South Korea and Hawaii - the other side of the globe

Departure from Sofia airport on a Turkish Airlines flight to Istanbul at 09:25. Landing at 10:55. Continuation to Seoul with flight at 16:45. (Air tickets Sofia - Istanbul - Seoul are outside the package price). Overnight on the plane.

Landing at Incheon International Airport in the South Korean capital at 08:40 in the morning. Welcome and transfer to hotel  Courtyard by Marriott Seoul Namdaemun 4*. Breakfast included and free time for refreshments. Subject to availability, check-in can take place immediately. At 12 pm, our sightseeing program starts - we will start exploring the city from the richest and glitziest district, called by locals as the Beverly Hills of Seoul, which is located south of the Han River - Gangnam district. Here we will make a photo stop in front of the Gangnam Style statue dedicated to the infamous song, explore the Bongensa Temple and the COEX Starfield Library. Our tour continues with a visit to Changdong Palace (Eastern Palace) and its beautiful garden. This is the favourite royal residence of the Chasson dynasty and the best preserved of the 5 palaces, now a UNESCO site. Return to the hotel and free time for dinner. Overnight.

After breakfast, we depart for a full-day panoramic tour of Seoul including Gyeongbok-gung Palace, the largest of the 5 palaces built by the Chasson dynasty in the 14th century. If you wish, you can dress up in traditional Korean hanbok costumes and have a photo session in the palace garden. Our tour will continue with Bukchon Hanok district, preserved its ancient appearance, with many authentic facades of the houses of Hanok. Finally, we will take the cable car up to NamsanTower (N-Tower), from where a magnificent view of the megalopolis is revealed. In April the whole hill is covered with the delicate pink blossom of the cherry blossoms. Here we will welcome the sunset before heading back down to the city. In the evening, you can optionally try the famous Korean BBQ at a recommended restaurant. Overnight.

Breakfast and transfer to the train station, where we will take the Korean bullet train to Busan, South Korea's largest and most beautiful port city. (For your convenience, we have arranged for the suitcases to be transported separately, directly to the hotel.) Welcome and tour program in Busan with visit to Dongbaxom Island (the island of camellias), from where you can enjoy the magnificent views of the surrounding area and the iconic Diamond Bridge. You will also see one of the most characteristic buildings in Busan - „APEC House“, built especially for the Asia-Pacific Economic Forum (APEC) summit. Afternoon transfer to hotel LaValse 4* and accommodation. The hotel is centrally located in the city and boasts the best views of night Busan, Yongdo Bridge and Busan Bridge. Check in and free time to explore the port city. We recommend visiting the largest fish market in Korea, where you will see a huge variety of freshly caught fish and seafood. Overnight.

Breakfast and full day city tour. The tour begins with a visit to the Buddhist Hedong Yonggung Temple - unique in that it is built on a cliff overlooking the sea, unlike all the other temples in Korea, located in the mountains. You will walk along Songdo skywalk - A 365-metre path built over the sea, giving the exciting feeling of walking above the waves. Traditional Korean lunch included with a multi-course menu at a local restaurant. The excursion continues with a visit to the cultural village „Gamchon“ characterized by its brightly colored houses terraced on the hills of Busan. Although the settlement was originally established as a Korean War refuge, today it is an amazing outdoor art gallery with its many sculptures, charming cafes, shops and restaurants. It's a favorite spot for Instagram photos with the statue of the Little Prince and his fox. Next up is a visit to central square “BIFF”, as well as Guquet market, offering a wide range of products from food and souvenirs to clothing and electronics. Return to the hotel and free time for dinner. Overnight.

After breakfast we depart for a full day excursion to the area of Gyeongju, a city rich in historical heritage, the site of the UNESCO. Here we will visit temple of Pulgux - considered the most beautiful example of 8th century Buddhist architecture in the Sila era, with its stone staircases symbolizing the path to enlightenment and the exquisite Dabotap Pagoda, declared a national cultural treasure of Korea. The following is a photo stop of the big Waljonggyo wooden bridge 66 metres long, designed in 760 and decorated with traditional Korean symbols. Finally, we will visit  Derungwon complex, at the foot of the Namsan Mountains, preserves 23 ancient tombs of the kings of the Silla dynasty. In the Chonmachong Mound, or „Tomb of the Heavenly Horse“, artefacts and murals have been discovered, offering a rare glimpse into royal life and rituals of the period, including royal treasures - a gold crown, jewellery and funerary offerings. Visitors can enter the tomb to learn details of Korea's rich history.

