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Home > Seoul > Korean Heritage Tour: Palaces and Villages of Seoul Including Gyeongbokgung Palace
Korean Heritage Tour: Palaces and Villages of Seoul Including Gyeongbokgung Palace
USD $88.00

Korean Heritage Tour: Palaces and Villages of Seoul Including Gyeongbokgung Palace

Seoul, South Korea

This immersive experience in Seoul will give you an in-depth look at traditional Korean culture. With your knowledgeable guide, wander through grand palaces, learn about the history of Korea – from ancient times to today – and witness age-old customs come to life at a folk village. A Korean lunch and comfortable coach transport is included.

Begin your morning with pickup from your Seoul hotel and then drive by air-conditioned coach past Blue House, the executive office and official residence of the South Korean head of state and the President of the Republic of Korea. Your guide will remark on the traditional Korean architectural style of this stately residence.

Your first stop is Gyeongbokgung Palace, a royal palace constructed in 1395. Because much of it was destroyed during the Japanese occupation, there has been a large effort to restore it to its original condition. With your guide, marvel at the grandeur of the preserved portions and the restorations.

Here, visit the National Folklore Museum, which uses replicas to illustrate the history of traditional life of Korean people. Browse the numerous exhibitions’ more than 90,000 artifacts conveying what life has been like for Koreans from ancient times to the 20th century. You’ll also learn about the deep roots of Confucianism in Korean culture.

(Please note that Gyeongbokgung Palace is closed on Tuesdays, in which case you’ll visit Deoksugung Palace instead. This walled compound with traditional palace buildings, forested gardens and a statue of King Sejong the Great is home to the Seoul Museum of History, where you'll discover Seoul's traditional culture as you navigate the exhibits with your guide.)

Next, tour Jogyesa Buddhist Temple, the chief temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. Outside, admire the lovely locust and baeksong trees lining the entrance. Enter the Daeungjeon, the main temple building dating back 500 years, and see the statue of Seokgamoni, the historic Buddha at the moment of enlightenment.

Then, you'll get a chance to take a look at the Korean Ginseng Center before enjoying a tasty Korean lunch at a local restaurant. You’ll then spend your afternoon exploring the Korean Folk Village, a living museum that displays elements of traditional Korean life and folk culture. You'll get the unique opportunity to watch well-preserved customs such as pottery making, basket weaving and the hand-making of winnows, musical instruments, embroidery and bamboo, wood and brass wares.

After this incredible immersive experience, you’ll be taken back to your Seoul hotel.

USD $88.00
Traveler Reviews
Review by:   johnny.h.lee11,    October 2017 Review: 4 star rating: Recommended
This was a really great tour with very knowledgeable tour guides. The only portions which I didn't care for was the Ginseng Center and Red Pine presentations.
 

Review by:   dorayaki,    May 2017 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
I joined the tour ith two lovely tourist guides Sunny and Winnie, who are both excellent at English. I got a lot of useful information regarding Korean culture thanks to them. I was lucky to have Winnie in two tours, this one and Nami island one. She is so cute and lovely. I travelled alone, Winnie knew it, so she took a good care of me, accompanying me and taking photos for me. Her knowledge of Korean history and culture is excellent and she is well capable of delivering it to us. My Korean trip was memorable thanks to her. I would have no hesitation to recommend Winnie and the tour.
 

Review by:   aqua.40,    February 2017 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
great way to start discovering Korean culture and tradition! we loved everything on this tour. lunch at Korean traditional restaurant was great experience!
 

Review by:   T,    February 2017 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
great way to start discovering Korean culture and tradition! we loved everything on this tour. lunch at Korean traditional restaurant was great experience!
 

Review by:   Richard A,    October 2016 Review: 1 star rating: I do not recommend this
This was a two-part tour with the morning City tour with one guide and the afternoon Korean Folk Village tour with another._br/_ The morning tour and guide were OK, although far from outstanding. A rather rushed affair literally sprinting after the guide._br/_ There was, however, PLENTY of time for the compulsory Ginseng outlet stop for purchasing everything ginseng.
 

Review by:   Kenneth M,    August 2016 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
great
 

Review by:   Kenneth M,    August 2016 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
great
 

Review by:   Madeline G,    July 2016 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
We thought this a very good tour to give an overall view of Seoul both present and past. We were lucky that the rain held off until after the changing of the guard which is a do not miss. Our guide was very informative and easy to follow.
 

Review by:   Ellen W,    July 2016 Review: 1 star rating: I do not recommend this
I signed up for a full-day tour of Seoul, and received less than 3 hours of actual guided touring, some of which was in very limited/poor English.
 

Review by:   Barbara B,    July 2016 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
The tour was what I expected, it was very interesting and the guide was very knowledgeable. We had a good lunch in a picturesque Korean restaurant.
 

