Namdo Hanbakwi Bus Tour 2026: Jeollanam-do Guide
Discover Jeollanam-do easily with the Namdo Hanbakwi bus tour. Explore Hwasun dolmens, Naju culture, and Purple Island on this budget-friendly local trip.
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Discover Jeollanam-do easily with the Namdo Hanbakwi bus tour. Explore Hwasun dolmens, Naju culture, and Purple Island on this budget-friendly local trip.
Hello, fellow travelers!
Today, I'm sharing my experience on a bus trip with Kumho Express: the Namdo Hanbaki (Jeollanam-do Loop Bus)! Out of all the amazing itineraries available, I chose the 'Time Travel to Hwasun and Naju Along Ancient Paths' course. I had an incredible time exploring the Hwasun County Choesangjun Art Museum, the UNESCO World Heritage Dolmen Site, and the historic Naju Town Wall area (including Naju Hyanggyo Local School).
Namdo Hanbaki is an incredible domestic tour program where you just sit back, relax in a safe and comfortable Kumho Express bus, and get dropped off right at each destination. To make it even better, a professional tour guide accompanies you to share fascinating insights! Plus, it's incredibly budget-friendly. Here is my review and why I highly recommend it!
Choose a New Adventure Every Day: Namdo Hanbaki
Choose a New Adventure Every Day, Namdo Hanbaki
A tour bus looping through Jeollanam-do's top attractions,
operated by Jeollanam-do Province and the Jeollanam-do Tourism Organization.
Namdo Hanbaki Autumn Itinerary
✔️ Online Booking
Search for 'Namdo Hanbaki' (Namdo Hanbaki Website)
✔️ Dedicated Call Center
✔️ Important Notes
1. Departs strictly on time from U-Square (Gwangju Bus Terminal) / Gwangju Songjeong Station
2. Meals, admission fees, and personal expenses are not included
3. Vehicle insurance is included, but personal travel insurance is excluded
4. Arrival time at Songjeong Station may vary depending on traffic conditions
5. Groups of 8 or more are not permitted to board
Course Overview
Every single day, from Monday to Sunday!
Kumho Express Namdo Hanbaki operates 3 different courses daily! 🚌
This autumn, they have put together a total of 21 unique courses. It's so easy to choose one based on your personal taste and travel style! If you're planning to catch the gorgeous autumn foliage this season, I highly recommend giving Namdo Hanbaki a try! ~~~
Let me share a few of the featured courses with you.
💜 Shaded in Purple:
Naju & Sinan Purple-Themed Trip
Every Monday / ~$10 (per person)
U-Square - Gwangju Songjeong Station
Naju Jeollanam-do Forest Resources Research Institute
(Lunch) Naju Gomtang (Beef Bone Soup) Street
Sinan Cheonsadaegyo Bridge
Anjwa Purple Island
Gwangju Songjeong Station - U-Square
🖤 Into the Feast of Ink Wash Painting!
