Gamcheon Culture Village, Jagalchi Market Storytelling Tour

Entertaining and informative tour. Enjoyed it very much. Guide knows his local history and shares it with great enthusiasm. .

My husband and I got a private tour We saw /experienced everything as described: Itinerary: -Gamcheon culture village-Gamcheon culture village is called Machu Picchu and Santorini in Korea because of its beautiful pastel-toned houses and maze-like alleys along the hillside. We got to stroll and browse as much or little aa we wanted. —Songdo Beach— we walked the picturesque bridge and heads the story of a mermaid and a fisherman. —Jagalchi Market—saw the biggest King Crabs and vendor/seafood market

The Guide, Mr Chang, knows Busan inside out! This tour offers really good insights to the history and modern developments of the Village and the city, and we highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a very unique experience! Mr Chang is very professional and also very fun to be with. Be prepared for a lot of walking and public transport, but this would be the best way to explore Gamcheon Village and the market.

Dear Mr. Chang Thank you so much for an incredible day in Busan today! Spending 4 hours with us and guiding us through all the best spots made our trip truly unforgettable. Your deep knowledge of the history and culture, combined with your patience, kindness, and empathy in answering all of our questions, made a world of difference. We had an absolute blast and couldn't have asked for a better guide.

The tour was short but enjoyable! Gamcheon Village is full of colorful houses, beautiful views, and charming little streets. Our guide made the experience fun and informative. Definitely a lovely place to explore and take photos.

Dear Mr. Chang Thank you so much for an incredible day in Busan today! Spending 4 hours with us and guiding us through all the best spots made our trip truly unforgettable. Your deep knowledge of the history and culture, combined with your patience, kindness, and empathy in answering all of our questions, made a world of difference. We had an absolute blast and couldn't have asked for a better guide. Warm regards,

This little mountain village is easy to get to on public transportation, and certainly feels like the type of activity best done as a self directed wandering to her than a guided tour. There are many informational, placards, and helpful and interesting shop owners to stop in to see. It’s a beautiful little village, but strongly recommend starting at the top and walking your way down otherwise you’ll be getting quite the leg workout! Probably the highlight of the walk was the Duf Coffee Shop— certainly not a place for everyone to experience in its entirety, but great coffee if you’re not up for some truly quirky, weirdness, and burning man level esoteric art if you are, with three word of feeding three friendly ducks at the end, if you make the journey through the carnival like madhouse beyond the coffee machine. The streets are winding, steep, and the houses are all painted wonderfully. I would certainly recommend a visit if you’re in the area.

Our guide Suyang, was very knowledgeable about the community in Gamcheon. He brought us to all the places of interest in Gamcheon village and we really had a great time there. At the fish market, he was giving us all the historical background of the place. We really enjoyed the walking tour, even though it can be very tiring.

Very Good experience, the guide was very Good and tell us Everything about Busan It ís a Good way to see the city

We asked Busan if we could change the time on our tour, as it was raining and he accommodated us with no issues. We were lucky to have busan all to ourselves a that time. He gave us cute bags with treats in them. We began our adventures at the Jagalchi Fish market. There we saw so many different seafood species for the first time. Busan informed us of the many different kinds as well as their nutrients and history. While we were at the market, Busan was patient as I purchased a custom stamp made in front of us. It was very interesting. He was kind enough to take pictures of us at our request. Next we toured the Gamcheon culture village. He gave us a lot of history of the area. And then, we had time to shop around. Busan gave us two options for our next location so we chose the lookout point that shows a scenic view of Busan. At the top of the mountain, he treated us to a delicious cold drink. Perfect timing! There were clean washrooms to use as well. There were a lot of stairs to come down the mountain, so beware of this if you have mobility issues. He also looked after all of our transportation throughout the tour. It was a great day, despite the rain. Busan is kind, helpful, and very informative. Yeah, we would recommend this tour and felt it was money well spent. Thanks again, Busan! Jake and Sharon Wolters from Canada

After changing the day for the tour I was left wondering how he is a tour guide. He has a lot of information but talks endlessly and does not engage in conversation. Responding to questions is a weakness so I stopped asking. From a different tour the next day I learned more complete and accurate information about the history of the fish market and who they sell to. At one point he talked with great negative upon about my country.

