SPECIAL INTEREST
Footsteps of Heroes (A) 10 days
Tour Highlights
- The War Memorial of Korea
- Gyeongbokgung Palace
- National Folk Museum of Korea
- Insadong
- Namdaemun Market
- The 3rd Tunnel
- Gapyeong Memorial Monument
- Taepung Observatory
- Seolmari Memorial Monument
- UN Memorial Cemetery
- Tongdosa temple
- Yangdong Village
- Seokguram Grotto
- Bulguksa temple
- Gyeongju National Museum
- Donggung Palace site
- Cheomseongdae Astronomical Observatory
- Tumuli Park
Click on the days to access the programs quick
| Days | Visits and Activities | Distance |
| Day 1 | Arrive Seoul | 60km |
| Day 2 | Seoul | |
| Day 3 | Seoul - DMZ - Seoul | 140km |
| Day 4 | Seoul - Gapyeong - Seoul | 170km |
| Day 5 | Seoul - Yeoncheon - Seolmaril - Seoul | 250km |
| Day 6 | Seoul - Busan | 450km |
| Day 7 | Busan - Yangsan - Yangdong - Gyeongju | 150km |
| Day 8 | Gyeongju | |
| Day 9 | Gyeongju - Seoul | 370km |
| Day 10 | Departure | 60km |
Day 1 Arrive Seoul (- - -)
60km
Touching down at Incheon International Airport places you in the heart of Korea. After you clear Passport and Customs control, you will be welcomed by the tour guide and then transferred to your hotel.
Day 2 Seoul (B)
Your exploration this morning begins with a driving tour of Seoul, featuring sites such as Seoul Plaza, City Hall, Cheonggye Square and pedestrian-friendly Gwanghwamun Plaza that is hemmed in on both sides by rushing traffic and office buildings. The plaza is lined on each side with 365m long streamlets, two centimeters deep and one meter across, the stone bed of the plaza's east side waterway engraved with important events in chronological order from 1392 to 2008.
Standing high on a stone pillar is a statue of Yi Sunsin who had engaged in twenty-three naval battles and emerged victorious in all of them during the Hideyoshi invasion (1592-1598). King Sejong who propagated the Korean alphabet in the 15th century is also honored with prominent statue. On August 16, 2014, Pope Francis celebrated Mass in this plaza to beatify 124 Korean martyrs. Near the southwest corner of the plaza is Korea's Kilometer Zero, marking the distances to 64 cities around the world, including Seoul's antipode, Montevideo, Uruguay, 19,606km.
Step back in time to when life was gracefully slow and discover Gyeongbokgung Palace, a particularly charming spot that represents a colorful and turbulent side of the capital's 500-year history. Depending on timing, you may witness the Royal Guard Changing Ceremony featuring parade, password verification, duty shift and patrolling the gate. Accompanied by a court band with its colorful costumes and royal flags, the ceremony is performed daily basis at 10:00 and 14:00 except Tuesdays, although it is cancelled in case of rain or extremely hot or cold weather.
Up from the gates is a spacious stone-paved courtyard that is fully enclosed by wooden cloisters, and at the center of which runs three footpaths through two rows of rank stones, indicating the positions of the officials with the highest rank being closer to the hall.
Standing majestically on top of a two-tiered stone platform that is lined with detailed balustrades is Geunjeongjeon Hall, where the king formally granted audiences to his officials, gave declarations of national importance, presided over large official functions, and greeted foreign envoys and ambassadors. Check out the royal throne and a large painting, depicting sun, moon, five peaks, streams and pine trees, which was the crucial signifier of the king. And up in the center of the ceiling, the bright golden dragons in bold relief indicate the presence of the king.
At the back of the throne hall is a group of court offices. Displayed in front of the King's official quarters is sundial, conceived in order to catch the shadow of the sun, which tells time and 24 periods of seasonal change from the winter solstice to the summer solstice.
Sitting on the island in the rectangular lake is Gyeonghoeru. Supported by 48 square and cylindrical massive stone pillars representing the idea of Yin and Yang, this magnificent pavilion was used for many purposes ranging from receptions to national examinations.
Gangnyeongjeon is the king's sleeping and living quarters while Gyotaejeon is the queen's domain containing a number of halls. The noted feature of these main buildings is an absence of a top roof ridge.
Amisan Garden, landscaped with four hexagonal chimneys in orange bricks, is seldom noticed by the hurried visitors. Jagyeongjeon is the queen dowager's residence. Although less colorful, it is worth noting the wall, adorned with floral designs and the chimneys with ten longevity symbols.
