after legendary mountains: Bongraesil with a wooden-floor as well as Bangjangsil and Youngjusil in a “?”-shaped building to the north. This choice of names reflects the idea of food here as the elixir of eternal life.
The Korea House was built to promote traditional Korean culture among both Koreans and foreigners. The place sells traditional Korean food and cultural artifacts while staging traditional performances and wedding ceremonies. At the Korea House, you can try traditional Korean dishes based on the royal cuisine of the Joseon Dynasty.
Gyeongju, located in southeast Korea, was the capital of the Silla Kingdom for 992 years (BC 57-935), the longest surviving kingdom in the history of Korea.
This tour will take you through the marvels of Seokguram, Poseokjeong, Gyeongju National Museum, Bunhwangsa, Cheomseongdae Observatory, Cheonmachong Tomb, Daereungwon, Anapji Pond.
Seokguram Grotto is located along the ridge of Mount Tohamsan. Carved into the stone mountainside and covered with sod, Seokguram Grotto is even more impressive once inside. In the middle of the granite sanctuary you'll find a seated Buddha statue, which is regarded as one of the greatest masterpieces of the latter part of the Silla in the 8th century.
The Gyeongju National Museum houses a permanent collection displaying some of the Silla Kingdom's most valuable treasures.
Daereungwon Tomb is the largest burial mound from the Silla Dynasty. The most famous burial site, however, is 'Cheonmachong'. Visitors can actually take a peek into the interior of the tomb, Cheonmachong allows for a closer look at both the construction of tombs and the kinds of items typically buried inside.
Anapji Pond was built during the 14th year of King Munmu (in power 661-681 AD) of the Silla Dynasty (57 BC-935 AD). Small mountains were created inside the palace walls, beautiful flowers were planted, and rare animals were brought in to create an exquisitely exotic garden fit for royalty.