South Korea in Depth

Welcome to South Korea, a country rich in history with varied landscapes and an abundance of unique experiences. With a population of over 10 million, the country's capital, Seoul is South Korea's economic, political and administrative centre. One of the most fascinating observations of this city is how its traditional past mixes with its modern present.

We don’t want you to miss out on any aspect of your small group tour. To ensure that you don’t, we recommend you arrive at your hotel by 5.30pm.

This evening we’ll meet up to enjoy a group welcome dinner

We'll experience old and new Seoul today, beginning at the newly opened official residence and office of South Korea's president for 74 years, The Blue House. We'll then visit the beautiful Gyeongbokgung Palace where we'll witness the changing of the guard ceremony. Built in 1395 and now a collection of museums and historical sites, the palace is surrounded by gardens and ancient stone pagodas.

Our lunch stop will be at Bukchon Hanok Village, giving us time to wander through the narrow alleyways home to hundreds of traditional Hanok houses, some dating back over 600 years. Next, we'll visit the observation deck of Seoul's N Tower. The ‘N' is often mistaken for ‘North', but it in fact stands for ‘New', ‘Namsan' (being located on Mt Namsan), and ‘Nature'. The iconic tower was built in 1969 and opened to the public in 1980, welcoming thousands from around the globe each year.

Our final stop for today is the Gwangjang Market. Known as one of the best places for authentic Korean street food, it is one of the oldest and largest traditional markets in South Korea and is famous for the Mung Bean pancake.

Calling all lovers of food! Named as a UNESCO Creative City for Gastronomy in 2012, the city of Jeonju is home to a glorious variety of traditional dishes, talented chefs, and innovative food festivals. The captivating city will also transport you back to a distinct moment in history with hundreds of Hanok, the traditional wooden houses lived in by Korea's upper class.

We'll leave the metropolis of Seoul this morning and make our way to Suwon to visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Suwon Hwaseong Fortress. Constructed from 1794 to 1796, the walls of the fortress stretch for almost 6 kilometres and surround the centre of the city. Here, we'll take part in an archery lesson.

Upon arrival in Jeonju, we will step back in time as we explore the Jeonju Hanok Village. The village is made up of over 800 traditional Korean houses and is tucked behind the rest of industrialised Jeonju. Hanok houses are known for their beautiful carved roofs and are generally divided into two sections, Anchae, where the women stay and Sarangchae, where the men stay.

• Special Experience: Learn all about Korea's fascinating cuisine at a kimchi making experience, South Korea's staple side dish made from fermented vegetables. Enjoy an evening at leisure to find a local restaurant for dinner. As the birthplace of the popular bibimbap dish, why not try the rice dish in the place it originated from?

Creativity and politics come together to create the quirky city of Gwangju. Referred to as the birthplace of Korean democracy, politics plays a big role in the city's identity. Art is also popular in the city with many museums, galleries and a street dedicated to art.

This morning we'll venture south to Mt. Maisan and Tapsa Temple en route to Gwangju. This Buddhist temple complex is constructed entirely out of stones, making for a very impressive sight!

Next, we'll visit the nearby town of Jinan-gun to learn about spas, and how they are a very important part of life in Korea. The spa culture at Jinan Red Ginseng Spa is second to none.

• Special Experience: Enjoy a traditional spa experience and try the unique array of facilities and treatments, including ‘bubble sense therapy' and ‘sound floating'.
• Challenging Day: Today is a particularly challenging day, where there will be extended periods of walking time, often across uneven ground and in areas of high altitude or heat and humidity.

This morning we'll visit the Juknokwon Bamboo Garden. Here, we'll stroll through the garden's path surrounded by towering bamboo and enjoy some peace and tranquility. Heading back to Gwangju we'll enjoy free time at Chungjang-ro Street, the city's premier fashion district lined with boutiques, shopping malls, restaurants, cafes and more.

This afternoon, we'll get the opportunity to delve into the traditional culture of South Korea during a visit to the Gwangju Traditional Cultural Centre. Here, we'll have the chance to try on the Hanbok – the traditional Korean dress and learn about customary etiquette.

Tonight we come together for a group dinner at a local restaurant.

• Challenging Day: Today is a particularly challenging day, where there will be extended periods of walking time, often across uneven ground and in areas of high altitude or heat and humidity.

Located on South Korea's East China border, the port city of Yeosu is home to a spectacular coastline with cliffs, islands and peninsulas. In 2012, the city was host to the World Expo.

