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21 May to 6 Jun 2010, 17-days South Korea Trekking (Seoul, Soreaksan & Jirisan National Parks, Gjeongju & Busan)
Rm4900 per pax for Group of 10 pax, Rm4680 (12 pax), Rm4460 (14 pax and above)

Update 14 Apr 2010 - Trip is FULL. There is a price increase to pay for minibus rental to take grroup from Gyeongju to Jirisan National Park, with a stop at our Exit place to keep luggage. Group need only bring trekking stuff for the 2 nghts 3 days trek. For Soreaksan, we will also leave our excess luggage in Sokcho Motel before going on the Soreaksan National Park trek. There are some changes to the itinerary.

Update 9 Feb 2010 - Cost above is based on lower group fares is Rm1030 and taxes Rm670. We are now collecting deposits. Note that if the Group is less than 10 pax, the individual fares of Rm1460 will apply. Yong Lee Min will lead this trip. May is the summer peak travel period. Please let me have your confirmation early so that bookings for National Parks Shelters and accomodation can be made early. These dates are requested by one of my regulars who have been with Yongo on five trips, many of them on treks.

IMPORTANT NOTICE
This is meant to be a "free and easy" adventure trip. Participants should be relatively fit, with a good sense of humour, and above all, have the right attitude for close travel with others through possibly some trying times. Most definitely, this is not a trip for prudes, whiners, fuss-pots, and other similiarly assorted types! We had a couple of those before and it wasn't pleasant for us or them. Although every effort will be made to stick to the given itinerary, ground conditions may change and cause some disruption and/or deviation from the norm. Otherwise, have fun.

  
Jungcheong Shelter Seoraksan NP / Byeoksoryeong Shelter Jirisan NP

This trip is different from my other trips in that we will use public transport i.e. trains, subways, buses and taxis to move about. Cost of private transport is prohibitive and one also has to content with bad traffic jams. We do hire a private van in Gjeongju for a full day and the cost is Rm500. This has been included in the cost. Therefore its essential that participants pack light and preferably use backpacks. I have backpacks to lend if required.

Day 0 Meet KLIA: Meet at KLIA by 900PM Thursday 20 May 2010, for MH flight at 1120 PM (midnight). No need for annual leave on this day.
Day 1 Fri KLIA: Arrive in Seoul at 710AM (Korea is +9 GMT). Easy day today to relax and to wander about the many areas in Seoul, including nearby Jogyesa Temple, Gyeongbokgung Palace and the Folk Museum. Overnight (ON) Seoul.
Day 2 Seoul: Today we visit nearby Insadong Antique Shop Alley, which comes alive on weekends,, well know for its antiques, arts and crafts. We also visit Seoul's twin market of Namdaemun and Dongdaemun. ON Seoul.
Day 3 Sokcho: We bus to Sokcho town 3hrs. This is a small fishing port. We shop for our provisions for the Soreaksan overnight trek. We also leave our excess luggage at the Motel. ON Sokcho.
Day 4 Seoraksan NP: We bus at 6AM 50min up to Baekdamsa (Hundred Pools) Temple, aptly named for the abundance of beautiful pools scattered along the valley. Here we begin our 8hrs/12kms trek into the Seoraksan National Park to our overnight shelter at Jungchong. Note that sleeping bags, stoves and food will have to be carried in. Water is plentiful. Sleeping will be in bunks in proper huts. Places in Jungcheong is limited to 140 trekkers and have to be pre-booked. ON Jungcheong shelter.
Day 5 Osaek Sokcho: We start the day very early to catch the sunrise on top of Daecheongbong 1708m, the highest point in Soreak. Then its down to Osaek village, where one finds Hot Springs pools to soak and recover from our 2 days trek. Total trekking 3.5hrs. We then make our way to Sokcho 1hr. Overnight Sokcho.
Day 6 Samcheok: We bus the scenic coastal road to Samcheok 3hrs, another coastal town. It has one of the most mountainous stretches of coastline in Korea. We also visit Hwanseondonggul Caves with its enormous caverns, streams and waterfalls in the caves. Overnight Samcheok.
Day 7 Gjeongju: In the morning we bus to Gjeongju 5hrs, described as a living museum and a UNESCO listed cultural site. We'll visit the tombs of the Silla kings in Tumuli Park, the town musuem, reputed to be the best in the country for Silla artifacts. We'll go to Bohmun Lake in the evening, a popular resort for local tourist. ON Gjeongju.
Day 8 Gjeongju: A private van will take us to the folk village of Yangdong on the outskirts of Gjeongju. This is a living working village with many centuries old buildings and dwellings. Later we'll visit Bulguksa Temple and Sokuram Grotto that are also on the UNESCO World Heritage list. In the evening we walk about Namsan National Park, which is dotted with hundreds of Buddhist temples and shrines. ON Gjeongju.

