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 - Yongyeon Pond, near our starting-point
Yongyeon Pond, near our starting-point
Seoul Private Tour - complex eastern fortifications
complex eastern fortifications
Seoul Private Tour - King Jeongjo's throne in the mini-palace
King Jeongjo's throne in the mini-palace
Seoul Private Tour - strolling along the long wall, with 1700s stories
strolling along the long wall, with 1700s stories
Seoul Private Tour - King Jeongjo's mother shown in the palace
King Jeongjo's mother shown in the palace
Seoul Private Tour - the eastern water-outlet gate
the eastern water-outlet gate
Seoul Private Tour - spectacular main altar of Dragon-Pearl Temple
spectacular main altar of Dragon-Pearl Temple
Seoul Private Tour - West King of the Dragon-Pearl Temple
West King of the Dragon-Pearl Temple
Seoul Private Tour - Bodhisattva painted on a dead tree!
Bodhisattva painted on a dead tree!
Seoul Private Tour - Mountain-spirit painting of Dragon-Pearl Temple
Mountain-spirit painting of Dragon-Pearl Temple
Seoul Private Tour - Royal Tomb of King Jeongjo, a UNESCO Heritage Site
Royal Tomb of King Jeongjo, a UNESCO Heritage Site
Seoul Private Tour - entrance of the Korean Folk Village
entrance of the Korean Folk Village
Seoul Private Tour - Folk-Shamanic spirit-guardian poles
Folk-Shamanic spirit-guardian poles
Seoul Private Tour - Yongyeon Pond, lit-up in early evening
Yongyeon Pond, lit-up in early evening
Seoul Private Tour - Yongyeon Pond, near our starting-point
Yongyeon Pond, near our starting-point

Suwon Hwaseong Castle and More, all-day by bullet-train

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

Joined 2022

David a. M.
5.00 / 5
(16 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!
8 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 11 people

This tour covers the best sights of historic Suwon City: the Hwaseong Castle (a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site!) with its towers & mini-palace, walking along the great wall. We will then have an option on what to visit in the remaining time (after a lunch?): either the very charming and authentic Korean Folk Village, *or* the Royal Tombs of that castle's builders (another UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site!) and the Dragon-Pearl Temple that has a few great & interesting artworks.

Itinerary

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

09:00 AM

Meeting Point

your hotel lobby, or Seoul Train Station lobby

09:20 AM

Seoul KTX Train

Depart from your hotel in Seoul, take KTX bullet-train to Suwon Station (takes 30 minutes; I will buy the tickets in-advance).

10:20 AM

Hwaseong Castle

Arrive in Suwon City, begin seeing the Hwaseong Castle at its North Gate.

11:20 AM

Hwaseong Castle Wall

Walk down the great wall past towers with views & stories, to the Palace.

12:30 PM

Hwaseong Castle Palace

Tour the Palace with expert guidance.

01:30 PM

Lunch, or keep going to next

Option of great Korean Lunch in nearby restaurant (each pays for their own), or we just keep going on snacks, if you wish. We then take a taxi to the nearby Korean Folk Village, OR to the Royal Tombs and associated Buddhist Temple.

02:30 PM

Korean Folk Village, OR the Royal Tombs and associated Buddhist Temple.

We tour the Korean Folk Village, OR the Royal Tombs and associated Buddhist Temple -- it's your choice.

04:30 PM

Suwon KTX Station

We return via taxi to the Suwon KTX Train Station, take 30-minute ride back to Seoul.

Ending Point

Seoul Train Station, or your hotel (in Seoul)

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

KTX bullet-train tickets, round-trip

Entrance tickets to the Palace

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

Taxi fares (estimate $40 or 60,000 KRW)

Lunch, snacks, drinks

Tour Important Information

If train-tickets are sold-out, we can't do this -- so I need as much advance notice as possible, to secure tickets for us (especially on weekends) (they go on-sale a month in-advance). KTX train-tickets are included in the price.

This tour involves a lot of walking, so make sure to wear comfortable shoes. It cannot be done for those with serious mobility problems.

We can move faster and see more, or go slower, taking it easy to enjoy (including a lunch of great K-food) --- it's your option, according to your own travel style; I am very flexible. Whole tour could be longer or shorter, as suits you.

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
(16 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

An American professor with enormous experience

David has been an incredible guide for our three days we stay in Seoul, where he took us through deep experiences and teachings about this incredible nation and resilience. His vast knowledge and decades residing in Korea, has given him such acknowledge that made him become a professor and writer of several books about Korean people. Don't tho k twice to hire him as your guide in Korea.

Alfonso S.

David a. M.

Thanks for the kind words, Alfonso -- I really enjoyed showing your family around! I hope that you all return to Korea someday.... :-) David

All you need to know about Seul

David was a perfect guide that answered all our questions about Seul. Took us to the nicest places and show us really special ones. We are glad Elle could be our guide! Thanks David.

Rocío B.

David a. M.

I really enjoyed guiding your group, and am glad you got so much value out of these tours. I hope you return to Korea for more, someday! David

A real American profesor in Korean culture

It was so incredible to find out the decades on experience and studies that David has cultivated and even published about Korea history, customs and culture, that we have had the best three days in Seoul in company of this loving living Profesor. We had such a magnificent experience and learned so many aspects of this wonderful people and their history that we are going back home with so much information and loving experiences that made this trip memorable thanks to David. You are a great guide and even more an incredible unique human being. Thank you for being who you are with us.

Alfonso S.

David a. M.

I really enjoyed guiding your group, and am glad you got so much value out of these tours. I hope you return to Korea for more, someday! David

Want to Personalize?

$395/ per group

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