Discover the exciting cities and captivating culture of South Korea as it blooms in a Cherry Blossom spring! Visit South Korea’s Cherry Blossom capital, Jinhae, tour Seoul, discover the wonders of Busan and so much more!
Begin your adventure in Seoul, South Korea’s vibrant capital. Explore the iconic Gyeongbokgung Palace, dating back to the Joseon Dynasty with over 500 years of history. Visit the traditional village of Bukchon Hanok where the winding alleys immerse you in its 600-year-old past and enjoy a traditional Korean lunch where you will try delicious dishes. From Seoul, you also have the option to take a tour of the Korean DMZ (Demilitarised Zone) to the no man’s land between North and South Korea and learn about this territory’s difficult history. Venture to Korea’s creative and foodie capital, Jeonju where you will visit the Hanji Industry Center, dedicated to Korean Traditional Mulberry paper, and learn about this ancient craft. That evening seek out one of the many impeccable dining destinations in the city at your leisure.
Next, it’s time to experience the heart of spring in South Korea - the annual Cherry Blossom Festival in Jinhae. Flush with the colour of 340,000 cherry blossom trees, the city comes alive with visitors who come to witness its beauty. Afterwards, visit Gamcheon Culture Village in Busan, formed by houses built in staircase fashion on the foothills of a coastal mountain, earning it the nickname "Machu Picchu of Busan". Continue onwards to the Jagalchi Fish Market, the largest fish market in Korea and a popular “must-go” site for visitors to Busan. Enjoy a day at leisure or take an optional city tour of Busan’s highlights that include a visit to the artist’s enclave, Huinnyeoul Culture Village; Songdo Beach; Dongbaek Island and so much more. Travel back to Seoul on the KTX Bullet Train, for a seamless and convenient journey, reaching speeds of up to 320 km/hr.
Discover South Korea in bloom with return international full-service flights, 7 nights of centrally-located 3 to 4-star accommodation, daily breakfast and more.
Please note:
• The Cherry Blossom can be difficult to predict. Every year is different and there are variations across the country. What’s more, there are multiple sakura varieties, each coming into flower at a slightly different time and lasting for a different period (most stay for around two weeks). Therefore we cannot guarantee the trees will be blooming in locations visited on this itinerary.
• The Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival usually runs for 10 days, with the schedule announced close to when the bloom is more predictable. In 2023, it operated from the 25th of March to the 5th of April, and in 2024 it is rumoured to begin on the 18th of March. The 2025 dates will not be released until early 2025. If the departure date you travel on misses out on the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival, you will still visit the city to enjoy the sightseeing and hundreds of thousands of cherry blossom trees on display.
Today depart for Seoul, South Korea. Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Welcome to Seoul, South Korea's buzzing capital, but don’t worry you’ll have plenty of time to rest and refresh from your flight.
Your accommodation is in Insa-dong, located in the heart of the city, and one of the cultural and artistic hubs of Seoul. There is one main road in Insa-dong with alleys on each side. Within these alleys are galleries, traditional restaurants, teahouses, and cafes. There are about 100 galleries in the area and are the heartbeat of Insa-dong. The most famous galleries are Hakgojae Gallery, which functions as the centre of folk art, Gana Art Gallery, which promotes many promising artists, and Gana Art Centre. The teahouses and restaurants are the perfect complement to the galleries and are hidden deep within the twisting alleyways, making it feel like a treasure hunt.
Please note: Flights departing Adelaide may depart day 0 and require overnight airport accommodation in Sydney (included)
Overnight: Ibis Ambassador Hotel or similar, Insa-dong, Seoul
Meals included: In-Flight
This morning we will begin our Seoul City tour at the beautiful Gyeongbokgung Palace to experience the life and times of the Joseon Dynasty (more than 500 years old). The romantic atmosphere of the palace is brought to life with its lined magnificent cherry trees.
Afterwards, visit the National Folk Museum to learn about Korea’s unique culture and history before a quick stop to witness the Traditional Royal Guard Changing Ceremony and the Presidential Blue House. Next is a traditional Korean village, Bukchon Hanok Village, in Seoul which has been preserved to show a 600-year-old urban environment. Here you will enjoy a guided walk and marvel at the beautiful traditional homes. After visiting the Hanok village, you will enjoy a traditional Korean lunch where you will have the opportunity to try many dishes (vegetarian and vegan options available).
Afterwards, head to Namdaemun Local Market, the largest and oldest wholesale market in Korea, where you can find practically everything at affordable prices. Return to your accommodation this afternoon where you can enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.
Please note: If the Seoul City Tour falls on a Tuesday, this city tour will be swapped with the Free Day on Day 3 due to Gyeongbokgung Palace being closed on Tuesdays.
Overnight: Ibis Ambassador Hotel or similar, Insa-dong, Seoul
Meals included: Breakfast; Lunch
Today is a free day to explore the amazing city of Seoul at leisure or take part in an optional tour (not included).
Optional Tour - Korean DMZ (Demilitarised Zone) Tour - $160 per person
Nowhere is the tension between North and South Korea more palpable than in the no-man’s-land known as the Korean Demilitarized Zone, or DMZ. Located on each side of the 38th parallel, this infamous border was established at the end of the war in 1953 at the signing of Panmunjom’s armistice in order to separate North and South Korea. This morning head north towards the North Korean border.