Review by:   bkawano,    July 2016 Review: 2 star rating: It was OK, but could have been better
The first guide was soft and couldn't hear. She needed that speaker thing on their neck. The 2nd one was good. Rushed us but stayed at a Ginseng place for 45 minutes. Wasted our time.
 

Review by:   Kelvin H,    July 2016 Review: 3 star rating: Worth doing
Would have liked more information during the tour. During the tour we went to a ginseng store which did not add to the Korean 'heritage'. We did feel pressured to purchase ginseng.
 

Review by:   John Q,    April 2016 Review: 1 star rating: I do not recommend this
Tour guides were quite good but the stops to the Ginseng outlet and the amethyst factories were total wastes of time. Additionally, they weren't disclosed on the tour description. I would not have signed up for the tour if I had known these things were taking place. I understand these stops subsidize the tour price but I would rather pay more and see more!!! These two stops ruined the tour--very annoying as the stops make you feel like a prisoner. No one on the tour bought anything at the ginseng outlet and everyone was annoyed.
 

Review by:   Thomas H,    April 2016 Review: 4 star rating: Recommended
David was excellent, he kept us informed and we say everything promised
 

Review by:   Lloyd B,    March 2016 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
This tour was great the guide was great. I definitely recommend this tour.
 

Review by:   Paul W,    February 2016 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
Lots of good info. Professional english-speaking guides. Enjoyed the tour very much.
 

Review by:   Iakov P,    February 2016 Review: 2 star rating: It was OK, but could have been better
the guide was not so good. the explication not interesting
 

Review by:   Irwin M,    December 2015 Review: 4 star rating: Recommended
The tour of palace and of village were great. The English language guide was very good and worked hard to make the rxperience more enjoyable. The only negative was a tour of a ginseng establishment. It seemed out of place.
 

Review by:   cdlaumer,    August 2015 Review: 4 star rating: Recommended
The tour was very well organized.
 

Review by:   MarkR,    June 2015 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
My wife loved it so much that she would do it again. Spectacular!
 

Review by:   Donna M,    April 2015 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
Great tour guide and I was the only English speaking tourist so it was like a private tour. Was able to see plenty of Seoul in just one day and even managed to purchase some souvenirs. Highly recommend this tour.
 

Review by:   monica c,    April 2015 Review: 4 star rating: Recommended
It was cool especially our guide who was very helpful and funny. Thanks Michelle.
 

Review by:   win4768a,    March 2015 Review: 4 star rating: Recommended
This tour was amazing!
 

Review by:   William Q,    March 2015 Review: 4 star rating: Recommended
good tour
 

Review by:   Yann Teng L,    February 2015 Review: 3 star rating: Worth doing
This tour was amazing!
 

Review by:   Pell,    January 2015 Review: 3 star rating: Worth doing
The early part of the trip was too rush, did not really enjoy. The later part which only two of us at the Cultural Village is more enjoyable.
 

Review by:   Michael G,    November 2014 Review: 4 star rating: Recommended
Wish we had done this tour earlier in our stay. The Korean village tour was great and gave a good sense of how life operated in earlier years. The Palace was beautiful and wish we had more time at the museum. It was great to see the changing of the guard at the palace.
 

Review by:   KRYLOV O,    September 2014 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
This tour was amazing!
 

Review by:   Angela D,    September 2013 Review: 4 star rating: Recommended
The first half of the tour and lunch were awesome! It was a great introduction to Seoul, and the food was delicious. The second half of the tour, a visit to the Korean Folk Village, not so much. I wasn't expecting it to be a visit to a fake village/amusement park, but I probably should have looked into it further before I booked. The company offers the same morning tour with a different afternoon tour, which sounded better than the one I went on. I would recommend that tour instead, but overall I thought this tour was wonderful and had great tour guides (especially Dora!).
 

Review by:   Ramona F,    September 2013 Review: 5 star rating: Highly Recommended
Outstanding! On time and willing to explain all the details. Great, great way to learn and have a good time.
 

Review by:   Bari W,    August 2013 Review: 4 star rating: Recommended
The bus was airconditioned and comforfortable. We had enough free time to tour each sight on our own after explanations. Tour Guide was very knowledgable and gave interestng point about history and culture. They were very accomodating.......as I was only person who chose " full day" afternoon portion of tour so she " customized" the tour for me to cover some areas that were not listed in description and exclude another. I was able to experience a greater variety of places and have more time shopping! HIghly recommend!
 

Review by:   Jim H,    July 2013 Review: 4 star rating: Recommended
Good tour for anyone wanting to see the historic parts of Seoul and in particular the old palaces. The guides were very helpful and well informed with excellent English
 

All Traveler Reviews...

USD $88.00
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