KOREA LOTUS LANTERN FESTIVAL TOUR May 3 rd May 14 th 2018 (12 Days and 10 Nights)

Transcription

1 KOREA LOTUS LANTERN FESTIVAL TOUR May 3 rd May 14 th 2018 (12 Days and 10 Nights) Thu May 3 Day 1 DEPARTURE Day HONOLULU INCHEON 9:00 AM Meet outside the Asiana Airlines check-in counters (lobby #8) at the Honolulu International Airport. 11:50 AM Depart Honolulu for Seoul Korea on Asiana Airlines #231. Lunch and Dinner served on the flight. Fri May 4 Day 2 ARRIVAL Day SEOUL 5:10 PM Arrive at Incheon International Airport and proceed through immigration procedures. Claim your baggage and go through customs inspections. Exit baggage claim area and wait for your Tour Guide. PM Transfer to Seoul and check in hotel. Our hotel is connected to Lotte Mall Gimpo, Korea s largest lifestyle shopping complex, with shops, hotel, entertainment facilities, and theme park all in one place. It has 5 basement floors and 9 above-ground stories built on a large 195,000 square meter field. The complex is surrounded by a natural ecological park named Sky Park. Dinner on your own at Lotte Mall Gimpo. Lotte City Gimpo or similar Sat May 5 Day 3 SEOUL B, L AM Korean Folk Village: Korean Folk Village is a living museum. There are numerous replicas of traditional houses of the different social classes (peasant, landowner, yangban) and the various regions. The park also has a traditional street market, restaurants, and showcases of traditional woodworking and metalworking techniques. Time permitting we will be able to see some traditional Korean Revised: November 3, 2017 Page 1

2 entertainment. There is a place here where you can take a picture dressed in traditional Korean Hanbok clothing (separate fee required). PM Lunch at local restaurant PM Gyeongbokgung Palace: Here we may see the royal changing of guard ceremony if time permits. Built in 1395 and commonly referred to as the Northern Palace because it is the furthest north when compared to the neighboring palaces of Changdeokgung (Eastern Palace) and Gyeongheegung (Western Palace). The premises were destroyed by fire at the time of Japanese occupation from However, all of the palace's 7,700 rooms were later restored during the reign of King Gojong (1852~1919). PM Nat ional Folk Museum : located inside Gyeongbokgung Palace, the National Folk Museum of Korea presents over 4,000 historical artifacts that were used in the daily lives of ordinary Korean people. Here you can fully immerse yourselves in previous domestic and agricultural lifestyles, and learn about Korea s cultural beliefs. PM Return to the hotel. Dinner on your own. Lotte City Gimpo or similar (pack your bags for morning check-out) Sun May 6 Day 4 SEOUL JEJU ISLAND B, D Check out for transfer to Jeju Island. AM Transfer to Gimpo International Airport. 8:10 AM Depart for Jeju Island by Asiana Airlines #8961 9:20 AM Arrive at Jeju International Airport. AM Mysterious Road: Dokebi Road also called Mysterious or Ghost Road is a road in Jeju where cars roll uphill with the engine turned off. PM Shopping and lunch on your own in downtown Jeju. Jungang Underground Shopping Center (Jeju s largest underground shopping mall), Jeju Dongmun Traditional Market, Chilsung-ro - the No.1 Fashion Street of Jeju, and more! PM Jeju Folk Museum: All the exhibit items are real items that were used by people in the past. The first floor has a special exhibition room, and second and third floors have permanent exhibitions. The museum preserves about 10,000 artifacts, with about 3,000 actually on display, such as folk instruments made of bamboo, dry rice-straws, and rocks. You can also see tools and clothes used by Jeju Island s female sea divers and the maetdol (millstone) they used. PM Dinner at local restaurant, PM Cookin' Nanta show. Nanta is a South Korean non-verbal comedy show with traditional samul nori rhythms. PM Return to hotel. Our hotel was the location for many of the scenes in the popular Korean drama All In. Revised: November 3, 2017 Page 2