Muan & Mokpo Ink Art Trip
Every Tuesday / ~$8 (per person)
U-Square - Gwangju Songjeong Station
Mokpo Culture & Arts Center (Jeonnam International Sumuk Biennale)
* Admission fee included
(Lunch) Mokpo General Fish Market
Gohado Island Admiral Yi Sun-sin Black Pine Forest
Coastal Deck Path & Marine Cable Car (Optional activity)
Gwangju Songjeong Station - U-Square
⛵️ Set Sail on a Yacht:
Gwangyang Romantic Getaway
Every Thursday / ~$29 (Premium Limousine Bus)
U-Square - Gwangju Songjeong Station
Gwangyang Baegunsan Natural Recreation Forest
(Lunch) Bulgogi Specialty Street
Mangdeok Port Seomjingang River Yachting
* Yacht boarding fee included
Namparang-gil Trail Course 49
Historic House of Jeong Byeong-uk (Yun Dong-ju's Manuscript Preservation House)
Gwangju Songjeong Station - U-Square
Fountain ⛲️ Refreshing to the Soul:
Yeosu Venice Trip
Every Thursday / ~$11
U-Square - Gwangju Songjeong Station
(Lunch) Yeosu Fisheries Market
Dumun to Gyedong Village (The Venice of Korea)
Keunkkeut Lighthouse
Museolmok Beach
Odongdo Island
Gwangju Songjeong Station - U-Square
🍁 Walking the Jirisan Cloud Path:
Gokseong & Gurye Weekend Getaway
Every Sunday / ~$10
U-Square - Gwangju Songjeong Station
Gokseong Dorimsa Temple
(Lunch) Gurye Jirisan History & Culture Museum
Cheoneunsa Temple
Guman Reservoir Suspension Bridge
Gwangju Songjeong Station - U-Square
Time Travel to Hwasun and Naju Along Ancient Paths
Since Wednesday worked best for my schedule, I looked into the Wednesday options for the autumn season! Because I was booking a bit last minute, I found out that both the Muan/Sinan Slow City Trip and the Gangjin/Wando Trip (where Celadon Meets the Archipelago) were already completely sold out~ The popularity of Namdo Hanbaki is truly next level! 👍🏻
So, I decided to book the Time Travel to Hwasun & Naju Along Ancient Paths instead! Taking a step back in time through Hwasun and Naju sounded like so much fun too! ~~~
Gwangju Songjeong Station, Exit 2
Finally, the day of our Namdo Hanbaki adventure arrived!
It's super convenient because you can board the bus at either U-Square (Gwangju Bus Terminal) or Gwangju-Songjeong Station.
If you board at Gwangju-Songjeong Station, the boarding spot is Exit 2. The signage is really clear, pointing straight to the "Intercity Bus, Namdo Hanbaki Boarding Area."
As soon as you head down, there's a taxi stand, and that's where our Kumho Express bus was waiting for us! 🤍🩵 Isn't the bus design absolutely adorable?!
Since it's operated by Kumho Express, the absolute leader in the industry, you know you're in for a safe and reliable journey!
The interior of the bus was exceptionally clean and well-maintained!
It even had USB charging ports for our phones, and the seats were incredibly comfortable.
Just a heads-up: depending on the tour package you choose, some itineraries feature even fancier premium buses than the one shown here!
Our super friendly driver made sure we had a smooth and safe ride!
And we are officially off on our Namdo Hanbaki adventure! 🚎
Hwasun County Choesangjun Art Museum
First stop: the Hwasun County Choesangjun Art Museum!
Normally, the Namdo Hanbaki tours come with a professional cultural guide!
But on this particular day, the local guides in Hwasun were in training, so our guide joined us starting from the Naju portion of the itinerary instead.
Even without a guide for the Hwasun stop, exploring the museum was completely easy and enjoyable on our own!
📍 Hwasun County Choesangjun Art Museum
249-8 Jingak-ro, Hwasun-eup, Hwasun-gun, Jeollanam-do
At the Hwasun County Choesangjun Art Museum, they host fresh curated exhibitions every two to three months. During our visit, they were showcasing artist Jeong Wan-gi's exhibition, "Beautiful Land of Silk and Embroidery" (Geumsu Gangsan) 🍁
I'm really soaking in some wonderful culture today, all thanks to Namdo Hanbaki! 🏔️
One particular piece that caught my eye was titled, The Beautiful Texture of the South.
It beautifully depicted the famous Hwasun Red Cliffs (Jeokbyeok) and Seryangji Lake!
It was a deeply moving piece that perfectly captured the breathtaking scenic beauty of Hwasun.
Loving the very first stop already! 🫡
Here is the view looking out from the museum's rooftop~
I'm so glad Namdo Hanbaki gave me a reason to visit and fall in love with Hwasun.
Hwasun Goindol Traditional Market
Time to grab some lunch!
