Solo Travel in South Korea: Ultimate Cherry Blossom Guide for Independent Travelers

 I got introduced to South Korea through the globally loved 'Squid Game'. I had never watched anything remotely Korean before that. And what an introduction it was. I was clearly blown away by the show! And then my tryst with the world of K dramas and everything Korean began! From Crash Landing on You, My Name to Descendants of the Son, What's wrong with Secretary Kim to It's Okay to not be Okay...I was completely hooked on. The more I saw the breathtaking beauty of the Korean landscape and background, not to mention the unbelievably beautiful and perfect-looking Korean stars, the more I strengthened my resolve to visit this spectacular country. 

I finally took the big leap and decided to travel in the innocent and bountiful cherry blossom season. This was a big step for me, since I hadn't traveled internationally since 2019! I decided to research and plan my itinerary well in advance, taking the help of a tour company. After a whole month of planning, from deciding on the dates when I could spot and experience cherry blossoms in full bloom to deciding on the hotels, I finally booked my long awaited cherry blossom trip from 30th to 7th April 2025.

After a long night journey via Cathay Pacific and a 1 hour stop in Hong Kong, the flight slowly started to make its way into South Korea.

I was mesmerized by the first glimpse of the blue waters and the tiny roads and structured visible from up above! I couldn't contain my excitement at seeing my long-awaited destination so close!

After braving an hour-long queue to clear immigration, I finally came out, delighted to see the driver waiting for me. I enthusiastically boarded the cab and made my first inroad into Seoul. An important tip here: the best decision I made was to pre-book my airport transfer through the Indian travel agency. Everything was hassle free, since I had a driver and car waiting for me to take me to my hotel. It's always best to pre-book your airport transfer. One can book it through KLOOK.

Having taken on a tiring, overnight journey, I decided to freshen up and rest for a while upon reaching the hotel. The hotel, Lotte City at Guro Digital district is a classy, 4 star hotel, with excellent room amenities, and views of the busy streets from the room. Guro Digital district is a convenient location for a hotel in Seoul, albeit a little quiet. If you are looking to be close to a bustling place, then I would suggest hotels in Myeondeoung. The Lotte City hotel in Guro-ji is also a good choice, it being a 7 minute walk away from the subway station at Guro Digital Complex and Line 2, which goes to areas such as Hongik University station and Gangnam.

It was 4 PM by the time I checked into the hotel. After resting for a couple of hours, I decided to spend the rest of the evening checking out the Myeondeoung Night market, that was so famous. After spending 15 minutes trying to locate the subway (yeah, I know..it did take me some time to use the Naver map), I finally managed to take the train to Eul-Jiro, which is a 5 minute walk away from Myeondeoung. A tip here: Naver map is a must-have while navigating South Korea, since Google map does not work most of the time.

I was spell bound by the sight of the night market. It was bustling with timeless energy - an energy that welcomes you and wraps you up in its embrace. It felt like home to be there, and not alone in a foreign country. I decided to explore the market at my own leisurely pace, taking in the sights and sounds one at a time. The most amazing thing about the night market is indeed the food stalls - selling everything from octopuses, gimbap, bibimbap, walnut waffles, ice creams to specialty doughnuts and pastries - this market is a one of a kind.  For me, this night was my first informal, solo tour of a night in Seoul, before I would embark on my formal tour of South Korea the next day, starting with a private guided tour of Seoul.

DAY 1 - SEOUL SIGHTSEEING

The next day began with a splendid breakfast at the hotel. I was amazed to see the variety of rice items for breakfast. Coming from India, this is a novelty for us.

After breakfast, I was greeted by my guide for the day, Mr.Kimsoo, at the hotel reception. I had booked this tour through the Indian travel agency in advance, but the tour can be booked directly as Gyeongbok Palace, Bukchon Village and Seoul highlights tour. A tip: it's best to pre-book your day tours in advance and carve out a detailed itinerary before visiting South Korea. This will make your trip worthwhile and enjoyable.

One of my best discoveries in South Korea as a tourist has been the private guided tour, where you are driven around in a luxury car by the driver cum guide, and taken to various sightseeing spots. You can explore everything at your own leisurely pace. I highly recommend booking this experience.

My guide, Mr.Kimsoo, is an elderly gentleman, who freelances as a tour guide, after retiring as the global head of marketing from Samsung. He was the perfect guide to start my formal Korea journey. As we drove through Seoul, my first impressions of the city were that of a very modern city, headlined by glass skyscrapers in all the modern, corporate hubs, encapsuling multinational corporations. Most parts of the city are lavish, albeit the old part of the town. My first stop was the Gyeongbokgung Palace.

