From Soul to Seoul – Our 11 Days Travel Itinerary in South Korea (Jeju-do) Part 2

I have received several e-mails/ messages requesting for my Korea trip itinerary and this is why I've decided to put up a blog  (Small World) to compile and share my past travel experiences with my friends and colleagues.

I traveled to Seoul & Jeju Island, South Korea in January 2013 just because I wanted to experience snow and winter sonata. Honestly, I don’t think January is the best time to travel to South Korea because it was damn freaking cold.  It’s always below 5 degrees and highest temperature in the day can be only -5 degree. But I guess it was all worthy for the beautiful snow and skiing adventure. We wore long johns, hoodies and on top of it, another layer of pullovers and winter jackets for the 11 days winter trip in South Korea.  It was so cold that I refused to take photos as I need to remove my hand gloves.

We did a lot of research beforehand and for this trip, we (myself and Camel) took Malaysia Airlines flight from Penang – Kuala Lumpur – Seoul Incheon and here’s what we did for our entire 11-days journey (17 January 2013 - 27 January 2013) in Korea:  <Seoul – Jeju Island – Naminara Republic - Seoul> 

Please click here for our detailed travel itinerary in the city of Seoul (Part 1) 
Please click here for you to download our complete 11D10N travel itinerary in PDF.  

Day 1: 17 January 2013 – Depart from Penang – Kuala Lumpur (KLIA)

Day 2: 18 January 2013 
KUALA LUMPUR / SEOUL  - Kuala Lumpur – Seoul (Incheon International Airport) 
Deoksugung Palace (changing of guard ceremony at 11.00 a.m.) - Gyeongbokgung Palace - Changdeokgung (Palace) - Myeongdong Night Market (**We bought the Integrated Pass Entries to: GyeongbokGung, ChangdeokGung (inclusive secret garden) and Changyeonggung  priced at 10,000 KRW/pax) 

Day 3: 19 January 2013 
SEOUL / NAMI ISLAND – Took bus to Insadong (Tour bus stop near Tapgol Park) at 9.30am.followed by shuttle bus departing from Insadong to Nami Island - Sungnyemun Gate (**Round-trip bus fare cost 15000 KRW/pax / (for integrated entrance ticket to Nami Island and ferry + roundtrip bus fare + entry visa about 23,000 KRW/pax)
Advanced reservation required (Enquiries at: +82-2-753-1247) 

Day 4: 20 January 2013 
SEOUL / JEJU ISLAND – Took 08.10 a.m. flight from Gimpo to Jeju Island via Jeju Air – check-in Jeju Hiking Inn - Love Land (Jeju Sex and Health Museum 18SX) – Teddy Bear Museum - Seongeup Folk Village - Cross by Bijarim Road - Hallasan National Park - Jusangjeolli Cliff of Jungmun - Jeju Stone Park

Day 5: 21 January 2013 
JEJU ISLAND - Sunrise Peak (Seongsan Ilchulbong) UNESCO Heritage - Mysterious Road/ Dokkaebi Road - Yongduam (Dragon Head Rock)  - Trick Art Museum – Dongmun Traditional Market – Free & Easy 

Day 6: 22 January 2013
JEJU ISLAND / SEOUL - Free &Easy - Took 12.20 p.m. flight from Jeju Island to Gimpo via Jeju Air  - Mt. Namsan (NSeoul Tower + Teddy Bear Museum + Locks of Love) Namsan Cable Car 7,500 KRW/ round trip/pax

Day 7: 23 January 2013
SEOUL – Jongmyo Royal Shrine (15mins walk from Changdeokgung) - Samcheong-dong street (shopping) - Bukchon Hanok Village – Samcheongdong area - Dongdaemun - Gwangjang Market (to taste local food) 

Day 8: 24 January 2013 
SEOUL – Jisan Forest Resort (free shuttle bus) - Gwanghwamun Square at nightfall (Statue of Admiral Yi Sun-Shin) 
Click here for details: http://www.jisanresort.co.kr/eng/index.html 
**Tips: please avoid weekend

Day 9: 25 January 2013 
SEOUL – Insadong Area -Ssamziegil Cultural Art Building - Insadong's Tourist Information Center and and Myeongdong Tourist Information Center (to experience Korean Hanbok) - Myeongdong Market -Myeongdong Cathedral for Korean Drama "You're beautiful" addicts - Ewha Woman’s Univ. Station (Sinchon) for dinner and shopping 

Day 10: 26 January 2013 
SEOUL – Cheongyecheon Stream - Statue of Admiral Yi Sun-Shin and King Sejong at Gwanghwamun Square - Dongdaemun- Korea House - Namsangol Hanok Village - Shopping at Lotte Mart (Seoul Station) 

Day 11: 27 January 2013 
SEOUL / KUALA LUMPUR / PENANG - Depart from Seoul (Incheon International Airport) - Kuala Lumpur (KLIA) - Penang 

Jeju - this island has stunning beauty, weird attractions that money can't buy!

Jeju - this island has stunning beauty, weird attractions that money can't buy!

Jeju - this island has stunning beauty, weird attractions that money can't buy!

A LEGEND - "Grandfather stones" are mysteriously everywhere all over the island!

World Wonder of Nature 

Jeju Island, also known as the “Island of the Gods” was our second destination for this trip. We woke up as early as 4.00 a.m. in the morning to catch our flight from Gimpo International Airport to Jeju Island. The night before, we informed Mrs. Yim (the Guesthouse owner) that we will be departing to Jeju Island the next day early in the morning. Jeju Island seems to be filled with myths and legends and the island itself is prominently known as the island of three abundances. The three things which are abundant in Jeju are Seokda (rocks), Pungda (wind), and Yeoda (women). Jeju Island is a product of the volcanic eruptions of Hallasan, so all over the island, you'll see crazy lava formations.