Hyangwonjeong features a small pond with a manmade islet that supports a beautiful two-story pavilion. Behind this serene garden is Geoncheonggung, where the king and queen could relax in peace and quiet. It was here that the first electric lights in the country were installed in 1887 after 8 years of Thomas Edison's invention and a tragic chapter in Korea's history was recorded when empress Myeongseong was assassinated by the sword-bearing Japanese assassins in the early morning of 8 October 1895, allegedly under orders from Miura Goro.
Your visit to the National Folk Museum of Korea will familiarize you with wealthy culture of this friendly and picturesque nation. It is an excellent facility to illustrate the history of traditional life of the Korean people from the prehistoric age to the Joseon dynasty. The permanent exhibition features life and work, costumes and ornaments, handicrafts and technology, educations, living quarters, dietary life, oriental medicine, performing arts and games, beliefs and rituals, and
socio cultural life.
Insadong, at one time the center of traditional Korean art and antiques, features a mixture of historical and modern atmosphere representing the cultural glimpse of the nation. Clustered along the main street and alleys are lined with street vendors, wooden tea houses, restaurants and numerous galleries and shops dealing in antiques, oriental art supplies, and modern Korean art of all types and styles. Soak in the paintings, upscale artworks, antiques and potteries while you can. Get lucky and you just might meet the artist themselves. It can be plenty of fun walking on the main street, but you venture into the hidden alleys that do spring some unexpected surprises. While here, you may want to buy some souvenirs or simply wander and browse at leisure admiring cultural ambience.
Drive past Cheonggyecheon Stream. After the Korean War (1950-1953), more people migrated into Seoul to make their living and settled down along the stream in shabby makeshift houses. The accompanying trash and waste, and deteriorating conditions resulted in an eyesore for the city. The stream was covered with layers of concrete in the mid 1950s and roadway until the massive urban renewal project freed it in 2005. Today, a 5.8km creek tumbles gently through downtown Seoul, providing a much needed source of peace and relaxation for the citizens of this fast-paced city. You may have a chance to view the sculpture standing tall at the head of the stream on a small plaza. Created by Dutch artist Coosje Van Bruggen and Swedish artist Claes Oldenburg, a shell rising upward like pagoda symbolizes new life.
You will tour the centuries-old Namdaemun Market brimming with well over 11,000 shops selling anything you can imagine. One of the most colorful aspects of the market is an endless sprawl of street-vendor stalls that setup in the alleys and walkways between the buildings. The market is seriously crowded, so be prepared to get bumped around. A fantastic place to haggle over the price to get the best deal on something you want or simply admire the vibrancy of this massive market.
At the western entrance of the market in the middle of a traffic circle stands Sungnyemun. It is a formidable and iconic construct that served as the southern gate of the wall that surrounded Seoul during the period of the Joseon Dynasty.
Day 3 Seoul - DMZ - Seoul (B) 140km
Please note that the DMZ is a politically sensitive area, and is therefore not always open to tourists.
In the event that the area cannot be visited, alternate sightseeing (Imjingak gondola and Odusan Observatory) will be arranged.
The 3rd Tunnel Tour
Rules and Regulations |
Imjingak is a park with an array of monuments and statues that speak to the Korean War (1950-1953), representing the wishes for unification and the pain the war caused to Korean people.
One such monument is Mangbaedan, a memorial site where displaced North Koreans pray for their ancestors. Near Mangbaedan is the Freedom Bridge, and was an important site where 12,773 prisoners of war returned to freedom. This short, sturdy wooden structure ends at a barricade, which embodies the North. The altar and the bridge now serve as places of remembrance for displaced families, and the millions of bright colored ribbons tied to the fence have messages of hope, dreams and wishes for unification between South and North Korea.
You can also see a derelict locomotive engine shot full of bullet holes and its bent wheels - not particularly special in any way other than it shows the destruction of war. Having been left in the DMZ since bombs derailed it during the Korean War; it was cleaned up and moved here in 2009. There is a collection of stones from 86 battlefields in 64 countries known as the Peace Stones that have witnessed suffering and grief of war. At nearby Memorial Park stands the Monument dedicated to United States Forces in the Korean War and the statue of Harry S. Truman.
Then, you board a bus to continue with other tourists on to the Demilitarized Zone which straddles the South and North Korean border. A 4km wide buffer of land stretches the breadth of the Korean peninsula. Before being allowed to enter the DMZ, you will have to obtain passport and security clearance at the Unification Bridge, the first control line with sentries and photo opportunities will be limited.
