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(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
Annette W.
(5hr) Heart of Seoul highlights - Namsan & Seoul's largest market
“Amazing knowledgeable guide that I learnt a lot from ”
Lee was a wonderful companion. She explained the history of Seoul and Korea beautifully as we looked around Namsangol Hanok Village. We then went to Namdaemun Market where Lee showed me all the best places to shop and let me see some of those hidden gems like Hair tail Alley and the alley where they sell Knife cut noodles. Lee even took me to a glass shop where I used my prescription to buy reading glasses for a fraction of the price I would pay back home, and it took them only 30 minutes to make. Amazing! I tried hotteok and the most divine dumplings for the first time. We saw Namdaemun Gate and finished the day at Myeongdong Street for some KBeauty purchases. Lee taught me Korean phrases and words I could use and gave me a highly prized sheet of these new words and sayings at the end of the tour. Lee even sent an overview of the day on What’s App. She went beyond the expected and was delightful company. Best day ever in Korea! I cannot thank you enough Lee for everything!
Lee C.
(8 reviews)Thank you very much for the great review. I highly appreciate it. It was so much fun being your compay, and I'm very glad you enjoyed it as much as I did! I hope they like the gifts you bought and the phases will be helpful on the trip. Thank you for the great day again. Enjoy your stay in Korea! :-)
Victoria K.
(5hrs) Seoul highlights with a palace - Gyeongbokgung & Food market
“Excellent tour with Lee!”
Our family very much enjoyed our 5 hour tour with Lee. She had many interesting facts and stories to share and perfectly filled our five hours with interesting stops. Lee had a few surprises for us along the way, keeping us entertained in unexpected ways. I would highly recommend Lee for your tours!
Lee C.
(8 reviews)Hi, thank you so much for coming to the tour. It was very nice to meet you and your family. I had really good time, and I am very glad you liked it too. Hope you can come back to Seoul in the future again! :-)
Matti W.
Inwangsan hiking and Namdamun market
Customized
“Hiking and culture in Seoul!”
this was the 2nd day with Lee. I was really happy that I booked her for 2 days. We started with a small palace and then went to hike .. we were lucky that there were very few people and she knows every inch of these mountains as she is a hike addict .. it was the perfect day, fall colors on the leaves and warm weather for the time .. during the hike, I learned so much about the history and also, Lee's respect for Koreas culture and people .. I felt enriched by the places and stories and of course Lee knows the right places to eat. Again thank you, my second day passed equaly quick but was different all together .. See you very soon Lee and 'tschangmal kamsamnida!' Matti
Lee C.
(8 reviews)Thank you so much for coming to the tour. It was fun to hike with you, and I really appreciate your kindness. :-) Have a nice travel in Korea.