Along the way to Yeosu today we'll stop at Suncheon to visit the Naganeupseong Folk Village. Surrounded by Joseon-period fortress walls, the village is Korea's best-preserved fortress town with traditional houses lining the narrow alleyways.

Arriving in Yeosu we'll ride the famous Yeosu Maritime Cable Car for panoramic ocean and mountain views and then enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

• Challenging Day: Today is a particularly challenging day, where there will be extended periods of walking time, often across uneven ground and in areas of high altitude or heat and humidity.

South Korea's second largest city, Busan is a picturesque bustling port city surrounded by stunning mountains, home to beaches, hot springs and delicious seafood. The city is jam packed with experiences including, visiting the vibrant fish market, shopping in local boutiques, soaking in a natural hot spring, savouring tasty street food, spending time at the beach and more.

We start our day with a visit to the Ssangyesa Temple, famous for the large stretch of cherry blossom trees that bloom each spring.

• Special Experience: At the Ssanggyesa Temple, relish the experience of a tea ceremony with monks. We'll arrive in Busan later this afternoon and enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

We explore the sights of Busan today, starting with the Igidae Park, where we'll walk along the park's coastal path for views across the ocean and of the city's skyline. We will also step out on the Oryukdo Skywalk, located at the dividing point of the East and South Sea. We'll then visit the UN Memorial Cemetery which honours the lives of soldiers and UN aids lost during the Korean War in the 1950s. Next we continue to Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, a Buddhist temple situated on the coast of the north eastern portion of Busan, offers stunning ocean views, intriguing history and architectural beauty.

This evening we head out on the water and enjoy a sunset cruise on the Haeundae River taking in all of Busan's amazing skyline.

• Challenging Day: Today is a particularly challenging day, where there will be extended periods of walking time, often across uneven ground and in areas of high altitude or heat and humidity.

We travel to Gyeongju this morning, known as ‘the museum without walls.' The city has more tombs, temples, rock carvings, pagodas, Buddhist statuary and palace ruins than any other place in South Korea.

Our day begins at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Bulguksa Temple. First built in 528 AD during the Silla Dynasty, then reconstructed in 751 AD, the temple encompasses seven of the National Treasures of South Korea. Perhaps some of the most impressive treasures are the two pagodas and two gilt-bronze statues of Buddha.

Later we'll take the 3km scenic walk to our next stop, the Seokguram Grotto. This artificial grotto is made from granite and is also a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site.

After sunset we visit Gyeongju Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond, formerly known as Anapji, an artificial pond in Gyeongju National Park. The site is almost 1500 years old and was once home to the crown prince during the reign of King Munmu.

In the evening we'll enjoy the stunning night views of the Wolijeonggyo Bridge.

• Challenging Day: Today is a particularly challenging day, where there will be extended periods of walking time, often across uneven ground and in areas of high altitude or heat and humidity.

This morning we travel to the Cheomseongdae Observatory, Cheomseongdae means 'star-gazing tower' in Korean. The tower dates back to the 7th century and the Silla Dynasty, making it the oldest surviving observatory in East Asia. We'll also visit Tumuli Park, with more than 20 large and small tombs from the Shilla period. From the outside, the tombs resemble substantial grassy hillocks that echo the mountains outside town.

We'll also pay a visit to the nearby Gyeongju National Museum, one of the most prominent museums in Korea dedicated to the Silla culture. We will spend some time exploring, before boarding the high speed train back to Seoul.

Our day is spent exploring Korea's Demilitarised Zone. We visit Freedom Bridge at Imjingak Village, board the monorail through the 3rd infiltration tunnel, and see the DMZ Exhibition Area. Korea is officially the only divided country in the world and has been since the Korean War of 1950 – 1953.

This zone was established by both sides and is 2 kilometres on either side of the Military Demarcation Line, running 250 kilometres across the Korean Peninsula. Our tour continues at the Dora Observatory and Dorasan Station, which will allow us to look into North Korea and the village of Kijŏng-dong. Often referred to as the propaganda village, it was designed by the North Koreans to show that the North is living a life of prosperity. A closer look indicates that they are all concrete shells with no windows and automatic lighting that switches on and off at designated times to suggest activity!

Tonight, we'll enjoy a Nanta Show. Nanta is a non-verbal comedy show and a popular way to spend an evening in South Korea.

After the performance our evening continues with our group farewell dinner at a traditional restaurant.

Our tour concludes after breakfast this morning. We hope you leave with fantastic memories!