The 3rd tunnel is one of the four infiltration tunnels dug by the North to facilitate an invasion of the South. Discovered on October 17, 1978, it is a 1,635m long, 2m high and 2m wide, and could have accommodated 30,000 soldiers per hour in what was apparently designed for a surprise attack on Seoul. The tunnel runs through bedrock at a depth of about 73m below ground; 435m of which are found in the South over the Military Demarcation Line (MDL). It is designed at a three thousandth angle with northern side lower than southern side, so that water does not stagnate inside tunnel. After ducking and crouching your way 265m through the tunnel, you will reach one of the cement walls with iron door near the MDL that will prevent you from going any further north and where you peep through a small window at a barricade, just to see another barricade in the distance. You can clearly see the drill marks for dynamite all pointing toward the South. This finding, along with other clues, clearly affirmed their construction.
After exploring the tunnel, climb back out of the tunnel and make your way to the DMZ Exhibition Hall for a unique insight into the Korean War and model of soldiers digging the tunnel, equipment used by the North, model of Panmunjeom (Joint Security Area), a timeline of major North Korean provocations over the South since 1950, and photographs of the historical events about Korea's division. And time for a short video including old film that takes you back in time to the signing of the armistice and the creation of the DMZ.
Next stop is Dora Observatory. As you approach, you will see an eye catching slogan printed up on the wall "End of separation, beginning of unification". The observatory looks across the land north of Demilitarized Zone, the road and train track stretched side by side ahead into the North Korea,
bare mountains, treeless hills, watchtower, North Korean propaganda village and Gaeseong Industrial Complex. Financed and managed for the most part by South Korea, the project was launched in 2004 as a gauge of the volatile security situation on the peninsula, and South Korean companies could manufacture their products using North Korean labour. It once employed 803 South Korean and 54,764 North Korean workers, but this jointly run Industrial complex is totally shutdown as of February 10, 2016 in response to North Korea's nuclear test.
You will have a chance to stop at Tongilchon, a rural village located just 4 kilometers from the Military Demarcation Line. Established in the 1970s as part of a government initiative to support civilian settlement in this border area, the village is now primarily home to farmers.Today, Tongilchon has 174 households and 406 residents, making it the largest village within the Civilian Control Line.
Day 4 Seoul - Gapyeong - Seoul (B) 170km
The UN forces, primarily comprised by Australian and Canadian personnel, were ordered to go and secure the Kapyong River Valley. The 27th British Commonwealth Brigade went and blocked the Kapyong Valley route that headed to the capital city. The two forward battalions in the brigade were the 3RAR (3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment) led by Ian Ferguson that occupied the right side of the height overlooking the area, and the 2PPCLI (2nd Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry) led by James Stone holding the left side. Assisting them was the United Kingdom’s Middlesex Regiment and 27th Infantry Brigade led by Brian Burke, the South Korean 6th Division, Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery, and the U.S. 5th Calvary Regiment. This UN force was composed by 2,800 men was fighting against the Chinese. Wen Yuchen and Deng Yue led the Chinese 118th Division and its approximately 10,600 men.
The Canadian and Australians forces plus the support of the New Zealand artillery regiment had a night of the fierce fight and a full daylight fight with the Chinese force that made the Chinese to withdraw eventually after dark. Despite the UN force being heavily outnumbered, they managed to put off the Chinese attack. Thus, the braveness of the Canadian and Australian troops prevented the fall of the Seoul city to the hands of Chinese. They made this achievement with the Australian losing thirty-two men, fifty-nine wounded and three of them captured whereas the Canadians lost ten men and twenty-three wounded. The Chinese called off their effort to break through to Kapyong on the 25th of April after losing over 2,000 men in the battle.
Today, the monuments are established in Gapyeong commemorating their holy sacrifices, and telling the story of the Korean War, in addtion. the ANZAC Day celebration is held every April here.
Day 5 Seoul - Yeoncheon - Seolmari - Seoul (B) 250km
Today is reserved for the visit of Taepyeong Observation Post overlooking the Maryangsan where, in early October 1951, 3RAR (3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment), in conjunction with British Commonwealth troops, attacked a group of hills near the Imjin River. The attack was named after the biggest of these hills and became known as the battle for Maryangsan or “Operation Commando”.
You will find the plaque beginning with “Australian in the Korean War 25 June 1950 to 27 July 1953. In June 1950, Australia was one of the first UN to answer the call to defend South Korea against invasion from the North. The Australians fought in Korea on land, in the air and at sea”.
