2015 Korea Lotus Lantern Tour Itinerary

KOREA
LOTUS LANTERN
FESTIVAL TOUR
May 7th – May 18th, 2015
(12 Days and 10 Nights)
Thu May 7 Day 1
DEPARTURE Day
HONOLULU – INCHEON
L, D
9:00 AM Meet outside the Korean Airlines check-in counters (lobby #4) at the
Honolulu International Airport.
12:00 PM Depart Honolulu for Seoul Korea on Korean Airlines #54
Lunch and Dinner served on the flight.
Fri May 8 Day 2
ARRIVAL Day
SEOUL
5:30 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 9 Day 3
SEOUL
B, L
AM Buffet breakfast at hotel.
AM KBS Suwon Studio: An active film studio and theme park that
produces HD digital TV dramas. It is comprised of an open set, drama
production center, special set, and various facilities. Intended to be
used semi-permanently, the studio boasts realistic buildings. A variety
of dramas filmed there include historical dramas such as Empress
Myeongseong and Dongyang Geukjang; the studio is also a popular
site for producing movies, commercials, and music videos.
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PM Lunch at local restaurant
PM 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
entertainment. There is a place here where you can take a picture
dressed in traditional Korean Hanbok clothing (separate fee required).
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 1592-1598.
However, all of the palace's 7,700 rooms were later restored during the
reign of King Gojong (1852~1919).
PM National 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 at Lotte Mall Gimpo.
Lotte City Gimpo or similar
(pack your bags for morning check-out)
Sun May 10 Day 4
AM
AM
9:40AM
10:45 AM
PM
PM
PM
PM
PM
PM
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SEOUL – JEJU ISLAND
B, D
Buffet breakfast at hotel. Check out for transfer to Jeju Island.
Transfer to Gimpo International Airport.
Depart for Jeju Island by Korean Airlines #1209
Arrive at Jeju International Airport.
Lunch on your own.
Mysterious Road: Dokebi Road also called Mysterious or Ghost Road
is a road in Jeju where cars roll uphill with the engine turned off.
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.
Dinner at local restaurant,
Cookin' Nanta show. Nanta is a South Korean non-verbal comedy
show with traditional samul nori rhythms.
Return to hotel. Our hotel was the location for many of the scenes in
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the popular Korean drama “All In”.
Lotte Hotel Jeju or similar
Mon May 11 Day 5 JEJU ISLAND
B, L, D
AM Buffet breakfast at hotel.
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
stonemasons had carved them out.
AM Trick Art Museum: The Trick Art Museum is the first museum in
Korea to show optical illusion art. Exhibitions on walls and floors are
rendered in three dimensions. Exhibitions consist of seven themed
sections: Parody Zone (showing famous paintings and sculptures),
Animal Zone, Jurassic Zone, Aquarium Zone, Egypt Zone, Magic
Zone, and Illusion Zone.
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 12 Day 6
AM
AM
8:45 AM
9:40 AM
PM
PM
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JEJU – BUSAN
B, L
Buffet breakfast at hotel and check out for transfer to Busan.
Depart for airport.
Depart for Busan on Korean Airlines #1002
Arrive at Gimhae International Airport.
Lunch at local restaurant.
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,
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sea squirts (ascidians) and whale meat on wooden boxes along the
road.
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
renovations took place ahead of the first Busan International Film
Festival (BIFF) in 1996, and the newly transformed district was named
PM BIFF Square on August 14, 1996.
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
PM Seoul, the stores are small and the vendor-filled alleys are narrow.
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.
Novotel Ambassador Busan or similar
Wed May 13 Day 7
AM
AM
AM
BUSAN – GYEONGJU
B, L, D
Buffet breakfast at hotel.
Transfer to Gyeongju, the old capitol of Korea.
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
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PM
PM
PM
PM
PM
Thu May 14 Day 8
AM
AM
AM
PM
PM
PM
PM
PM
Revised: November 18, 2014
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
thousand relics and gold accessories.
Lunch at local restaurant
Gyeongju 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.
Ragung Hotel: Photo stop at this hotel that was the setting for Yun Jihu’s traditional Hanok home in the popular Korean drama “Boys Over
Flowers”.
Dinner at local restaurant.
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)
GYEONGJU – EUISEONG – ANDONG – MT. SEORAK
B, L, D
Buffet breakfast at hotel and check out for transfer to Euiseong.
