This 12-day South Korea adventure introduces you to the vast array of what the country has to offer such as its rich history, culture, cuisine, and natural beauty - from bustling, neon-lit metropolises to rolling countryside hills, long sandy beaches to temples in the mountains, and even a visit to the historic Demilitarized Zone.
Accommodation is in a mix of simple, friendly hostels, bath houses and and overnight temple stay. This is an active, adventurous tour aimed at younger travellers (max age 55)
Is it your first time exploring Korean history and culture? If you are a visitor to Seoul, join us for an exciting tour showing you that this bustling city has a lot to offer!
Start your tour with a visit to Jogyesa Buddhist Temple, the center of Zen Buddhism in Korea, famous for being located in the city. The first things you will notice at the temple are the lovely trees. These locust trees and baeksong trees in front of the Daeungjeon, the main temple building, are about 500 years old.
The tour also visits Gyeongbok Palace, built in 1395, which is arguably the most beautiful and the grandest of all the five palaces. Every day, visitors to Gyeongbok palace can watch a re-enactment of the changing of the royal guards' ceremony, which takes place at the Gwanghwamun and Heungnyemun plazas. The royal guards of the Joseon Dynasty (1392~1910) were in charge of protecting the gates of the capital city and the royal palace.
The newly opened Cheongwadae Sarangchae, which opened to the public on January 5th, 2010, is a history center that gives visitors a chance to follow in the footsteps of presidents of Korea and gain insight into the history of Seoul. It encompasses the past, present and even the future of Seoul as well as the entire nation
We'll also visit Insa-dong, the most reliable place to purchase antiques in Seoul. Here you may browse antique shops, art galleries and second-hand bookstores.
Next up on our Seoul City tour is another traditional market, but this one is entirely different from Insadong. Gwangjang Market comprises around 5,000 vendors and is one of the oldest and largest in Seoul. It was also the first permanent market in Korea.
What better way to end our Seoul City Tour than a ride up to Seoul Tower on the iconic Namsan Cable Car.
This well-known Korean landmark offers captivating views of Namsan Mountain and downtown Seoul as you ascend the 605-metre-long cable to the top.
The complete itinerary for the day is as follows:
Hotel pick up - Jogyesa Buddhist Temple - Changing of the Guard Ceremony - Gyeongbok Palace (Deoksu Palace Tuesday only) - pass by the Presidential Blue House - Cheongwadae Sarangchae (National Palace Museum of Korea on Tuesday only) - Insadong Arts and Crafts Market (Free time for lunch) - Gwangjang Market - N Seoul Tower (including observatory and round trip cable car) - Drop off at Myeongdong or City Hall
Good balance of included and optional activities. The hotels were centrally located which made it easy to explore the place on one’s own. CEO did a good job of communicating the itinerary, pacing the activities, and giving us informative overviews of the local history in all the places we visited.
Escorted Group Tour: Embark on an exhilarating journey through South Korea's most captivating destinations! Start your adventure in the heart of Seoul, dive into the rich history at Gyeongbokgung Palace and immerse yourself in the bustling markets of Myeongdong. Then, venture to the Demilitarized Zone, where history unfolds at the border between North and South Korea. From there, discover the enchanting towns of Andong and Gyeongju, where you'll find yourself in a living museum without walls, with centuries of culture and heritage waiting to be explored.
In 6 days, we saw a mix of urban city, traditional palaces and Hanok villages, cathedral and temples, a lively
night market, some shopping, a National Park, and the coastal city of Busan. We ate very well enjoying typical Korean dishes for lunch, like samgyetang, bibimbap, bulgogi, ssam, and one pasta & pizza lunch for variety. Our guide Helena was fluent in English and Spanish so we could understand all the interesting information easily. Helena took good care of us, and though it was not included, she made extra effort to help our group find a clinic for Covid-19 PCR test after arrival in Korea. Her fun personality made us very comfortable too. And there was no pressure to shop at special stores with a ”discount” for tour groups. Our hotel in Seoul was the Marriott Times Square which was excellent. The Ramada hotel in Busan was less impressive but alright for a one night stay. I did not enjoy Daegu City and its oriental medicine museum which was too specific for my interest. However we had the chance to try on Korean hanbok dress for free in the museum. Overall, it was a quick trip that was a very good introduction to South Korea.
