Seoul sightseeing and the Korean Folk Village full-day tour

Highlights

• We will visit the beautiful Jogyesa Buddhist Temple, the Presidential Blue House, Cheongwadae Sarangchae and Changdeok Palace!
• Witness the Changing of the Guard Ceremony at Gyeongbok Palace
• Enjoy a traditional Korean lunch
• Spend the afternoon at the Korean Folk Village learning about traditional Korean life
• Hotel collection and English-speaking tour-guide included
• Family friendly tour

All about the trip

Do you want to explore Seoul's beautiful history and culture in both the city and the countryside? This bustling capital city has so much to offer visitors but to see 'both sides of the coin' is a truly magical experience.

Our first stop will be the beautiful Jogyesa Buddhist Temple. The Jogyesa Temple is now the centre of Zen Buddhism in Korea and is famous for being located in the city of Seoul. One of the first things you will notice about the temple are its lovely surrounding trees. These locust and baeksong trees are located in front of the Daeungjeon (the main temple building) are said to be about 500 years old! They give a great backdrop to an already incredible location, which is just perfect for some photographs.

Next we will watch the 'Changing of the Guard Ceremony' at Gyeongbok Palace. Every day visitors to Gyeongbok Palace can watch a reenactment of the “Changing of the Royal Guards” ceremony, which takes place at the Gwanghwamun and Heungnyemun plazas. The royal guards of the Joseon Dynasty (1392~1910) were in charge of protecting the gates of the capital city and the royal palace.

Gyeongbok Palace itself was built in 1395, and is also commonly referred to as the “Northern Palace” because it is located more toward the north, compared to the neighbouring palaces of Changdeok (Eastern Palace) and Gyeonghee (Western Palace). Gyeongbok Palace is arguably the most beautiful and remains the grandest of all the five palaces.

After watching the Guards Ceremony at Gyeongbok, we will visit the Presidential Blue House. A true symbol of Cheongwadae (known to westerners as the Blue House or the presidential residence), is the blue tiles. The first thing that catches your eye when you arrive at Cheongwadae is the blue tiles of the main building. The blue tiles and the smooth roof are in beautiful harmony with Mt. Bugaksan behind it. As the Blue House represents Korea, the blue tiles and the smooth curve of the roof represents the beauty of Korea.

Following the Blue House we will visit Cheongwadae Sarangchae. The newly opened Cheongwadae Sarangchae, which opened to the public on January 5th, 2010, is a historical centre that gives visitors a chance to follow in the footsteps of presidents of Korea and gain insight into the history of Seoul. It encompasses the past, present and even the future of Seoul as well as the entire nation. It serves as a tourist information centre that offers detailed information on World Cultural Heritage sites and assets.

After Cheongwadae Sarangchae we will pay a quick visit to the Ginseng Centre to learn more about this fabulous food, herb, tea and medicine. Following the Ginseng Centre we will stop to enjoy a fabulous Korean lunch.

After lunch we will visit the Korean Folk Village. Set in a natural environment and occupying approximately 243 acres, visitors can experience over 260 traditional Korean reminiscent of the late Joseon Dynasty, including various household goods from different regions. These interior features have been relocated and restored to provide visitors with a broad understanding of Korean food, clothing, and housing style of the past.

Also at the village there are over 20 workshops offering workshops on various handicrafts such as pottery, baskets, bamboo wares, wooden wares, paper, brass wares, knots, fans, musical instruments, iron wares and embroidery.

You can also visit the Folk Museum as well as the Art Museum to see and learn about the essence of Korean culture and folk customs, which are not suitable for display and re-creating in the open-air setting. The Korean Folk Village is also the filming location for the famous movie 'Scandal' as well as the TV miniseries 'Daejanggeum'.

After a full day of exciting Korean history and culture, your English-speaking tour-guide will then return you to your hotel in Seoul. This tour is a truly unforgettable way to see the Korean capital of Seoul!

What is included in the price

• Traditional Korean lunch
• English-speaking tour-guide
• Hotel transportation
• Entrance fees

What is not included in the price

• Additional refreshments or extra snacks
• Funds for souvenirs

Instructions

This activity is organised by VIP Travel, Mapodaero 109, Mapo-Gu, Seoul, 04146, South Korea, +82 2 739 3501, vip@vviptravel.com.