Highlights of South Korea's Gangwon Province - 10 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Seoul, Afternoon Street Food Tour

Welcome to Seoul, the dynamic South Korean capital with over nine million residents. Meet your driver at Incheon International Airport to transfer directly to your hotel, which is approximately an hour's drive away. Depending on your arrival time, spend the day exploring the city or resting after your journey. 

Later on, you can discover South Korea's culinary roots on a half-day street food tour, beginning in the renowned Gwangjang Market. Wander along the narrow walkways, snacking on dishes such as bindaetteok (mung bean pancakes) and tteokbokki (rice cakes). Next on the tour is Namdaemun Market, the country's largest traditional market. Taste traditional mandu (dumplings) and kochi (skewers), or, if you're feeling adventurous, sample live octopus and beef tartar. End the day with some classic Korean barbecue on the buzzing thoroughfare known as "Youth Street."

Day 2: Highlights of Seoul City Tour

Meet your guide this morning for a full-day city tour. Step back in time at Gyeongbokgung, a palace complex built in 1395 CE and restored in the 19th century. Considered among the most beautiful of Seoul's five grand palaces, you'll tour some of its grounds, including 50 buildings, 7,700 rooms, and over 90 acres (40 ha), uncovering the history of South Korea and its former rulers. Learn more about this history at the National Folk Museum and National Palace Museum, and get your camera ready for a guard-changing ceremony reenacting royal traditions.

Next, you'll visit Bukchon Hanok Village just outside the palace for another view of the past. Explore narrow streets where more than 900 restored, traditional hanoks (once the homes of the royal family and high society during the Joseon Dynasty) now function as guesthouses, tea houses, and restaurants. Stay in the village for lunch and then hike up to Namsan Park, the largest park in Seoul, where you'll find the city's landmark, N Seoul Tower. After a cable car ride or a hike to the top of the mountain, Namsan, enjoy a 360-degree unobstructed view of the city and the Han River.

Day 3: Transfer to Sokcho via Nami Island & Gangchon, Jungang Market Experience 

Rise early today for a three-hour transfer to Sokcho, visiting some natural wonders on the way. First, you'll stop with your guide to explore the famous Nami Island in the middle of the North Han River. Beloved for its spring cherry blossoms and autumn foliage, the island also becomes a snowy wonderland in winter.

No matter when you visit, the charming pagodas and endless forests of birch trees, ginkgo trees, and redwoods are spectacular. Stroll along a wooden riverside path, then ride the Gangchon Railbike. Admire the scenery while you pedal a four-seater bike that runs along train tracks through colorfully lit tunnels, over bridges, and along the river.

Continue with your guide to the scenic town of Chuncheon, where you'll sample the local specialty dakgalbi (spicy stir-fried chicken) on Dakgalbi Street. Then, re-join your driver for a two-hour transfer to the beautiful Sokcho, where you'll check into your hotel for the night. Settle in, then observe the local lifestyle on a two-hour Sokcho Jungang Traditional Market tour. Try local favorites such as odeng (fish cake) or dakgangjeong (fried chicken with sweet-and-sour sauce and a crushed peanut garnish) before returning to your hotel. 

Day 4: Seoraksan National Park & Shinheungsa Temple, Visit Goseong Tower

Today, you'll discover the beauty of Seoraksan National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Preservation District, with a private guide. Start by riding the cable car to Gwongeumseong Fortress Peak to view the park's diverse landscapes and a castle ruins. When you arrive, admire the scenic vista of Seoraksan, one of Korea's highest mountains, and visit the historic seventh-century Buddhist Seoraksan Sinheungsa Temple on the mountain slopes.

You'll see the Tongil Daebul (Great Unification Buddha) statue, symbolizing the Korean people's wish for reunification, and can take photos of valleys, waterfalls, and rare flora and fauna throughout the park, which is beautiful in every season. After exploring, you might like to hike the 3-mile (6 km) loop of the Biseondae Rock Course, which follows a stream along a picturesque valley to Biseondae Rock, a giant monolith etched with words by ancient poets. The moderate hike should take about three hours to finish.

Afterward, your driver will take you an hour from Sokcho to the Goseong Unification Observation Tower for sweeping views over the North Korean coastline, the rocky peaks of Geumgangsan, and islands in the far-off blue ocean. After you climb the tower, return to Sokcho, where you'll stay the night.

Day 5: Transfer to Gangneung, City, Beaches & Markets Tour

Leave Sokcho behind today and join your driver for a one-hour transfer to the lovely coastal city of Gangneung. Start your Gangnueng explorations at Jumunjin Fish Market, near Jumunjin Port, a bustling hub home to a large variety of fresh and dried seafood. Sample fish cake croquettes and the fresh catch of the day, then head to one of South Korea's best beaches, Gyeongpo Beach, to enjoy 1 mile (1.8 km) of white sand, beautiful waters in shades of blue, and pristine views of the East Sea.

