Seoul – Day Excursions
- DMZ – De-Militarized Zone
- Everland Theme Park
- Garden of the Morning Calm
- Petit France
- Gangchon Rail Bike
- Nami Island
- One Mount Snow Park
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Destination
Gallery
Sightseeing
- DMZ – De-Militarized Zone
- Everland Theme Park
- Garden of the Morning Calm
- Petit France
- Gangchon Rail Bike
- Nami Island
- One Mount Snow Park
The DMZ is the buffer zone between North & South Korea and is extremely guarded with military and soldiers. It was formed when the Korean peace treaty was signed and the Korean war ended. Both North & South Korea had to pull back the troops from the front line and this line is known as the Military Demarcation Line (MDL). The DMZ is heavily patrolled to protect from intruders and invasions, however; the MDL should not be crossed.
The highlights of DMZ include Panmunjom, 3rd Infiltration Tunnel, Dorasan Station & Dora Observatory.
- Panmunjom is an abandoned village and the Joint Security Area (JSA) that has blue conference buildings which are used by 2 countries during talks and conferences. They stand on the Demarcation Line and both North & South Korean soldiers stand face to face. A strict dress code is followed and visitors need to accompany a group tour to enter these blue premises as it's still a war zone.
- The 3rd Infiltration Tunnel was a secret passage created by North Koreans across the DMZ to invade the South. Travelers aren’t permitted to take their phones or cameras inside as photographs aren’t allowed and it's supposed to be kept in the lockers. Helmets are provided to you since the passage is short in length and one might bump their head in the roof otherwise. Please Note – the passage is a bit steep so while walking down it's easy however a bit difficult while climbing upwards.
- Dorasan Station is a railroad station that at a time connected North & South Korea on the Gyeongui Line. Later both the countries agreed to connect the Gyeongui Line and the railroad line was finally connected to the Demarcation Line. Trains with supplies were used to travel North Korea daily but somehow it was stopped by North Koreans later. One can check the ticket counters and station building.
- Dora Observatory – This observatory is located on the top of Mount Dora providing views of North Korea and the Demilitarized Zone using binoculars from the South. Not everyone shall get views of North Korean people and if you spot one then you are lucky.
No private tours can be conducted here and the minimum group size should be more than 30 people for each tour operator and its needs to be booked well in advance especially for Panmunjom.
It’s the largest theme park in South Korea which is an hour away from Seoul with enticing rides and attractions, gardens, a zoo, a water park, and parades. If you’re a foreigner and you have your passport with you then you might get discounted tickets at the entrance.
Everland consists of 5 unique theme zones – American Adventure, Global Fair, Zootopia, European Adventure, and Magic Land. American and European adventure is exciting for its thrilling roller coasters and rides along with its beautiful European garden.
Zootopia is one of the best wherein you can encounter Pandas, penguins, seals, and many more animals & Birds. Safari World is the best showcasing White tigers and Brown Bears in their surroundings. Here if you pay a little extra you can take a jeep safari for Bear viewing. Even Lost Valley in Zootopia was beyond imagination.
Please be prepared with queues at each point which makes it time-consuming so it's advisable to pre-download the map and decide which areas you surely want to visit. They also have year-round festivals running within the park so it's good to note prior so that you won’t miss the fun.
It’s a bit complicated to reach here by public transportation like bus or trains as while on a train one needs to change 3 or 4 subway lines but if you understand their metro system it's flawless and you won’t get confused reaching there. Taxis are the easiest and fastest way to reach here but it becomes a little expensive.
Garden of the Morning Calm is one of the most beautiful gardens in Korea focusing on the country’s natural beauty and displaying flower arrangements and landscape botanical gardens which will make you fall in love with nature instantly.
This picturesque garden has been a set for many South Korean Drama filming locations. Irrespective of any season you visit – this garden surely has something to offer to its visitors as every season has some festival.
Winter is especially popular amongst other seasons because of its Starlight Garden Festival. During this season and festival, the gardens and flowers are covered with snow and a serene atmosphere, when the night falls these gardens are beautifully lit thus making it a glamourous spectacle. The autumn foliage in the garden is another exceptional spectacle during October & November.
It's an exotic French Cultural Village and a famed attraction along with Nami Island. It’s a French Culture gallery where you would feel the breath of Europe. Petite France is instagramable with its vintage village vibes, colourful yet quaint surroundings, medieval European gardens, Little Prince character surrounded everywhere, mini Eiffel Tower, French windows, and conventional French Homes providing rustic charm.
Many K-Dramas have been shot here like My Love from the Star, Secret Garden, etc
It’s a popular tourist attraction wherein the visitors have to pedal along the old railroad tracks and admiring Korea’s countryside's wonderful scenery as you ride into the wilderness. It’s a total of 90 minutes of experience - where 50 mins are allotted to rail bike ride, 20 mins for resting after the biking experience, and 20 mins for Romantic Train Ride while returning.
As you pedal along, you will come across 4 themed tunnels that are unique and full of creativity which would be enjoyable to every traveler but especially the kids. The last tunnel (4th tunnel) offers a virtual reality display experience wherein the tourists need to wear a VR device over their head and shoot monsters. One needs to pay additional for this experience.
As you arrive at the resting point you can grab Korean coffee and snacks enjoying the beautiful scenery along the river after which you will ride the train.
This pretty island is embroidered with breathtaking gardens and woods, where the walking paths greet the sunrise and sunset. This is the most beautiful gift that Nami Island offers to its visitors. It was named after General Nami who was a notable figure in Korean History who fought many battles but died at 26.
Nami Island is small, peaceful, romantic, and renowned for its Metasequoia lane, Ginko Tree Lane, forest roads with Pine Tree & White Birch Tree paths. It became super famous after the drama “Winter Sonata” being shot here where the romantic settings make the actors fall in love in the show. They have the “Winter Sonata” statue in their memory.
One reaches this island via a ferry or you can also use a Zipline to fly across the river (recommended for the ones who love adventures). It also has a lot of restaurants and entertainment areas wherein you can spend your time, relax and unwind and walk along the waterfront.
It’s a huge indoor winter theme park and located 40 mins away from Seoul. It offers around 100 snow-related activities of which the Dog Sledging Experience is the main highlight.
There’s an ice-skating rink in the centre separated for skaters and sledders, ice-road, bungee jumping, snow-slope sledding. For further excitement, there’s an outdoor ‘Rainbow’ slope for sledging. Most of the activities are included in the price but some are additionally payable like skate rentals and sledging experience. One can spend an entire day here getting the snow feels irrespective of the season.