Day 1
Arrival in Busan by way of the temples
Morning
Haedong Yonggungsa
A rare temple built level with the waves, Haedong Yonggungsa clings to the rocks of the north-east coast. Founded in the 14th century and dedicated to the goddess Gwaneum, it is reached down a stairway of 108 steps to pavilions lashed by the spray: one of the most photographed sites in Korea, magical at sunrise.
Afternoon
Beomeosa and Geumjeongsanseong
Beomeosa, a great mountain temple founded in 678 on the flank of Mount Geumjeong, is one of the most important in the region. The ramparts of Geumjeongsanseong, the longest mountain fortress in Korea, offer fine panoramic walks.
Evening
Samgwangsa temple
A modern temple known for its gigantic lantern festival around Vesak (Buddha's birthday), when tens of thousands of coloured lanterns light up the site at nightfall.