Description: | The eponymous Banyan Tree Hotel & Spa is perfect for the stressed out and the weary. Enjoy the fresh facials, relaxing massages and fabulous packages on offer, as well as a great range of body scrubs and rain showers. All treatments include a foot soak and 30 minutes of calm time. For hotel guests and members, the Banyan Tree sauna (separate from the spa) is arguably the best in Seoul and should not be missed. Traditional South Korean bathhouses are something to experience for yourself. More than just saunas and spas, visitors can get massages, scrubs, facials, and even take a nap. Spending a day or night in the bathhouse, better known as jjimjilbang, is a big part of the Korean beauty and wellness culture. Since it's usually quite inexpensive, it's accessible to many people. The Dragon Hill Spa is especially special and popular, and was even named by CNN as one of the '50 Reasons Why Seoul is the World's Greatest City'. Opt for a day or night ticket to the Dragon Hill jjimjilbang and experience this authentic Korean wellness culture for yourself! DMZ stands for demilitarized zone, and it's the no-man's land border between North and South Korea. Heavily guarded and mined, the strange area can be visited, but only on an official, guided tour (the USO operates a popular one). The official area is about four kilometers wide and is formally known as the JSA or Joint Security Area. The closest town is Panmunjom. Tours include a visit to a North Korean gift shop and the very strange Military Armistice Commission Conference Room, which straddles the Military Demarcation Line. Visitors can step over the border into North Korea, while inside the cross-border room. The site and surrounding area also has several observation towers, parks, and museums. Gyeongju's Bulguksa Temple was originally built in 528, but has endured a number of renovations and extensions throughout history. Just outside of Busan, the temple was very important to many dynasties. The complex is made up of many buildings with intricate carvings and statues and harbors some of South Korea's most important national treasures, such as the Sinheungsa and Dabotap pagodas. The garden is very impressive year-round, but is even more stunning when the cherry blossoms are in bloom. It is best to visit with a guide, who will bring the scenery to life with tales of yesteryear. |