We had a fantastic tour with Suyang! We had visited Gamcheon Culture Village the day before with another tour, but we only walked past souvenir shops and took photos. With Suyang, we actually learned about the history of Korea and the village itself. He explains everything in excellent English and makes it really interesting. We then visited the peaceful Songdo Beach, where he shared the legend of the fisherman and the Sea Dragon King’s daughter, and continued to Jagalchi Market, where he showed us Busan’s original harbor. Seeing all the different kinds of seafood was fascinating! He also gave us great lunch recommendations to end the tour. I highly recommend this tour if you want to learn more about Busan. Suyang is knowledgeable, engaging, and happy to answer any question you have!

We had a wonderful experience and would highly recommend this tour! Communication with the host was excellent from the start, and he was incredibly thoughtful throughout the day. I was traveling with my mom, and he made sure the pace was comfortable for us. During the heat wave, he even gave us a bag of snacks, a fan, and a hat, which was such a kind gesture. He was also very accommodating and gave us an alternate agenda to ensure we saw what we wanted and had a great time. He shared great cultural and historical context, balanced sightseeing with free time to explore, helped us take photos, and pointed out the best viewpoints. He also gave us fantastic local recommendations, including an amazing grilled mackerel restaurant that we loved. Overall, it was a fun, informative, and well-organized experience, and we'd definitely recommend it!

This was an excellent tour and exactly the type of tour I wanted. :) I got such a good insight about Gamcheon Village and its history, we explored a lot of the area and I also had time to take a quick peek into a shop or two. The views were amazing, I was happy that we came across the BTS murals, but also other art everywhere. I know I will return on a next trip and spend even more time exploring. After mutual agreement (I was the only tourist) we walked further down, paths I would never ever find again, and enjoyed something to drink at a local place. The views of Busan from there were amazing! (the original plan of the tour is the cable car, but I chose to see more of the village and the views, also since heights aren't exactly my forte :D). Later we visited the fish market which of course was interesting, too and gave me some meal inspiration. :D The goodies (tote bag and snacks) were a great touch, too. My guide's English was great, so communication was perfect. My handbag strap decided to come apart during the tour and he found a tailor shop I could visit the next day and get it fixed. And he also sent me some good ideas about further activities in both Busan and Seoul and all of this was super helpful, and there was a happy ending for my bag. :)

Suyang was a fantastic tour guide, very knowledgeable and engaging. He had great suggestions for other places to see and eat while in Busan and stayed with us in the fish market to help us buy fresh fish and instructed the staff on how to prepare it for our lunch. Would highly recommend!

This might be the best tour I've taken in Korea. Suyang was beyond knowledgeable and answered all of my many questions around Korean culture and history, even outside of Busan topics. I also think I was able to see spots in Busan that I would not have gotten to on other tours. Finally, Suyang has an amazing sense of humor and I really enjoyed having him as a guide!

Suyang was very knowledgable, professional, fun and passionate about South Korea which enhanced our tour. Loved all aspects of this amazing time.

Such a fantastic walking tour! Starting off in the cultural village, the tour guide, Suyang, knew all the best places to get a good view. He explained the history of the cultural village very clearly, and even brought me a new years goodie bag! From there we walked down through the tombstone village to a coffee shop for a break, then we got a fish cake from a street vendor before checking out the fish market. If you’re looking for a good way to walk around Busan, I recommend this tour and Suyang.

This was a great tour! The guide was very knowledgeable and gave me options of where to spend our time. Very nice welcome bag with snacks and goodies. Wonderful way to see Busan. I highly recommend!

The Gamcheon tour was very interesting and informative. The tour group was just my son and me, so we received personal attention. If you want history in addition to sightseeing, I’d recommend it!

