Annyeonghaseyo!

Another first out of all our firsts, a holiday well-spent in this place where everything is LOVE.

South Korea has made our Christmas holiday extra special. My family never experienced snow and one day I thought – why don’t we try KPOP. Yes, I had no clue at all of what to expect as I don’t watch any Korean dramas or idolize any Korean group. Not that I hate it, I just can’t find time to be on my pyjamas and be hooked. Because I must admit, I’m terrible when it comes to liking something and not standing whole day long. I have a whole household to take care of. But seriously, with what we have seen and encountered, I unexpectedly asked myself, why didn’t I try to watch even just an episode? South Korea is a piece of gem that shines on its own.

Taking this trip was a breath of fresh air. Planning may be a breeze, but I had 2 kids with me and my husband, so I took time to carefully plan so my family won’t waste the beautiful opportunity of exploring Korea’s winter wonders in 12 days.

We had pretty good plans for a two-week adventure in Korea, but it turns out my husband and kids had other ideas—or rather, their schedules did. We squeezed our epic trip into 12 days, so we had to hit the ground running. Our itinerary was like a theme park on clouds with all the fun stuff for the kids. Of course, we threw in a few breaks here and there to avoid turning our feet into rocks. After all, the only one who should be getting sick is the person who decided 12 days was enough time to explore Korea! Oh, we said 2 weeks and not 2 days short!

Korea 12-Day Itinerary

Day 1 & DAY 2: ARRIVAL IN KOREA

It was our first-time flying Asiana Airlines, and we’re glad that the whole trip was smooth. Though we had no choice but to book a flight close to midnight, still it was pretty much a relaxed flight and kids managed to doze off (unlike us grown-ups!). Since we arrived early the next day, we decided to take the long ride, took the train to Courtyard by Marriott Seoul Botanic Park. The hotel is certainly not one of the cheapest you can find as it’s around SGD$250 per night and may not be the most convenient place you’ll stay at, but given that its holiday season, it’s worth every penny.

Myeongdong is a good place to start your 12 days journey. We explore the city, took photos, and even grabbed “Odeng”, or Korean fish cake and other food along the streets of Myeongdong.

Day 3: Gyeongbokgung Palace & Bukchon Hanok Village

Prior to our trip, I already planned to experience what it’s like to wear “Hanbok”, the traditional clothing of Korean people especially back in the old days. Though I don’t watch Korean Novelas, I sure did see a hanbok more than I can tell. And there, I booked through Klook, visited the store and chose the clothing that best suits us. The cost was around SGD $12 per customer for 2.5 hours, with basic hairstyling for women. It was indeed a pleasant experience to actually feel the tradition of Korea by wearing such beautiful dress. My husband and kids also wore matching traditional outfits and we headed to Gyeongbokgung Palace. The palace is architecturally well built, beauty that cascades years of memories. It served as the living quarter of the king. Don’t miss the “Changing of Guards Ceremony”, which happens at 10am and 2pm everyday except on Tuesdays, the palace is closed.

We also visited the neighbourhood of Bukchon Hanok Village. It was a free tour, we strolled for around an hour. Here you can find a number of Korean homes or “Hanok”. Just remember that it’s a normal village, and respect should be given to all the homeowners. We also visited other attractions nearby such as Bukchon Traditional Culture Center and Gahoe Museum.

Day 4: Christmas at Lotte World

This day is when our saviour, Jesus, was born. As we say our prayers and be grateful of the enormous and wonderful works of Christ, we also celebrate this day with our families and relatives. Same as my husband’s, our pure joy is seeing our kids happy. Hence, we chose to celebrate Christmas in Lotte World. It’s a theme park with indoor and outdoor with plenty of rides and/or attractions that you can never finish in a day. Believe, me, my family tried, but with the long queues, we failed. However, at the end of the day, we had so much fun and that is one sweet memory.

For the Lotte World Pass, we got it from Klook as well, and it cost us SGD $45 per person. They also have the Magic Pass to use for attractions that are very popular and have long queues. Price might have changed so it’s best to check your options.

Tip: Lotte World is visited by more visitors during holidays, especially the Christmas season. Once you set your foot in the park (right after the opening), make sure to head straight to the most frequented rides and attractions. Queues are longer in the afternoon. After satisfying yourselves with everything you like to check out, go to the farthest rides and attractions inside the park as most often, people try the ones nearer the entrance first.

