22 May 2025

A Day in Ulsan and Busan

Today we woke to a sunny day in Ulsan (the biggest car manufacturing city in Korea) before our first group of explorers departed to Ulsan to see the World Heritage Site of Gyeongju Tombs, an ongoing archaeological project excavating the treasures of the Silla Kingdom with the treasures on display at Gyeongju Museum. A stop at the Buddhist Bulguksa Temple delighted us with the intricate architecture and colourful displays of lanterns. After a traditional Korean feast we strolled through Ulsan’s extensive green space at Taehwagang Bamboo Forest.

A visit to Busan was the other option which started with the wonderful seaside Haedong Yonggungsa Buddhist Temple followed by an incredible lunch in downtown Busan. In the afternoon we visited the brightly-coloured hillside village of Gamcheon followed by a visit to Korea’s biggest fish market. A stop at the BUSAN X the SKY gave us panoramic views over this bustling city before returning to Heritage Adventurer and setting sail for Japan.

Images © C. Perry, M. Jones, Heritage Expeditions