Fall School Break-Korean Highlights Seoul, Busan and Gyeongju October 6 th -14 th, nts/8days from: $2495 dbl/tpl

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1 Fall School Break-Korean Highlights Seoul, Busan and Gyeongju October 6 th -14 th, nts/8days from: $2495 dbl/tpl Seoul- Whatever you want, at any time of day or night, Seoul can provide. An early morning temple visit can lead to a palace tour followed by tea sipping in Bukchon and gallery-hopping in Samcheong-dong. Snacks in a street tent bar will fuel you for shopping at the buzzing Dongdaemun or Namdaemun night markets. By the time you look at your watch, it will be dawn again. History clings tenaciously to the Miracle on the Han. While Seoul has its eye on the future, you'll also encounter fascinating fragments of the past in World Heritage listed sites. Gaze down on this sprawling metropolis of around 10 million and you ll sense the powerful pungsu-jiri (feng shui) that has long nurtured and protected the city. Busan- Bursting with mountains and beaches, hot springs and seafood, South Korea s second-largest city is a rollicking port town with much to offer. From casual tent bars and chic designer cafes to fish markets teeming with every species imaginable, Busan has something for all tastes. Gyeongju - Known as the museum without walls, Gyeongju holds more tombs, temples, rock carvings, pagodas, Buddhist statuary and palace ruins than any other place in South Korea. On this unique fall break tour enjoy not only history and culture, but experience the KTX bullet train, not once, but twice. A perfectly balance fall school break tour that includes history, culture, shopping, and fun visits that include the Trick Museum, the Ice Museum, and Lotte World Adventure Park. Itinerary/Details Day 1 October 6 th, 2018 Saturday Depart from Honolulu Hawaiian Airlines #459 Departs Honolulu 2:30 pm Arrive Incheon 8:00 pm +1 Meet up with your Panda Travel representative at the Hawaiian Airlines Terminal, Lobby 3, Makai side at least 3 hours prior to the flight departure time to begin the check-in process. Day 2 October 7 th, 2018 Sunday Incheon-Seoul (D) On arrival at the Incheon, please make your way to the baggage claim area as we need to clear immigration and customs. On exiting our local English speaking guide will be there to meet us. The drive into the city is approximately 1 hour, but first we will give you time to exchange currency. Accommodations for the next two nights are at Days Hotel Myeongdong, ideally located in the heart of Myeong-dong, the epicenter of fashion and culture. Famous Namdaemun Market and Seoul City Hall are within a 15-minute walk.

2 Every room at Myeongdong Days Hotel features city views, flat-screen satellite TV, refrigerator, and sofa to make for a pleasant stay. The remainder of the evening is free. A dinner bento box with bottled water will be provided on arrival at the hotel Accommodations: Days Hotel Myeongdong Day 3 October 8 th, 2018 Monday Seoul (B/L) After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby as we are off on a full day of touring. The morning begins with a visit to Seoul Tower, as iconic as kimchi. Opened to the public in 1980, it has since become a major tourist attraction. Sitting atop Namsan Mountain, Seoul Tower offers panoramic views of the entire city and surrounding areas. While here don t miss the countless locks of love, literally thousands of padlocks attached to the fences and trees. It is a ritual among courting couples as a symbol of their affection. After hanging their locks, they throw away the key in the hope for eternal love. Seoul Tower Locks of Love at Seoul Tower From here we are off to the National Museum of Korea, ranked as the 9 th most visited museum in the world. Historically significant, this museum originally opened in 1945, the same year Korea gained independence from Japan. Since then, it s moved to various locations until October 2005, when it was given its final and current setting in Yongsan Family Park. Housing more than 220,000 pieces of art and relics in total, some 13,000 works are on display at any given time. The grand, marble-lined, modernist building cleverly channels plenty of natural light to show off Korea s ancient treasures. Among the must-see exhibits on the ground-floor galleries are the Baekje Incense Burner, an extraordinary example of the artistry of the 6th- to 7th-century Baekje Kingdom; and the Golden Treasures for the Great Tomb of Hwangham. On the 3rd-floor sculpture and craft galleries, search out the Pensive Bodhisattva from the 7th century. Also look down on the top of the Goryeo-dynasty Ten Story Pagoda carved from marble. The surrounding park is best appreciated in good weather, when the Great Hall is perfectly reflected in the large Reflecting Pond. The original Bosingak Bell is in the grounds near the picturesque Dragon Falls. Enjoy free time here to explore on your own and then we are off to lunch at a local restaurant.

