In researching where to go in Korea, I found a tour around Korea called
K-shuttle Tour. This seems perfect for me. It takes me to most of the famous sites, including World Heritages sites, in Korea. The only thing that's missing is that it does not go to Jeju Island and it only spends a few hours in Busan. These two places are the ones mentioned most often besides Seoul, when visiting Korea. Eventually, I decided that I can go to Busan and Jeju Island in the future when I come to Korea again.
Normally, I don't like to go on group tours. However, in the interest of time, I decided that this K-shuttle tour will give me a good overview of Korea. The cost is only $598.40 but I have to pay $70 a night for a single room, which I don't agree with. I thought it's too high. But I don't have a choice. There are no other companies offering similar tours.
Instead of detailing the trip, I've put the itinerary below. Below are some of the pictures that I took on the tour. There were 15 of us on the tour. They came from Germany, Singapore, Belgium, Brazil, Austria, Russia, and me, from the US. It was a fast-paced trip.
Note: some of the links in the itinerary may not work. I know some of the formatting is a little off. This blog editing software is a little flaky and sometimes I have a hard time getting it to appear exactly the way I want it even though I've been using it for more than 5 years.
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| Catholic Church in Jeonju |
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| Traditional Hanok-style building in Jeonju |
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| Ancient Observatory in Gyeongju |
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| Live octopus at Jagalchi Fish Market in Busan |
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| The Tomb of King Muryeong and Gongsanseong Fortress in Gongju |
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| Participants in the tour. Guide is in front, second from left |
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| Baekje Dynasty Cultural Land in South Chungcheong |
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| Green Tea Plantation in Bosung |
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| Dutch Windmill at Suncheon Bay Garden |
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| Performance at Yi Sun Shin Plaza in Yeosu |
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| Jinjuseong Fortress in Jinju |
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| Fried fish at Jagalchi Fish Market in Busan |
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| Lanterns to celebrate Buddha Day in Gyeongju |
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| Bulguksa Temple in Gyeongju |
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| Tired Korean women after a hike at Mt. Seorak |
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| Ancient Gate at Hahoe Traditional Village in Gyeongsang |
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| Ski Jump at Pyeongchang, ready for the 2018 Winter Olympics |
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Buddha at Shinheungsa Temple at Mt Seorak
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KS401) Circuit course of K-shuttle tour (5Days,FRI) 
DAY1 SEOUL/BUYEO/JEONJU/GWANGJU (FRI)
Meet a guide at parking lot in front of Donghwa Duty Free Shop Building, at Gwanghwamun Intersection,Seoul 08:00 am - Depart Seoul to Gongju(130Km/1.5hours) / Visit The Tomb of King Muryeong - Gongsanseong Fortress - Buyeo (an hour and a half), an ancient capital of the Baekje Dynasty. Visit Baekje Cultural Land where you will see a palace, castle, cultural hall, etc. Visit “Goransa Temple and Nakhwaam bluff by boat (optional $15pp)” where 3,000 court ladies of Baekjae plunged into the river to avoid being captured and dishonored when enemy breached the castle on the last day of the Kingdom - Proceed to Jeonju (80Km/1 hr) to visit Jeonju Hanok Village including about 700 traditional Korean houses called Hanok. Transfer to Gwangju (100km / 1hr 20min), the leading city of Honam region and birthplace of a modern democratic movement in Korea
>The Tomb of King Muryeong / Gongsanseong Fortress / Baekje Cultural Land / Nakhwaam Rock / Jeonju Hanok Village
DAY2 GWANGJU/SUNCHEON/YEOSU (SAT)
>Gwangju Folk Museum / Boseong Green Tea Plantation / Suncheon Bay Garden
DAY3 YEOSU/BUSAN/GYEOGNJU (SUN)
Breakfast at your hotel / Jinjuseong Fortress – Chokseoknu edifice historically linked to Japanese invasion in 1592. - Move to Busan(100Km/1.5hrs) - Arrive at Gimhae domestic airport - Depart from Gimhae domestic airport(1st floor, Ticket office of the bus) - Pick up customers to join us in front of Toyoko inn hotel 1, Busan Station 12:00 noon - Transfer to Jagalchi- Fishery Market, Korea’s largest seafood market - Haeundae Beach Tour - Transfer to Gyeongju(100Km/1hr30min) - Check into your hotel and leisure Time
>Jinjuseong Fortress / Chokseongnu Pavilion / Jagalchi Market / Haeundae Beach
DAY4 GYEOGNJU/WONJU (MON)
Breakfast at your hotel / Start Gyeongju City Tour 08:00 am - Unesco World Heritage Seokguram Grotto (Optional : $5 PP) - Bulguksa Temple(UNESCO world heritage) – The beauty of the temple itself and artistic touch of the stone relics are as awesome and fascinating as to be highly praised by visitors from all over the world - Move to Andong Hahoe Folk Village (170km/ 2hr 30min) - Arrive at Parking lot of Hahoe Folk Village which has preserved the housing architecture and the village structure of the Joseon Dynasty. Moreover, the Village was naturally formed with people who actually live there. It has become world-famous for the visit of Queen Elizabeth II of The Great Britain. - Depart from Parking lot of Hahoe Folk Village - Move to Wonju(155km/ 2hrs) decorated with the Chiaksan Mountain and the Seom River that circles the area, and as the capital of Gangwon Province for 500 years during the Joseon Dynasty, it maintains rich tradition and cultural relics.- Check into your hotel and leisure time.
> Seokguram Grotto / Bulguksa Temple / Andong Hahoe Folk Village
HOTEL : Wonju Interburgo Hotel +82-33-769-8114 wonju.inter-burgo.com/eng or similar (3.5star)
DAY5 WONJU/MT.SORAK/SEOUL (TUE)
Breakfast at your hotel / Transfer to Pyeongchang (95km/ 1hour 20min) - Parking lot at Information Desk of Pyeongchang Alpensia Intercontinental Hotel, The venue of 2018 Winter Olympic Games (Alpensia Resort). Monorail to Ski –Jump (Optional :$6 PP) - Proceed to Mt. Seorak National Park (50km/ 1hr), Mt. Seorak National Park, the peaks of the Seoraksan Mountains break through the clouds while jade-like water flows through the valleys, creating breathtaking views and making this Korea most famous national park. Due to the many rare species found here, UNESCO designated this national park a Biosphere Preservation District in 1982.- Cable car to Gwongeumseong fortress (Optional for Shinheungsa Temple and cable car :$15 PP) - Parking lot of Ticket Office of Mt.Seorak - Transfer to Seoul (195km/ 4hrs) - Arrive at Seoul 20:00PM (Drop point : Donghwa Duty Free Shop Building, at Gwanghwamun Intersection)
>Alpensia Resort Ski Resort / Mt. Seorak National Park / cable car / Shinheungsa Temple
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