South Korea's Cuisine, Culture & History with Temple Stay: Seoul, Jeonju & Gyeongju - 9 Days
Highlights
- Sample delicious Korean barbecue on the streets of Seoul
- Explore South Korea's last remaining fortress, Hwaseong, in Suwon
- Make your own bottle of Korean chungju or soju spirits in Jeonju
- Sit down for tea and guided meditation with a Buddhist monk at Golgusa temple
- Learn the ancient art of sunmudo from monks during a temple stay in Gyeongju
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Seoul, Seoul Street Food Tour | Seoul |
| Day 2 | Highlights of Seoul Tour | Seoul |
| Day 3 | Traditional Korean Cooking Class, Visit Suwon's Hwaseong Fortress | Seoul |
| Day 4 | Transfer to Jeonju, Historic Jeonju Tour, Food & Wine Tasting in Makgeolli | Jeonju |
| Day 5 | Visit Nambu Market, Jeonju Hyanggyo Confucian School & National Museum | Jeonju |
| Day 6 | Transfer to Gyeongju, Gyeongju National Museum & Parks Tour | Gyeongju |
| Day 7 | Bulguksa & Seokguram Grotto Tour, Golgulsa Temple Stay | Gyeongju |
| Day 8 | Golgulsa Temple Experience, Train to Seoul | Seoul |
| Day 9 | Depart Seoul |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Seoul, Seoul Street Food Tour
Welcome to Seoul, the dynamic South Korean capital with more than 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.
Head to the Insadong neighborhood to tour its tea houses, shops, and restaurants, walking along cobblestone streets lined with ginkgo trees. Or, walk through Myeongdong, a skincare and cosmetics hub. Take in skyline views at Seoul Sky, an observation deck with a glass floor above the city.
Later in the day, discover South Korea's culinary roots and take a street food tour, beginning in the renowned Gwangjang Market. This century-old market sells everything from textiles to authentic Korean dishes. 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 kkochi (skewers), or, if you're feeling adventurous, sample live octopus and beef tartar. End the day with some classic Korean barbecue on Youth Street.
Day 2: Highlights of Seoul Tour
Meet your local guide in the morning for a full-day city tour through Seoul. Your first stop is the palace of Changdeokgung, one of Seoul's major historical sites, which was built as a secondary palace for the main Gyeongbokgung palace complex. Walk through gardens and pavilions at the 600-year-old royal home until you come to the Secret Garden, and there, look for the two-story Juhamnu Pavilion, a reading room, and a library. At the nearby Chongmyo Royal Shrine, learn how the design reflects Confucian symbolism in the space still used today for ceremonies.
Absorb the Korean cultural heritage as you explore palaces and shrines, then continue your tour at Insadong where you'll browse through antique stores, craft galleries, and quaint teahouses. After enjoying a break for a cup of tea, head with your guide to the National Museum of Korea. Explore the six permanent exhibition galleries as well as the special exhibition halls where some of the museum's 220,000 art objects will be on display. In the evening, taste more of Seoul's street food on your own, following a recommendation from your guide.
Day 3: Traditional Korean Cooking Class, Visit Suwon's Hwaseong Fortress
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
While in the nation's capital, a Korean cooking class is a must. With your chef host, visit a local market to taste typical flavors and purchase the necessary ingredients to kick off your half-day workshop. Then, learn to prepare some traditional Korean dishes like bibimbap (rice with mixed vegetables and meat), samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup), kimchi, and yachaejeon (savory pancakes). Afterward, you'll sit down to enjoy the fruits of your labor for lunch.
In the afternoon, join your guide and driver for a half-day tour of Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon, a 30-minute drive from Seoul. The ancient structure stretches for 3.5 miles (5.7 km), past four ornate gates, command posts, pavilions, observation towers, and fire-beacon platforms. Learn the history of why the fortress was built for King Jeongjo, the functions it served during the Joseon period, and the significance of its directional gates. Before returning to Seoul, explore the palace of Hwaseong Haenggung, a smaller, more intimate version of the fortress that housed the king during a war.
Day 4: Transfer to Jeonju, Historic Jeonju Tour, Food & Wine Tasting in Makgeolli
Leave Seoul today and transfer, with your driver, about two hours south to Jeonju, the birthplace of the Joseon Dynasty's founder, King Taejo. After checking into your hotel, embark on a guided tour of the historic Jeonju Hanok Village to see more than 700 traditional Hanok houses and visit the palace Gyeonggijeon, built in 1410 CE and now a shrine to King Taejo. Then, discover the Royal Portrait Museum within the palace to learn about the history of the Joseon monarchs.