3 National Museum of Korea This afternoon we are off to visit two more museums, and what a treat they will be. First, we are off to the Trick Eye Museum, a 3D interactive museum located in the heart of the student district Hongdae, Seoul. The museum offers a unique experience using a technique called trompe-l'oeil (trick of the eye). The purpose of this art is to intentionally confuse the audience by making flat 2D paintings into 3D images. Enjoy time to walk around and freely touch, take photos, and interact with the art. The Ice Museum, located inside of the Trick Eye Museum, is the biggest ice sculpture experience museum in Seoul. From famous cartoon characters to ice slides, you can see all types of ice sculptures as soon as you enter the museum. We will visit here next. Optical Illusion at Trick Eye Museum Ice Museum From here a stop at Jungbu Market, where you can find a a wide assortment of dried food such as laver, seaweed, anchovies, yellow corbinas, squid, pollack, and dried filefish fillets are available at low prices. Known for both wholesale and retail sales, prices are considered the best. Each store only sells one or two types of seafood products, allowing for easy price comparison and topquality goods. Popular products include dried filefish fillets, laver, and pollack. Another fun stop at the Lotte Department Store, one of Korea's iconic shopping venues featuring a wide variety of goods from reasonably priced Korean labels to world famous luxury brands. From here we make our way back to our hotel and the remainder of the afternoon and evening is free. Accommodations: Days Hotel Myeongdong Day 4 October 9 th, 2018 Tuesday Seoul-Busan-Gyeongju (B/D)

4 After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby as we are off on another full day of touring, visiting Busan and then onto Gyeongju. After breakfast, please meet your guide as we are off to Busan via the KTX bullet train. This new high-speed train has been designed to reach speeds of 305 km per hour. Thanks to KTX, the travel time from Seoul to Busan is reduced to less than three hours, cutting the original travel time almost in half. Please bring along a small overnight bag as we will be leaving our large bag at the Days Hotel for when we return the following day. The train is not able to accommodate the large suitcases. Once in Busan, take some time for lunch on your own at the Busan Station. We have a fun afternoon of tour planned for you by chartered bus. Our first stop will be at Gamcheon Culture Village. The village is formed by houses built in staircase-fashion on the foothills of a coastal mountain, earning this village the nickname of "Machu Picchu of Busan." The many alleys cutting through this community are vibrantly decorated with murals and sculptures created by the residents. The quaint facades and works of modern art signal merely the tip of the fascinating story behind this littleknown hillside labyrinth in Busan. It offers a stark contrast from the glitzy skyscrapers of "new Busan" or even the bustling markets of "old Busan." This quiet village is a destination for a different type of traveler -- those with an interest in art and history. The art-themed makeover began in 2009, when it hosted a public art project and invited art students and artists to "decorate" the village. While the villagers had for decades painted their own homes in pastel hues, artists added dozens of colorful touches throughout town, attaching nicknames such as "Korea's Machu Picchu and "Korea's Santorini". While the view is best from a high vantage point called "Sky Garden, the real delight lies in getting lost in the village's maze of alleyways. Each alley leads to a different surprise, from bird sculptures on roofs to Murakami-like playful installations in abandoned houses. Next, we are off to Busan Tower, located inside Yongdusan Park. It remains one of the best spots to see the whole city water and land in a sweeping 360-degree view. While not as tall as the Seoul Tower it is Busan s most obvious and well-known landmark. Last on the agenda for today is a visit to Gukje Market and BIFF Street. Gukje Market is the largest traditional market in Busan, steeped in history. The market began during the Korean War in 1950 as a place for war refugees to try to eke out a living, soon growing into a large, busy market. Even today, the area is bursting with the old-fashioned marketplace spirit, like that of Namdaemun Market in Seoul. Shops here sell an assortment of new and used items. Our last stop is at BIFF Square, a bustling street full of movie theaters, shops, restaurants, and food stalls. This movie district was originally little more than a pair of cinemas that were built following Korea s liberation from Japanese colonial rule over half a century ago. However, major renovations took place ahead of the first Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), and the newly transformed district was named BIFF Square in August of Enjoy free time to explore the area on your own.