Breakfast and free time before lunch for a final stroll and shopping for famous Korean cosmetics, fashion garments and symbols of K-pop culture. Afternoon transfer to Busan airport for flight to Seoul and on to Hawaii. (Duration of the second flight 8 hours and 30 minutes, air tickets are not included in the package price). With this flight we will fly 180° meridian in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, where the international date change line crosses and like a «time machine» we will go back one day! We will land in Honolulu on the morning of the same calendar day!!!

Welcome and transfer to the beautiful 5-star hotel complex.  Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach 5*, located on the first line. Accommodation in rooms with partial ocean view. (On request and for an additional fee you can request a room with a frontal ocean view). Check-in starts at 15:00. Time to explore the area of the most famous beach in the world - Waikiki. Afternoon free time to relax and overnight.

Full day tour of Oahu by bus and local guide. During this tour you will see some of the island's most beautiful and secluded beaches, Diamond Head volcano, Hawaii's famous „geyser“ in the Halona Blowhole cliffs, and Oahu's easternmost point, Makapu Lookout, where you are likely to catch a glimpse of whales. On the leeward side of the island, you'll enjoy the scenic view from Kilonani Mauka Lookout of the Nu'uanu Pali Mountains. We continue with a visit to the world's largest pineapple plantation DOLE and the turtle beach on the north side of the island. The tour concludes with a visit to the Polynesian Cultural Center, where you will sample an extensive buffet of local delicacies amid hula dancing. The world's largest Polynesian dance show will be presented on stage, telling a romantic local legend with lots of music, dancing and effects! Return to the hotel late evening and overnight.

Free time for beach and rest. Optional on site you can join a full-day excursion by plane and guided tour in English to the island. Hawaii. The biggest attraction on the Big Island is the Volcanoes National Park, which are still active. Your adventure includes a walk on the lava field that covered Kalapana Village and Kaimu Beach in the 1980s. During the tour you will also visit the Jaggar Museum where you will learn to identify the different types of lava, the Thurston Lava Tunnel, Kilauea Iki Crater, Rainbow Falls and finally a visit to a garden with numerous species of orchids and anthuriums. Return to the hotel late in the evening and overnight.

Free time for the beach, rest or additional excursions. Optional One day excursion including transfers, airfare, entrance fees and English language guide service to the unique island of Maui and the Haleakala Mountains, also known as the „Home of the Sun”. During the tour, ascend to the Visitor Center at Haleakala National Park (3,055 m) where you will observe the unique scenery - huge lava fields and bizarre volcanic rocks in iridescent colors and interesting endemic plants not found anywhere else in the world. In this place, you have the feeling that you are truly on the roof of the world and you will long remember the incredible panoramic view over the clouds, the ocean and the other Hawaiian Islands. You'll also see the picturesque town of Wailuku, the sugar cane plantations that cover the lower parts of the island, the verdant Iao Valley with its mythical rock pinnacle covered in dense tropical vegetation, the charming tourist town of Lahaina and more. Return to the hotel late in the evening and overnight.     

Check out of the hotel and free time for the last beach. This pre-lunch you can visit the historical memorial Pearl Harbor - one of the most important symbols of World War II. Transfer to the airport and fly to Seoul. (Air tickets are not included in the package price). Overnight on the plane.

Landing in Seoul at 17:45, transfer and check-in at hotel  Courtyard by Marriott Seoul Namdaemun 4*. Overnight.

Breakfast at the hotel and free time in Seoul. Check out rooms by 12 pm , you can pay extra for late check out on request. Transfer to Incheon International Airport for return flight to Istanbul at 23:20. (Air tickets are not included in the package price). Overnight on the plane.

Arrival in Istanbul at 05:00 and continuation to Bulgaria with flight at 07:20. Landing in Sofia at 08:35.

End of program.