(5hrs) Seoul highlights with a palace - Gyeongbokgung & Food market
Joined 2023
Explore the best of Seoul and taste its food!
Start from Jogyesa Temple in the Insadong, the head temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism.
Continue to Gwanghwamun Square to meet the statues of King Sejong and Admiral Yi Sun-sin.
Visit Gyeongbokgung Palace, the main palace in the Joseon Dynasty.
Continue to Bukchon Hanok Village.
Take the subway to Gwangjang market and taste the local food. :-)
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
Anguk (안국) subway station (line 3), Exit 6 (outside)
Insadong
Visit the most popular area for tourists with lots of traditional goods, restaurants and tea houses
Jogyesa in Insadong
A head temple of Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, originally built in the late 14th century and rebuilt in 1910.
Gwanghwamun squre
In front of Gwanghwamun, the main gate of Gyeongbokgung palace
See the statues of King Sejong the Great and Admiral Yi Sun-sin
Gyeongbokgung palace Gwanghwamun gate
See the interesting guard changing ceremony
* The ceremony doesn't happen when it's rainy
Gyeongbokgung palace
Established in 1395 as the main palace in the Joseon Dynasty
While learn the history of Joseon Dyansty, take some time to look around the palace and admire the architecture.
Bukchon village
One of the oldest villages in Seoul with some Korean traditional houses, Hanok, and nice cafes.
Transportation
We take the subway to Gwangjang market
Gwangjang market
Seoul's oldest covered market
The busy market offers various kinds of local food
Cheonggyecheon stream
The stream is about 10km long. It was gradually covered from 1958 to 1977. It was restored in 2003-2005.
Heunginjimun Gate (Dongdaemun)
First constructed in 1396 as one of the main gates in the Hanyangdoseong Fortress (Seoul city wall) that was built to protect the old Seoul, Hanyang.
Ending Point
Dongdaemun (동대문) subway sation (line 1&4)
Want to personalize this tour?
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Guide fee
Palace ticket
Hotel pick-up
Public transportation (We use the subway to move to Gwangjang market, one ride is about 1,500KRW, ***Cash only)
Food
Travel insurance
All other personal expenses
Tour Important Information
* One group is up to 7 people
* The schedule is subject to change
* I’m not responsible for any loss, injury, accident or/and damage to persons or/and property incurred during the tour.
Important message from the supplier
* Please send me a message before booking, if the date is longer than 1 month before.
* I can work any day unless I have another tour.
* I don't offer a driving service. If you rent a car and driver, I will accompany you in the vehicle. If you drive by yourself I will NOT accompany you.
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
Joined 2023
About Tour Guide Lee C.
Hi. I'm Lee!
I was born and raised in Seoul, and lived in five different countries, Canada, US, Australia, Russia and Germany. I also traveled over 40 countries mostly alone.
I studied Business in Seoul with a year exchange program in US, and completed MBA in Sydney. After MBA I wanted to pursue a career change as a professor with my field experience. I was a Market researcher, Research analyst and Marketer in big companies. Highly paying and stable job. It was what many called a good life.
But I always liked to be in the nature better than the office. I hiked Kilimanjaro summit alone, Annapurna Base Camp alone, Olympus alone, Everest Base Camp, Fuji, Alps alone and many other mountains in the world. (Alone means literally alone or with a guide. In some countries you must hire a guide).
Also I've led a hiking club over 4 years and fly overseas more than 5 times per year and hike.
So I decided to have my own travel agency and operate hiking and city tours. Most of my tours are of food and hiking. Now I can hike even more often, have good food with travelers and practice calligraphy everyday which I love too.
70% of Korea is mountainous and amazingly beautiful. And the food is so yummy!
If you visit Korea, please contact me! Just like I enjoy my hometown, Seoul, I really want others to enjoy the culture and nature too.
Thank you for reading it. Hope to meet you in Korea. :-)
Cheers,
Lee
CREDENTIALS
. English language tour guide for foreign guests (Korea Tourism Organization)
. MBA in Sydney/ Bachelor in Business Administration in Seoul
. Korean language teacher certificate (Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism)
. International TEFL and TESOL Diploma in teaching English (ITTT)
. Mountain leader program (Korean National Park Mountain Safety Institute)
. Solo hiked in Kilimanjaro summit, ABC, Olympus, Alps, and much more
. Group hiked in EBC, Kala Patthar, Fuji, Altai, and much more
. Hiking club leader over 4 years
. Calligraphy competition awards (6 times)
Reviews
Andrew N.
BBQ at the largest meat market in Korea - Private tour
“Amazing Korean Beef”
Absolutely fantastic tour, amazing food. Lee was also great at answering lots of non-tour related questions, some of which saved us lots of time. Five stars.
Lee C.
Thank you very much for the kind review. It was really nice to meet you, and I'm very glad you enjoyed the tour and food. On the day we met, I also got the same ice cream you had in the convenient store. Hahaha. I hope you enjoyed your stay in Seoul, and also hope next time you can stay longer here. :-) Have a wonderful day!
Jonathan H.
(5hrs) Seoul highlights with a palace - Gyeongbokgung & Food market
“Great time even in a down pour!”
Lee was great it was absolutley pouring rain in the morning and I wanted to cancel but she assured ne we could make it work and I am very glad we did. All the sights and scenes where great gut honestly Lee was the highlight she was full of knowledge and insite into Seouls history and culture and she was very freindly she even brought a traditional board game for us to play on one of the breaks.
Lee C.
Thank you very much for the review even though it was few months ago we met. I remember it was rainy, but you, your wife and I still had fun walking in the city! I appreciate you used this platform this time, so I could show my hometown. I hope you had a great stay in Korea, and you can visit here someday again. Have a wonderful day. :-)
Jonas T.
Easy hiking (Ansan, Inwangsan, Achasan or any other)
“Spectacular views: peaceful hike with knowledgeable and easygoing guide! ”
We give Lee our highest recommendations: easygoing and knowledgeable, able to answer all the questions we had about Korea and explain in a way that was much more interesting than the usual guide does it. The hike is moderate so do wear good shoes- we’re glad we brought our hiking shoes with good grip. Ending in the quiet and cosy west village was perfect after descending from the summit. By far the best guide we had in Korea!
Lee C.
Thank you very much for coming to the hiking and great review. I really appreciate it. I'm glad you enjoyed the mountain and the village. It was very nice to talk with you and him. I learned a lot from you during the conversation. Thank you! :-) Today, it was rainy a bit in the mountain, so it was even better we had good weather on the day. Thank you for your kindness abd everything. Enjoy your trip, and have a wonderful stay in Korea. :-)
$500/ per group
More tours by Lee C.
(3hrs) Gyeongbokgung palace & Seoul highlights walking tour
Explore the best of Seoul! Start from Jogyesa Temple in the Insadong area, the head temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. Continue to Gwanghwamun Square and see the statues of King Sejong the Great and Admiral Yi Sun-sin. Visit Gyeongbokgung Palace established in 1395 as the main palace in the Joseon Dynasty. Continue to Bukchon village, one of the oldest district in Seoul.
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I love hiking! I hiked a lot of mountains in the world alone, and I've led a hiking club over 4 years. Now, I want to share this beautiful nature with foreign visitors! These are all easy trails. You can choose one of them. If you want any specific mountain, please let me know. I usually hike Ansan, Inwangsan or Achasan mountain. I don't hike fast as I love to feel trees and mountains. I'm sure once you hike with me, you'll like hiking in Korea as much as I do!
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