Sanity Check on 10-day itinerary in South Korea | South Korea - Lonely Planet Forum

ONLINE

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 22:16:13 +0000

Hey everyone,

I'll be starting a year-long RTW trip in October, and it starts with South Korea! I've been researching and reading in various places, and have come up with a (very) rough general itinerary. If you don't mind... tell me if it's sane? I'd appreciate any constructive criticism / suggestions.
I will arrive late on Tuesday, 5 Oct (NC-DC-Tokyo-Incheon) and leave sometime on Saturday, 16 Oct for Hong Kong. I'm 30, female, possibly traveling solo (some friends already in S. Korea may join, not sure yet), and trying to keep my budget semi-cheap.

Many thanks in advance,
--Z

6-8 Oct:
- Explore Songtan (where friends live)
- Check out Osan Air Base (I'm ex-military with an ID)
*maybe take an Osan bus tour?
- Explore Seoul & around
*Seoul tower
*Gyeongbok Palace, Bukchon village
*Itaewon shopping district
*Namdaemun
*Namsan cable car
- DMZ

9 Oct:
- Take a morning train to Busan (looks like it takes about 3 hrs)
- Travel on overnight ferry to Jeju-do (leaves at 7pm, takes about 11 hrs)

10-12 Oct:
- Jeju-do: pearl-divers (haenyeo culture), beaches, hot springs, lava beds, hiking, mountains
- Check out Seogwipo and Jeju City
- Jusangjeolli Cliffs (west of Seogwipo)

12 Oct
- Take evening ferry back to Busan

13 Oct
- Check out more of Busan, maybe go to Geoje-do / Oe-do island?

14 Oct
- Train from Busan up to Jeonju, check it out, then over to Daejeon for a one-night temple stay?
- OR, train from Busan to Gyeongju and see Bulguksa Temple, Seokguram Grotto, Anapji Pond, etc

15 Oct
- Head back to Songtan, maybe spend the night in Seoul or Incheon depending on what time my flight is on the 16th.

ONLINE

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 01:42:34 +0000

Your plan sounds insane.

Go Seoul-->Jeonju (bus) --->Mokpo (bus)---->Jeju (ferry)--->Mokpo (bus) or maybe go to Gwangju from Mokpo and go to Tonggeong from there as it's a big city----->Tonggeong (spelling?)---->Geoje and Oedo----->Tonggeong ---->Busan (bus) and then check out Busan, maybe day trip or overnight to Gyeongju and then bus to Seoul from Gyeongju.

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ONLINE

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 15:31:57 +0000

Hi MonkeyPuzzle,

Thanks for the feedback and suggestion. Would this be a good allotment of days in the itinerary you recommended:

6-7 Oct: Explore Seoul and around
8 Oct: Bus to Jeonju, explore
9 Oct: Bus to Mokpo, ferry to Jeju
10-11 Oct: Explore Jeju
12 Oct: Ferry to Mokpo, bus to Gangju
13 Oct: Bus to Tongyeong, explore Geoje and Oedo
14 Oct: Bus to Busan
15 Oct: Bust to Gyeongju, explore, then bus to Seoul

Thanks again!

--Z

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ONLINE

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 02:22:51 +0000

It will take half a day to see the old style village in Jeonju, but there are some other places in the area worth checking out like Masan Provincial Park which has a nice temple called Tapsa and a good hike in the hills. Maybe spend an extra day around there.

There are two ferry terminals in Mokpo, one to the smaller islands and an international ferry terminal to China which is where the one to Jeju leaves from. Tell the taxi driver Jeju Ferry Terminal. Get your ticket ASAP and if you have time in Mokpo, head out to Wolchulsan National Park.

As you're seeing one of the best islands, Geoje might be a let down, but Oedo is very nice though.

It would be a pity to miss a national park of which Korea has many. If you're going to Busan, consider going into Jirisan National Park and staying in a minbak near a temple. Try going to Hadong and going into the park from there. Ssanggyeosa (check spelling again sorry) is a good temple which is deep in Jirisan National Park.

Maybe skip Busan and head straight to Gyeongju as the beach season would be over by then.

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