3 to 8 Nov 2024
(5 days, 4 nights)

We will board a night flight from KLIA and arrive the next morning at the Incheon Airport.

After clearing immigration at the airport, you will visit the Gyeongbokgung Palace, the main royal palace of the Joseon dynasty. Within the palace compound, you will also visit the National Folk Museum of Korea.

After having lunch, you will proceed to Myeongdong Cathedral, the birthplace of the first Christian community, and explore its bookshops, where you can find and purchase your favourite religious articles.

The Myeongdong Night Market is just below the Cathedral, and you will also have some time to wander around the place. Just before dinner, you can also attend the local 6 p.m. Korean Mass.

Overnight in Seoul.

You will begin your day with breakfast. The first place you will visit today is Yakhyeon Catholic Church, the first Catholic church established in the city, featuring Gothic architecture. Next, you will visit Seosomun Historic Park & Catholic Martyrs' Shrine, a site of great significance for Korean Catholics who were persecuted and put to death. This site was also visited by St. Pope John Paul II. At the Seosomun Shrine History Museum, you will have the opportunity to celebrate Mass in the chapel on the premises.

After lunch, you will visit Jeoldusan Martyrs' Shrine, historically significant as the site of the Byeonin Persecution of 1866, during which many Catholics were brutally murdered. This shrine has been visited by St. Pope John Paul II and St. Mother Teresa.

As you journey along the Han River, you will arrive at Saenamteo Shrine, a site of great historical importance where numerous Catholics, including the first Korean priest St. Andrew Kim Taegon, the first Chinese priest to visit Korea, St. Jacobus Ju Mun Mo, the first French priest to come to Korea, St. Bishop Imbert, St. Chastan and others, were executed.

Overnight in Seoul.

Today, you will check out after breakfast. Following this, you will transfer to Gyeonggido Gwangju, a journey of approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes (63 km). In the morning, you will visit the birthplace of Korea, Cheonjinam Holy Site, where the five founders of Korea are buried.

After lunch, you will attend Mass and visit Mirinae Shrine, a secluded place where Korean Catholics sought refuge from persecution during the late Joseon dynasty. This site is also the resting place of St. Andrew Kim.

Overnight at Pyeongtaek.

After breakfast, you will check out of the hotel and transfer to Chungnam Seosan. You will embark on a long journey to Seosan City, where you will explore Haemieupseong Walled Town, once the administrative centre during the Joseon Dynasty. In this historic town, you will attend Mass at the Haemi International Catholic Martyr's Shrine, a significant persecution site visited by Pope Francis and declared an international pilgrimage site by the Vatican.

After lunch, you will visit the Shrine of Solmoe, the birthplace of St. Andrew Kim Dae-geon, the first Korean Catholic priest.

Following this visit, you will return to Seoul for dinner.

Overnight in Seoul.

On the last day, you will start with breakfast and check out of the hotel. Next, you will visit Bukchon Hanok Village, a residential neighbourhood in Jongno District, known for its many restored traditional Korean houses called hanok. Just beside the village, you will visit Gahoedong Catholic Church, the site where the first Mass was ever celebrated in Korea by the first missionary.

After lunch, you will head to the airport to return to Kuala Lumpur.