Day 5: Namsan Park & Alive Museum

Have you ever written your dreams, secrets or endearment to your loved ones in a lock? We did, and Namsan Park is the place where you can be mesmerized as you walk along the path walks, while being the sweetest or the most secretive person all at ones. Coming here can be by cable car and packages normally come with entrance to N Seoul Tower. We already had able car experiences, so we chose not to ride it and grabbed a taxi instead. Ride was $30 from our hotel. There’s a store you can buy those locks. Going to the park might be a challenge by figuring out on your own, so booking a tour is much preferred.

We also visited the Alive Museum, and the price was at SGD $17 per person including Dynamic Maze Ticket which is also part of the museum. This is a place where you will be able to participate in different artworks. Never thought that kids will have so much fun. And I’m glad to have seen them doing their own stunts and ways, played around artistically with the displays and illusions.

Day 6: DMZ Tour

What does DMZ stand for? It stands for Demilitarized Zone, and it serves as the border for South Korea and North Korea. By coming here, one will have a grasp of the history of Korea, the war and even politics. However, you cannot go and take a personal trip here, YOU MUST BOOK a tour. Taking photos is definitely allowed, but there are rules and regulations you have to follow on photography, waiver will be signed and so you need to read and follow carefully. As for the dress code, there’s none but I advise that you wear decent clothes as respect. There is also a chance of the tour being cancelled. No need to worry as your tour operator will message you as it happens. Though DMZ experience is not something you’d like to miss out, but another option in case it happens is exploring Seoul Zoo.

The tour cost –SGD $92 per person including ride and pick-up from the pick-up point.

Day 7: Alpaca World, Gangchon Rail Park, Nami Island

To manage well our time, we engaged a private car charter for us to easily travel from one place to another especially that we targeted to visit 3 main popular attractions in South Korea. I can vouch for this package as entrance fee for 4 people and charter were all included in the price of SGD $293 when we booked it.

We headed first to see one of the most visited places in South Korea, the Alpaca World. Visitors were amazed including us as we watched the Alpacas run toward the fields. Most of us didn’t miss the moment to take photos. We had the chance to feed the Alpacas as well. Oh dear, it feels good to have seen my boys loving the interaction with those being. Alpacas might be aggressive when they’re hungry, but they don’t hurt, and they just get even more loveable. We also grabbed the chance to take an Alpaca for a walk with us. We paid but it’s worth it. My kids were feeding our, Julie, our Alpaca acquaintance all through out our 10 minutes with her. It is an experience I believe will last a lifetime.

One of the things I personally looked forward to is trying the Gangchon Bike at Gangchon Rail Park. Read a lot about it but trying it during winter makes it more exciting. It was hard to pedal, that’s something our driver already warned us from the beginning. But no pain no gain, right? And I could say it’s pretty worth it, passing through tunnel every tunnel, each has its own theme, making the experience very unpredictable.

Our last stop was Nami Island. Despite the limited time we had, it was still a lovely experience at night. However, let me give you a piece of advice: it’s better to visit when it’s still bright outside. Taking photos at night requires a good camera and some solid photography skills. Nevertheless, seeing and experiencing the place where the famous Korean drama, “Winter Sonata,” was filmed—no matter how unfamiliar we were with it—was truly something special. The hype around it is genuinely understandable and admirable. The beauty of the trees and the surroundings truly highlight the charm of the place.

Feel free to explore the latest Klook offers using the link provided below.

Day 8: Pocheon Art Valley, Strawberry Farm, Pocheon Herb Island

It’s not easy to go to these places we planned out for the day. Hence, we booked through Klook again. Cost of the tour was SGD $325 for 4 people inclusive of transportation, tour guide, and entrance fees.

The tour began at Pocheon Art Valley, a well-known astronomical observatory in Korea, highly recommended for those interested in astrophysics. The valley’s beauty is captivating year-round, including in winter when it is mostly covered in snow. Frankly, we did not get to spend time to roam around and explore the place as we were on tour, else, we should have captured more of the valley.