Jeju Island is famous for its most famous residents - the women divers!

Something famous in Jeju

Like most tourists, we made visits to the Yongduam Dragon Head Rock situated on the coast of Jeju island, where the Dragon King who – on the search for the Elixir of Life, once got shot by an arrow and fell into the sea and the Songsan Sunrise Peak lies in the middle of Jeju island, one of the popular tourist attraction sites as well, which Kah Boon took the effort to climb to the peak of the mountain. Jeju is quite famous for a few things, and from my experience in Jeju Island, it seems as though their oranges and Jeju statues (Old Grandfather stone) hold the top spots in Jeju. I have realised that the Jeju statues (also known as “Dolhareubang” a word originated from “HaraBaragan” made up of “Hara” <keep watching, observe> and “Baragan” <objects> in Mongolia) can be found everywhere on the island!  Overall, it was beautifully scenic and I was impressed with the sights we visited. Our trip in Jeju Island ended with the great nature memories.

Teddy Bear Museum in Jeju

Teddy Bear Museum in Jeju

Teddy Bear Museum in Jeju

Teddy Bear Does Gangnam Style: Oppa-Teddy Style

Trick Art Museum - Sometimes your eyes would trick your own mind

Trick Art Museum - Sometimes your eyes would trick your own mind

Trick Art Museum - Sometimes your eyes would trick your own mind

Trick Art Museum - Sometimes your eyes would trick your own mind

18SX - Jeju Sex and Health Museum

Feel free to visit this site to learn more about Jeju Island: http://english.jeju.go.kr/ 

JEJU Island must-eat-food: 1.Hallabong Orange  2. Gigantic Sausage

My tasty experience

Air Itinerary Details: 
Malaysia Airlines: Penang - Kuala Lumpur (KLIA) – Seoul (Incheon International Airport) / Seoul (Incheon International Airport) - Kuala Lumpur (KLIA) - Penang

Jeju Air: Gimpo International Airport (Domestic Terminal) - Jeju-do (Jeju International Airport) /Jeju-do (Jeju International Airport) - Gimpo International Airport (Domestic Terminal) 

Accommodation:  
Jeju Island - Jeju Hiking Inn 
e-mail: jeju@hikinginn.com 

Local Transportation:  
Seoul (Gimpo Airport) – Jeju Island 
How to get there:  Took domestic flight from Gimpo to Jeju Island via Jeju Air
Duration: 1 hour 5 minutes
Departure Gimpo - Jeju: 20 Jan 2013 -  08:10 a.m.- 09:15 a.m.
Departure Jeju – Gimpo : 22 Jan 2013 – 12.20 p.m. – 13.25 p.m. 
Fares total: 79800 KRW/for return tickets/person inclusive of tax/fee/charge 
Click here for e-booking: http://www.jejuair.net/jejuair/ko_EN/main/main.jsp\ 

Entrance Tickets:
- Jusangjeolli Cliff of Jungmun (Jeju) - 2,000 KRW/person 
- Jeju Stone Park (Jeju) - 5,000 KRW/person
-  Sunrise Peak (Seongsan Ilchulbong UNESCO Heritage Jeju) – 2,000 KRW/person 
- Trick Art Museum (Jeju) – 8,000 KRW/person 
- Sungnyemun (Gate) – FOCSeongeup Folk Village (Jeju) – FOC
-  Dongmun Traditional Market (Jeju) – FOC
-  Hallasan National Park (Jeju) - 1,800 KRW/person   
- Mysterious Road/ Dokkaebi Road (Jeju) - FOC
-  Yongduam (Dragon Head Rock  in Jeju) -  FOC
-  Love Land (Jeju Sex and Health Museum 18SX) -  9,000 KRW/person 

Car Rental in Jeju Island  
Rental dates: 20 Jan 2013 – 22 January 2013 (3 days) 
Car type: I301.6 (Gasoline) 
Total Charge: 68,400 KRW for 3 days
 Click here for details/ bookings: http://www.avis.com/car-rental/location/ASP/KP/Jeju
*Reminder! Bring along your international driving license

This island has stunning beauty

Feel and smell the real hanok

Traveling on your own without any tour guides has its own excitement and fun. In these 11 days, we got lost, we went to random places and we made last minute changes to our itinerary. Every day was a new adventure day with getting lost and finding our way.

Till we meet again, Seoul! Blogging about it makes me misses Seoul but I will definitely be back again! Wish I could go back for the second visit. Perhaps I should plan a trip in the middle of March/April for sakura!

If you have any enquiry regarding this trip/travel itinerary of mine, you are welcome to leave me a message here. 

Read more about our travel experiences @ South Korea: 
From Soul to Seoul – Our 11 Days Travel Itinerary in South Korea (Seoul) Part 1

“Travel brings power and love back into your life” – Rumi  

Welcome to Small World! This blog is not a travel agency, but rather a personal site which allows me to share my past travel experiences in a straightforward and far-reaching way. I often made great use of other peoples travel blogs and sites every time I plan for my travel itinerary as they often contained most updated information and invaluable resources from their past travel experiences.  I hope that you will find every piece of information & images contained within my blog handy and useful. Thank you very much for reading my post(s) and feel free to leave a comment/testimonial or click "Like/Share" if you love reading them all. xoxo The writer is a passionate traveler who enjoys speaking to young keen travelers about the freedom to get cultured and to taste the fullness of life. Feel free to contact the writer if you need any travel advice, guidance or tips or if you have any burning questions with regards to your upcoming trip(s)/ journey 

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