GoWithGuideFind your perfect tour guide at GoWithGuide. Relax and cherish unforgettable tours with loved ones. Create personalized tours for a truly memorable trip!
GoWithGuide
GoWithGuideFind your perfect tour guide at GoWithGuide. Relax and cherish unforgettable tours with loved ones. Create personalized tours for a truly memorable trip!
Seoul Private Tour - Sajik Park's Joseon-Dynasty Altars to the Earth and Harvest
Sajik Park's Joseon-Dynasty Altars to the Earth and Harvest
Seoul Private Tour - Lecturing the story, at the large modern shrine for Korea's Founding-King Dangun.
Lecturing the story, at the large modern shrine for Korea's Founding-King Dangun.
Seoul Private Tour - Korea's mythic Founding-King Dangun, inside the shrine.
Korea's mythic Founding-King Dangun, inside the shrine.
Seoul Private Tour - Grand View of Inwang-san as we stroll up by the City Fortress Wall.  We are going to the mid-slope of the left part!
Grand View of Inwang-san as we stroll up by the City Fortress Wall. We are going to the mid-slope of the left part!
Seoul Private Tour - With the German Embassy Tour-Group at the front gate of the Shamanic Complex, 2019.
With the German Embassy Tour-Group at the front gate of the Shamanic Complex, 2019.
Seoul Private Tour - the "Benevolent King" temple/shrine complex of Inwang-san, the most active site of Korean Shamanism for thousands of years.  Note the "Benevolent King" natural-statue itself, upper-left.
the "Benevolent King" temple/shrine complex of Inwang-san, the most active site of Korean Shamanism for thousands of years. Note the "Benevolent King" natural-statue itself, upper-left.
Seoul Private Tour - Interior main Altar of the Guksa-dang National Spirit Shrine!
Interior main Altar of the Guksa-dang National Spirit Shrine!
Seoul Private Tour - The utterly weird "Immortal Rocks" there, worshipped 24-hours-per-day -- I will explain.
The utterly weird "Immortal Rocks" there, worshipped 24-hours-per-day -- I will explain.
Seoul Private Tour - Evocative wall-painting of a sacred tiger & pine, on the way up.
Evocative wall-painting of a sacred tiger & pine, on the way up.
Seoul Private Tour - At the end, enjoying one of the best sweeping views of Seoul city anyone ever sees!
At the end, enjoying one of the best sweeping views of Seoul city anyone ever sees!

Royal & Shamanic Shrines of Benevolent King Mountain

Art, Culture, & Historical
Seoul Tour Guide - David a. M.

Joined 2022

David a. M.
5.00 / 5
(11 reviews)
Identity Verified
Interview-Based Quality Checks
GoWithGuideFind your perfect tour guide at GoWithGuide. Relax and cherish unforgettable tours with loved ones. Create personalized tours for a truly memorable trip!Seoul
GoWithGuideFind your perfect tour guide at GoWithGuide. Relax and cherish unforgettable tours with loved ones. Create personalized tours for a truly memorable trip!English (Native), Korean
GoWithGuideFind your perfect tour guide at GoWithGuide. Relax and cherish unforgettable tours with loved ones. Create personalized tours for a truly memorable trip!4 hours
GoWithGuideFind your perfect tour guide at GoWithGuide. Relax and cherish unforgettable tours with loved ones. Create personalized tours for a truly memorable trip!Private tour (only you and David a. M.)
GoWithGuideFind your perfect tour guide at GoWithGuide. Relax and cherish unforgettable tours with loved ones. Create personalized tours for a truly memorable trip!Up to 15 people

Would you like to see some scenic sites that are "truly Korean" and yet quite unusual? This tour is really "off the beaten path" but is also right above downtown Seoul, on Mt. Inwang-san, Seoul's center of Shamanic practices, and a park with relics of the Joseon Dynasty's royal & spiritual-nationalist heritage. These are rarely-seen yet fascinating sites overlooking the busy modern power-centers. This unique walking-tour climbs a few steep slopes on paved paths, but it's worth it!

Itinerary

This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!

09:30 AM

Meeting Point

Gyeongbok-gung Metro Subway Station, your Hotel lobby, or other.

09:30 AM

Sajik Royal Park

I will show you around Sajik Park, including the Joseon-Dynasty Royal Altars to the Earth and Harvest, and give orientation-intro to this highly sacred mountain.

