During a private bus tour of Seoul, you will visit Gyeongbokgung Palace, the main royal palace of the Joseon Dynasty built in 1395. The palace has been destroyed many times, but more than half of the original buildings are still standing or are restored. The complex is also home to the National Palace Museum and the National Folk Museum, where you can learn about the history and traditions of the Korean people during the Joseon era. Continue on to Bukchon Hanok Village, where you will be transported back 600 years into Seoul's past. The village boasts the largest cluster of privately owned traditional Korean wooden homes (hanok) in Seoul. Keep an eye out for the half-dozen alleys with beautifully restored architectural features like small courtyards, decorative outer walls, and dark tiled roofs. Explore the narrow and hidden alleys of one of the most memorable places in Seoul, Insadong Alley. Now filled with antique shops, galleries, tea houses, and traditional restaurants, this area once housed the royal studio for painters during the Joseon Dynasty.

After breakfast, board a high-speed bullet train for a relaxing morning ride through the countryside to Gyeongiu. Please be sure to pack lightly for your trip, as you will be walking with your luggage in busy public train stations to catch connecting trains. You must be careful to travel light and use luggage that you can handle easily. You will need to be capable of walking up and down stairs with your luggage without assistance. A large bag will be an inconvenience to you and will slow you down. Gyeongiu was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Silla, which ruled about two-thirds of the Korean Peninsula at its height, for close to one thousand years. Several of Gyeongiu's historical buildings are designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. You will experience an overnight stay in a local temple, which starts with a steep climb uphill. The group will learn about temple etiquette, watch a monk's martial arts performance (sunmudo), experience the daily prayer ritual (108 prostrations), and enjoy a temple-style dinner (sitting on the floor). Stay in rooms called ondol, which are traditional yet heated to be cozy and comfortable, with beds made up directly on the floor. The rooms are multi-share, divided up between males and females. Please be aware that you will spend a fair amount of time sitting cross-legged on floor mats at the temple. Approximate travel time: 2 hrs by bullet train Accommodation: Golgulsa Templestay (or similar) Meals included: Breakfast | Dinner

Enjoy a peaceful morning at Golgulsa Temple, located amid the natural beauty of Hamwolsan Mountain. Take an easy hike up to the only stove cave temple in Korea for a morning meditation. During a tour of Gyeongju, visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bulguksa Temple, a head temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism located on the slopes of Mount Toham. Admire the temple's six national treasures: the Dabotap and Seokgatap stone pagodas, Yeonhwagyo and Chilbogyo bridges, Cheongungyo and Baegungyo bridges, and two gilt-bronze statues of Buddha. Also visit the oldest surviving astronomical observatory in Asia, Cheomseongdae Observatory. Cheomseongdae may not appear to be a monumental landmark, but the observatory tower dates back to the seventh century and is actually the oldest existing astronomical observatory in all of East Asia. Cheomseongdae was used for observing the stars in order to forecast the weather in the ancient scientific hub of Gyeongju. Later in the tour, visit the Daereungwon Tomb complex, another UNESCO World Heritage Site that contains 23 tombs located inside large mounds. The complex is beautiful with its rolling mounds and gardens, and you can pay a visit inside the tombs, the most famous of which are Cheonmachong and Hwangnam Daechong. Each tomb holds thousands of relics that provide a window into the Silla Dynasty and its royal family. The contents of the tombs are over 1,500 years old and a testament to the rich history and cultural heritage of Korea. Accommodation: Swiss Rosen Hotel - Gyeongju (or similar) Meals included: Breakfast

Today, you will travel by private bus to colorful Busan. Along the way, enjoy a visit to Yangdong Folk Village, a 500-year-old UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Gyeongju National Park, where you can get a feel for life during the early Joseon Dynasty. Founded in the early 1400s, the village boasts well-preserved buildings and has more than 160 homes displaying traditional Joseon architecture within a gorgeous natural setting. Continue on to the picturesque 14th-century seaside temple, Haedong Yonggungsa, originally known as Bomun Temple. Originally built in 1376, this picturesque, cliffside Buddhist temple overlooks the East China Sea. After exploring the temple, check in to your hotel and get your bearings with an orientation walk on Haeundae Beach and Dongbaekseom. Opt to spend the evening treating yourself at a Jjimjilbang spa, or sing your heart out at a popular karaoke bar. Approximate travel time: 2 hrs by private vehicle Accommodation: Felix Hotel by STX (or similar) Meals included: Breakfast