3 Lotte Hotel Jeju or similar Mon May 7 Day 5 JEJU ISLAND B, L, D AM Stop by Jusangjeolli. The Jusangjeolli are stone pillars piled up along the coast. The area is designated as a cultural monument of Jejudo Island. The Jusangjeolli was formed when the lava from Mt.Hallasan erupted into the sea of Jungmun, forming rock pillars shaped like cubes or hexagons of various sizes that almost seem as if they have been carved out by stonemasons. AM Trick Art Museum: The exhibitions of optical illusion art on the walls and floors of this museum are rendered in three dimensions allowing you to step right into the photo! PM Lunch at local restaurant PM Aqua Planet Jeju: This new aquarium is the largest in all of Asia, overtaking the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium in Japan. There are over 48,000 animals in the Aquarium and over 500 different kinds of species. Time permitting we will see the aquarium s synchronized swimming show. PM Seopjikoji: jutting out at the eastern seashore of Jeju Island is one of the most scenic views on the island, with bright yellow canola and Seongsan Sunrise Peak as a backdrop. Seopjikoji has become a movie and drama location hotspot with Gingko Bed 2, The Uprising of Lee Jae Su, Thousand Day Night, and All In. PM Return to the hotel. PM Dinner at local restaurant. Lotte Hotel Jeju or similar (pack your bags for morning check-out) Tue May 8 Day 6 JEJU BUSAN B, L AM Buffet breakfast at hotel and check out for transfer to Busan. AM Depart for airport. 9:15 AM Depart for Busan on Asiana Airlines # :10 AM Arrive at Gimhae International Airport. PM Lunch at local restaurant. PM Jagalchi Fish Market: the Jagalchi Market is Korea's largest seafood market. Most of the people who sell fish are women, so the women who sell here are called 'Jagalchi Ajumma,' 'ajumma' meaning middleaged or married women. If you visit you can eat fresh raw fish right at the market. Even these Days you can see women selling mackerel, sea squirts (ascidians) and whale meat on wooden boxes along the road. PM BIFF Square: Busan s modern 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 Revised: November 3, 2017 Page 3

4 renovations took place ahead of the first Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) in 1996, and the newly transformed district was named BIFF Square on August 14, PM Busan Gukje Market: Originally formed by Korean War refugees, this downtown market has grown into Busan's largest. Here you can find the best wholesale prices for clothing, silk, linen, curtains, bags, glasses, and many imported items. Similar to Namdaemun Market in Seoul, the stores are small and the vendor-filled alleys are narrow. PM Samgwangsa Temple: an absolute must see, especially leading up to Buddha s birthday. To celebrate Buddha s birthday thousands of brightly colored lanterns are strung up all across Busan. These lanterns symbolize the celebration of Buddha s birth, many in the shape of lotus flowers, one of Buddhism s recognized motifs. The Samgwangsa Temple Lantern Festival is featured on CNN s list of 50 Most Beautiful Places to Visit in Korea. PM Check into hotel, dinner on your own. Lotte Hotel Busan or similar Wed May 9 Day 7 BUSAN GYEONGJU B, L, D AM Transfer to Gyeongju, the old capitol of Korea. AM Gyeongju National Museum : this museum over 80,000 relics from the Shilla period, of which 2,500 are on display at any one time. In front of the main building stands the bronze Divine Bell of King Seongdeok which stands over 3 meters high and weighs over 25 tons, making it Asia's largest. The bell is commonly known as the Emile Bell, a name derived from an ancient Shilla term, pronounced em-ee-leh, which means "mommy." According to legend, the bell would not ring when it was first cast, so it was melted down to be recast. The head priest of a temple threw a small child into the molten metal, saying he was told to do so by a vision. When the bell was recast and struck, it sounded like the baby's cries of em-ee-leh when the child was sacrificed. AM Tumuli Park & Cheonmachong (Heavenly Horse Tomb): large ancient tombs of kings and noblemen of the Shilla Dynasty can be seen here at the Daereungwon Tomb. There are twenty-three large tombs located here; the most famous being Cheonmachong and Hwangnamdaechong. In an excavation of the area in the 1970's a painting of mounted horse was discovered in Cheonmachong. This painting is the only discovered painting from the Shilla Era. You can also view the inside of Cheonmachong, where 11,526 remains and crowns of the king inside the tomb demonstrate the lavish lifestyle of the king. Hwangnamdaechong, which is the largest ancient tomb, houses the bodies of both the king and queen and has over 30 Revised: November 3, 2017 Page 4