We planned to find a nice place to eat around the Goindol Traditional Market, but unfortunately, the market itself wasn't open on the day we visited.
📍 Hwasun Goindol Traditional Market
44 Sijang-gil, Hwasun-eup, Hwasun-gun, Jeollanam-do
Nearby, there were plenty of options, from famous traditional tofu spots to Chinese restaurants and local homestyle eateries (baekban)!
We ended up choosing Bongsun-i Patjuk (Red Bean Porridge) & Kalguksu (Hand-Cut Noodles)!
By lunchtime, the place was absolutely packed—turns out it's a super famous local spot in Hwasun.
📍 Bongsun-i Patjuk Kalguksu
132 Chilchung-ro, Hwasun-eup, Hwasun-gun, Jeollanam-do
The clam kalguksu (hand-cut noodle soup) was amazing! 👍🏻
We also devoured the red bean kalguksu and spicy mixed noodles. Every bite was delicious!
Hwasun Dolmen Site (UNESCO World Heritage)
Next up: the Hwasun Dolmen Site and Dolmen Park! 🪨
📍 Hwasun Dolmen Site
64 Hyosan-ri, Dogok-myeon, Hwasun-gun, Jeollanam-do
There are wonderfully maintained hiking trails and walking paths woven through the dolmen sites.
Since we visited just before the autumn leaves turned and the flowers bloomed, it was a bit quiet—but they host the Hwasun Dolmen Autumn Flower Festival in October! Visiting then would be absolutely spectacular.
▶️ 2025 Hwasun Dolmen Autumn Flower Festival
- October 17 – October 26, 2025 / Throughout the Hwasun Dolmen Site area
Got our absolute fill of historic dolmens! 👍🏻
Dolmen Prehistoric Experience Center
Time for something adorable! ☺️
The Dolmen Prehistoric Experience Center is located right next door. You seriously have to check it out!
📍 Hwasun Dolmen Prehistoric Experience Center
156 Hyosan-ri, Dogok-myeon, Hwasun-gun, Jeollanam-do
It was a bit rainy, so the photos are a little gloomy!
But this prehistoric village is full of cozy straw-thatched pit houses that you can actually step inside of!
"Find the Best Hunter of the Dolmen Village!" 🏹
They had an archery experience set up... and let's just say, I am definitely NOT the village's best hunter, haha!
Next, we tried our hands at making bronze daggers and bronze mirrors!
Not only is everything completely free, but the staff was also incredibly friendly and shared so many fascinating stories about the dolmens. We had such a blast! haha
Now, we're heading over to Naju!
We enjoyed a super comfortable and smooth ride on the Kumho Express bus.
In Naju, we were joined by an expert local guide, which made our exploration so much richer and more meaningful.
First stop: Naju Geumseonggwan!
Did you know Naju's ancient name was actually 'Geumseong'?
Geumseonggwan served as the *gaeksa* (official guesthouse) of the Naju-mok district. Think of it as a grand reception space designed to host foreign envoys and government officials visiting from other regions.
It was also where they performed *mangwollye*—a ceremony where local magistrates paid their respects to the king and the royal palace from afar, using wooden tablets symbolizing the king and the palace as a display of loyalty.
📍 Geumseonggwan
Gwawon-dong, Naju-si, Jeollanam-do
Parts of it were lost during the Japanese colonial occupation, but thanks to careful restoration and preservation, it stands beautifully as it does today. Having our guide explain all of this really made the history come alive before our eyes!
Our guide shared a funny but slightly sad truth:
Apparently, everyone knows where the famous local restaurant 'Hayan Jip' (White House) is, but hardly anyone knows where Geumseonggwan is! 🥹 It felt so good to take this journey back in time with the Namdo Hanbakhui tour, soaking in all this history and tradition.
Naju Moksa-nae-a (Magistrate's Residence)
Right nearby is the Naju Moksa-nae-a!