Our bus headed directly to a Strawberry farm, and the excitement was palpable. As soon as we stepped off, the irresistible aroma of freshly made waffles wafted through the air, instantly captivating our senses. To our delight, the farm had prepared waffles for everyone to relish alongside their mouthwatering strawberries. And let me tell you, they were absolutely divine! We eagerly bought a generous amount to share with our families and, of course, to save some for ourselves. Their unique, delectable jam was a hit, enchanting taste buds of all ages and backgrounds. To make the day even more memorable, we got to pick strawberries right from their fields. It was truly an unforgettable and joyous experience!

Before we called it a day, we grabbed dinner at Pocheon Herb Island, and enjoyed every bit of the displays around the area. Indeed, the place lights up at night that no matter how tired we were, and our feet were giving up, we took considerably numerous photos that we can’t even stop.

Day 9: Elysian Gangchon Ski Resort and Garden of Morning Calm

Package Tour – SGD $467 for 4 people (transportation, tour guide, 1-hour basic ski lesson and entrance fees)

ELysian Gangchon Ski Resort is popular among beginners due to its gentle slopes that are ideal for learning and practicing skiing.

My husband told me that I should plan to go skiing when it’s almost the end of our trip. Not that we are being pessimistic, but skiing is not just a tiresome activity, the risk is high. I was hesitant at first to let my kids try skiing especially we had zero experience and low tolerance to pain caused by fall. Did that fear of mine hinder my family? Obviously, not. But just to give us a peace of mind, we ensured that our trip to Korea was covered with travel insurance, and we made sure that the skiing activity is covered. You can check the article of Food. Sweat. Cheers. titled “Travel Hacks: Lesson Learned, Miles Earned” for more information on travelling.

Visiting the Garden of Morning Calm in Korea was a delightful experience for my family. Indubitably, we were astonished by the stunning displays of lights and the serene ambiance that surrounded us as we strolled through the garden. And in reality, the well-equipped arrangements reminded us of our visit to Pocheon Herb Island, with its magical play of lights and of course, the colours against the backdrop of lush greenery. It was Christmas, and everything else were looking a lot like holidays. Apparently, each corner of the garden seemed to unveil a new surprise, from vibrant floral arrangements to meticulously designed light sculptures. Indeed, it was a memorable evening filled with awe and wonder, creating cherished memories for all of us.

Day 10: Free & Easy, Lotte Mart

It was almost the end our trip, and we wanted to bring back some uncommon and common goodies from Korea for our own consumption and to give to our relatives.

Lotte Mart was our only choice because it has everything we need, from groceries and even appliances and other household must haves, they have it. Not just that you can find a lot of things there, but it is worth mentioning how cheap everything that’s being sold there.

Day 11: Everland

The happiest place on earth – Disneyland. Cliche as it may sound, but Disneyland truly melts the hearts of people of all ages. However, there’s this place in South Korea that you should never miss out. Create Sweet Bliss with EVERLAND.

Everland is considered the largest theme park in South Korea. It’s only 2 hours away from Seoul. Just like our strategy in every theme park we’ve been to, try all the popular attractions the moment you arrived because queues tend to be more unforgiving and intolerable when afternoon comes.

Being the steepest ride in Everland, T-Express will surely move your bones and hurt your throats. This ride is not for the faint-hearted, but for those seeking the ultimate thrill, it is the most exhilarating experience Everland has to offer.

However, the excitement doesn’t stop with the rides. Additionally, Everland offers numerous picturesque areas where guests can capture memories and boost their social media presence. The park is dotted with human-sized displays and cleverly designed photo spots that are perfect for your Instagram or Facebook feed.

We booked a taxi through our hotel concierge, so our kids won’t feel tired right away. And I must say, every penny spent be it in transportation or special passes in our trip were all strategically worth it. Why? Because for us to max out our days spent in Korea without compromising our sleep and rest, we chose to spend more to have a wonderful memory away from chaotic and stressful unnecessary worries. Maybe it’s just us, but for a family with kids, I strongly suggest checking yourselves what matters more to you.

Total cost with private car charter to and from our hotel with entrance fees for 4 people was SGD $380.

Day 12: Departure

12 days came so QUICK! It was time for us to go home and face reality, again. BEAUTIFUL, that’s South Korea. Are we going back? Definitely! And it may seem to be a dream, yet it’s an experience we all want to do over and over again.