This palace is an essential part of the day tour itinerary, and the first place one will visit in Seoul. Seeped in rich history and culture, the palace tour takes about 1-2 hours, and has some excellent spots for taking pictures. I also recommend visiting the sample traditional korean house, built in the outer compound of the palace. For historical K drama fans, this part of the tour is a must-visit, and will give you an insight into the traditional way of how a typical korean house and household functions.

After this, my next stop was the very famous Bukchon Hanok Village. I was captivated by beauty of the traditional houses. The best thing I did here was dress up in the traditional 'Hanbok', which perfectly matched the background of the splendid houses. This was a true, authentic and raw experience of connecting with the tradition and culture of this great country. A tip would be to dress up in the Hanbok either at the palace (that is cheaper) or at a shop just at the beginning of the hanok village. The lady who owns the shop has a beautiful collection in various colours, and even styles your hair in very pretty accessories. I highly recommend this experience!

After a heart-warming experience in traditional dress, it was now time for lunch. Mr.Kimsoo took me to just the right place - the iconic Gwangjang Market that became famous after being featured in the Netflix Series "Street Food: Asia". This market is unmissable if one wants to savour classic local flavour. For me, the energy and vibrancy of the food stalls, and their ever-enthusiastic owners, was the highlight.

After enjoying super tasty gimbap, we headed to the famous Insadong market to explore Seoul's most iconic and culturally rich areas. I wouldn't label it a 'market'. It's rather a vibrant neighbourhood filled with traditional Korean charm, art, and food. I also happened to encounter the protests that day at Insadong. This is a must visit - if you want to take in the easy-going charm of a traditional market with modern aesthetics and buy beautiful souvenirs.

From here, my last and final stop for the day was the iconic Bugak Skyway, where I could catch a full 360 degree view of Seoul city. The place is calm, quiet and the drive up the mountain is lined with splendid cherry blossoms. I was able to get magnificent views of the Seoul skyline on one side and the mountains on the other. The beautiful structure, Bugak Palgakjeoung, is also unmissable. One thing that I could change about my visit would be visiting this spot at night to get a night-lit view of Seoul.

And this is how my first day of the trip ended. My heart was full of enchantment and magnetism that Seoul gave me that day. I returned to my hotel, to prepare for my very early and long day at DMZ.

DAY 2 - DMZ

'Crash Landing on You' is one of the most well-known K dramas across the world after Squid Game. Hence, any south korea trip is incomplete without the DMZ tour. All DMZ tours are operated as large group tours. Number of tour companies operate this tour. I booked mine through the Indian travel agency, but it can be booked directly as DMZ Tour with Suspension Bridge. There was a glitch in my booking, since I had opted for the suspension bridge option as well, but apparently the company confirmed that the option wasn't booked for me and I'll have to shift to a different tour bus and pay 1700 Won extra for that part. I decided against the option.

After a very early start (boarded the bus at 6.40 AM) and a 2.5 hour bus ride, we reached the Paju Imjingak Peace Gondola. The ride takes you over the Imjingang river and some farm fields.

I found the entire experience very overrated. Maybe it was the dull and cloudy weather or just the fact that it was a barren island with nothing much to look at, but I thought it would have been better to skip this.

Our next stop was the Dora observatory and the third infiltration tunnel. The Dora observatory was the highlight of the visit, as one gets to catch panoramic views of North Korea's propaganda village, the shared industrial complex between the 2 countries and the North Korean city of Kaesong. Photography is not permitted there, hence I can't post any pictures of the border here. However, it was time well-spent, stretching my gaze as far as I could to catch a tiny glimpse of North Korea and come as close as possible to making my 'Crash Landing on You' story true !!!!!! 😄😄 

From here, we headed to the third infiltration tunnel. This was the least impressive part of the entire experience. It starts with a 10-minute film where they show you the tragic past of the country. From there, you proceed to the main part of the visit - a 2km long artificially created tunnel, that you have to traverse. You have to store all your belongings in a locker, and then start walking 2 km into the tunnel. It's an extremely steep tunnel, and while walking down, you won't feel the exhaustion. It's a 15 minute long walk while going down. However, the real test began when we had to head back out of the tunnel, braving the precipitous climb back. I must say, it's not the easiest of walks you'll take! Many of us had to stop during the long walk back to catch our breath and invigorate ourselves. By the time I came out of the tunnel, I was literally gasping for air and was completely exhausted😂😂. The entire experience felt that they are actually charging tourists to exercise, rather than see a tunnel!  

