West Coast Ganghwa Island tour

Highlights

• Ganghwa Dolmens home to hundreds of megalithic stone dolmens dating to 1000 BC
• Ganghwa peace observatory where you can see North Korea across the sea
• The intimidating Gwangseongbo Fortress home to a big battle site between Korea and America

All about the trip

Getaway from the hustle and bustle of Seoul with this Ganghwa Island tour! This tour takes you to some of Ganghwa Island's must-see spots on the West coast. With a small population of only 70,000 people, this seaside town has attractions at every turn. During this tour, you will have a private vehicle, along with a licensed, professional English-speaking tour guide. Throughout the day, your guide will offer tips, provide information and handle any language barriers that may occur during the tour. Ganghwa Island is located in the West Sea and is composed of 11 inhabited islands and 17 uninhabited islands. The history of the island dates to pre-historic times and many ancient artifacts are still found today.

During the tour, you will visit the main sites of the Ganghwa Dolmens, Ganghwa peace observatory, and Gwangseongbo Fortress; and many other sites! The Ganghwa Dolmens are home to hundreds of megalithic stone dolmens which were used as grave markers and ritual purposes during the First Millenium BC. The stones were used to mark the graves of the ruling elite; pottery, comma-shaped jewels and stone tools have all been excavated from the dolmens. The dolmens were designated as a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 2000; Korea is said to contain more than 40% of the world's dolmen. The next stop will be the Ganghwa peace observatory! Gaze across the sea into North Korean territory from the observation deck of the peace tower. This somber, yet hopeful site offers information about the history of the division of the two countries. Sunset views, a peace tree, and an informational video await you at this site. This is an important place to visit to learn how the division of the countries still affects the Korean people today. After this, the intimidating Gwangseongbo Fortress will be the next stop! This stone fortress dates to the 17th century and was the fiercest battleground of Ganghwa. In 1871 American naval forces attacked the fortress with the hope of opening a port. Korean and American soldiers engaged in close combat, the Korean forces fought bravely but were unfortunately outgunned and outmanned. The battlefield ruins of the fortress are well preserved today and worth a visit! After the fortress, you will journey to the last stop, the Jeondeungsa Temple; a lovely Buddhist temple.

This small island is filled to the brim with historical sights! You do not want to miss this one of a kind tour in Ganghwa Island!

What is included in the price

• Roundtrip hotel transfer (Busan only)
• Private vehicle
• English speaking licensed tour guide

What is not included in the price

• Admission tickets to any of the sites
• Lunch

Instructions