LONELY PLANET'S OFFICIAL ITINERARY INFORMATION
Itinerary: Coast to Coast
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TWO WEEKS / 800KM
From the buzzing streets and flashing neon of Seoul to remote fishing villages, from motel castles to mountain fortresses, from lakes to caves and from ancient tomb treasures to a presidential villa: travelling from the sunset coast to the sunrise coast is a great way to experience the variety on offer in Korea.
Journey through glorious mountain scenery, hike along river valleys, feast on pheasant and duck, and unwind on sandy beaches and in hot-spring spas. Along the way visit the presidential summer villa and admire 1300-year-old treasures from the Baekje dynasty.
From Seoul take the subway to Suwon, hike around the World Heritage 18th-century fortress, eat the best galbi (beef ribs) in the country and lose yourself for hours in the Korean Folk Village. Next stop is near Cheonan at the Independence Hall of Korea which charts the history of the epic but unsuccessful Korean struggle against Japanese colonialism before WWII.
This is followed by two days of historical sightseeing in the Baekje kingdom’s ex-capitals of Gongju and Buyeo.
Next head to Daecheon beach for the best beach and seafood restaurants on the west coast. Cruise around quiet off-shore islands and stay and eat with a fisherman’s family on Sapsido before touring pretty Anmyeondo and watching the sunset from Mallipo beach. Travel inland via Haemi fortress to Daejeon and Yuseong Hot Springs.
Buy ginseng products in Geumsan, and then stay in a W30,000 (US$30) motel castle in Cheongju and dine on black chicken in a mountain fortress. Next day tour the lakeside presidential villa with its own golf course and splendid gardens.
Spot a shy goral antelope in Woraksan National Park, rejuvenate tired limbs in Suanbo Hot Springs, and feast on pheasant. Take a two-hour scenic ferry trip from Chungju across Chungju Lake to sleepy Danyang. From there explore nearby limestone caves and Gu·insa , an amazing temple complex. Go bush in remote Jeongseon where you might see an ox-drawn plough. In Taebaeksan Provincial Park visit the mountain-top Dan·gun altar which honours Korea’s mythical half-bear founder. Finally dive into the East Sea at a beach near Samcheok.
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