South Korea is not only about bus tours, cherry blossoms, mountain scenery, and architecture. The curious tourist can find here something he or she won’t see or feel anywhere else. We present a kaleidoscope of interesting options for a truly unforgettable and unconventional vacation in this colorful country.
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Trekking and hiking
Hiking trails from a tourist’s perspective is one way to combine pleasure with pleasure, enjoy the beauty of surrounding Korea, experience the local sights, and improve your health.
Korea has a famous hiking trail “Olle” on Jeju Island. “Olle” is a Korean dialect word used only on Jeju Island, literally meaning a narrow street between stone fences of houses. Nowadays, it refers to a path or lane that stretches along the seashore.
There are a total of 26 hiking trails on the island: 21 basic trails and 5 optional trails. The time of their passage ranges from 1 to 8 hours. The degree of difficulty of the routes also varies, but you can always find the most suitable option according to physical fitness.
Regardless of which route you choose, a hike on any route you choose allows you to admire the beautiful scenery of green mountains, clear sea, and small villages.
Another interesting trekking route is through the Bukhangsan and Tobongsan Mountains, part of Bukhangsan National Park near Seoul. This park is very popular with locals and visitors because of its beautiful scenery. The trail is 71.5 kilometers long and covers not only Seoul but also Gyeonggi-do, the capital city.
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Templestay is a program of living in a traditional Buddhist temple to experience the daily life of monks as well as learn the basics of Korean Buddhism and self-discovery.
No matter what religion you adhere to, this program is suitable for absolutely everyone, but especially for those who want to calm their mind through the practice of meditation and focus on finding their true nature and inner peace.
This format was originally organized for tourists during the World Cup in Korea in 2002 and became very popular.
Cozy mountain and coastal temples, green forests, and refreshing breezes are what make temple stay in Korea a unique type of cultural tourism. The Korean Buddhist monastic orders of Choge and Chongtae can help you experience the ascetic lifestyle of the monks.
Each Buddhist temple has its program of temples. But, as a rule, the basis is the same: tourists participate in worship services, reading Buddhist sutras and learning the rules of etiquette, performing 108 bows with the training of mind and body, as well as taking temple food and participating in the tea ceremony tado.
Medical tourism
Previously, South Korea’s achievements were associated mainly with the IT sphere, but now medicine is taking center stage. The secret of the breakthrough in the medical field is easy to explain: South Korean doctors are adopting the best and most progressive things that are inherent in Western European medical practice. And this is combined with relatively low prices for treatment.
Hospitals are facilitated with cutting-edge equipment and state-of-the-art medical facilities meeting the highest global standards, and wards are often as comfortable and comfortable as high-class hotel rooms.
Korean diagnostic clinics offer various check-up programs: basic, advanced, and complex checkups of premium class. Besides, a patient may undergo a specialized checkup to check the degree and severity of the previously diagnosed disease. The such examination helps clarify the diagnosis and choose the optimal treatment regimen. Usually, a check-up can be easily integrated into your trip to Korea and combine business with pleasure.
University campuses
When you visit Korean universities, you will not only see beautiful sights but also visit the filming sites of the youth doramas (Korean television series). Yeongse University was the setting for the drama “Answer Me 1994” and the movie “My Ungrateful Girl. Konkuk University was the setting for the drama Cheese in a Mousetrap. Speaking of universities, you can’t help but mention the Hongdae District, which is located next to Hon’ik University. The place is known for its vibrant nightlife and is also considered a fashion and shopping center. Here you can visit a cafe from the docudrama “The First Prince’s Cafe”.
Namsan tower
The tower offers a magnificent view of the city at night. This place is laden with a romantic atmosphere. Several scenes from various doramas were filmed here: “Flowers After Berries”, “Man With a Star”, and “Oh My Ghost”.
Digital media city
The place where most of the doramas are made. It’s home to some of the biggest broadcast stations, including MBC, SBS, and CJ E&M. Some of the landmarks and streets here may seem familiar, as they often appear in the series. In addition, music shows like M! Countdown are also held here, so you have a chance to see some of the Korean stars in real life.
Nightlife in seoul
CNN once stated that “anyone who sleeps in Seoul at night is a loser.” The reason is that there is so much nightlife here that it’s a shame to waste time sleeping.
Seoul at night is more beautiful than any other city in the world. Some streets are bustling with commerce until midnight, and others near universities are filled with young people having fun. The city never stops bustling with activity.
What can tourists do here at night?
First, you can go shopping at the Dongdaemun Market, which is open until early morning.
Secondly, it is worth visiting the area of Hongdae University, where there are many youth clubs – if you are a true lover of dance and music. Koreans tend to work late into the night and relax in bars and clubs afterward. Most nighttime adventures of ordinary Koreans start with the traditional alcoholic drink soju, 20 degrees strong. It is poured into small shots and drunk in small sips. A lighter option is the Korean rice wine makkoli.
Third, you can enjoy views of the city at night by climbing the Seoul Television Tower or the top floor of Building 63. “Building 63” offers its guests a variety of types of entertainment, with an unusual museum and an expensive restaurant open to the public from morning to evening.
Fourth, if you are traveling as a family, you will be interested in the amusement parks, open until 8-9 pm.
Tourist trains
Traveling by tourist trains through the interior of South Korea is a great chance to enjoy the country’s wonderful natural scenery in comfort.
O-train
The O-train takes you on a circular route through the various counties of Korea’s interior, such as Gangwon-do, Chungcheongbuk-do, and Gyeongsangbuk-do. The train runs once a day and departs in the morning from Seoul Station.
The O-train reaches speeds of 165 km/h. The exterior of the train symbolizes the beauty of the four seasons in Korea and the interior of the cars conveys their changeability in the mountainous landscape.
V-train
Visually, this train resembles a small dragon of the Baektutegang Mountains, along the valley of which its route runs. The train passes through Puchon, Yangon, Seungbu, and Choram and slows down to 30 km per hour during the most beautiful part of the journey from Puchon to Seungbu so that passengers can enjoy the beautiful mountains.
It is an open-type train and was created especially for tourists – everything except the floor is made of glass.
Seatrain
Tourists can make a comfortable trip around cities on the east coast of South Korea – Gangneung, Tonhae, Samcheok – on a special tourist “seaside” train, all passenger seats in which are oriented towards the sea.
The total length of the route of such a rail tour is 58 km.
Peace Train (DMZ-train)
A trip to Korea, the only divided country in the world, offers you a unique chance to visit the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) on the DMZ train. The train consists of three cars, the interior of each of which is dedicated to a different theme: peace, love, and unity.
This is the only opportunity for tourists to view the scenery after crossing the railway bridge over the Imjingang River.