5 thousand relics and gold accessories. PM Lunch at local restaurant PM G yeongju Folk Craft Village : Between Bomun Lake Resort and Bulguksa Temple are 45 traditional houses where people produce earthen burial figures, wooden and stone pottery, handicraft, jewelry, and embroidery. You can watch the artisans at work at any of the 18 workshops or view their work at an exhibition hall for viewing and purchasing handicrafts. PM Dinner at local restaurant. PM Check into our lake-front hotel. Take a walk around the shores of Bomun Lake, which was selected as a 'must-see beautiful place in Korea' by CNN Go. Gyeongju Hilton Hotel or similar (pack your bags for morning check-out) Thu May 10 Day 8 GYEONGJU EUISEONG ANDONG MT. SEORAK B, L, D AM Buffet breakfast at hotel and check out for transfer to Euiseong. AM Transfer to Euiseong and Apple Wine farm. AM Applease Apple Wine Factory and Apple Farm : Korea Applease employees grow apples and create natural wines. Experience the wine-making process as you make your own personalized bottle of wine to take home to Hawaii and then try a taste of fresh apple pancake. PM Transfer to Andong. PM Lunch at local restaurant. PM Hahoe Folk Village: for those yearning to see what Korea looked like before skyscrapers and buses, spend a Day at Hahoe Folk Village, about 25 km east of Andong. Although the residents have telephones, electricity, and probably even cable TV, for the most part they have preserved the traditions handed down through generations and kept the village in the same state as it was several hundred years ago. PM Transfer to Mt. Seorak. Seorak National Par k is Korea's most popular national park. Seorak-san's craggy peaks are often shrouded in mist, creating a "sea of clouds" effect seen in many pictures of the area. The park also contains many waterfalls, pine and hardwood trees, and several famous temples. PM Dinner at local restaurant PM Check in to hotel. Lotte Resort Sokcho or similar (pack your bags for morning check-out) Fri May 11 Day 9 MT.SEORAK NAMI ISLAND SEOUL B, L, D AM Buffet breakfast at hotel and check out for transfer to Seoul. AM Kwongeumseong Fortress: located 860m above sea level by cable Revised: November 3, 2017 Page 5

6 car, this fortress is found near the south entrance of Sinheungsa Temple, located at a peak that reaches to the heavens. The fortress is named after two generals - Kwon and Kim - who were said to have erected the wall in a Day to block the Mongolian invasion (1253) during the Goryeo Dynasty. Seorak-san scenery seen from here is regarded to be the very best. PM Lunch at local restaurant. PM Nami Island: A short ferry ride, this tiny half-moon shaped island was formed as it was inundated by the rising water of the North Han River as the result of the construction of Cheongpyeong Dam in Its name originated from General Nami who died at the age of 28 after being falsely accused of treason during the reign of King Sejo, the seventh king of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. Although his grave wasn't discovered, there were a pile of stones where his body was supposed to be buried. It was believed that if someone took even one stone from there, it would bring misfortune to their house. It is wellknown for the 2002 TV drama Winter Sonata, and is a favorite spot for viewing the fall foliage. PM Transfer to Seoul and k imchi making - learn more about Korean traditional food culture while making your own kimchi! PM Dinner at local restaurant, then check in to hotel, located at Seoul s main Myeongdong shopping district and attached to the Lotte Seoul Department store. It is also convenient to the Insadong shopping street and the Lotus Lantern Festival activities. Lotte Hotel Seoul or similar Sat May 12 Day 10 SEOUL DMZ SEOUL LANTERN FESTIVAL B AM DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) : Korea is the only divided country in the world. After the Korean War (June July ), South Korea and North Korea established a border that cut the Korean peninsula roughly in half. Stretching for 2km on either side of this border is the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), the most heavily armed border in the world. Imjingak Park: located 7 km from the Military Demarcation Line, the three-story Imjingak building was built in 1972 with the hope that someday unification would be possible. It is surrounded by several monuments, Unification Park and North Korea Center. 400 kinds of photos and documents showing the stark reality of North Korea are displayed in the North Korea Center of Unification Board. Outside Imjingak, there are 12 kinds of tanks and crafts on display that were used during the Korean Conflict. 3 rd Infiltration Tunnel: only 44 kilometers from Seoul (less than an hour's drive), the third tunnel was discovered in October Almost Revised: November 3, 2017 Page 6

