Escorted Tours 2020 & 2021 - 2nd Edition - Mercury Holidays

68 JAPAN & KOREA MEAL PLAN: 9 breakfasts, 8 lunches & 8 dinners ACCOMMODATION Seoul 5 nights 4 ★ Best Western Premier Seoul Garden Busan 1 night 4 ★ Crown Harbor Hotel Busan Gyeongju 2 nights 4 ★ Commodore Hotel Gyeongju Andong 1 night 4 ★ Andong Grand DAY 1: UK TO SEOUL Depart London on your scheduled, overnight flight to Seoul. DAY 2: SEOUL L/D On arrival in Seoul, you will be met by your representative for a short tour of the city including the Changing of the Palace guard. Enjoy lunch at a local Korean restaurant before being transferred to your hotel and checking in. After time to settle in, re-join your group for tonight’s welcome dinner at a local Korean restaurant, giving you the opportunity to sample Korea’s world-renowned cuisine. DAY 3: SEOUL B/L/D Following breakfast, embark on a tour of South Korea’s Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), the no man’s land that forms the highly secure frontier between North and South Korea. Visit Dorasan train station, which connects north and south, and the Dorasan Observatory which overlooks the DMZ. Explore the 3rd Infiltration Tunnel, a secret passageway built by North Koreans trying to tunnel into the south, and view the heavily guarded Bridge of Freedom which links the two nations. After lunch, visit Changdeokgung Palace, built by the kings of Korea’s Joseon Dynasty, explore the pavilions and rooms of this imperial residence before touring its Secret Garden, where the pond, greenery and pavilions combine to create a tranquil setting. Witness the changing of the palace guards then continue onward to the N. Seoul Tower which rises above the city skyline and provides panoramic views over the city, then return to your hotel for dinner. DAY 4: SEOUL B/L/D Seoul has undergone a dramatic transformation over the last five decades, with the ravages of the Korean War making way to sleek skyscrapers and neon-lit districts. The city still retains several remnants of its imperial past and today’s walking tour takes in these centuries-old structures, using Seoul’s world-class underground system to move between sights. Starting at Insadong Antique Street and browse through the wares on display in elegant, wooden shop fronts. Travel to the Kimchi Museum and learn more about how this local fermented cabbage dish grew to its current popularity then stop in at the Buddhist temple of Jogyesa. Continue onward to the Bukchon Hanok Village, teeming with charming, traditional ‘hanoks’ or wooden houses before browsing through the stalls of Gwangjang Food Market. DAY 5: SEOUL TO BUSAN B/L/D This morning, transfer by metro to the train station (luggage will be transported) and board your high- speed train to the coastal city of Busan. On arrival in Busan, set out on an afternoon coach tour of the city, stopping first to wander through Gamcheon Cultural Village with its pastel-coloured houses set in the slopes of a mountain. Next, pay your respects to the soldiers killed in the Korean War at the UN Memorial Cemetery then visit peaceful APEC Nurimaru Park and the soft sands of Haeundae Beach. Climb 108 steps to picturesque Haedong Yonggungsa temple and explore this sacred Buddhist site which boasts a stunning setting on Busan’s coastal cliffs. Transfer to your hotel for check-in. DAY 6: BUSAN TO GYEONGJU B/L/D After breakfast, embark on a morning tour, moving between sights by metro. Wander through bustling Jagalchi Fish Market and haggle with the hawkers of Kukje Market, where you’ll stop for a delicious lunch. Visit nearby BIFF Square, Korea’s answer to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and continue on to the soaring Busan Tower. Next, transfer to Busan Train Station and embark on your rail journey to Gyeongju, taking in rural landscapes and urban skylines along the way. On arrival, enjoy dinner and a night-time tour of Anapji, the site of a spectacular palace and pond. DAY 7: GYEONGJU B/L/D A full-day tour of Gyeongju takes in the major sites of Korea’s ancient former capital, known as the “Museum Without Walls”. Journey from the immense Travel from the modern charms of Seoul and coastal Busan to the historic treasures of Gyeongju and Andong, with a visit to the North-South Demilitarized Zone completing your quintessential South Korean experience. FLAVOURS OF SOUTH KOREA 11 days from £2,199pp TOUR HIGHLIGHTS ✔ Witness the guarded border between North and South Korea on a tour of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) ✔ City Tour of Seoul ✔ Jagalchi Fish Market and temple of Haedong Yonggungsa in Busan ✔ Marvel at the ancient palaces, tombs and temples of Gyeongju ✔ Open-air museums of Hahoe Village ✔ Learn how to make Korea’s famed beef barbeque Seoul Tower RAIL TOUR PACE: To book or for further information visit your local travel agent or call us FREE on 0800 408 0556