Next on your itinerary is the Ojukheon House, the birthplace of prominent philosopher and Confucian scholar Yi I. Learn about the history of his life and teachings and explore the massive complex, which dates back hundreds of years. Highlights include the Yulgok Memorial Hall, the Munseongsa Ancestral Shrine, and the Eojaegak Pavilion.

From here, head to the nearby Gangneung Curling Center, one of the venues of the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. Afterward, fill up on more delicious seafood at the traditional Gangneung Jungang Market. Try the local favorite, squid, and other local specialties such as Korean beef and sweet fried chicken. Return to your hotel for the evening.

Day 6: Transfer to Jeongseon, Cultural Immersion at Jeongseon Folk Village

Bid farewell to Gangneung and transfer for one hour to Jeongseon, where you'll spend the day at Ararichon, a traditional folk village near the river. Your guide will give you a tour of the quaint streets full of ancient houses and provide a background of local lifestyles in the past and present.

Then, you'll learn the folk song "Arirang," bestowed Intangible Cultural Heritage status by UNESCO. Considered the unofficial anthem of South Korea, this song is over 600 years old and has various regional versions. You'll learn to perform the "Jeongseon Arirang" from an official teacher, then head to the traditional Fifth-Day Market, which takes place on dates ending with two or seven (every five days). Explore the jam-packed stalls, selling everything from local produce and street food to handicrafts, and choose a few snacks to sample as you go. 

Day 7: Transfer to Wonju via Pyeongchang & Odaesan Park, Visit Museum SAN

This morning, join your driver for a scenic one-hour drive northwest to Pyeongchang, known for its rural scenery, Olympic history, and impressive Odaesan National Park. You'll spend the day exploring this beautiful protected area, starting with a walk on the Needle Fir Forest Trail. Lined with impressive fir trees on both sides, the trail immediately brings you a sense of peace and awe.

Head to Woljeongsa within the park, an ancient Buddhist temple founded during the ancient Silla Kingdom (57 BCE to 935 CE). While there, visit the 10th-century Octagonal Nine-Story Stone Pagoda and the Sangwonsa Bell, the oldest bronze bell in the country.

Hop back in the car for a one-hour trip to Wonju, where you'll spend the night. Check into your hotel, then meet your guide for a tour of the memorable Museum SAN, tucked deep in the green valleys of Wonju. Designed by the famous Japanese architect Tadao Ando, the museum showcases the harmony of art and nature in its beautiful installations. Explore a rainbow-hued flower garden, a sculpture park, a water garden full of reflecting pools, and various exhibits within the main hall. 

Day 8: Transfer to Seoul via Sogeumsan Suspension Bridge & Namhansanseong

Today, you'll return to Seoul, a transfer that takes around 2.5 hours and includes several scenic stops. Enjoy the countryside as your driver takes you first to the thrilling Sogeumsan Suspension Bridge, the longest of its kind in the country at over 650 feet (200 m). Hold tight (except for a few photo breaks) as you traverse the bridge, stretching over a deep valley, and revel in the panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.

From here, head to the UNESCO-listed fortress, Namhansanseong, on the slopes of Namhansan mountain. In addition to its picturesque location, which is beautiful year-round but especially in the fall, the fortress is steeped in history. Originally dating back to the seventh century, the walls of the fortress run along the ridge for over 7 miles (12 km). Inside the walls, you can visit the Emergency Palace, designated for the royal family, the ancient Hyeonjeolsa Temple, and the Jwajeon Royal Ancestral Shrine. At the end of your tour, meet your driver for a 20-minute drive into Seoul.

Day 9: Korean Demilitarized Zone Tour

Today, join your guide for a 30-mile (44 km) drive up to the border area between South and North Korea, known as the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Delve into the complex history and tensions between the "two Koreas" that characterize the area to this day and highlight the importance of peace. Your tour starts at the Third Infiltration Tunnel, an invasion tool dug by North Korea and discovered by South Korea in 1978.

Next, you'll visit the Dora Observatory, where you can look through telescopes over North Korea and see sites, including the spooky Propaganda Village, People School, a statue of Kim Il Sung, and Geummamgol, a local cooperative farm. Visit the Imjingak Resort Unification Park to gain insight into the history of the Korean War, see the nearby Freedom Bridge, and end with a stop at Dorasan Station, the northernmost stop on South Korea's railway line. Return with your guide to Seoul, where you'll have the final evening of your trip free.

Day 10: Depart Seoul 

Today, your South Korea adventure ends, and you'll be transferred to the airport in time for your homebound flight. Safe travels!