1st DAY: ISTANBUL – SEOUL
We meet with our valued guests at 15:00 in front of the Asiana Airlines counters at the Dış Hatlar Gidiş Terminal of Istanbul Airport. After passport and luggage procedures, we fly to Seoul, the capital of Korea, at 17:20 with Asiana Airlines flight OZ 552. We will spend the night on the plane.
2nd DAY: SEOUL
After our arrival at Incheon Airport at 09:35 local time, we head to Seoul. First, we will visit the "Morning Calm Garden" Arboretum in Gapyeong, South Korea, which hosts some 5,000 plant species, some of which are rare or endangered to recover from the day's fatigue. Then, we will go to Nami Island, famous for its magnificent scenery where the "Winter Sonata" movie was filmed, and depending on the weather, we will have a late lunch either as a picnic or at a local restaurant before returning to Seoul for accommodation. After that, we will visit the N-Seoul Tower, an observatory with a view of Seoul, and check into our hotel for the night.
3rd DAY: SEOUL - BUSAN
After breakfast at the hotel, we leave our large luggage at the hotel and take only the necessities for the next two days as we head to the train station by vehicle. After a 2.5-hour journey by Korea's KTX trains, we arrive in Busan, the second-largest city in Korea. After having lunch at a local restaurant, we will visit Yonggungsa Temple, built by a teacher known as Naong during the Goryeo Dynasty. After a brief stroll in Haeundae Beach, one of the country’s most famous beaches, along with the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) building, we will check in at our hotel for accommodation.
4th DAY: BUSAN
After having breakfast at our hotel, we will visit Gamcheon Culture Village, a village filled with colorful houses, wall paintings, shops, and cafes. Afterwards, we will visit the UN Korean Memorial Cemetery, built in honor of soldiers from 16 countries who lost their lives during the Korean War from 1950 to 1953, and leave flowers in memory of our martyrs. Turkey is the third country here, with 462 soldiers buried, after the U.S. and the UK. After having lunch at a local restaurant, we will enjoy the thrill of being above the sea while riding the Songdo Sea Cable Car from Songlim Park east of Songdo Beach to Amnam Park west of Songdo Beach, enjoying the views of Songdo Beach, Busan Yeongdo, Namhang Bridge, and the rocky shores. Following this, we'll visit Jakalji Fish Market, one of the city’s important tourist centers known for its diverse sea creatures, and return to our hotel for accommodation.
5th DAY: BUSAN - GYEONGJU - SEOUL
After breakfast at the hotel, we head to Gyeongju, a significant portion of which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. First, we will visit the Bulguksa Temple, one of Korea’s most famous temples and a testament to the architectural prowess of the Silla Kingdom and Buddhist beliefs. Then we will visit Cheomseongdae, the oldest astronomical observatory in Asia, built in the 7th century during the Silla period. After completing this tour, we will stroll around Gyongju Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond, a royal palace of the crown prince that presents a fantastic visual feast with its lighting, and after having a late lunch at a local restaurant, we will return to Seoul after approximately 4-5 hours by private vehicle for accommodation.
6th DAY: SEOUL
After breakfast at our hotel, we will first visit a Ginseng shop that sells products made from ginseng, known for its antioxidant properties and ability to help eliminate toxins from the body, and a cosmetic shop of a global cosmetic giant in Korea. Next, we will visit Gyeongbokgung Palace, the largest of the five major palaces built by the Joseon Dynasty in 1395, and Bukchon Hanok Village. After having a late lunch at a local restaurant, you will have free time on Insadong Street where you can buy small souvenirs for your loved ones. Unlike elsewhere where duty-free shopping points are found at airports or border crossings, in this country, they are located within the city. We will visit a Duty-Free Store and return to our hotel for accommodation.
7th DAY: SEOUL - ISTANBUL
We collect our breakfast boxes and head to the airport early in the morning to say goodbye to Korea. We depart for Istanbul at 09:35 on Asiana Airlines flight OZ 551, in cooperation with Turkish Airlines. We arrive in Istanbul at 15:40 Turkish time and part ways until we meet in another organization!