09 May 2025

Adventures in Ulsan and Busan

A little wet weather failed to dampen our day of adventure exploring South Korea’s incredible highlights in Ulan or Busan. Our buses took us through the active heart of Ulsan’s ‘Hyundai City’ and into the countryside.

For those of us taking the Busan option our bus headed south along the coast through the wooded hills, but the city skyscrapers were never absent from view for very long.

Our first stop was at the Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, proclaimed it as ‘the most beautiful temple in Korea’ and one of its few waterside temples. At the 100-storey BUSAN X the SKY observation tower a super-fast elevator transported us to the top. The animation in the elevator was fun, which was a good thing as the view was of fog and more fog. Some took the chance for a coffee at the world’s highest Starbucks. An extraordinary buffet provided endless choice from dozens and dozens of dishes including the sushi bar, freshly cooked seafood, a roast carvery, spicy stir-fries, many types of kimchee, and plenty of fruits, veggies, and desserts. We then headed to former slum Gamcheon Culture Village, now an eccentric streetscape lined with souvenir shops, craft galleries, food stalls, cafes and eateries. We ended the day exploring Jagalchi Fish Market, the largest of its kind in Korea.

Those opting to spend the day in Ulsan visited the Flying Horse Tomb first up, an ancient Silla burial mound that has been excavated and turned into a superb museum featuring replicas of the treasures found within, before exploring the magnificent Bulguksa Temple complete with chanting monks and intricately carved walkways. A Korean buffet lunch was enjoyed, including robot wait staff! A visit to Taehwagang River Bamboo Forest, in the rain, saw us sporting umbrellas as we explored the towering bamboo groves.

Back on board Heritage Adventurer, it was time to return to Japan.

Images © S. Bradley & J. Mishina, Heritage Expeditions