Upon arrival at the DMZ, you will proceed through passport security control and enjoy a short introduction at the United Nations camp. Afterwards visit Dora Observatory which is on the South Korean side of the 38th parallel. Situated on top of Dorasan in Paju, the observatory provides scenic views across the Demilitarized Zone; visitors can see the North Korean territory from the observatory. Afterwards continue onwards to Dorasan railway station which used to connect North Korea and South Korea and has since been restored.
Afterwards discover Imjingak Park with the Memorial, the Liberty Bridge, and the bell of unification. Finish the tour with a visit to the Third Tunnel of Aggression, which is one of four known tunnels under the border between North Korea and South Korea and has been dug into the rock at a depth of 73m and able to accommodate a full army division with their weapons.
Finish the day back in Seoul where you will enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.
Please note: If the Seoul City Tour falls on a Tuesday, this free day will be swapped with the City Tour on Day 2 due to Gyeongbokgung Palace being closed on Tuesdays.
Overnight: Ibis Ambassador Hotel or similar, Insa-dong, Seoul
Meals included: Breakfast
This morning we will visit Yunjung-no road - one of the most popular cherry blossom streets in Yeouido, Seoul - with its 1.7km long cherry blossom tunnel.
From Seoul, we head to the celebrated village of Jeonju, famous for its Korean food and traditional buildings.
In May 2012, Jeonju was chosen as a Creative City for Gastronomy as part of UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network. This honour recognises the city’s traditional home cooking handed down through generations, its active public and private food research, its system for nurturing talented chefs, and its hosting of local food festivals.
First up we visit Hanji Industry Center (Korean Traditional Mulberry paper). As Korea’s first center specialising in paper, it has an extensive collection of 3,000 artefacts and a database documenting the long history and superiority of Hanji (Korean paper). You also get DIY experience to make Korean paper with wooden tools and take home as a souvenir.
Afterwards, enjoy a stop at Wansan Park to admire the Cherry blossom then continue onwards to Jeonju Hanok Village, the largest Korean Village, with various traditional cultural facilities in the downtown area. Finish at your centrally-located hotel where you can enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.
Overnight: Best Western Plus Jeonju Hotel or similar, Jeonju
Meals included: Breakfast
This morning check-out and transfer to the city of Jinhae, famous for its annual Cherry Blossom Festival and the only place in the world where visitors can find more than 340,000 cherry blossoms in one city. The neighbourhood turns white and pale pink during the annual cherry blossom festival period with the gentle breeze blowing about the petal snowflakes.
Afterward, visit Gamcheon Culture Village in Busan, formed by houses built in staircase fashion on the foothills of a coastal mountain, earning this village the nickname "Machu Picchu of Busan". Continue onwards to the Jagalchi Fish Market, the largest fish market in Korea and a popular “must-go” site for visitors in Busan. Finish the day at your centrally-located hotel where you can enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.
Please note: The Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival usually runs for 10 days and the schedule is announced close to the date when the bloom is more predictable. In 2023, it operated from 25th of March to the 5th of April, and in 2024 it is rumoured to begin on the 18th of March. The 2025 dates will not be released until early 2025. If the departure date you travel on misses out on the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival, you will still visit the city to enjoy the sightseeing and hundreds of thousand cherry blossom trees on display.
Overnight: Asti Hotel or similar, Busan
Meals included: Breakfast
Today is a free day at leisure to explore the beautiful city of Busan. Alternatively, you can take part in a full-day Busan city tour to visit some sights you did not see the previous day.
Optional Activity: Full-Day Busan Sightseeing tour - $160 per person (minimum of 10 travellers required to operate)
This morning you'll visit Huinnyeoul Culture Village, a charming coastal village located on the sloping cliff of Yeongdo in Busan. In December 2011, the old houses of the area were remodelled and the area was reborn as a unique culture and art village with sweeping views of Busan and the ocean.
Afterwards, visit Songdo Beach where you can board the famous cable car to the Sky Harbor Observatory Platform which offers beautiful views of the Songdo Sea and Busan. Return to Songdo Beach via the same cable car and take a short walk along the Songdo Cloud Walk which features sections of clear glass floor that creates the feeling of walking on top of the ocean.
You'll then visit the Nurimaru APEC House, built to host the 2005 APEC Summit meeting at the tip of Dongbaek Island, which stands near Haeundae Beach. This eye-catching glass building has been one of Busan’s most symbolic places ever since. Finally, you'll visit the UN Memorial Cemetery after driving over Gwangandaegyo Bridge, the longest bi-level bridge over the ocean in Korea. On the way back to the hotel, you can choose to visit Nampodong International Market which is one of Korea’s largest markets.
Please note: Travellers who visit the Nampodong International Market will need to make their own way back to the hotel (approximately 10-15 minute taxi)
Overnight: Asti Hotel or similar, Busan
Meals included: Breakfast
This morning a tour assistant will meet you at your hotel and transfer you to the nearby Busan KTX rail station for your journey back to Seoul. The KTX train (Bullet train) significantly decreased the time to travel anywhere in South Korea. Your journey will only take approximately 2 hours 30 minutes and the KTX trains operate at a speed of up to 320 km/hour.
Upon arrival in Seoul, you will be met by another tour assistant and transferred back to your hotel near Incheon Airport.
Overnight: Royal Emporium Hotel or similar, Incheon
Meals included: Breakfast
Today enjoy another free day at leisure before transferring to the airport in the evening for your flight back to Australia (or New Zealand).
Please note: Check out will be at 11:00am and you can leave your luggage at the hotel reception until you take your airport transfer in the Evening.
Meals included: Breakfast; In-Flight
Welcome home!
We hope you enjoyed your time in South Korean and look forward to having you travel with TripADeal again in the future.
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