After this , it was time to get some souvenirs from the souvenir shop inside. This was a much needed experience to catch my breath and relax. And I did find some fantastic goodies. A highly recommended thing - the DMZ soybean chocolates! These come in 2 varieties - green soybean, which has fewer calories, less sweet and slightly bitter. The other one is the white variety - with slightly higher calories, but tastier.

The DMZ experience is incomplete without the customary DMZ photo!

                                                 

Our last and final stop of the day was the 'Freedom Village', known as Daeseong Dong, a village in the DMZ. The place is famous for its gelato ice cream, which is unmissable.

After this stop, it was time to head back to Seoul. It was 3 PM and I still had lots to do in Seoul. I wanted to explore the famous Gangnam district, the very famous Coex mall and starfield library! I set out to explore Gangnam with my new found friends from the tour who also wanted to explore Gangnam.

Gangnam district is grand and spatial, with majestic, modern commercial structures and fancy eateries. We were hungry, and looking for a nice, small eatery. After searching and walking around the fancy Gangnam street, we finally managed to locate a sweet, cozy eatery, that served huge portions of dumplings with soup.

After the meal, we headed towards the famous Coex mall. After a fair bit of navigation with the Naver Map, we finally reached our coveted destination. And how great it felt to finally reach there! It was worth all the effort!

I have seen super fancy malls in India as well, but Coex mall in Gangnam is majestic in its own right. I was also awed by how fashionable the crowd was here, doing full justice to the 'Gangnam name'!

The biggest awe-worthy moment was visiting the Starfield library within the Coex mall. The library is situated on the ground floor of the mall and is easy to locate. It's a marvel and one-of-its kind. Never have I seen such a unique and eye-catchy structure of a public library. All the books are in the Korean language, but the library is definitely worth a visit for some excellent photo opportunities and beautiful memories.

After exploring the mall and the library, it was time to return to the hotel to pack and prepare myself for my KTX train to Busan for the next morning. 

I had an unforgettable 3 day stay in Seoul, from exploring its famous street food and night market to making new friends from other countries. I will come back to Seoul very soon!

DAY 3 - KTX TRAIN TO BUSAN AND BUSAN SIGHTSEEING TOUR

I had a relatively late start to the day, but still quite early. My concern was reaching the Seoul KTX train station on time to catch the train to Busan leaving at 9.20 AM. I requested my hotel reception to book a taxi to take me to the station. Within 5 minutes, the taxi was there. I left the hotel by 8 and reached the station by 8.40. I was highly impressed with how organized and punctual the entire system is in Seoul. The KTX station was a revelation in itself. All directions are given in both English and Korean, hence it's extremely easy for tourists to get by. I reached the station 30 minutes earlier than my scheduled train departure, and hence, decided to soak in the experience of the Seoul KTX station. I had booked my train tickets through the Indian travel agency, but it can be booked directly as Seoul to Busan KTX train .

My entire KTX bullet train experience was sublime. Throughout my journey, I was taken in by how clean, organized and neat everything is.

The entire journey from Seoul to Busan takes approx. 2 hours and 45 minutes. One can see doves of cherry blossom trees as you start approaching Busan. Busan had cherry blossom trees in full bloom in the first week of April, which wasn't the case in Seoul.

I had pre-booked my private Busan sight-seeing tour with Korea Go Tours through the Indian travel agency, including pick-up from the station itself, but it can be booked directly as Busan city One Day Authentic Tour. My guide arrived 15 minutes prior to my arrival and was waiting for me at the platform with a placard of my name! I was once again awed by how punctual and organized everyone and everything in Korea is! After getting into the car, my guide shared the itinerary planned for me for the day. Since it was 1 PM by the time we took off, the tour would end by 6.30 or so.

My first stop was the Busan air cruise and cable car. A tip: I opted for the Crystal Cruise option of the Busan air cruise cable car and highly recommend that, for a better experience.

The unmissable part is the panaromic views from the sky deck on the top floor. It's also a place where one can just sit in silence and enjoy the view of the vast, blue waters! Since this is Korea, things have to get a more colourful and exciting. Besides the panaromic blue ocean views, the sky deck is decorated with funky and eye-catchy objects and figures, providing even more photo opportunities for your Busan trip!

From here, my next stop was the most famous stop in Busan, Gamcheon Cultural village. It's a lively, quaint and welcoming place situated on a hillock, with stunning views of the colorful houses.

People have to walk on the steep hillside, lined with charming eateries, cafes and souvenir shops. I started feeling hungry, and decided to stop at a very zesty eatery, which seemed to be quite popular with visitors there. I had one of the tastiest fried kimchi rice dishes ever.