 
Soreaksan Mountain Peaks / Daecheongbong 1708m

Day 9 Gurye: We hire a minibus/van 3hr to take Group first to Jungransri village, our Exit point on the Jirisan Trek. Here we take a couple of rooms to store our "left luggage" before proceeding to Gurye. The trail starts near Gurye, one of the gateways to Jirisan National Park, the oldest and biggest National Park in South Korea.
Day 10 Jirisan NP & Byeoksoryeong Shelter: We start the trek to Nogodan and then traverse the ridge of Jirisan National Park running to Byeoksoryeong Shelter with accomodation for 120 trekkers. Note the remarks on day 4 trekking in Soreaksan about food and sleeping arrangements, also applies to Jirisan.
Day 11 Jangtemok Shelter: We'll spend 8:45hrs transversing the ridge of Jirisan and the highest point is 1651m. Our second night shelter is Jangteomok Shelter, capacity 250 pax. The highest peak is Cheonwanbong Peak at 1915m.
Day 12 Back to Busan: We start early, climb up and down Cheonwanbong Peak, and exit at Jungsanri Park Office. We collect our "left luggage" before taking the public buses back to Busan 3hr. Overnight Busan.
Day 13 Busan: Early morning start to visit the famous Jagalchi Fish Market. Then we visit the public bathhouse Dongnae's Heosimcheong, possibly the largest hot springs bathhouse in Asia in nearby Dongnae. We also visit Gukje Market, Busan's equivalent of Namdaemun in Seoul. ON Busan.
Day 14 Bullet Train to Seoul: We board a KTX bullet train to Seoul taking 2:40hr. The cost of this ride is an expensive Rm150 (included in cost) but we get to experience speeds up to 300km/hr! On arrival we take the subway to Suwon, located in the suburds of Seoul. In the evening we visit UNESCO listed Hwasseong Fortress, with its King's Palace and 5km long fortress walls, still very much intact. ON Suwon.
Day 15 Korean Folk Village: Today we spend the day at the Korean Folk Village, which is a tasteful reconstruction of traditional Korean village. There are scheduled shows including a farmer's dance to the sound of gongs and drums, acrobatics and tighrope dance. There are also very good eateries served in traditional village environment. Overnight Suwon.
Day 16 Seoul: In the morning we subway to our Seoul Hotel. We'll visit the UNESCO listed Chengdeokgung Palace and Jongmyo Shrines of the Korea's former rulers. The rest of the day will be free for shopping and browsing the streets of Seoul. Those interested can also proceed to Lotte World, a popular theme park. On our last night, an outing to the Nanta Show is recommended. This world class musical involves the use of ordinary kitchen and household stuff as drums and percussions. Overnight Seoul.
Day 17 Go home: In the morning we take the public transport to Inchon International Airport for the flight home at 1100AM arriving at 435 PM Sunday 6 Jun 2010.

 
Trekking Soreaksan and Jirisan NP

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1. Cost cover airfares, accomodation and travelling to sites mentioned above.
2. In towns, accomodation will be in local budget motels. On the National Parks trek, accomodation will be in mountain huts/shelters.
3. Inter-town travel is covered which will be by trains and public buses. South Korea's public transport is excellent and very modern.
4. Not covered are airport taxes (Rm630 as of 15Apr2010), in-town taxis subways or buses, meals, bicycle rentals, entrance fees to theme parks, museums, etc. and travel insurance.
5. Entrance fees to National Parks, museums and palaces are very reasonable. For example, entrance to Soreaksan NP is W2,600 (Rm10), Jirisan NP is W1,300 (Rm5), Unesco Bulguksa Rm10. Entrances to theme parks are high i.e. Korean Folk Village is Rm60 and Lotte World Rm100.
6. Cost is subject to change depending on fluctuations in exchange rates and/or airfares.
7. A deposit of Rm1005 will be payable to confirm your place.

Email: yongo@streamyx.com or rachelheng123@gmail.com
Phone: Lee Min: 016-220 9033 or 603-4023 8210
Phone: Rachel Heng: 012-352 0868
Address: No 19 Lorong Air Bersih Tiga, Air Panas, 53200 Kuala Lumpur

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