Silversea Luxury Cruises To Yeosu

Boseong Green Tea Plantation and Observation Deck

A one hour drive takes you to the Boseong Green Tea Plantation called the Daehan Dawon Tea Plantation which produces high-quality green tea and is a popular tourist attraction year-round thanks to the vast rows of tea trees that line the hillside like a deep green carpet. Despite being a small peak at just 350 meters above sea level, the observation deck offers views of the sea on clear days. Boseong is the area that grows the most tea in Korea and is home of the Korean tea and still accounts for the majority of the country's tea production. Opened in 1939 it is the largest in Korea. Wild tea has been cultivated here as far back as the mid-300's BC while green tea was introduced to Korea from China in the 600's AD during the Silla Dynasty. During the Goryeo Dynasty, it was mainly farmed at the temples and the royal court, while in the Joseon Dynasty, it began to grow naturally in Jeolla and Gyeongsang provinces. Today there are over 5.8 million tea trees and 3 million other trees around,

Re-opened in 1957, Daehan Dawon Tourist Tea Plantation is the only tourist tea plantation in Korea. The 5,000,000㎡ plantation boasts an outstanding landscape with a beautiful cedar forest that stretches from the entrance. Set on a verdant hillside with rows of manicured tea bushes.

The plantation became first known to the public thanks to a commercial of a Korean telecommunication company. Daehan Dawon, is the birthplace of Korea's tea industry. Daehan Dawon Tea Plantation has later gained popularity as a filming site for movies and commercials been featured as a filming site in dramas such as "Summer Scent (2002)," "Legend of the Blue Sea (2017)," and "The Rebel (2017)." One hour will be spent at the Plantation.

Korean Peninsula

Daehan Dawon is on the southwest coast of the Korean Peninsula. The temperate climate of this region is ideal for green tea cultivation. This plantation was established in 1957 with rolling hills reaching heights of 350 meters. The tea trees blanket the landscape like a soft green carpet.

Refreshment at the Green Dahyang Cafe

Afterwards, with one hour to enjoy tea time at the Green Dahyang Café with spectacular views. Opposite the cafe is the texture-free green market. It is a space that sells tea and specialties produced by each teahouse and farmers in Boseong.

At the conclusion of your visit, reboard your coach for the approximate one hour return drive back to the pier.

Naganeupseong Folk Village UNESCO World Heritage Site

Your 30 minute journey will begin with the drive to Suncheon. Naganeupseong Folk Village which contains a fortress village that is over 59,504㎡ in size. Approximately one hour and 15 minutes is spent at the fortress. The village allows visitors to observe houses and lifestyles that have all been passed down from the past.

This small village in the eastern reaches of Jeollanam-do, near Suncheon bay is a well preserved example of a Korean fortress town. According to records kept during the Joseon dynasty there were over 330 of these fortress towns around the Korean peninsula. During the Japanese occupation, many of them were destroyed or dismantled. However, Naganeupseong, along with its inhabitants, remains nearly untouched, the town becoming a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2011. The site of the village has actually been inhabited since the beginning of the first millennia, and the area was selected as a fortress village in the early 10^th century by the Gorveo Dynasty but began to truly flourish in the late 1300's under the Joseons. 231 of the houses in Naganeupseong are still in their original condition with thatched rooves, mortar free stone work, no plumbing and cramped living spaces by today's standards.

You will proceed to the Suncheon Bay National Garden.

Suncheon Bay Garden

A 30 minute drive takes you to The Suncheon Bay Garden where you will spend approximately 2 hours. The garden was established in order to turn 1.12 square kilometers of wide natural habitat into a conservation area. In addition, the nearby 30,000 square meter field of canola flowers is in full bloom in May, which creates a beautiful yellow "wave" of color and trees make a great shade of canopy for the area.

There are about 860,000 trees and 650,000 autumn flowers such as roses, sunflowers, and cosmos flowers are planted in the garden. The city opened Suncheon Bay International Garden Expo 2013 from April 20 to October 20, attracting over 4.4 million visitors This tour concludes back at the pier.

This tour concludes back at the pier after approximately 30 minute drive.

Explore Yeosu at your leisure during your full-day (8-hour) sightseeing tour via private van. Customise your own itinerary or choose to see an overview of the area's highlights.

Depart the pier with your English-speaking guide in an air-conditioned van and discover the city and surrounding areas at your own pace. Your exclusive tour concludes back at the pier.

Explore Yeosu at your leisure during your half-day (4-hour) sightseeing tour via private van. Customise your own itinerary or choose to see an overview of the area's highlights.

Depart the pier with your English-speaking guide in an air-conditioned van and discover the city and surrounding areas at your own pace. Your exclusive tour concludes back at the pier.