The unmissable photo stop here is the image of BTS carved on a wide wall. I had to take a photo here for sure!

I completed my Gamcheon Village experience with comforting and flavorful bead ice cream. I highly recommend this at Gamcheon.

After this colorful experience at Gamcheon, we headed to the Jagalchi seafood market, one of the largest seafood markets in Korea. As I walked through the myriad shops and stalls lined with variety of fresh seafood items, the old ladies with their smiling, warm faces, looking at me with anticipation, a wave of admiration and respect for these old ladies swept me. I wondered how hard they must have worked just to get this fresh feed to their stalls and wait for it to be bought by foreign visitors like me.

 My next important stop from here was the famous Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, known for its famous sea side location, with spectacular views and stunning photo opportunities. The idyllic location, where sea waves kissed the rocks and the evening sun cast its golden glow far into the horizon, filled my heart with quiet gratitude and awe. An added endearing feature of the temple is the statue of the Buddha granting a son.

My perfect ending to this spectacular Busan tour was the Ha:nok cafe in Gijang-eup in Busan. I was taken in by the traditional hanok charm it exuded right from the entrance. It was straight out of a historical K Drama fairy tale. You are greeted by the conventional and extremely dainty tiny tables and paired with floor seating. There was a certain warmth and tranquility in the surroundings.

The interiors were even more exquisite and lovely. It's a self-service cafe, and with a very welcoming and efficient staff. The menu was fascinating, with myriad types of tea to choose from. I went ahead with the fruity one, and didn't regret the choice at all. What caught my attention were the various cheesecakes displayed on the counter. I opted for the sweetcorn cheesecake, which I had never heard of before! I quietly sat down, enjoying the beautiful views, with the mind-blowingly delicious cheesecake, wonderfully complemented with the fruity tea. This should be your stop in the Busan tour.

The sweetcorn cheesecake has a unique flavour, which starts with a burst of citrus tones in the mouth, and gradually transitions to a mild, sweet taste. This item is highly recommended from the menu.

After an extensive Busan day tour,it was time to head to my hotel in Busan, the Best Western Haeundae hotel, which was pre-booked for 4 nights. This hotel does not provide a buffet breakfast. But the hotel has an excellent location, with many rooms providing breathtaking views of the Haeundae beach, and located on a street bustling with cafes, restaurants and eateries offering ethnic Korean as well as continental and global cuisines. I highly recommend this hotel, which is also a 5-minute walk from the Haeundae subway station, a major pick-up point for many of the day tours starting from Busan, It's the perfect budget option for tourists.

Day 4 - Jinhae Cherry Blossom Night Tour - The Highlight of my trip!

This has to be the standout feature of my entire trip and the main reason why I visited Korea in the first place. Today was the day of my Jinhae cherry blossom tour. This is one of the most renowned cherry blossom festivals across the globe, held in the city of Jinhae.

Thankfully, I had a relatively late start, with pick-up at 10.50 AM, since this was a day and night tour. Since the hotel had no breakfast, I decided to grab a quick sandwich from the Starbucks located across the street from the Haeundae subway station. There are many other breakfast options in and around the hotel area.

I met my tour guide and boarded the tour bus to Jinhae at 10.50 AM. It's an approx. 1.5 hour journey to Jinhae from Busan. I had pre-booked Lecirt tour through the India travel agency. Also, there are 2 options to choose from - the morning tour, which starts at 7.30, and gets over by 2.30 or so. The other is the option I chose - 11 AM and ends by 7.30 in the evening, which is known as the day and nigh Jinhae cherry blossom tour. I personally prefer this over the other one since one also gets to experience the cherry blossoms and exquisitely lit decorations in Jinhae at night.

I was mesmerized upon reaching my dream location. I had seen it in YouTube videos, but seeing it at close quarters left me spellbound! The innocent and refreshing bounty of cherry blossoms greet you at the entrance of the magical place, as if trying to engulf you in their innocence. Every corner, every turn is a picture-perfect postcard, waiting to be captured by your phone. I wanted to cherish every corner of the place engulfed in cherry blossoms, so that it became entrenched in my memory.

The cherry blossoms of the season were gentle, yet strikingly rare, white and soft as a dove, and rare as gems. I could see my K-drama dreams full of cherry blossoms coming to life here!

Another added feature that I would highly recommend is taking the Jehwangsan Park monorail, which takes you to the top of Jehsangwan Park, and also the Jinhae tower. One can enjoy sweeping, expansive views of the city from the rooftop deck of the Jinhae tower. Riding the monorail is in itself a memorable experience that is not to be missed!