Transfer to Euiseong and Apple Wine farm.
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.
Transfer to Andong.
Lunch at local restaurant.
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.
Transfer to Mt. Seorak. Seorak National Park 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.
Dinner at local restaurant
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PM Check in to hotel.
Kensington Stars Hotel or similar
(pack your bags for morning check-out)
Fri May 15 Day 9
MT.SEORAK – NAMI ISLAND – SEOUL
B, L, D
AM Buffet breakfast at hotel and check out for transfer to Seoul.
Kwongeumseong Fortress: located 860m above sea level by cable
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
AM 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 1944. 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 kimchi making - learn more about Korean
traditional food culture while making your own kimchi!
PM Dinner at local restaurant, then check in to hotel.
Lotte Hotel Seoul or similar
Sat May 16 Day 10 SEOUL – DMZ – SEOUL
B
AM Buffet breakfast at hotel.
AM DMZ (Demilitarized Zone): Korea is the only divided country in the
world. After the Korean War (June 25 1950 – July 27 1953), 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
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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.
3rd Infiltration Tunnel: only 44 kilometers from Seoul (less than an
hour's drive), the third tunnel was discovered in October 1978. Almost
identical in structure to Tunnel 2, the 1.635 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 17 Day 11 SEOUL (FREE Day)
B
AM Buffet breakfast at hotel.
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)
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Mon May 18 Day 12
AM
AM
AM
PM
PM
9:00 PM
PM
SEOUL - DEPARTURE Day
B, D
Buffet breakfast at hotel.
Check out of hotel.
Free time until mid-afternoon, stop by market on the way to the airport
for last minute shopping. Lunch on your own.
Transfer to Incheon International Airport for departure to Honolulu.
Check in at airport.
Depart Seoul for Honolulu on Korean Airlines #53
Dinner served on the flight.
Mon May 18 Day 12 HONOLULU - ARRIVAL Day
B
AM Breakfast served on the flight.
10:20 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, S = Snack
HOTEL INFORMATION
LOTTE CITY HOTEL
( http://www.lottecityhotelgimpoairport.com )
38 Haneul-gil, Gangseo-gu, Seoul
+82 (2) 6116-1000
May 8th & 9th
LOTTE HOTEL JEJU
( http://www.lottehoteljeju.com/en/ )
35, Jungmun Tourist Road No. 72, Seogwipo, Jeju
+82 (64) 733-1234
May 10th & 11th
Novotel Ambassador Busan
( https://novotel.ambatelen.com/busan/main.amb )
1405-16 Jung-dong Haeundae-gu Busan
+82 (51) 743-1234
May 12th
GYEONGJU HILTON HOTEL
( http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/KYOHITWGyeongju-Hilton/index.do )
370, Shinpyung-dong, Gyeongju
+82 (54) 745-7788
May 13th
KENSINGTON STARS HOTEL
( http://www.kensington.co.kr/english/english.html )
#106-1 Sorak-Dong, Sokcho, Gangwon-do
+82 (33) 635-4001
May 14th
+82 (2) 771-1000
May 15th, 16th & 17th
LOTTE HOTEL SEOUL
( http://lottehotel.co.kr )
30, Eulji-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
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TOUR PRICE
Double: $4,200.00
Single: $5,125.00
(Land only*: $3,130.00)
(Land only*: $4,055.00)
Tax and Fuel surcharge included
Tax and Fuel surcharge included
Per person based on double occupancy
Per person based on single occupancy
• Fuel surcharges and taxes are based on November 17th 2014 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 Insurance is recommended – see the insurance information flier for information
about our discounted group insurance plan. Travel insurance may be purchased up
until the time of final payment.
• Pre-tour luncheon briefing included.
• Tips for local guide and driver included.
Payment and Registration:
• ITINERARY AND PRICING ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.
• $100 Early booking discount: apply by Wednesday, December 31st 2014.
• $100 Gift Certificate for a future Naka's Escorted Tour.
• Prices are based on a minimum of 16 full-tour participants.
• Maximum of 28 full-tour participants.
• $150.00 per person deposit (cash or check only), fully refundable until Wednesday,
December 31st 2014, is required upon application to hold a reservation.
• Final Payment is due by Friday, March 6th 2015.
• 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.
• Space is limited – FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED.
• Call Naka’s Travel Service at 808-522-0810 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 18, 2014
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