Great tour guide - informative and funny. Ventured into areas not likely reviewed if travelling without a guide. Travelled via local bus to the various locations. Enjoyed all the locations we visited

Wow, what an excellent tour we had with Suyang! He was friendly and accomodating, providing us with a wealth of information about not only the sites but Korean life, history and politics. Suyang also provided us with excellent food recommendations for the area in which we were staying in Busan. We absolutely could not have had the same experience without Suyang, thank you! We would definitely recommend this tour.

I was the only one during the tour so I appreciate Suyang. I enjoyed the tour with him and learned a lot about the culture village.

Suyang was an incredibly kind and informative host for our tour. He answered every question we had, easily navigated our transportation and very sincerely wanted to ensure we had a positive experience. Our tour ran long and he continued to accompany us for translation at the Jalgachi Seafood market to ensure we had an easy experience buying the right seafood. Thanks Suyang!

It was just the 2 of us for the tour which was a delight as the guide customized the trip for us. In addition, my wife has some trouble climbing stairs and the guide was sensitive to that and adjusted our route accordingly. He was super knowledgeable about the places we saw and answered all our questions. The tour took us to the Gamcheon culture village ( quite touristy but still a must-see) but also to the other side of the mountain which had almost no tourists. It was nice to experience that quiet part of the mountain and a different viewpoint. We’d never have known about that area without a guide. But it’s the guide that makes or breaks these small tours and he was great! Opinionated. Knowledgeable. Open to all our questions about K-culture and its people. You can’t ask for more. I rated him 4/5 for this reason: Because there was quite a bit of walking involved, he could have communicated better during the walk just exactly where we are going and how far the next destination is. A quibble perhaps but I like to know just what to expect. Anyway, highly recommended!

We have been to the story festivals for years. Missed last year like everyone and donated to the festival. We had 3-day tickets for this year's event but did not return after the first day. The event has turned into a leftist gathering. We do not plan on attending future events.

Suyang is a great tour guide. He is friendly knowledgeable and funny. Despite the fact that I was the only person on tour, he did not cancel. On the contrary it worked out better for me as we had more time and was not rushed. Not only did he explain the history and culture but he helped me a lot with recommendations. As solo traveller, it was greater experience. Thank you Suyang.

Suyang was a great tour guide. He is friendly knowledgeable and funny. Despite the fact that I was the only person on the tour, he did not cancel. On the contrary, it worked out better for me as we had more time and not rushing. Not only did he explain the history and culture but he helped me a lot with recommendations. As a solo traveller, it was a great experience. Thank you Suyang.

Sadly we never got to experience this tour as even though we booked over 2 months out, they cancelled on us with only 2 days notice giving an excuse that did not justify the late cancellation. What is worse is that they asked us to cancel so it didn't make them look bad to trip advisor and when I said no and how disappointing I was about the last cancel they didn't bother to reply. I would recommend that if you book this tour have a back-up plan as in my experience they are unreliable!

Suyang is an awesome guide! He showed up with enthusiasm and was very thoughtful and helpful throughout the tour. He has a lot of knowledge about the history of the village and the current state of affairs and never hesitates to answer our questions. It was really kind of him to also provide us with tote bags with rain gear and cooling packs in case of weather changes. Talking to him was fun and the food places he recommended were delicious. If you are looking to get good photos and visit great vantage points, Suyang knows his way!

Amazing. Beautiful village and well organised tour. The shops were good with plenty of interest and felt fun to explore amongst all the colours. Highly recommended.

Suyang “samchon” was a great tour guide. We were the only family on tour that day so he tailored things for our family. He was clear on the meet up instructions and greeted us with a welcome bag of useful items to tour Korea in this hot weather. We saw the cultural village, enjoyed a coffee together, the beach walk, walled through several markets and of course the big Jagalchi fish market. We ended near BIFF square where he recommended a few places for lunch. Overall it was a great way to get an overview of Busan and learn some cultural history.