Since we had a lot of free time, I decided to explore the park and take a nice, quiet walk, while enjoying the view of the cherry blossoms in full bloom. For people living in Mumbai like me, walking is a luxury, and I never let go of even the slightest opportunity of a peaceful and calming nature walk. While strolling, I could picture the many K dramas I had seen, where the protagonists would be strolling through such parks, either mulling over, or smiling or laughing over something. The park felt like a treasure trove of nature's offerings, and I wanted to soak in every intricate feature of this tender setting.

After my sojourn in the park, I headed to the very famous food festival of the cherry blossom festival in Jinhae. It's just opposite the park, and is the perfect place to satisfy your carvings for ethnic Korean street food cuisine. What struck me about the place was the festive and eclectic vibe, as sea of people lined up at the food stalls. I immersed myself in the surroundings as I walked through the stalls, my mind to figure my meal for the evening. I wanted to make it a special one, keeping in line with the importance of my visit. I finally settled in on a particularly catchy stall, with high turnover and serving both continental and korean cuisine. I settled in for spicy korean noodle soup. The serving was huge, and it was piping hot! It took me over 30 minutes to finish that entire big bowl of soup. As I ate, sitting silently, I tried to process my surroundings and people, which invariably is my favourite part of traveling. As the evening unfolded, I saw families with babies and toddlers, groups of college friends, couples - young and old- and tourists like me, all savouring in the tapestry of taste, sights and movements.

After this wholesome meal, I decided to walk back to the Yeojwacheon Stream to catch the night decorations of the cherry blossoms.

The nighttime transforms into a visual masterpiece, a dazzling display of bright colours that adorn the stream, flanked by the white cherry blossoms on both sides. It is a stunning panorama which makes for unforgettable images. Hence, I highly recommend booking the night option for the Jinhae tour.

After spending a day bathed in quiet joy, my heart filled with the everlasting etherealness of the cherry blossoms, it was time to head back to Busan. I got dropped off at my point by 9 PM. It was unusually cold, and hence I decided to head straight to the hotel to get ready for another adventure for the next day - the Gyeongju tour.

Day 5 -  Tour of Korea's museum city - Gyeongju

Today was another relatively late start to the day, for which I was thankful! The pick- up was at 11.15, hence I decided to get ready at a leisurely pace and head to the Haeundae beach which was 5 minutes away from my hotel. The beach was brimming with life, with lot of young , teenagers enjoying the morning out at the beach. The beach itself radiates warmth and charm, with idyllic views of Busan's skyline, straight out of a postcard. 

After spending some time at the beach, it was time to head to my pickup point at the Haeundae subway station exit 7. The tour bus departed at 11.15 AM and we reached Gyeongju by 12.45 PM. This was a pre-booked tour with Lecirt. I highly recommend booking tours with this company.

Our first stop was the Bulguksa Temple. We spent around 1 hour here, where our guide showed us and explained the mythology and stories behind the structures within the temple. This is a must-visit for anyone looking for a deep-dive introduction to ancient Buddhist religious architecture.

The temple also offers accommodation for those interested in experiencing traditional korean homestay. The details are available here - Homestay.

Situated right next to the temple is one of the prettiest cherry blossom parks in the area. After Jinhae, I thought I had seen cherry blossoms to my heart's content. But I was once again enchanted by the inviting and snow colored cherry blossoms in their full bloom. The entire park was engulfed in a canopy of cherry blossoms, giving it the appearance of a cherry blossom neverland, straight out of a children's fairytale book.

It was now time for lunch. Our lunch had been pre-booked in a traditional korean restaurant. I found the meal average, but it was true to the local, korean flavours.

After lunch, we proceeded to the Gyeongju Gyochon Traditional Village, an area headlined by traditional hanok houses and dainty hanok cafes. Every corner, every turn is a hanok cafe or house. I was stunned by the pristine and simple beauty of these houses and the overall serene presence the village had. An unmissable photo opportunity here is the Woljeong Bridge above Muncheon stream.

From here, our next stop was the Da Ling Yuan, an essential cultural heritage representing Gyeongju and contains the tombs of the kings and queens of the Silla dynasty.

After a brief stop here, there was an hour's worth of free time to explore the town and the lively markets. I took a random turn and decided to explore the market area, with tiny, pretty shops selling everything from souvenirs, to coffee, to french fries. But for me, the biggest attraction came in the form a the quintessential selfie photo studio!!!!!!! I had seen numerous K-dramas using these selfie photo studios as playful, romantic and even mystery plots to enhance the drama. This was my chance to live my K-drama selfie dream for real!