This was the official residence of the 'Moksa,' the highest-ranking local government official in the district back in the day.
📍 Naju Moksa-nae-a
13-8 Geumseonggwan-gil, Naju-si, Jeollanam-do
This space was brimming with the peaceful, quiet charm of a traditional Hanok! Today, it's actually open to the public as a Hanok stay experience.
There were actually guests staying there on the day we visited, and I heard it's incredibly popular to book! Staying overnight in the actual home of a Joseon-era magistrate sounds like such a unique and unforgettable experience.
This is a hackberry tree that survived a lightning strike and was nursed back to life 🌳
Rumor has it, it's a famous spot for making wishes! haha 😂
Seoseongmun Gate (West Gate)
We passed through Seoseongmun Gate on our way to the Naju Hyanggyo!
Every single step felt like walking straight through a time machine—such a vibe.
The view of Naju Hyanggyo and the old fortress town area from Seoseongmun Gate was stunning 💚
After experiencing this itinerary, I am 100% convinced I need to sign up for other Namdo Hanbakhui tours in the future.
Naju Hyanggyo (Confucian School)
Our final stop of the day was the Naju Hyanggyo.
Getting around easily by bus, enjoying a perfectly curated itinerary, and having an expert guide explain everything made this an absolutely stellar trip!
📍 Naju Hyanggyo
38 Hyanggyo-gil, Naju-si, Jeollanam-do
I had a quick chat with some of the other travelers on the Namdo Hanbakhui tour. One of them turned out to be a super-frequent regular! She told me that the popular routes sell out completely on weekends or when the weather is nice, and they never disappoint. 👍🏻 Having experienced it myself now, I totally get it—I was beyond satisfied. Seriously, the price alone is absolute madness! lol 😂
With Naju Hyanggyo as our last stop, our full-day bus trip from morning to afternoon has come to an end!!! I heard that many people, just like us, travel all the way from Seoul to enjoy the Namdo Hanbarki tour. It's a highly recommended program loved by travelers from all over the country!
For the drop-off, you can choose between Gwangju-Songjeong Station or U-Square!
We decided to hop off at Gwangju-Songjeong Station. Thanks to Kumho Express, it was an incredibly comfortable, safe, and worry-free day trip! 🫡
Since we had a little bit of time left before our train, we grabbed an incredibly delicious dinner at my absolute favorite spot in Gwangju, Gwangsan Naju Gomtang, before heading back to Seoul!
🚌 Jeollanam-do X Jeollanam-do Tourism Organization X Kumho Express
This is truly a flawless, amazing collaboration! I wrote this review hoping that more people get to discover and experience this fantastic journey.
With budget-friendly prices ranging from around ~$6 to ~$26, it's the ultimate convenient way to explore every hidden gem of Jeollanam-do! 👍🏻
See you again, Namdo Hanbarki! 🤍
⬆️ Official Namdo Hanbarki Introduction Website (Jeollanam-do)
⬆️ Official Reservation Website (Kumho Express)
* Check out the variety of other awesome tour packages available too!
* Word on the street is that a 2-day/1-night Namdo tour and dog-friendly courses are launching soon!
You can board at U-Square (Gwangju Bus Terminal) or Gwangju Songjeong Station. If boarding at Gwangju Songjeong Station, go out through Exit 2 to use the waiting Kumho Express bus.
Meals, admission fees, and personal expenses are not included in the tour price. Please note that while vehicle insurance is included, traveler's insurance is not.
You can enter a pit house and try archery. Additionally, you can enjoy making bronze swords and bronze mirrors for free.
It was formerly used as the residence of the Moksa, the highest local government official, and still preserves the appearance of a traditional Hanok. It is currently operated as a Hanok accommodation experience space that can be used with a reservation.
This course operates every Thursday, and the price is ~$29 per person. You will travel on a premium express bus, and the yacht boarding fee is included in the price.
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