Highlights
Seoul and the DMZ - Explore the dynamic capital that contrasts starkly with the demilitarized border with North Korea Korean cuisine - Fresh, regional and delicious, the food is a highlight for many visitors Golgulsa Temple visit - Meet Buddhist monks, practice meditation and learn about Sunmudo
Itinerary
South Korea’s vibrant spirit comes alive on the "Discover South Korea" tour, a 12-day moderate sightseeing trip that weaves from Seoul’s bustling streets to the ancient capital of Gyeongju and the coastal city of Busan. For the culturally curious, this journey balances modern energy with deep tradition: explore the DMZ, savor the country’s famed cuisine, and visit the tranquil Golgulsa Temple to meet monks and try meditation. Each itinerary is carefully crafted, with a special October departure offering extra nights in Ulsan. With all logistics arranged, this small group tour package’s distinctive feature is its rich cultural immersion—ideal for experienced travelers eager to connect with both Korea’s contemporary life and storied heritage.
day 1Join trip in Seoul
Arrive in Seoul, South Korea's dynamic capital and one of the world's fastest growing cities. The economic, political and cultural centre of the country, Seoul is a fascinating mix of glass towers, historic temples, parks and museums, spanning the banks of the Han River. For those arriving on time our Leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 7.45pm for those that wish to go out for dinner. There are no other activities planned today, so you are free to arrive in Seoul at any time. With many flights arriving in the late afternoon and evening the introductory welcome meeting will normally happen first thing on the morning of day 2. The Tour Leader will need to confirm numbers for the Busan optional cookery and rice wine making excursions first thing today or tomorrow and take payment in Korean Won, please note that these may be fully booked in peak season and unavailable. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Incheon International Airport (ICN), which is a one-and-a-half-hour drive from our hotel. Should you miss the welcome meeting, your Leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up the next morning. Hotel check in starts from 3pm and is strictly followed. If you require an early check in, there is an additional fee and dependent on availability. If your flight arrives earlier in the day, perhaps you might choose to visit the 600-year-old Bukchon Hanok Village. Comprising of little alley ways and artisan displays, this is a beautiful place to get lost in for an afternoon.
day 2A full day exploring Seoul by public transport
day 3Visit the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ). Free afternoon
day 4High speed train to Andong. Visit Hahoe Folk Village. Drive to Gyeongju
day 5Morning Namsan Mountain Hike. Afternoon visit to Gyeongju Museum and Tumuli Park
day 6Morning visit to Gyeongju Seokguram Grotto. Afternoon Golgulsa Temple Experience
day 7Visit Bulguksa Temple. Drive to Busan. City tour
day 8In Busan. Morning free – optional cooking or Makgeolli brewing experience. Afternoon sightseeing
day 9Drive to Gwangju. Explore this cultural and artistic city
day 10Visit Mudeungsan National Park. Drive to Jeonju
day 11Visit Jeonju Hanok Village. High speed train to Seoul
day 12Trip ends in Seoul
What's Included
Customer Reviews
Fabulous trip overall I loved it, however I would refine the itinerary in the following ways if feasible : - DMZ on Day 1 as predominantly slower day on the bus (helps recovering from jet lag) - Seoul city exploring was ~ 20,000 steps so perhaps split some of these sights at start and end of tour (doing this on the current Day 1 itinerary with jet lag was a struggle for a lot of people). - drop seeing missionary houses - Buddha temple afternoon was too long (archery was fun, show was good, but several hours of meditation and slow training was very boring) - keep the paper making factory visit in itinerary (as this wasn’t in our original itinerary but added due to weather circumstances and it was excellent) - make this a 2 week trip - tour is very city heavy, consider having a rural visit to rice farmers or equivalent Tour guide JAMES JIN - absolutely fabulous, one of the best guides I’ve experienced on all my many trips with explore. - He went above and beyond to clearly explain the history, culture and flavours of South Korea - his dedication to ensuring the group were content, fulfilled and safe whilst dashing up to Seoul from Busan to attend the surprise early birth of his first child was truly commendable - his patience with the different levels of fitness of the group was caring and supportive - BOOK him again (as this was his 1st explore guiding trip I believe)
Fantastic tour leader (Nikky Ju)
Korea is an interesting country and the itinerary covers the main features. Fast paced, I think you need to be reasonably fit to cover the sometimes irregular terrain and changing weather conditions; take a raincoat if travelling in spring. Nikky, our Guide was enthusiastic and a 'speedy' walker. Accommodation was excellent.
No Time
This is a fantastic country and well worth a visit however I felt that the Itinerary could have been tightened up in order to get back to the Hotels at a sensible time. Days were often too long and time wasting at lunch time and afternoons. Our leader wanted a Korean lunch every day, most people just wanted a Cafe stop.
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