I mjst say this concept of selfie studio is one of its kind in Korea. I was stunned and fascinated by how advanced and efficient the system is. You walk into the studio, stand outside a booth based on the background color you want in your photo - pink, orange, white, grey etc. Once inside, there is an English option as well to select your photo backgrounds, size and number of photos you want printed. You can strike up any pose you want and POP ----- your picture comes out! I was so enthralled and fascinated by the entire experience, my heart filled with child-like joy!

I started feeling hungry, and hence it was time to find something exciting and tasty. I happened to come across a large French-frieses I had place, which appeared to be very popular with the crowds, as explained by the huge queue at the shop. The shop had one of the best french fries I had ever tasted.

After the sumptuous fries, it was time to head to the highlight of the day's tour - night tour of the Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond. For me, this has to be the star feature of this day tour. I highly recommend the day and night tour of Gyeongju, in order to capture the beauty of this picturesque sight in its nighttime glory. 

I can't describe the atmosphere created as you enter the area near the brightly lit pond, serenaded by the jewel-like palace in the background. Time stands still at night, as one tries to soak in the glimmering nightscape.

Our final stop was to catch a night view of the Woljeong Bridge, and rightly so, what a moonlit marvel it was!

It was 7.45 PM by the time we left for Busan. I got dropped-off at my point at 9.20 PM. I decided to walk into the very famous Olive Young store on Haeundae street, close to my hotel, to get my hands on some Korean makeup. Olive Young is one of Korea's most famous health and beauty retailer, and a trip to Korea is incomplete without a purchase from this chain (Here's the link to checkout - Olive Young). I was also amazed at how bright and lively the street around my hotel was, even at 10.30 PM at night.

I had to retire to bed early, since I had to get ready for my day tour the next morning - Suncheon and Yeosu Day tour.

DAY 6 - SUNCHEON AND YEOSU TOUR - THE BEST PRIVATE GUIDED TOUR 

I had a relatively early start to the day. My guide arrived at sharp 8AM, right in front of my hotel. This private guided tour was pre-booked with Eden Tour. You can check it out here -Eden Tour.

I had a young, college going student as my guide for the day, so I knew I was gearing up for an energetic and electrifying day. The first thing that I noticed was the fancy car that would be my ride for the day!

I sat in the front, enjoying the exhilarating music my young guide Mason had in the car. The entire road trip from Busan to Suncheon takes about 2.5 hours. The journey was enjoyable, with riveting music and good conversation with Mason. His enthusiasm and drive for his work was admirable and inspirational.

My first stop was the Suncheon Film set tour. I was highly impressed with the authentic film sets, mirroring Korea from the 1950s till as recent as 2023. The film set is divided into tiny by lanes, with each lane lined with artwork, live disco music settings, and film settings and paraphernalia dating back to old film sets. I was awed with the entire setting, giving it the look and feel of a real-life, old-world, film set. And of course, it had plenty of groovy photo opportunities everywhere!

My next stop from here was the Suncheon Bay Garden, a scenic and delightful botanical garden which is worth a stop, albeit I wouldn't suggest spending more than 30 minutes here. For riveting views,  a photo stop at the top of the spacewalk structure is highly recommended.

After this stop, it was time for lunch. My amazing guide took me to a local cafe serving ethnic street food delicacies. I would say this was my best ethnic food experience in my entire trip.

                                                                  

Gimbap

                                                                   

Ramyeon

The cafe was small but authentic, serving one of the tastiest authentic street foods I had ever tasted during my trip.

After this soul-filling lunch, it was time to head to the Nagan Eupseong Folk Village. On the way, we passed through an entire highway lined with canopies of cherry blossoms! What a memorable drive this was!

Cherry Blossoms on the Way!!!

The village was a world apart from other experiences that I had on the trip. I was spellbound by the distinctive structure of the huts in the village, where people were actually staying. A walk around the walled town and the village brings you as close as one get to the Korean countryside, a world far away from Busan and Seoul. The visit to the village is made more interesting by the activities one can enjoy or the tiny cafes serving food and coffee. 

Village Huts

After this countryside experience, it was time to head to Yeosu for my last adventure for the day - the cable car ride. Yeosu was 1.5 hours away from the village. I used this time to take a short nap.

Any visit to Korea is incomplete without Yeosu. It's a small port town 2 hours away from Busan. If you have more time, I would suggest spending 2 days here. Since I had to fit in a lot of things into my packed itinerary, I could only do the main highlight of Yeosu - the cable car ride.