In the afternoon, you'll visit the Jeonju Korean Traditional Wine Museum in a traditional Hanok building. Explore the exhibits featuring various Korean liquors and the materials, tools, and machines used in the traditional methods. Sample several of these spirits, like the clear chungju and distilled soju, before making your own bottle to bring home. In the evening, head with your guide to Makgeolli Town, known for producing Korean rice wine called makgeolli. Sample some of this wine, served in kettles, alongside local dishes like kongnamul gukbap (beansprout soup), braised pork, or grilled fish.
Day 5: Visit Nambu Market, Jeonju Hyanggyo Confucian School, & National Museum
Embark on a self-guided exploration of Jeonju this morning by fueling up for breakfast at the Jeonju Nambu Traditional Market. Mingle with the locals as you stroll the narrow lanes bursting with color and scents. Browse the 800 shops for produce, handmade products, and street food, stopping to try local dishes, such as sae-al patjuk (red bean porridge) and son sujebi (noodle soup).
After your market visit, join your guide for a half-day tour. The tour begins at the Pungnammun Gate, which once served as the south gate of Jeonju and is considered one of South Korea's national treasures. Next, see the 100-year-old Catholic Jeondong Cathedral, which features Roman-Byzantine architecture, before ending at the Omokdae Observatory for panoramic views of Jeonju Hanok Village. Your tour continues to the 14th-century Jeonju Hyanggyo, an ancient Confucian school known for its beautiful grounds and 100-year-old ginkgo trees.
Stop for an authentic Korean lunch before doing a deep dive into the area's culture and history at the Jeonju National Museum. You'll have three hours to wander the halls with your guide, discovering over 40,000 relics, from art and calligraphy to priceless pottery and archaeological finds such as bronze items, earthenware, and weaponry. For dinner, try bibimbap, a Jeonju specialty, at one of the many restaurants in the city.
Day 6: Transfer to Gyeongju, Gyeongju National Museum & Parks Tour
Bid farewell to Jeonju today. After breakfast, meet your driver for a 2.5-hour transfer to Gyeongju, a UNESCO-listed area recognized for its temples, palaces, pagodas, and sculptures from the Silla Kingdom. Today, it's nicknamed the "museum without walls." After checking into your hotel, you'll set off on a full-day guided tour to explore archaeological sites, temples, and royal tombs, beginning at the Gyeongju National Museum, which houses relics from the ancient kingdom. Next, you'll tour Tumuli Park, the resting place of 23 royal tombs.
See the historic fifth-century Cheonmachong tomb, offering a glimpse into the lavish lifestyle of a Silla king. Continue your visit at the seventh-century Cheomseongdae Observatory, the oldest in Asia. Then, take a relaxing break at the palace of Donggung and Wolji Pond, where you can walk among trees, small hills, and pavilions once used for state festivals and banquets. Enjoy a stroll across the two-story Woljeonggyo Bridge, as seen in the popular K-drama "The King: Eternal Monarch, " before heading to your Gyeongju hotel to rest for tomorrow's adventures.
Day 7: Bulguksa & Seokguram Grotto Tour, Golgulsa Temple Stay
Pack your bags and continue your explorations of historic Gyeongju today on a half-day tour, starting at the city's UNESCO-listed Bulguksa temple, regarded as a masterpiece of Buddhist art. The temple houses six national treasures, including the Dabotap and Seokgatap stone pagodas. Next, head to the enchanting Seokguram Grotto on Mount Toham, famed for its monumental Buddha statue surrounded by depictions of gods and disciples. Constructed in the eighth century, this landmark was an engineering feat, with mammoth granite blocks transported along a mountain path.
Take in views of the city and countryside, then join your driver for a quick trip to the nearby Golgulsa Templestay house and your accommodation for the night. Tour the temple, enjoy tea time with a monk (where you can ask questions and gain insight into the Buddhist way of life), guided meditations, and other sacred rituals. Watch a demonstration of the ancient martial art of sunmudo, and learn a few moves yourself before observing afternoon prayer time. Throughout your stay, savor vegetarian meals prepared using fresh, local ingredients and relish the peace of the temple grounds.
Day 8: Golgulsa Temple Experience, Train to Seoul
Wake up early this morning to observe the Buddhist monks during their sacred morning prayers, followed by a serene walk together through the temple grounds. Enjoy a vegetarian breakfast, then continue your sunmudo training and participate in a relaxing, traditional meditation session guided by an expert (one of the monks). After you check out in the early afternoon, your driver will be waiting to transport you to a nearby railway station, where you'll hop on a bullet train back to Seoul, a two-hour trip.
Day 9: Depart Seoul
Today, your journey in South Korea comes to an end. Your driver will transfer you to Incheon International Airport in time to board your departing flight. Safe travels, wherever you're heading next!
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