South Korea Highlights

Annyeong! Welcome to South Korea. Your adventure begins in Seoul, South Korea's vibrant capital of high-tech gadgetry, soaring skyscrapers and delicious eats. If you arrive early, explore this modern Asian metropolis at your own pace and discover how ancient traditions come together with the modern in one of Asia's great cities. You’ll have a welcome meeting at 4 pm this afternoon. After, your leader will take you to visit the renowned Gwangjang Market for a fun dinner tour. Here, you’ll find some of Korea’s street food favourites like mayak gimbap (rice rolls), mandu (North Korean dumplings), bindaetteok (mung bean pancake) and the famous kimchi. Later, follow your group leader to the top of Naksan to see an awesome view of Seoul’s skyline at night.

An early morning to get to join a tour of the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ). From the South Korean side of the Zone, you’ll learn how this peninsula has been divided since the devastating Korean War. You’ll visit points of interest, including the Third Tunnel of Aggression, the Unification Bridge, Imjingak Park and the Dora Observatory. In the afternoon, explore Gyeongbukgung Palace – the main royal palace of the Joseon dynasty – and the traditional Bukchon Hanok Village. Your tour today will finish late afternoon and feel free to stay longer behind the group at Bukchon as there's a lot to explore. In your free time afterwards, consider visiting Namsan Mountain or Yongsan's War Museum or pick up some gadgets in the hi-tech Yongsan Electronics Shopping district.

In the morning, take a local express bus to the east coast city of Sokcho. On arrival, head to the Sokcho Central Market for a real insight of how local people go about their daily lives, with the option of trying a few different local snacks or have your lunch here. Enjoy some free time afterwards then head to Abai – a small island village in Sokcho that, for generations, has been a haven for refugees fleeing the Korea War from North Korea, offering education and housing. Getting there is half the fun – you’ll have to work together to pull a rope on a small barge to get to the other side. Visit a North Korean refugee’s family and listen to their story of how history reshaped their life.Then take part in a cooking demo and learn how to make giant Korean dumplings. Enjoy a delicious dinner, like Japchai, kimbap, rice beer and other snacks in their shared recreation space, all freshly cooked with home recipe. The payment they received for this dinner will be contributed to the Abai Village Preservation Society.

Head to Seoraksan – Korea’s most well-known mountain and the third highest in the peninsula – and take a hike to see the stunning views of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. The afternoon and evening is yours to explore Sokcho. Maybe visit Yeoung Geum Jung Pagoda which is on the coast, overlooking the sea. Or hire a bike and ride around the scenic Yeongrang Lake. Maybe try the Korean hotpot for dinner or go for an evening visit to Sokcho Expo Tower. Otherwise, you could take a walk along Sokcho Harbor or opt for a relaxing soak at the Cheoksan Hot Springs.

Hit the road this morning for Andong Hahoe Folk Village. This quaint settlement is easy to walk around, so you’ll join your leader on a stroll through the traditional houses (including the one that hosted Queen Elizabeth II in 1999) to get your bearings. Visit the remnants of a traditional school to see how students studied in the past and take a short hike to Buyongdae Hill, where you’ll get a bird’s eye view of the village dotted with the traditional hanok houses. Being a traditional Korean outpost, there may also be masked dancers performing in town. To learn more about this ritual, why not visit the nearby mask museum? Staying in an authentic hanok (traditional Korean house) is a unique experience and the perfect opportunity to gain more insight into local life. Enjoy a dinner at the village to try some of Andong's signature dishes.

After saying goodbye to your host family, you’ll make your way to Busan. South Korea’s second-largest city is home to mountains, beaches, hot springs and deliciously fresh seafood. After arrival, you’ll have the unique opportunity to talk to a Haenyeo diver. Haenyeo, literally 'sea women', are the brave souls who dive into the sea to collect clams, sea urchins and oysters and are famous for being able to hold their breath for a very long time. A dwindling industry, this has been a main source of income for the divers (predominantly female) to support their families through changing times. Visit the local Haenyeo community centre and meet with an ex-diver and hear about her experience diving, the changes Busan has gone through and her life now. Then visit Haedong Temple – the famous Buddhist temple by the sea. Explore this rare gem, backdropped by the ocean and soak in the coastal views, before going to Gamcheong Culture Village for a great overview of the city before exploring the cafes and galleries at your own pace. This colourful village is also extremely photogenic, so don’t forget your camera as you wander around. There are different spots in the city for a perfect sunset, so maybe grab a few of your group members and head to one of the many scenic viewpoints at dusk. In the evening you are free to visit Busan X the Sky or Gwangan Beach.

This morning, head to the seaside of Ikidae and take a coastal walk (and optional plogging) first. Then make a visit to a local ‘Smart Farm’ – this incubation site is where startups are growing crops in recycled shipping containers, as well as turning them into shops and cafes. The rest of the day is yours. Tonight, maybe take an optional night cruise and see Busan from the water as the sun goes down. You can also visit Haeundae Night Market or see the buskers on the boardwalk.

This morning, jump on the KTX Bullet Train and head back to Seoul. You'll arrive early afternoon and the rest of afternoon is yours to explore. Perhaps venture out and explore the National Museum, Leeum Art Museum, or you might like to check out the huge range of shopping that Seoul’s Dongdaemun has to offer. This evening, gather your travel pals for one final group dinner at an all-you-can-eat barbecue feast – you can't leave Korea without experiencing this hands-on meal!

Your adventure comes to an end after breakfast today. With no activities planned, you’re free to leave at any time. If you’d like to spend more time in Seoul, just speak to your booking agent.