Someone once wrote, “To read is to know, to travel is to understand.”

      That statement summarizes our reason for developing Morning Earth Tours.  We want you to understand why we, and others who know Korea well, consider Korea to be the “Hidden Gem of the Orient”.  We want to take you to the heart of Korea’s arts and culture, to the out of the way places seldom traveled by tourists but which make up the threads that tie Korea’s arts and culture together.  When you travel to Korea on a Morning Earth Tour, you will understand.

     Once called the Hermit Kingdom, Korea never the less developed a wonderful culture and produced amazing art.  Korea is today one of the most “art full” countries in the world.  Internationally acclaimed artists have said of Korea that Korea has more artists per capita than any other country in the world.  When you visit Korea, you will agree.

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       We have been to Korea many times during our 30 plus years of research into Korean arts and culture.  Two years ago, Gangjin, Korea approached us with an opportunity we couldn’t refuse.  We knew the acceptance of their offer would not bring us much financial reward but it is an opportunity for us to introduce more people to the remarkable arts and culture of Korea.  In reality, it is an opportunity for you to travel to Korea and be introduced to aspects of Korean culture seldom witnessed even by many Koreans. 

     If you have not heard of the county or city of Gangjin, you may still know the work produced there.  Gangjin is famous for its beautiful celadon.   They are celebrating their millennium years, 2007 by holding exhibits throughout Japan, 2008 by holding exhibits in six cities throughout the United States and in 2009 Gangjin will tour Europe.  Now they have extended their offer indefinitely.  

     What was their offer?  Gangjin, in an exclusive agreement with Morning Earth, will subsidize a part of many of our tours.  Their offer could save you considerably off our already low prices depending on the tour you select. 

     Because of Gangjin’s unprecedented offer,  we took another unprecedented step.  We decided to introduce you to some of the artists whose work weaves the fabric of both classical and contemporary Korean culture.   These artists, some of whom are Human Cultural Treasures in their fields, represent the depth and breadth of Korea’s arts.  Gangjin’s offer, which may continue for years to come,  will touch each of our groups in some way.  It may be a privately guided tour with a banquet in your honor.  It might be a free room for your stay in Gangjin or they might subsidize your transportation or all of the above.   Whatever the case you will benefit.    Rest assured that all of our tours are very reasonably priced even without Gangjin’s help and are of the highest content and quality.  Because we are so dedicated to introducing you to Korea, we are operating like a non-profit to keep your costs as low as possible.

    After reviewing our plans for Morning Earth Tours and knowing about our prior group tours to Korea, Korean professional tourism experts told us that our tours to Korea are the most comprehensive, unique and culturally rich Korean tours available.  They have said that we should be charging between $500 and $1000 more per tour at our unsubsidized prices.

     We know many of Korea’s more respected artists personally and are in a unique position to design these types of tours.  Although we are new at designing tours for the tour industry, our earlier private tours have gained the respect of many who know Korean travel.   Endorsed by Korean National Tourism, we have the trust of the artists we visit.  That’s why Gangjin approached us with their offer as opposed to asking a large commercial travel company.

     We are not a large travel company, actually we do not consider ourselves a travel company.  We are designers of unique culturally conscious tours to Korea and work through one of the most respected wholesale travel companies in Korea.  They have agents throughout the world.

     We want to keep Morning Earth Tours personal.  Each Morning Earth Tour participant is treated as a special guest.  Our motivation is to provide a limited number of very high quality tours at very reasonable prices so that our tour participants will be able to experience Korea as we have and take home with them wonderful memories of the arts and culture that is at the heart of Korea. 

     Through Gangjin’s amazing offer to partially subsidize some of our tours, we can charge less for many already very reasonably priced tours.  Imagine paying less for much more.  That is the purpose and philosophy behind all Morning Earth Tours.

     Touch the heart of Korea and perhaps Korea will touch your heart in return.  Then you too will understand.