2008 SPRINGTIME IN KOREA

Sunday, March 30 (Day 01)
HONOLULU TO SEOUL(D)
Our tour commences this morning when we assemble at the Korean Airlines lobby at the airport for baggage check-in procedures. We will depart Honolulu on Korean Airlines on a direct flight to Seoul. A meal will be served on board the flight.

Monday, March 31 (Day 02)
ARRIVE SEOUL (D)(D)
We’ll arrive at the Incheon International Airport in the late afternoon and after completing entry and customs formalities, transfer to our hotel in Seoul - the capital city of Korea to spend the next two nights. Dinner will be provided for you.

Accommodations at Hotel Lotte World or similar

Tuesday, April 1 (Day 03)
SEOUL (B)(L)(D)(D)
Enjoy a full day of sightseeing of the city of Seoul, visiting Gyeongbokgung Palace - the most comprehensive and grandest of the five palaces of the Joseon Dynasty and the National Folk Museum of Korea - the only national museum on folklore with items on display on the traditional way of life. Standing high on Mt. Namsan in the heart of Seoul is N Seoul Tower, the symbol of Seoul and the city’s most recognizable landmark. We’ll take a cable car to the top of the tower, providing a breathtaking view of the city from the observation deck. A scene in the encore Korean drama “Beautiful Days” was filmed in the pavilion located adjacent to the tower. At the Korean Traditional Culture Experience Center, we’ll learn about customary Korean etiquette, observe the art of making kim chi - including making some on your own, and experience wearing the hanbok - the traditional Korean style costume.

Accommodations at Hotel Lotte World or similar

Wednesday, April 2 (Day 04)
SEOUL - JEJU ISLAND (B)(L)(D)(D)
This morning we’ll transfer to the Gimpo Airport for a morning flight to Jeju-do, Korea’s largest island off the south coast. On arrival, we’ll embark on a brief sightseeing tour of this semi-tropical paradise - often called “samdado”, the island of three abundances: rocks, wind, and women. Two of the island’s symbols are the “dolharubang” (stone grandfather) - a black lava statue of a kindly old man and “haenyeo” - the island’s women divers who search for abalone, shellfish and sea urchins. We’ll make a photo stop at Yongduam Rock - an unusual lava formation shaped like a dragon’s head and is noted as a famous Jeju Island landmark. At the elegant Lotte Hotel, we’ll take a stroll through the gardens, providing a romantic atmosphere of Dutch windmills overlooking a lakeside cliff - a scene used in the popular Korean drama “All In”. Take a photo on the famous bench that was also used to film a scene in this popular drama series. Enjoy a stroll through Bunjae Artpia, the only park in Korea specializing in potted plant and bonsai cultivation and is known to be the largest of its kind in the world with over 1,000 plants. We will be spending two nights on the island.

Accommodations at Ramada Plaza Jeju or similar

Thursday, April 3 (Day 05)
JEJU ISLAND (B)(L)(D)(D)
On the rocky shores of Jeju Island’s beautiful beaches, we’ll visit “Seobjikoji”, a picturesque view overlooking the Pacific with a romantic atmosphere. Scenes of the popular Korean drama “All In” was filmed here, including the famous “All In” house located on the hillside with photos and memorabilia of the famous actor, Lee Byung Hun who starred in the film. At the Seongup Folk Village, you’ll have an opportunity to see some of the friendly island villagers who still live in Jeju-style thatched-roof houses with stone and clay walls. Unique characteristics found here include folk songs, traditional foods, crafts and a souvenir shop selling an assortment of traditional Korean products.

Accommodations at Ramada Plaza Jeju or similar

Friday, April 4 (Day 06)
JEJU ISLAND - JINHAE - BUSAN (B)(L)(D)(D)
This morning, we’ll transfer to the airport for our flight to Busan, a beautiful port city blessed with great geographical advantages: the sea to its south and east, the river to its west and the mountains soaring in the city like beautiful twin towers. On arrival, we’ll proceed to Jinhae, a well-known port famous for its gorgeous cherry blossoms. Weather permitting, every street is lined with blooming cherry trees and a festival is held there annually to enjoy the arrival of Spring. We’ll return to the city of Busan to spend the night. Before checking in, we will make a stop at the Jagalchi Fish Market, the largest fish market in Southeast Asia to shop for some local specialties at discounted prices.

Accommodations at Grand Hotel Busan or similar

Saturday, April 5 (Day 07)
BUSAN - GYEONGJU - DAEGU (B)(L)(D)(D)
Our journey continues north to Gyeongju, once the capital of the Silla Kingdom. Now boasting glorious historical and cultural remains, the city is known as the “museum without walls”. Enjoy a tour of Tumuli Park with a collection of royal Silla tombs, including the most famous “Cheonmachong” (Flying Horse Tomb). One of the tombs is open for viewing and we will have an opportunity to see how these huge tombs were built and how items were arranged in them. At the Gyeongju National Museum, see displays of numerous precious relics of the Silla heritage, including magnificent gold crowns, potter and Buddhist artifacts. Within the garden is another famous symbol of the Silla people’s artistic and religious spirit, the Divine Bell of King Seongdeok. We’ll continue on to spend the night in Daegu.