Tour Busan and visit Jagalchi Fish Market, a major attraction at Nampo Port. Wander through the rows of stalls selling everything you can dream of from the sea. Watch as locals haggle for the best price and fishmongers hawk their wares. Then check out Gukjesijang, or Gukje Market, near Biff Square, a well-known modern movie district. The market was once a place for refugees to earn a living during the Korean War. It is now a bustling international market full of food, home goods, clothes, souvenirs, and more. The city tour will also take you to Yongdusan Park, home to more than 70 different types of trees and the 387-ft-high Busan Tower. Then explore the pastel-colored village of Gamcheon, nestled in the side of a mountain, with uniquely painted houses, murals, cafes, and shops. After touring Busan, travel by bullet train back to Seoul. Please be sure to pack lightly for your trip, as you will be walking with your luggage in busy public train stations to catch connecting trains. You must be careful to travel light and use luggage that you can handle easily. You will need to be capable of walking up and down stairs with your luggage without assistance. A large bag will be an inconvenience to you and will slow you down. Once you are back in Seoul, you will visit Namdaemun Market, Korea's oldest traditional market, dating back to 1414. It is also the country's largest market, with over 10,000 vendors spanning several city blocks. Get ready to shop! Then take a cable car up to the most iconic landmark in Seoul, N Seoul Tower, located at the top of Mt Namsan. The tower used to be a broadcasting station and is now a beautiful observatory open to the public. Opt to pay an additional fee to go up the tower to the observatory. During the evening, spend some free time visiting Banpo Bridge, home to the Moonlight Rainbow Fountain Show, and three artificial islands (Sebitseom) located near one end of the bridge. Or hang out in the Gangnam district, an historically rich, fast-developing neighborhood with plenty to do and see. Gangnam Station is the busiest subway station in Seoul and has a huge underground shopping center, or you could visit Bongeunsa, a Buddhist temple in the center of Gangnam. Approximate travel time: 2.5 hrs by bullet train Accommodation: Hotel Prince (or similar) Meals included: Breakfast

Visit the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), in place since 1953 to separate North and South Korea. It is the most heavily militarized border in the world, with over a million soldiers standing guard every day at one of the last remnants of the Cold War era. The 160-mile long and 2.5-mile wide buffer zone has had very little development, and nature and wildlife have taken over the area. After spending about 3-4 hours visiting the DMZ, the group will visit The War Memorial of Korea, with indoor and outdoor exhibits containing about 9,000 artifacts. The memorial building serves to exhibit and memorialize the military history of Korea and preserve materials related to the Korean War. Later, return back to Seoul for another night in the city. Opt to visit the Samsung Leeum Contemporary Gallery, explore the Itaewon neighborhood, or pre-book a kimchi making and hanbok experience. Approximate travel time: 2-3 hrs by private vehicle (Seoul to DMZ round trip) Accommodation: Hotel Prince (or similar) Meals included: Breakfast

There are no planned activities today, so you may depart Seoul at any time. If you wish to extend your stay in Seoul, consider booking post-tour accommodation with us. Please note that check-out time from the hotel is usually mid-morning, but luggage storage services are available at the reception desk. Want more adventure? Book two or more GEEO programs in the same school year and receive a discount! GEEO will give you 10% off of the lesser value program(s) (up to 3 programs per year). If you would like to extend your time abroad but don't see another GEEO program that interests you, let us know. We can work with you to find a trip from our tour operator’s much larger catalog. Their tours are open to the general public and not designed specifically for educators, but we can still offer you and your travel companions a discounted educator price on any additional tours that you book. Meals included: Breakfast