What made this cable car ride different from the one in Busan was the cherry blossoms once again! In addition to the expansive and captivating Yeosu's blue waters and shore, one crosses cherry blossom trees while seated in the cable car!

View of Yeosu Port from the Cable Car

On the other side of the cable car ride is a 4 storey deck from where one can catch riveting views of the Yeosu skyline and city, and take a walk amongst the myriad cherry blossoms that seem to embrace you in their awning. I was given around 45 minutes to spend here, and I made the most of it, relishing another chance to experience the sea and cherry blossoms!

On the other side of the Cable Car at Yeosu

After another serene and fulfilling experience, it was time to head back to Busan. We were lucky since the roads were empty. My fantastic guide got us to Busan in less than 2 hours. It was 9 PM by the time we reached the hotel. I bid adieu to my guide, who made this day superb and headed upstairs to my hotel room to prepare for another early start to the day the next morning.

Day 7 - Oedo Botanical Garden and Geoje Island - Truly Hidden Gems!

This was my last day trip in Korea. I happened to book this by accident. My original itinerary consisted of 7 days, but I wasn't sure if Yeosu would be included in the Suncheon tour. Hence, at the time of booking my trip, I added an extra day to my stay thinking I'll explore Yeosu separately. However, once I got to know that Yeosu would be included, and I had an extra day, I did some research on what other places I could go to.

I happened to come across this trip on Klook. I highly recommend going through Klook in case you are looking for activities, airport transfers and day tours. This is where I found this tour - Hidden Gem Geoje Island Tour from Busan .

I had never heard of Geoje Island before. I checked out some YouTube videos and yes, the place did look idyllic. Plus, this was going to be an entirely sea town experience, which I thought would be a great change. I went ahead and booked this one.

This was an early morning start for me, with pick-up scheduled for 7.40 AM. I promptly left my hotel at 6.40 to catch the subway to the Seomyeon subway station. This tour is also operated by Lecirt.

The bus journey took 2 hours. We reached by 9.30. I was stunned at the sight of the gleaming blue sea that welcomed us as the bus made its way onto the shore. We were given time till 10 to catch some quick snacks. 

At 10, we boarded the cruise boat. Our main attraction during the cruise tour was the Haegeumgang Lion Rock. The cruise was captivating, surreal and dreamy, and completely different Korean experience from what I had before. The cheerful sight of enigmatic sea gulls made the cruise even more enthralling.

The cruise boat goes inside a small tunnel between the big rocks, an out of the world experience in itself. Our wonderful guides were forever ready to click our pictures. As the cruise makes it way, I stood at the deck, and stared at the endless horizon of blue waters, as if it was asking me to see as much I could beyond what was visible.

Our next stop during this cruise was Odeo Botanical Garden. This place is truly a hidden gem! It's a riveting, landscaped, botanical garden, with stunning views of the sea. This is an idyllic spot, offering the perfect mix of man-made botanical garden, taking the shape of a wonderous jigsaw puzzle, while also offering panaromic  views of the ocean. 

After this, it was time to head back to the deck for lunch. We had the option of either joining the group for a pre-booked seafood lunch, or have something on our own. Not being a fan of seafood, I opted for the latter. While strolling, I happened to come across the cutest cafe I had seen on my entire trip. I stepped in, and felt I was entering a pretty children's cafe, which had the daintiest decorations I had ever seen. The owner cum hostess was a warm, welcoming lady, who was patiently serving people. I found an appetizing sandwich, with a very inviting mocktail juice named 'Jeju juice'.

I decided to take a walk in this pristine village since there was still some time to board the bus. I happened to come across a small ice cream cafe, which perhaps served one the nest Gelato ice creams I had tasted in a while! Sometimes, it the tiny villages and towns that astonish you with the most wholesome flavours!

After lunch, it was time to head to the Geunpo Cave. This was 1 hour away from the Geoje Island shore. This spot is not very well-known, but I highly recommend as one of the top places to visit in Korea for glimpse of the sea at close quarters and the phenomenal photos you can click. My pics say it all.

After a 45 minute stop here for photos, we headed to Windy Hill, which was my favourite spot of the day for the awe-inspiring ocean panaroma and ideal setting for stunning shots, a photographer's dream!

The spot has a gigantic wind mill on top of a steep hill, and is covered by the expansive sea on all sides. I took some excellent photos here, and sat down peacefully, enjoying the breeze and frame-worthy views. As I sat quietly, gazing far into the distance, I thought about how different this part of Korea is from the other parts I had seen, which adds to the beauty of the country.

