In November, I flew to Seoul, South Korea, for 9 days and 8 nights. I joined my friends, who had overlapping schedules—some arrived during the first few days, while another friend joined on the fifth day and stayed until the end. I had visited Seoul in 2014 and 2015 with my former colleagues but had not been back since. I was so excited to return to the place where I first experienced autumn.
During one of those eight days, my friends and I took a day trip to Chuncheon to visit Alpaca World, Gangchon Rail Park, and Nami Island. We booked a guided tour via Klook for a hassle-free experience. Keep reading as I share how the guided tour went. Normally, I do not go on guided tours, but this time, I made an exception.
Previously, I shared about the other places we visited on this trip: Bukchon Hanok Village, Changdeokgung Palace Secret Garden, Insa-dong, Namsan Park, Myeong-dong, and Yeouido Hangang Park. I hope you can also check out these posts.
In case you missed it, I wrote about the step-by-step process I followed to get my multiple entry South Korean tourist visa. You can check it out here.
Plane Tickets
I purchased my return ticket to Seoul during Cebu Pacific Air’s anniversary sale in March 2024. The initial ticket cost ₱4,329.30 and included only a 7-kilogram carry-on allowance. I added a 20-kilogram checked baggage allowance for the Seoul leg and two 20-kilogram checked baggage allowances for the Seoul to Manila return flight. I paid an additional ₱3,080 for the prepaid baggage. After adding the baggage, the final price of the return ticket came to ₱7,409.30.
I consider this return ticket a steal, especially given how expensive flights and surcharges are these days. A big thank you to Cebu Pacific Air for consistently offering these ₱1 base fare tickets. This promotion has helped thousands of Filipinos, like me, visit many countries in the airline’s network.
Accommodation
My friends and I stayed at just one accommodation for all 8 nights: Bunk Guesthouse Hostel in Hongdae. We booked a family room with a balcony (for 4 people) for the first 4 nights, then transferred to a twin room with bunk beds for the remaining 4 nights, after some of my friends left for Manila. My share for this 8-night stay was ₱13,243.97. The rate included a simple complimentary breakfast each morning, as well as private toilets and showers inside each room.
I wrote about Bunk Guesthouse Hostel in one of my recent Hostel of the Day features—feel free to check it out here.
Guided Tour
We booked this guided tour through Klook and chose the Alpaca World, Gangchon Rail Park, and Nami Island option from a long list of combinations. Originally, the guided tour cost ₱3,958 per person, but we were able to take advantage of an ₱8,800 flash sale on Klook. In the end, we paid only ₱2,491.33 per person. Thank you, Klook!
The tour included an English-speaking guide, a comfortable coach ride from start to finish, and all entrance fees. Lunch was not included, but our guide, David, helped us organize lunch during the trip. The tour began at 7:00 a.m. in front of KFC near Hongik University Station Exit 9 and ended at the same location around 8:00 p.m.
Alpaca World
We first visited Alpaca World and arrived just in time for the 10:10 a.m. daily alpaca parade. We had the opportunity to interact with and feed the alpacas (which was included in the tour fee). We were also given some time to explore the area and check out other animals, such as deer, birds, snakes, and even a capybara.
Lunch
Our tour guide, David, took us to a spicy stir-fried chicken (dakgalbi) restaurant near Gangchon Rail Park. He placed our orders in advance and made sure the food was ready when we arrived.
We really enjoyed the lunch. The dak-galbi was flavorful, and the side dishes were unlimited, just like at any other Korean restaurant. However, the meal was on the pricier side (touristy pricing), not the usual costs we are used to back in Seoul.
Gangchon Rail Park
My friend and I went on a railbike course with two other tourmates, biking through three tunnels and enjoying the beautiful scenery. We also biked along the Bukhan River, taking in the relaxing views of the South Korean countryside. The course ended at Nanggu Village.
From Nanggu Village, our tour group took the romantic train to the final station, where our tour bus was waiting. This ride was included in the tour fee we paid to Klook.
Nami Island
Nami Island, locally known as Namiseom, is a half-moon-shaped island that became famous because of the Korean drama Winter Sonata. It is a small island that you can visit for a day (or just a few hours) to enjoy a peaceful and relaxing time in nature.
Entry to the island and the ferry ride to and from the mainland are included in the Klook tour fee.
All in all, we had an amazing day surrounded by nature, just outside of Seoul, thanks to this Klook tour. It was a great way to explore South Korea’s scenic countryside and unwind, leaving us with unforgettable memories.
Have you been to these places before? What do you think of them? Are you considering visiting them in the future? If you have any questions or would like to know more, feel free to post them in the comments section below or send them via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. I would be happy to respond! Stay tuned for more upcoming posts about Seoul and South Korea. You can also check out other posts about this Seoul trip under the Seoul 2024 category.
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PS. Photos were taken using my Google Pixel 8 Pro.