There had been two previous attempts to take Maryangsan (Hill 317) by American troops, both of which had been unsuccessful. However, over a fiercely fought battle, against superior enemy numbers, UN troops were able to gain and secure the hills 317 and 355.The Chinese took the position back from a British unit a few weeks later.In this action 3RAR had won one of the most impressive victories achieved by any Australian battalion. In five days of heavy fighting 3RAR dislodged a numerically superior enemy from a position of great strength. The Australians were successful in achieving surprise on 3 and 5 October, the company and platoon commanders responded skillfully to Hassett's directions, and the individual soldiers showed high courage, tenacity and morale despite some very difficult situations, such as that of D company when the mist rose on 5 October and those of B and C Companies when the weight of enemy fire threatened their isolation of Hill 317 on 7 October. The victory of Maryangsan is probably the greatest single feat of the Australian Army during the Korean War.
By 5 November, after the Australians were withdrawn to recuperate, Maryangsan had been recaptured by the Chinese. It was a terrible blow to morale for those who had fought long and hard to capture it. The tactically important ground of Maryangsan remained in the hands of Chinese forces for the rest of the war.
Afterwards, visit the Gloucester Valley Battle Monument commemorating the actions of allied forces. It was warm day, with a touch of spring in the air when, on April 22nd, 1951 the Battle of Imjin River began.
The 1st Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment was supported by C Troop 170 Independent Mortar Battery, Royal Artillery of British army. The remainder of the Brigade, the Northumberland Fusiliers, the Royal Ulster Rifles and the Belgian Capital Battalion was deployed to the east of the Gloucestershire Regiment. Centurion tanks of the 8th Kings Royal Irish Hussars, 25 pounder guns of 45th Field Regiment, and 55 Squadron Royal Engineers provided the Brigade with its close support. The Brigade frontage of about 12,000m contained gasping holes through which the enemy were subsequently to infiltrate in their thousands.
Throughout the first night the Battalion held its positions against seemingly overwhelming odds of ten to one. During the next two days, in the course of bitter fighting, it was forced to withdraw from the forward positions onto the hills overlooking Seolmari.
By the evening of the 24th April, the exhausted survivors, occupying a small position on the hill-top, were completely surrounded. Ammunitions were low and all attempts to relieve them had failed. That night, they held the hill against further repeated attacks. Finally on the morning of the 25th April, they made their last stand before attempting to break out through the encircling Chinese. Lacking ammunition most were captured in the Chinese dominated countryside.
At the roll call after the battle the Glorious Glosters, as they became known, could only muster 67 Officers and men. There were 59 dead and 526, of whom 180 were wounded, had fallen into enemy hands. Of these 34 died in captivity. Though minor is scale the battle’s ferocity caught the imagination of the world. In this action the Glorious Glosers were awarded two Victoria Crosses. The valor of these two men epitomized the selfless sacrifice of all those who were killed, captured or wounded during this bloody encounter.
Their action delayed for three days the advance of the Chinese, providing time for the United Nations Forces to re-grouping.
Day 6 Seoul - Busan (B) 450km
Enjoy a two and half hour journey on a speed train to Busan, a Korea's second largest city surrounded by the ocean on one side, and mountains on the other. Its deep harbor and gentle tides have allowed it to grow into the largest port in Korea and the fifth largest in the world. It is also a center of industry and commerce, a thriving metropolis formed unusually long in shape along its coastal line.
Visit UN memorial cemetery where 2,334 deceased soldiers from fourteen Korean War allies rest in honored serenity. Learn about the Korean War and pay tribute to those who dedicated their lives to the World Peace. During the period of 1951-1954, remains of approximately 11,000 fallen of the UN Forces were buried here. Thereafter, most were repatriated to their home countries. In the cemetery, lie the remains of Korean War heroes from Australia(281), Belgium(1), Canada(382), Colombia(4), France(47), Netherlands(124), New Zealand(32), Norway(1), Republic of Korea(39), South Africa(11), Thailand(1), Turkiye(462), United Kingdom(892), United States of America(41) Unknown and others(16).
You will tour Yongdusan Park where Busan Tower sits atop a hillock of a steep slope, affording 360-degree views of the hilly terrain of this mountainous coastal city and the harbor. Smack dab in the middle of the park stands the statue of Yi Sunsin, who is credited with the perfection of the first iron-clad warship in history. You will also see a flower clock and a Busan citizen's bell that they ring on New Years' Day, March 1 and August 15.
