 |  |  |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
Tours around west of Seoul
V-11
Ganghwa island (V-11)
Duration : 9 hours
The theme of this tour is "Famous + Beautiful".
Destinations are composed of famous Korean soap opera filming locations and local place.
[itinerary]
Hotel - Dondae (Old Military Obervatory and small Fortress) - Jeondeungsa Temple - Dolmen(UNESCO Cultural Heritate) - Ganghwa DMZ - Traditional Market - Hotel
Ganghwa island
is the fifth largest island in Korea and is located in the West Sea.
It is composed of 11 inhabited islands and 17 uninhabited islands, and its beaches are 99 km long. With the creation of the Ganghwa Bridge and Choji Bridge, the island has become more like the mainland.
Because there were people living on this island from the prehistoric times, there are many ancient artifacts on the island. The most famous of these are the Goindol Rocks, designated as World's Cultural Treasure. The Goindol graves are where the rulers of the Ganghwa Island in the Bronze Age are buried. There are about 80 of these stone graves around the island.
There is also evidence of the Dangunwanggeom, the founding figure of Korea whose life marks the beginning of Korean history. If you walk up the many steps of Chamseongdan in Mani Mountain, you will come to a peak where you can see the West Sea and the inland. This is where Dangunwanggeom is said to have offered sacrificial rites to the heavens.
Ganghwa Island has many famous local products, including the medicinally effective Ganghwa Ginseng, Pure-Ganghwa radish with its peculiar taste, and Hwamunseok, which is a mat woven with flower patterns. Hwamunseok is famous also as a representative traditional Korean product, with its intricate handwork and designs.
V-12
Incheon City Tour (V-12)
Duration : 8 hours
Incheon is also beautiful and historical city, so there is no reason to spend 3 hours on the road to and from Seoul. Instead, discover Korea through Incheon!
Incheon is the city of the Operation Chromite during Korean War 1950~1953. Also Incheon is the harbor city to Seoul and go overseas.
Thus the city provides beautiful scenery as well as meaningful history of Korea.
[itinerary]
Hotel → Incheon Landing Operation Memorial Hall → Wolmido → Fairy Tale Village → Freedom Park → Traditional Market → Songdo Central Park(Pass by) → Hotel
Incheon Landing Operation Memorial Hall
Located in Ongnyeon-dong, Yeonsu-gu in Incheon Metropolitan City, the Incheon Landing Operation Memorial Hall is a war memorial hall built to commemorate the centennial anniversary of the opening of Incheon Port in 1984. Its theme centers on the successful Incheon Landing Operation led by UN Commander in Chief General McArthur during the Korean War. Inside the building, there are photos of military armaments used by the South and North Korean military as well as photos showing what life was like back then.
Outside, there is an 18 meter-long memorial tower and the national flags of the sixteen countries that participated in the Korean War. Right next to the building stands the Incheon Metropolitan City Museum where visitors can see at a glance the history of Incheon.
Wolmido Island
located roughly 1km off the coast of Incheon, has since become part of the mainland with the creation of a new highway. The name Wolmido Island comes from the shape of the island as it resembles the tail of a half moon. Thanks to its location near Seoul and the convenient transportation, many people visit here during weekends.
The Culture Street starts with Doodle Pillar, and continues onward to Meeting Square, Arts Square, Performance Square, Good Harvest Square and several other notable highlights. Throughout these areas, spontaneous performances are performed, and street artists can draw for you on the spot. Moreover, many cafes and seafood restaurants are lined along the coast so you can enjoy coffee or fresh seafood while viewing the sea.
A must-see attraction on Wolmido Island is "Play Hill". It’s not as large as other theme parks in Korea, but the Apollo Disco and the Viking rides are truly thrilling. If you're not into rides, the Apollo Disco ride is still fun just watching. You can also get on a cruise to look around the island.
Songwol-dong Fairy Tale Village
The opening of the Incheon Port in 1883 led to the start of many foreigners coming into the area for settlement. Soon, it became a rich village and many young people gradually moved out, leaving the village in a state of stagnant.
As such, a renovation project was brought upon to improve development of the village by painting and decorating classic fairy tales all around.
Freedom Park (Jayu Park)
Nestled in Mt. Eungbongsan in Incheon Metropolitan City, Jayu Park was first called Manguk Park and then Seo Park as the Japanese power became stronger. During the colonial rule of Japan, there was another park called Dong Park (East Park), which was created and used as a shrine by the Japanese.
Jayu Park, or park of Freedom, has held its name ever since October 3, 1957 when a statue of General McArthur, who led the Incheon Amphibious Landing Operation during the Korean War, was erected at the summit of Mt. Eungbongsan. The park offers spectacular views of downtown Incheon and its surrounding mountains, the port, and the sea.
Sinpo International Market
Located in Sinpo-dong, Jung-gu, Incheon, Sinpo Market (3,300㎡) dates back to the late 19th century when vendors began selling fresh vegetables to the Japanese, Chinese, and Westerners who settled in the area. Sinpo Market was officially registered as a market in 1970 and now boasts over 140 stores.
An increasing number of tourists and international merchants have visited Incheon by ferries and cruise ships, turning the local market into an international shopping area over the past few decades. The information desk and office at the market even provide a variety of services (translation services, trade and shopping information, etc.) for tourists and merchants from home and abroad.
The most famous item of the market is dakgangjeong, a Korean dish of crispy fried chicken coated in a sweet and spicy sauce.
Songdo Central Park
is a seaside park built within Songdo International City, a green paradise found among the crowded skyscrapers in the city. Visitors can enjoy a water taxi ride on the man-made waterway, take a stroll at the walking promenades or various themed meadows around.