Accommodations at Grand Hotel Daegu or similar

Sunday, April 6 (Day 08)
DAEGU - JEONJU - DAEJEON (B)(L)(D)(D)
We’ll travel west to the cultural city of Jeonju, noted for the traditional mulberry paper called hanji - used in calligraphy and also to make umbrellas, fans and other items. We’ll visit the Pan Asia Paper Museum, the only museum in Korea devoted to the history, development, use, and culture of paper. We’ll see a demonstration on the procedure of traditional paper making and craftsmanship and also have the opportunity to participate in the paper making process. Jeonju is also well-known for its culinary dish, “bibimbap”, (a bowl of rice mixed with meat and vegetables) and there is an old saying “don’t leave Jeonju without tasting it”. We will continue on to spend the night in Daejeon.

Accommodations at Yoo Sung Hotel or similar

Monday, April 7 (Day 09)
DAEJEON - SEOUL (B)(L)(D)(D)
This morning we’ll travel north to Chungcheongbuk-do - visiting the Sangsu Herb Land, the largest herb farm in Korea where you can see, feel, and taste everything about herbs. The farm is divided into a greenhouse and an outdoor garden composed of separate areas - each one specializing in a particular herb, such as rosemary, thyme, and etc. A unique but delightful dish - Flower Rice Pot (rice garnished with flowers and herbs) will be served for our lunch. Enjoy a visit to an open set of the village built for the drama series Daejanggeum (Jewel in the Palace) at the MBC Studio Theme Park in the province of Gyeonggi-do. Relive the memories of this historical drama with many interactive sites - such as trying on royal costumes, riding carriages, and more. The set was erected to look exactly like Chosun Dynasty buildings in the 15th century. You can also take pictures beside life size models of some of the characters in the series. We’ll continue on to the exciting city of Seoul to spend the next three nights. En route, we’ll visit the Korean Folk Village, an open-air folk museum where the customs and lifestyles of past generations have been preserved. Observe various artisans practice their handicraft skills in pottery, basket & bamboo weaving and many other traditional arts. At the marketplace within the village, experience some of the exotic flavors of Korean food from various regions.

Accommodations at Seoul Hotel Lotte or similar

Tuesday, April 8 (Day 10)
SEOUL (B)(L)(D)(D)
This morning, we’ll travel to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) - one of the most fascinating places in the world. We’ll visit The 3rd Tunnel - dug in 1978 by North Korea to infiltrate South Korean territory and Dora Observatory - the only place in South Korea where visitors have a clear view of Gaeseong, the second largest city if North Korea. Through telescopic lenses, you can observe North Korean farmers going about their daily routines. We’ll visit Imjingak Park - a park built to console the refugees who left North Korea during the Korean War - including Mangbaedan - an alter set up for refugees so they could bow in the direction of their ancestral graveyards, and Freedom Bridge - a bridge used by prisoners of war to cross over to freedom in the South. This afternoon we’ll visit the Suwon “KBS” Drama Center, the famous television and movie filming center. Many scenes of the popular soap operas and historical drama series were filmed here at this production center with indoor and outdoor sets. A popular setting used to film a scene in “Wife” can be seen as you walk through the streets of the outdoor village.

Accommodations at Seoul Hotel Lotte or similar

Wednesday, April 9 (Day 11)
SEOUL (B)(L)(D)(D)
Enjoy a full day of shopping at some of the most popular shopping districts in Seoul. Namdaemun Market is the nation’s largest wholesale center and popular among local residents to shop for merchandise at discounted prices. Located nearby our hotel is Myeong-dong, a first rate shopping and entertainment area and many of the city’s top stores line the street here with foreign brand-name products. Enjoy shopping at Itaewon, a popular spot for bargain hunters. Known as a shopper’s paradise, the main street is lined with stores and sidewalk stalls offering a wide variety of merchandise at a fraction of the normal price. Have fun bargaining with the local vendors for the best prices here.

Accommodations at Seoul Hotel Lotte or similar

Thursday, April 10 (Day 12)
SEOUL - HONOLULU (B)(D)
After enjoying breakfast, the day is at your leisure to relax or do more shopping around the hotel until our departure to the airport. We will transfer in the afternoon to the Incheon International Airport for our evening flight home to Honolulu, arriving in the morning on the same day due to the crossing of the International Dateline. A late dinner will be provided for you on board the flight.

The tour price is based on double occupancy and a minimum group size of 25 passengers. Fare adjustment may apply for groups of under 25 passengers. The rate is based on tariffs and exchange rates effective 7/01/07. Tour fare is subject to change according to any airfare increase, additional fuel surcharges, tax increases and fluctuation of the rate of exchange between U.S. and foreign currency. In the event of revaluation, the land portion of the tour price may be adjusted prior to your final statement.