We had a fantastic tour of the Gamcheon Village, Songdo beach, and Jagalchi Market (our favorite)! Our guide was so knowledgeable and really put his perspective on the things we saw, it was not like just reading a watered down Wikipedia page (as I’ve experienced on other tours). It was great getting to talk about Korean history and politics - he's so knowledgeable without being dry as he has a great sense of humor too. The highlight was having him help us out navigating the fish market and ordering the perfect lunch. We definitely recommend this tour!!

Suyang runs a really informative tour with a great taste of Busan. Tons of recommendations throughout and a lot of interesting discussion about South Korea’s economy and tourism industry. Highly recommend for a well rounded day out in Busan!

Communication and organization with Chang, Suyang was excellent. He was early and prepared. Our group was small—it was just myself and my Fiancée—which made the tour much more personalized and unique. Suyang answered all of our questions and provided a lot of historical context for the history of the Gamcheon Cultural village as well as the country of Korea. The walking was wonderful as it was a sunny day. We walked all over the village and Suyang offered to take pictures for us. The coffee break was welcomed as it was hot. The iced ginger latte was delicious but very sweet so others may not enjoy that. The Fish market was incredible to walk through. Suyang also provided great history as we walked through the market. All in all, this tour was exactly what my fiancée and I were looking for—a personalized historical experience with a tour guide who wa honest and answered all the questions we had and even answered questions we didn’t know we had.

Entertaining tour with lots of history, humor and great food recommendations! My kids, both 14 years old, were engaged the whole time.

We had a great time exploring Busan with Suyang and he went out of his way to accommodate us and our needs with a 7 month baby in tow. He also provided an excellent range of restaurant recommendations.

A fantastic tour with a fantastic guide who went above and beyond to ensure that we had a good time and enjoyed the tour. Highly recommend to anyone!

A wonderful tour. Highly organised and efficient. Saw a lot in a short space of time. Very cost effective. Utilised public transport very effectively to get round which was great. Very knowledgeable and well planned. Thank you.

A wonderful tour. Highly organised and efficient. Saw a lot in a short space of time. Very cost effective. Utilised public transport very effectively to get round which was great. Very knowledgeable and well planned. Thank you.

Suyang our guide was fantastic If you want to see the top sights in busan with a friendly and hilarious guide this tour is for you We were on a cruise organisation and communication excellent We saw vibrant village , beach, fish market Coffee in a cafe The experience was well organised and great fun Highly recommend

This was a very informative and interesting tour, and our guide was very knowledgeable and fun, and it was done at the right pace.

Fantastic!! If you want to see main sights of busan with a friendly funny guide this is for you Great fun saw village fish market beach Went for coffee Included taxi train and bus travel Highly recommend We were on a cruise and it worked out perfectly

Did a great job and was attentive to what we wanted to see in a day here in Busan! Took lots of pictures for us, had some cool facts, and great local recommendations for food!

Honestly had such a amazing time! It ended up being just myself and the guide, but even so was great fun! Saw so many great places and learnt so much history and information. Would highly recommend for your trip to Busan.

We had a great time and highly recommend this excursion to others. We learnt abit of the history and enjoyed the beautiful of Busan.

Definitely one of the highlights of our trip! Suyang was super knowledgeable, kind, and really got what we were looking for. He made sure the tour fit our vibe perfectly. We felt so well taken care of the whole time. Highly recommend checking out Busan—and this tour in particular!

Su Jung was an excellent tour guide. We had a thoroughly enjoyable time, he showed us all around, was patient with our questions, and very helpful sending through restaurant and other recommendations. We highly rated our tour, saw everything and more. Thank you for a fabulous day.

This was such a wonderful experience. Our guide was hilarious and super knowledgeable. We learned so much and had a fabulous time. This tour will take you through the Gamcheon village and through the famous fish market in Busan. You'll take buses and taxis to get to your destinations, all coordinated by your amazing tour guide. I think that might have been my favorite part - I love taking local public transportation, but it can be overwhelming to know what bus to catch and when to get off - our tour guide handled everything! This was one of our favorite tours in all of our travels!