7 identical in structure to Tunnel 2, the kilometer-long tunnel is 1.95 meters high and 2.1 meters wide. It penetrates 435 meters south of the Military Demarcation Line at a point 4 kilometers south of Panmunjeom, running through bedrock at a depth of about 73 meters below ground. Capable of moving a full division (plus their weapons) per hour, it was evidently designed for a surprise attack on Seoul. This tunnel is only 2 kilometers from a key outpost defending the Munsan corridor leading to Seoul. Dora Observatory: You can view a part of North Korean life from this observation platform, the nearest point to North Korea from South Korea. PM Lunch on your own at Dongdaemun Market: located near its namesake of Dongdaemun (Great East Gate). Dongdaemun Market, Korea's largest wholesale and retail shopping district has 26 shopping malls, 30,000 specialty shops, and 50,000 manufacturers. Within the ten blocks of the market area, you can find silks, clothes, shoes, sporting goods, plumbing and electrical supplies, electronics, office supplies, toys and just about everything else imaginable. PM Lotus Lantern Festival Parade: the highlight of the Lotus Lantern Festival, the parade starts at Dongdaemun Gate, runs through Jongno and ends at Jogyesa Temple. It lasts for about two hours and thirty minutes. Crowds carrying tens of thousands of specially made, brightly lit lanterns in the shape of dragons, pagodas, white elephants, and lotus flowers parade down the street to the tune of Korean classical music. We have specially reserved seats for this event. PM Dinner on your own. Lotte Hotel Seoul or similar Sun May 13 Day 11 SEOUL (FREE Day) B Free and Easy free time for shopping, eating and exploring Seoul. Lunch and dinner on your own. There will be Lotus Lantern Festival related activities, free street concerts and cultural events on the streets in front of Jogyesa Temple (a short walk from our hotel) and down Insadong Cultural Street (around the corner from Jogyesa Temple), a famous shopping street known for Korean crafts, pottery and antiques. Lotte Hotel Seoul or similar (pack your bags for morning check-out) Mon May 14 Day 12 SEOUL - DEPARTURE Day B AM Check out of hotel. PM We ll stop for lunch on your own at the MBC Mall. PM MBC World Theme Park: Major Korean broadcaster MBC opened the Revised: November 3, 2017 Page 7

8 nation s first hallyu theme park. The park is complet with hologram K- pop concerts, virtual reality drama sets and more. The theme park s main attractions include experience zones where visitors can also experience being on stage with K-pop stars in holographic form and learn dance moves from them or become a main character in their favorite K-dramas. PM Stop by market on the way to the airport for last minute shopping. PM Transfer to Incheon International Airport for departure to Honolulu. 5:20 PM Check in at airport. 8:20 PM Depart Seoul for Honolulu on Asiana Airlines #232 PM Dinner served on the flight. Mon May 14 Day 12 HONOLULU - ARRIVAL Day AM Breakfast served on the flight. 10:10 AM Arrive at Honolulu International Airport. After immigration inspection pick-up your luggage and proceed to customs. WELCOME HOME! Meal Guide: B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner Revised: November 3, 2017 Page 8

9 Lotte City Hotel Gimpo ( ) 38 Haneul-gil, Gangseo-gu, Seoul Lotte Hotel Jeju ( ) 35, Jungmun Tourist Road No. 72, Seogwipo, Jeju Lotte Hotel Busan ( ) 772, Gaya-daero, Busanjin-gu, Busan Gyeongju Hilton Hotel ( Gyeongju-Hilton/index.do ) 370, Shinpyung-dong, Gyeongju Lotte Resort Sokcho ( ) 908-1, Daepo-dong, Sokcho, South Korea Lotte Hotel Seoul ( ) 30, Eulji-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul HOTEL INFORMATION +82 (2) May 4 th and 5 th +82 (64) May 6 th and 7 th +82 (51) May 8 th +82 (54) May 9 th +82 (2) May 10 th +82 (2) May 11 th, 12 th & 13 th Revised: November 3, 2017 Page 9

10 Double: $3, (Land only*: $2,925.00) Tax and Fuel surcharge included Per person based on double occupancy TOUR PRICE Single: $4, (Land only*: $3,855.00) Tax and Fuel surcharge included Per person based on single occupancy Fuel surcharges and taxes are based on July 2017 airfare. Fluctuations in airfare, fuel surcharges and taxes may cause changes to price without notice. Land only price includes Korea domestic airfare - does not include international airfare or airport transfers. Travel protection is recommended see the travel protection information flier for information about our recommended travel protection plan. Payment and Registration: ITINERARY AND PRICING ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. Deadline to register for this tour: Friday, February 9 th Prices are based on a minimum of 16 full-tour participants. Maximum of 28 full-tour participants. $ per person deposit (cash or check only), fully refundable until October 29 th 2017, is required upon application to hold a reservation. Final Payment is due by Friday, February 23 rd Final payment for land tour can be made by cash or check only. Payment for air ticket only can be made by cash, check or major credit card (*no third party credit cards). Space is limited FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED. Call Naka s Travel Service at to make reservations. Travel Requirements: Passports are required for travel. Passports must be valid for 6 months beyond travel dates with at least one blank page for an entry stamp. Valid alien card required for non-us citizens. No visas required for USA passport holders. No immunizations are required for travel, but please consult with your physician concerning what is appropriate for your individual health conditions. Revised: November 3, 2017 Page 10