Seonamsa Temple UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE

Depart the pier for the approximate one hour drive to the Seonamsa Temple. It is located at the west end of Mt. Jogyesan. A walk of approximately 1 km takes you from the entrance to the temple. If you go along the valley, two rainbow shaped bridges appear; the large one at the back is Seungseon Bridge. Seungseon Bridge and is thought to be one of Korea's most admired stone bridges because it blends in so well with the valley below.

Legend states that in 529, the missionary monk Ado built a hermitage at this site on the eastern slope of Jogyesan and named it Biroam. 350 years later in 861, Doseon constructed a grand temple here and named it Seonamsa. As the head temple of the samamsa trio ("three 'rock' temples") with Unamsa and Yongamsa, Seonamsa played a fundamental role in the development of Seon Buddhism, and many masters have practiced, taught and attained awakening here. During the -Japanese invasions of Korea (159298), many of Seonamsa's buildings were destroyed, along with much of the country. Restoration came after the war, and a new plan to restore the temple to the original 11th century configuration has been underway since 1992. About 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) from the entrance towards the main temple grounds, two rainbow-shaped bridges appear; the second-larger one being Seungseon Bridge. Just beyond Seungseon Bridge is Gangseon Pavilion. Past the pavilion, the small oval-shape pond called Samindang comes into site. Inside the pond is a small islet with an evergreen, creating an attractive setting. Going further on the Ilju Gate appears, beyond which the various temple buildings emerge. The large timbers of the main temple buildings are impressive, blending elegantly with the surrounding Jogye mountains and harmonizing with the nature surrounding them. Sunamsa is also known for its traditional wild teas, which are grown nearby.

Gangseonru Tower

Just beyond Seungseon Bridge is Gangseonru Tower, a fitting pair to the bridge before it. Walk by the tower and you will come across a small oval-shaped pond called Samindang. There is a small isle inside the pond, and an evergreen on the isle makes for great scenery. Go further and Ilju Gate appears. The big timber blocks of the temple buildings are impressive, and they blend in elegantly with the surrounding mountains. The hiking course on the left of Seonamsa Temple takes you to Ma-aebuli, the 7m high sculpture engraved on a rock.

Tea Ceremony Experience

The Korean tea ceremony is a traditional form of tea ceremony practiced in Korea. Darye literally refers to "etiquette for tea" or "tea rite" and has been kept among Korean people for over a thousand years. The chief element of the Korean tea ceremony is the ease and naturalness of enjoying tea within an easy formal setting.

Tea ceremonies are now being revived in Korea as a way to relax and find harmony in the fast-paced new Korean culture, and continuing in the long tradition of intangible Korean art.

Indulge in a traditional tea ceremony before returning to the pier - approximately 1 hour drive.

Start your day by light hiking at Odong-do Island, a 10 minute drive from the pier. The Odongdo Island of Yeosu is one of the most spectacular spots to appreciate camelias. There are 70 species of wild flowers that flourish here, a hill commemorating the plantation of the very first tree and a spacious grassy field.

Yeosu Cable Car

Then, for one hour enjoy the Yeosu Cablecar, one of the major tourism contents that connects the distance of 1.5 km between Dolsan Island and Jasan Island over the sea in the famous port city called Yeosu. You can enjoy a panoramic view of the southern seaside and sky, the scenery and great views of the old seaport in Yeosu whilst on the gondola ride. Opened in December 2014, the Yeosu Cable Car connects Dolsan Island with Odongdo and offers views of the Dolsan Bridge.

Jinnamgwan Palace and Yi Sun-sin Park

Next, arrive at Jinnamgwan Palace for 1 ½ hours. It was a stronghold of the Chosun Dynasty Navy for 400 years and became a symbol of Yeosu history that is famous among foreign tourists. After a brief taste of Yeosu history, you will proceed to Yi Sun-sin Park nearby the Jinnamgwan Palace. The park has a statue of Admiral Yi Sun-sin, a Korean admiral and military general famed for his victories against the Japanese navy during the Imjin war in the Joseon Dynasty. There is an observation deck, a walking-path, a traditional cultural hall, and Hagikjeong Pavilion. After a photo opportunity, you will have some free time at the main street where you can browse through the local stores and cafes.

Korean Style Buffet and The BIG-O Experience

A 20 minute drive brings you to our dining location featuring a Korean style buffet dinner. After dinner a further 20 minute drive to Yeosu's landmark "Big-O-show" which features an ocean fountain event and a hologram show. The show consists of three parts. The fountain spouts in accordance with classic and jazz music. Unique to this fountain is a large round steel frame at its centre. The show is approximately 1 ½ hours.

Return to the pier arriving at approximately 9.00/9.30pm.