10:00 AM

Founding-King Dangun Shrine

Then we will visit the large modern shrine for Korea's ethnic-founder King Dangun just up behind the Park, and learn about his myth and its continuing modern significance for uniting the spirits of all Koreans.

10:30 AM

Seoul's City Wall, with great views

Then we will proceed to stroll for about 30 minutes up along the old city fortress wall to the Shamanic complex of Inwang-san, the very rocky mountain just west of the main Palace -- stopping three times to enjoy the photogenic views.

11:00 AM

Inwang-sa the

We tour the "Benevolent King" temple/shrine complex of Inwang-san, the very rocky mountain just west of the Palace, which has been the most active site of Korean shamanism for thousands of years. We will see the mystic Seon-bawi rocks, the Guksa-dang National Spirit Shrine, several examples of active outdoor shamanic shrines, and stand on top of a giant boulder for one of the best views of Seoul there is. I will fully explain all, and tell several great stories from long-ago. We just might see some live-action Shamanism happening right in front of us - or we may not - you never know!

01:10 PM

Back Down to Dongnip-mun Metro Subway Station

At 3 hours 40 minutes in, we will start descending the west side of the mountain, finishing at 4 hours by the major highway there. I will get a taxi for you to your hotel or next destination, as you please.

Ending Point

Dongnip-mun Metro Subway Station, your Hotel lobby, or other.

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

GoWithGuideFind your perfect tour guide at GoWithGuide. Relax and cherish unforgettable tours with loved ones. Create personalized tours for a truly memorable trip!
What‘s included

guiding fee only

GoWithGuideFind your perfect tour guide at GoWithGuide. Relax and cherish unforgettable tours with loved ones. Create personalized tours for a truly memorable trip!
What‘s not included

transport to/from if-needed, snacks and drinks (there is a small supermarket halfway!)

Tour Important Information

I am a well-known expert on both Korean Buddhism, Shamanism and Korea's folk-religion traditions, and will give a fascinating tour! You will learn a lot about both Confucian & Shamanic beliefs & practices, and see some amazing photo-perfect sights!

Our walking-tour will conveniently meet and finish at Metro subway stations. As the shrines are built on a very steep slope, some uphill walking is necessary on cement stairways, roads and paths; but it's worth it! This tour can meet on any day at any time at the Station, or I can pick you up at your hotel.

Cannot be done on rainy days

Important message from the supplier

GoWithGuideFind your perfect tour guide at GoWithGuide. Relax and cherish unforgettable tours with loved ones. Create personalized tours for a truly memorable trip!

I do this full-time now, any day -- but only in Spring & Autumn.

Cancellation Policy

  • GoWithGuideFind your perfect tour guide at GoWithGuide. Relax and cherish unforgettable tours with loved ones. Create personalized tours for a truly memorable trip!
    Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
  • GoWithGuideFind your perfect tour guide at GoWithGuide. Relax and cherish unforgettable tours with loved ones. Create personalized tours for a truly memorable trip!
    50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
  • GoWithGuideFind your perfect tour guide at GoWithGuide. Relax and cherish unforgettable tours with loved ones. Create personalized tours for a truly memorable trip!
    No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
Seoul Tour Guide - David a. M.

Joined 2022

David a. M.
5.00 / 5
(11 reviews)
Identity Verified
Interview-Based Quality Checks

About Tour Guide David a. M.

I have been a Professor of Korean Cultural Tourism in Seoul, and a Tour-guide, Lecturer and Author on Traditional Cultural Sites, especially religious ones, on the high-end, for 25 years. Wrote the 1996-7 edition of Lonely Planet's KOREA guidebook!

Reviews

A Full Day and Then Some...

Dave is a wealth of knowledge about Korea and its history. Also about modern day Seoul. This introduction was well worth the time and money. The day was well organized and even during a difficult weather day, David got us through the city and provided good links between current day and historical.

Jeanine B.

David a. M.

Thanks Jeanine; I really enjoyed doing this with you! We had a fascinating day, despite the weather... I hope you return someday! David

David is your best option at Seul

What an extraordinary guy David is You will have an amazing time with him. He is friendly, flexible and know Korea better than the locals he is an encyclopedia David is always attentive to solve, explain and surprise you. it was our highlight in Seul.

Carlos S.

David a. M.

Thanks Carlos; I really enjoyed doing this with you! We had a fascinating day... I hope you return! David

Want to Personalize?

$445/ per group

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