Tying hanok villages, seowon academies, and Buddhist temples into one route is the efficient way to survey Korea's core traditional architecture. Here's a 4-night, 5-day course from Andong to Gyeongju, Yangsan, and Hapcheon.
Three architectural types
- Hanok village: riverside/field villages, the rhythm of eaves, courtyards, and walls
- Seowon: private Joseon academies on hillsides and riverbanks, the hierarchy of hall and shrine
- Temple: deep in the mountains, the axis from the one-pillar gate to the main hall, with dancheong paint
Best 4N5D course
From Seoul, take the KTX-Eum to Andong (Hahoe Village, Byeongsan Seowon) for a night, an intercity bus to Gyeongju (Bulguksa, Seokguram, Donggung and Wolji) for a night, then via Tongdosa in Yangsan to Haeinsa in Hapcheon for a night, and on the last day see the Tripitaka Koreana before heading back from Daegu.
Full KTX and intercity-bus route guide for hanok, seowon, and temples