5 Gamcheon Cultural Village Gukje Market BIFF Square We are now off to Gyeongju and the travel time will be approximately 1 hour. Dinner will be at a local restaurant along the way. Once in Gyeongju, time to check-in to our hotel and then the remainder of the evening is free. Accommodations for the next two nights are at the Gyeongju Commodore Hotel, located adjacent to a beautiful Bomun Lake. You might consider a walk this evening. Accommodations: Gyeongju Commodore Hotel Day 5 October 10 th, 2018 Wednesday Gyeongju (B/L/D) After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby as we are off on a full day of touring. In 57 BC, around the same time that Julius Caesar was subduing Gaul, Gyeongju became the capital of the Shilla dynasty, and it remained so for nearly a thousand years. In the 7th century AD, under King Munmu, Shilla conquered the neighboring kingdoms of Goguryeo and Baekje, and Gyeongju became the capital of the whole peninsula. The population of the city eventually peaked at around one million people, but the Shilla fell victim to division from within and invasion from without. The day begins with visits to two of Gyeongju s most not-to-be-missed sites Bulguk-sa and Seokguram Grotto. While never intended as a major temple, Bulguksa became famous as one of the few surviving examples of Silla architecture. According to legend it was founded in 535 as Hwaeombeomnyusa temple. King Pob-hung built it for his queen, who prayed here for the welfare of the kingdom. Although most of Bulguksa is a reconstruction, the foundation stones and the pagodas are original. Bulguksa Temple is the representative relic of Gyeongju and was designated as a World Cultural Asset by UNESCO in The beauty of the temple itself and the artistic touch of the stone relics are known throughout the world. Seokguram Grotto contains a monumental statue of the Buddha looking at the sea in the bhumisparsha mudra position. This mudra, formed with all five fingers of the right hand extended to touch the ground, symbolizes the Buddha's enlightenment under the bodhi tree, when he summoned the earth goddess, Sthavara. Next, a visit to the Gyeongju National Museum, arguably the best history museum in Korea, where you can appreciate the significance of this ancient city in one fell swoop. The main archaeological hall has dazzling displays of jewelry, weaponry, and other ceremonial items from the Shilla dynasty, including a 5th-century gold crown that looks like something out of Game of Thrones.

6 Our next stop is a visit to Tumuli Park, a walled off park in the center of town containing over two dozen tombs. The superstar of this Tomb Complex is the open Cheonmachong tomb. Cheonmachong means heavenly horse, which refers to a painting of a heavenly horse found within the tomb. Because this tomb is structured so that the actual burial chamber is above ground yet still enshrouded by the massive mound the burial treasures have remained largely intact for our curious twenty-first century eyes. Within the ominously thrilling tumulus, or burial mound, you may feast your eyes on a variety of Silla Dynasty jewels, weaponry, and art, as well as a representation of how the tomb s occupant would have been found resting. There s also a full-scale mock-up of how the inhabitant was buried. Elsewhere in the complex is the large tomb of King Michu, who reigned from 262 to 284 and fought many battles to protect his empire from the neighboring Baekje dynasty. Per legend, he even dispatched a ghost army from beyond the grave when his successor was losing one bout of fisticuffs; these phantoms disappeared during the resulting celebrations, leaving behind only the bamboo leaves that had infested the cavities of the enemy dead. For this reason, the tomb is often referred to as the Tomb of the Bamboo Chief. One other tomb of note is the doublehumped Hwangnam Daechong, which was almost certainly the resting place of a king and queen. Also on tap today, a visit to Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond. According to the historical records Wolji Pond was built during the 14th year of King Munmu of the Silla Kingdom (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. The pond was originally built in Wolseung Fortress (built in 101 AD during the Silla period), but the fortress was destroyed and now lies in ruins. The last stop on today s touring is at Cheomseongdae Observatory, the oldest surviving astronomical observatory in Asia. Constructed during the reign of Queen Seon-deok, it was used for observing the stars to forecasting the weather. This stone structure is a beautiful combination of straight lines and curves, and has been designated as a National Treasure. Today s touring day includes lunch and dinner at local restaurants. Once back at our hotel, the remainder of the evening is free. Accommodations: Gyeongju Commodore Hotel Day 6 October 11 th, 2018 Thursday Gyeongju-Seoul (B) After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby. This morning we will be making our way back to Seoul by KTX Bullet train. When we arrive at Seoul Station, enjoy free time for lunch on your own and shopping. Accommodations for the remaining three nights are back at the Days Hotel Myeongdong. Once back, the remainder of the afternoon and evening is free. Accommodations: Days Hotel Myeongdong Day 7 October 12 th, 2018 Friday Seoul (B)