After a serene stop here, it was time to head our last stop for the day - the Maemi Castle. This castle is built right next to the seashore, and with a stunning restaurant located at the top, offering riveting views of the island.

I was thrilled with the beautiful, extraordinary spots I had visited and which are lesser-known, but must-visit spots in the southern part of Korea.

On my way back to the bus, I happened to come across a very inviting cafe, which had hot and freshly baked walnuts that I couldn't resist. I decided to pack a bag for my ride back to the hotel.

Hence my trip to Korea officially came to an end with this trip. And what a journey it was!

We reached Busan by 8.00 PM. I decided to end my trip by treating myself to a rich, local 

Korean dinner at one of the restaurants right opposite my hotel. And I wasn't disappointed. What a sumptuous meal I treated myself to, while relishing the soulful trip.

Day 8 - Back to Incheon Airport to catch my flight to Mumbai

Sadly, my trip came to an end. My flight, Cathay Pacific, to Mumbai, was scheduled for 3.15 PM. The KTX train to Seoul was to leave at 9.10 AM. I took a cab from the hotel to the station. Due to heavy traffic, it took me almost an hour to reach the station. Thankfully, I had started at 7.45, and hence, made it to the platform very comfortably.

The train reached Seoul at 11.50 AM. For me, the biggest challenge for the day was to catch the Airport Express, or AREX, as it is popularly known in Korea, on time. The AREX was scheduled to take off at 12.10 PM, which meant I had just under 20 minutes to quickly make it to the other end of the station and board the AREX. I had booked my AREX train 2 days back on this website - AREX.

Thankfully, with a small suitcase, and the excellent instructions and navigation at the Seoul station, I was able to reach the AREX platform within 10 minutes. I was highly impressed with how tourist-friendly and streamlined the systems are in Korea. 

The AREX ride is something I highly endorse. It's classic proof of how technologically advanced South Korea is. The AREX reached Terminal 1 of Incheon airport in 40 minutes!

Once you alight from the train, it a good 15-20 minute walk to the check-in counters and main terminal of the airport. Hence, it is advisable to set aside an extra 30 minutes or so while planning your AREX ride to the airport.

TOP SOLO TRAVEL TIPS FOR SOUTH KOREA

1. PRE-BOOK YOUR TOURS/ACTIVITIES/ITINERARY

As a solo female traveler, I can't stress on this enough. My trip went well primarily because I had pre-booked my transportation, day tours, guides and hotels. Last-minute exploring and deciding what to do once you are there will leave you with very little time to truly experience the joy of South Korea.

I highly recommend booking your airport transfers, day tours and even AREX on KLOOK.

2. EXACT TIMING OF CHERRY BLOSSOM BLOOMING IS HARD TO PREDICT

I would say I was lucky, and had also done a lot of research with regard to the exact timing of the cherry blossom blooming time. Most websites said last week of March and 1st week of April. I was in luck to find cherry blossoms in full bloom in Busan and Jinhae in the first week of April, ideally 1st to 3rd April. I was told cherry blossoms don't bloom until first week of April. In Seoul, I wasn't so lucky. It was extremely cold on 30th and 31st March,, hence, there were hardly any cherry blossoms to be seen. Hence, time your travel accordingly if you are going there especially for the cherry blossoms! 

3. GOOGLE TRANSLATE AND NAVER MAP

Before the start of your trip, download google translate and most importantly, the Naver Map. This map came to my rescue during my first couple of days in Korea while I was trying to reach the subway stations. The map is accurate and very easy to follow. For some reason, Google map didn't work for me.

4. KEEP SOME LOCAL CURRENCY WITH YOU

It's best to carry some local currency before reaching Korea, ideally 20K Won. The cash helped me during my street food adventure in Myeongdong night market and while taking the subway.

5. USE THE SUBWAY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE

Seoul and Busan have one of the best subway stations in the world, which are extremely well-planned and connect each part of the city effectively with each other. Directions are written in both Korean and English, hence, it's very easy for English-speaking foreigners to use the subway. Plus, I think one of the best and liberating ways to experience the local life of a country is to ride the subway.

5. SOUTH KOREA IS ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO EXPLORE SOLO

South Korea is one of the safest countries to explore on your own as a solo female traveler. People are friendly and willing to help. One can also take a private guided tour as a solo woman traveler without worrying about safety. The subway is safe to ride at night as well.

If you are still thinking about taking that South Korea trip on your own, don't think further! Book your tickets, pack your bags and experience the treasures of this magnificent country!