Originally, we wanted to book a tour to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). I tried booking about two weeks before our arrival in Seoul, but there were no available slots during the length of our visit. There came our plan b, the Northern Limit Line (NLL).
What is Northern Limit Line
The Demilitarized Zone is the land border between North Korea and South Korea as specified in the Korean Armistice Agreement. But there was no mention of any boundary within the adjacent ocean waters. Hence, an imaginary military demarcation line in the Yellow Sea was created to represent the northern limit in which South Korea can navigate its vessels. It’s called the Northern Limit Line.
Why Special NLL Day Tour
I booked our tour through Klook and there were two options, either a standard or a special tour. The itinerary is as shown in the image below.
Firstly, because I’m with senior citizens and impatient teenagers, I chose the one that starts late and ends early. And secondly, I hate going to factories of whatever sort.
Did it go as planned?
✅ 09:00 – hotel pick up
❎ 09:50 – Aegibong Peak Observatory
Unknowingly, we were brought to Ganghwa Peace Observatory at Cheolsan-ri, Yangsa-myeon. The place was opened to public in 2008.
At the 3rd and 2nd floors are observatory halls. Standing 2 km away from North Korea, we peeped through the binoculars (KRW 500 or PHP 22 for two minutes) to see the their villages and farm fields.
Tip: Book the tour on a clear weather to get the best view.
The 2nd floor has an exhibition hall as well. And the 1st floor has a room to wish for unification, a restaurant, and a shop.
Since this was as close as we could get to North Korea, I’d give a thumbs up for this experience 👍🏼
❎ 11:00 Deokpojin Fort
❎ 11:40 Pyeonghwa (peace) Nurigil Road & Iron Fences Zone
✅ 12:10 Korean house style set menu (lunch)
This is one for the books to have dined in a traditional Korean restaurant where guests sit on cushions around a low table. A typical Korean meal consists of rice, soup or stew, and side dishes, with kimchi as an essential part.
✅ 13:10 Gimpo Marine Park, War Ship
Gimpo Marine Park is the only marine park in South Korea’s metropolis with the Unbong LST (Landing Ship Tank). After being used in Southern France, in Okinawa and in the Vietnamese War, that is 62 years of service, it was retired in 2006.
✅ 14:00 Daemyeong Harbor & Fish Market
As the Gimpo Marine Park is located within Daemyeong Port, we went to check the nearby market. It’s my first time to eat persimmon and it’s so good 😋
➕ Ginseng Center
Just when I thought we were going back to the hotel, our guide brought us to a ginseng center. This I think was the highlight of the tour for my parents and my husband. They bought a year supply of high quality ginseng supplement. And not so long ago, they’re asking me how to replenish them.
Overall, my rating for this tour is 3 stars out of 5.
With ❤️,
Sugar