7 After breakfast, please meet your guide in the lobby as we are off on a full day of touring. The day begins with a visit to the Korean Folk Village for an introduction on traditional culture from the late Joseon period. Opened in 1974 as an open-air folk museum, it remains one of the best-known of Korea's folk villages. The village is home to Korean heritage and many features of Korean culture that have been collected and preserved for future generations. A traditional marketplace offers exotic flavors of Korean food from various regions, and numerous shops sell a variety of traditional handicrafts and souvenirs, many of which were made on the premises. Enjoy free time to experience an authentic atmosphere with over 260 traditional houses. Also included are various household goods from the different regions. All these features have been relocated and restored to provide visitors with a general view of Korean food, clothing, and housing styles from the past. In over a dozen workshops, visitors can see artisans practice their handicraft skills in pottery, basket and bamboo weaving, paper making, and many other traditional arts. Watch as these master craftsmen (and women) create beautiful designs in brass, embroidery, iron, and clay. Lunch today is on your own at Jangteo, the marketplace area of the village Korean Folk Village Farmer s dance This afternoon we are off to visit Suwon Hwaseong Fortress, an impressive structure from the latter part of the Joseon Dynasty and the official fortress of Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do. The fortress (constructed from 1794 to 1796) was built as a show of the King s filial piety towards his father Jangheonseja and to build a new pioneer city with its own economic power. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is more than just a fortress. It is a massive wall in the middle of the city of Suwon that features guard posts, statues, bells, lookout points and temples. There are four main gates on the walk round the walls, 3.5 miles of wall. The most famous gate is the South Gate which is surrounded by a large market as well as several other businesses. The fortress has ongoing reconstruction since the 1970 s. From here we are off back to Seoul and our hotel. The drive time is approximately one hour. The remainder of the afternoon and evening are free.

8 Suwon Hwaseong Fortress Open Style Pagoda at the top of the Fortress From here, we are off to enjoy a Nanta performance. Nanta also known as Cookin or Cookin' Nanta is a non-verbal comedy show that incorporates traditional samul nori rhythm, a type of Korean percussion music. It is the is the longest-running show in Korean history making its debut in October of Our afternoon of touring ends with the popular Nanta show. Enjoy a feast of comic mishaps during a performance of the hit show Nanta, popular in Korea for almost two decades. This comedy of errors shows four cooks under pressure to concoct a wedding feast in too little time. By drumming with kitchen implements such as cutting boards and knives, the performers create a modern twist on traditional Korean percussion music known as samul nori. It s a hilarious 90-minute show. After the show, we return to our hotel and the remainder of the afternoon and evening is free. Accommodations: Days Hotel Myeongdong Day 8 October 13 th, 2018 Saturday Seoul (B/L/D) It s going to be a fun filled day whether you are young or old! After breakfast, please meet your guide as we make our way to Lotte World Adventure, a major recreation complex located in downtown Seoul. It consists of Indoor Adventure, the world's largest indoor theme park, an outdoor theme park called Magic Island, a luxury hotel, the Korean Folk Museum, shopping malls, department stores, sports facilities, and a movie theater, all in one place. Indoor Adventure is the world s largest indoor theme park and hosts a dazzling variety of seasonal festivals and parades all year round and features 22 different rides. Magic Island, the outdoor theme park of Lotte World, is an artificial island located in the middle of Seokchon Lake and boasts 17 different rides including the high-altitude free-fall thrill ride, the Gyro Drop. You will have ample time to enjoy all that the park has to offer. From here, off to Lotte World Tower, Seoul s supertall skyscraper, 123 floors in total, the tower is the fifth tallest building in the world. It boasts the world's highest glass-bottomed observation deck in a building. You can stroll onto the glass, vertigo-inducing 1,640 feet or half a kilometer above the ground. It's also home to the world's highest swimming pool in a building, on the 85th floor, and the world's fastest elevator, which can whisk visitors to the top in one minute.