Korea surprised us in the best way! Seoul was vibrant, the food was amazing (hello, Korean BBQ!), and the countryside was stunning. The trip was so well-planned!
Discover the highlights of South Korea on this 12-day adventure from Seoul to Jeju Island. Explore the capital’s palaces and markets, meet a North Korean defector at the DMZ, and enjoy a traditional temple stay at Geumsunsa. Hike in Seoraksan National Park, cycle through the ancient city of Gyeongju, and uncover the coastal beauty of Busan. End your journey on Jeju Island with scenic walks, volcanic peaks, and a memorable beach BBQ to celebrate your Korean adventure.
Had an amazing time in Japan! The only thing we can say which really wasn’t a challenge as such, was that on our last morning we were being picked up for the airport before the hotel’s breakfast time and we had already paid for that meal. So we had to purchase breakfast elsewhere. Onsens are always a great experience. All three trips that we have booked with you previously have all been a great experience
For those seeking a shorter Asian getaway, "From Seoul to Hiroshima" presents an 8-day city sightseeing tour from Seoul to Hiroshima, with stops including Busan. Perfectly tailored for seniors, this trip provides all the essentials—accommodation, transport, and meals—so you can focus on the highlights. The notable advantage is its efficient itinerary, offering an immersive experience of both South Korea and Japan within a compact, easy-to-navigate package.
The "Classical Korea and Japan End Tokyo" tour is a 14-day city sightseeing journey from Seoul to Tokyo that’s perfect for those seeking an easy-paced, immersive adventure. Seniors will enjoy visits to Matsuyama, Mount Koya, Jeonju, and six other destinations, with all accommodations, transport, and meals provided. The tour’s unique selling point is its cross-cultural blend, offering travelers the chance to experience both Korean and Japanese traditions in one seamless trip.
The trip was absolutely fantastic. Well organized, tours were uniquely interesting. Although all the tour guides were excellent, special mention must be made of Ken Estevez who went over an above his call of duty to assist us with various aspects of the tour. His knowledge of Japan, its culture and religious belief systems is highly commendable. Ken was able to answer questions and give a clear narrative of important information not only verbally but through well thought out appropriate media presentations. He truly is an asset to the company.
Your journey begins in Seoul, wherein you will visit Deoksugung Palace, sitting along the western-styled buildings showcasing a perfect blend of tradition and modernity. Explore Changdeokgung Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; Bukchon Hanok Village, a traditional Korean village; and Gyeongbokgung Palace, a 1395 palace located in the heart of Seoul. The journey continues to Jeonju through Suwon, wherein you will visit the intriguing Samsung Innovation Museum. Walk around the fascinating Old Town of Jeonju with tiny houses, and the next day leave for Busan. On the way to Busan, visit Haeinsa temple, which is one of the most significant Buddhist temples in South Korea. In Busan, visit a 14th-century Buddhist temple- Haedong Yonggung Temple, and take a walk in Yongdusan Park. Your tour in South Korea ends here as you leave for Shimonoseki in Japan with an overnight ferry. On reaching Shimonoseki, you depart for Iwakuni and visit its unique Kintai-Kyo Bridge, later continuing your journey to Hiroshima. In Hiroshima, tour the Peace Memorial Park and Peace Memorial Museum, telling stories of the horrifying nuclear attack. The next day, you will travel to Matsuyama on Shikoku Island and take a cable car ride up to a 400-year-old Matsuyama castle. Continue your journey to Kobe, and on the way, experience walking on the glass floor of the Great Naruto Bridge. The following day brings you the most memorable experience of this trip. You leave for Osaka, followed by reaching Mount Koya, wherein you will spend a night in the monastery experiencing a Zen meditation session and experiencing the monk way of life for a night. Finally, travel to Kyoto and go on a city tour to visit the Shinto Shrine of Fushimi Inari, the Imperial Palace, and the Kinkakuji temple before one of our best Japan tours comes to an end.