Just off the park is Gwangbokro Street, full of shops selling everything from bargains to luxury items. Adjacent is a maze of small streets alive with color, sidewalks sprinkled with unique shops and local eateries. Enjoy the vibrant ambience as you leisurely make your way to the BIFF square, Busan’s modern movie district having hand prints of the famous movie stars and directors on the sidewalk, movie theaters, trendy shops and street food stalls. The area with originally little more than a pair of cinemas that were built over half a century ago had turned into the newly transformed district, and was named BIFF Square on August 14, 1996.
Across the street from the square is a fascinating Jagalchi fish market, a great attraction located dockside. Here you will find a diverse array of seafood on display as you walk along the narrow alleys of street vendors. A nearby indoor market features live fish in the tanks and the upstairs are dried fish along with many restaurants selling raw fish at reasonable prices. The market is really a visual and culinary treat.
Day 7 Busan - Yangsan - Yangdong - Gyeongju (B) 150km
Your exploration today combined with a considerable amount of walk begins with a visit to the 7th century Tongdosa, representing the Temple of the Buddha. The approach to the temple is completely entrancing. Magnificently set by a lane of pine trees dancing in the wind and beside which a mountain stream sings a babbling song, a distinctive and exalting place. The main worship hall is unique in that it does not contain a statue of the Buddha, but rather a window looking out onto the Diamond Precepts Altar with a bell-shaped stupa that contains the cremated remains of the Buddha himself. You will find the temple more like a museum as it houses many local treasures and cultural properties.
Afterwards, explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Yangdongmaeul, a delightful journey to the traditional clan village which embraces simple, unadorned natural beauty. There are some steep hills to climb but also easier streets. Over 150 homes as well as two shrines are in perfect harmony with the natural topography, presenting different angles where walls ascend a hill interspersed with tiled roof houses or thatched roof buildings.
Day 8 Gyeongju (B)
With a full day to further explore the delights of UNESCO World Heritage Site, Seokguram grotto. It is the home of the serene stone Buddha of the eighth century. Inside, a white statue of a seated Buddha in a sublime state of enlightenment, is surrounded by 37 relief figures of Bodhisattvas, disciples, devas, and guardian kings. The grotto represents the magnificent harmony of religion, science and the arts of Buddhism, symbolizing the pure land in which Buddha resides.
A short ride leads you to another UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bulguksa temple, where you will witness the impressive gates, symbolic bridges leading up to the world of Buddha, graceful architectures, Three-storied Seokgatap and highly ornate Dabotap blending well into the architectural harmony.
At Gwaneumjeon hall, check out the image of the Avalokitesvara who is referred to as the Bodhisattva of Compassion and has a thousand hands, and eyes in each so as to reach out to those in need of help. You will see a gilded statue of Vairocana with the gesture of the first wisdom, Sakyamuni Buddha attended by two bodhisattvas along with sixteen figures of Buddha's disciples sitting in deep meditation, and a gilt-bronze Amitabha Buddha, the ruler of the Western Paradise Sukhavati. The architectural design of Bulguksa is one of constrained dignity, peace, and harmony and the temple still remains one of the most remarkable achievements of the ancient Far East.
The Gyeongju Historic Areas contain a remarkable concentration of outstanding examples of Korean Buddhist art, in the form of sculptures, reliefs, pagodas, and the remains of temples and palaces from the flowering, in particular between the 7th and 10th centuries, of this form of unique artistic expression.
Visit Gyeongju National Museum.The first thing that you will notice is The Bell of King Seongdeok, the largest extant bell in Korea. You must certainly stand in awe before the bell from the 8th century with such artistic beauty of design. The bell is distinguished not only for its outstanding beauty but also for its long reverberating sound, the incredibly precise casting technique, in addition to the sad legend surrounding it. On entering the museum, you will marvel at the priceless archaeological and historical artifacts including splendid gold crowns, earrings, belts, ornaments, glassware, potteries, and clay figures as well as a royal barge.c
Continue your historic discovery by exploring Donggung palace and Wolji pond, a pleasure garden built to commemorate the victory of Silla and the world's oldest existing astronomical observatory, Cheomseongdae and finally Tumuli Park that encompasses 23 huge burial mounds. You can go inside Cheonmachong and see how the tombs were made and replicas of the treasures excavated in 1973.
Day 9 Gyeongju - Seoul (B) 370km
With leisurely time to pack, return on a speed train to Seoul and the balance of the day at own pursuit. You can explore the city yourself for look for souvenirs.
Day 10 Departure (B) 60km
After this wonderful trip tracking the footsteps of Korean War Heroes and with time to reflect the moving experience of visiting the battlefields, you will return to the airport in time for your flight. By boarding, you are already high above Incheon heading for home.