9 We will be enjoying lunch at a local restaurant. Upon returning to Seoul, our afternoon of touring, a bit more on the cultural side begins with a drive by Blue House, named for the blue tiles that cover the roof. It serves as the presidential home, much like the White House in Washington, D.C. Set in an old Joseon Dynasty royal garden, the Blue House sits with Mount Bugaksan as its backdrop in a spot deemed auspicious. Built in the traditional Korean architectural style, the Blue House has more than 150,000 tiles on its roof, each formed and baked individually and thought to be strong enough to last for centuries. From here we will be visiting Gyeongbokgung Palace, nearby to Blue House and probably Korea s most famous royal palace. Like a phoenix, Seoul s premier palace has risen several times from the ashes of destruction. Tourists have replaced the thousands of government officials, scholars, eunuchs, concubines, soldiers, and servants who once lived there. Originally built by King Taejo, the founder of the Joseon dynasty, Gyeongbokgung served as the principal palace until 1592, when it was burnt down during the Japanese invasions. It lay in ruins for nearly 300 years until Heungseon Daewongun, regent and father of King Gojong, started to rebuild it in King Gojong moved in during 1868, but the expensive rebuilding project virtually bankrupted the government. Altogether the palace consisted of 330 buildings and had up to 3000 staff, including 140 eunuchs, all serving the royal family. During Japanese colonial rule, most of the palace was again destroyed much of what you see today are accurate recent reconstructions. From here we will enjoy the opportunity to take part in the reenactment of the Changing of the Royal Guard Ceremony, which takes place in front of Daehanmun, the main gate of Deoksugung Palace. Introduced in 1996, it is similar in tradition to the Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace and offers a rare opportunity to experience royal culture. Blue House Gyeongbokgung Palace Our last stop on tour, Cheonggyecheon Stream and Plaza, a public square in central Seoul that commemorates the restoration of this stream which was once an elevated highway. Restored in 2005, Cheonggyecheon is a cool respite from Seoul s summer heat. It is one of the best places to go for a spring or summer stroll. On weekends from April to November, the plaza hosts events for the Cheonggyecheon Cultural Festival. We may be in luck!

10 Cheonggyecheon Stream & Plaza Dinner is included in today s touring and will be at a local restaurant. Accommodations: Days Hotel Myeongdong Day 9 October 14 th, 2018 Sunday Seoul-Incheon (B) After breakfast, enjoy free time for last minute shopping as today is our last day here in Korea. You are steps away from some great shopping. Our meeting time at the hotel is 3:00pm as we still have some touring to do before making our way to the airport. we are off to visit the Insa-dong art and antique district which has dozens of art galleries and shops selling art supplies, antiques, and handicrafts along one main street and many side alleys. It also contains many traditional tea and coffee shops. On weekends, the main street is closed to traffic thus allowing you to mingle leisurely. The face of Insadong changes three times a day. In the early morning, it is a quiet and peaceful street, in the afternoon it becomes busy with tourists and at night Insadong is a place where people, Korean and foreigners alike enjoy taking a stroll and simply hanging out. This is a great spot to enjoy afternoon tea and a rice cake snack. Enjoy free time here to explore. Insadong Antique Street

11 Please meet back at the designated spot by 5:30pm as we are off to the Incheon Airport. After checking in you will have time to do some last-minute duty-free shopping once again or enjoy a meal before the flight. Hawaiian Airlines #460 Departs Incheon 10:00 pm Arrive Honolulu 11:45 am