Discover South Korea & Japan

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 Kijong-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.

Tokyo, Japan's buzzing capital city. Formerly known as Edo, a small local fishing village, the Tokyo of today is a vibrant metropolis renowned for its advanced technology and diverse fashion sense, intermingled with the ancient traditions of Japanese culture.

We'll travel to Japan today, flying from Seoul to Tokyo. Once in Tokyo, we'll find an unlimited choice of shopping, entertainment, culture and exquisite food as we get acquainted with the city on our own this afternoon.

This evening we'll meet up to enjoy a group dinner at our hotel.

One of the world's main economic centres, Tokyo is a city that presents a different view of itself at every turn. Starkly modern, it becomes a jewel box at night with a glittering display of neon and fluorescent lights. But you can retreat to quiet residential back streets or sculptured gardens and still find harmony, scale and simplicity the Japanese have prized for centuries.

Our day begins with a visit to the scenic and spacious Imperial Palace East Garden, which provides a calm oasis amid the bustle of Tokyo. The garden is the former site of Edo Castle's innermost circle of defence. As none of the castle's main buildings remain today, the garden has been created in their place.

Special Experience: Experience a sumo wrestling demonstration before savouring a traditional Chanko-Nabe (a sumo hotpot-style stew) lunch at a local restaurant. This afternoon we'll stroll through the shopping district of Ginza and experience the hustle and bustle of Shibuya, one of Tokyo's busiest districts, and home to the famous Shibuya crossing. Approximately 3,000 people can make their way across the intersection at any one time!

We take to Tokyo Bay and admire the myriad city lights on a dinner cruise this evening in a typical Japanese-style houseboat from the Heian period, known as a Yakatabune.

Tokyo's downtown Shitamachi district is home to an array of sights, culture and a wonderful mix of old and new. We'll explore the district using the extensive subway network today,

starting this morning at the impressive Asakusa Sensoji Buddhist Temple that dates back to the 7th century. Incense burns at the temple to purify and act as a strong form of spiritual offering, or as a way to carry one's prayers to heaven. Watch as locals and tourists alike purchase bundles of incense (osenko), light them, let them burn and fan the smoke towards themselves. It is said to have healing powers! We'll also stroll Nakamise Street which is full of quirky shops and local snacks. Don't miss trying some of the interesting ice cream flavours on offer.

There isn't a more famous Japanese culinary dish than sushi. We'll learn the age-old culinary art of making sushi and enjoy the results for lunch before spending the remainder of the afternoon at leisure.

Hakone, part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, is less than 100 kilometers from Tokyo and one of the most popular destinations among Japanese and international tourists looking for a break from the big city. It is famous for its hot springs, outdoor activities, natural beauty and the view of nearby Mt Fuji.

This morning we'll visit a former farming village, Iyashi-no-Sato Nenba. After being destroyed by a typhoon in 1966, the village was reconstructed and reopened forty years later as an open-air museum and traditional craft village, complete with restaurants, shops and galleries.

We'll then arrive in the mountainous town of Hakone, where we'll enjoy a cable car ride on the Hakone Ropeway and see incredible views of the iconic Mt Fuji (weather permitting). We will stop along the Hakone Ropeway and see the magnificent Owakudani Valley, created about 3,000 years ago when the Hakone Volcano last erupted.

Tonight, we'll be staying in an authentic ryokan guesthouse, where we'll sleep on traditional Japanese-style bedding made up of a futon bed on tatami mats on the floor. We will also have the chance to bathe in a natural onsen (hot springs) and enjoy a traditional Japanese dinner.

Surrounded by lush mountains, Nagano is a quaint city with temples that have played an important role in the lives of pilgrims for almost 1,000 years. The city also hosted the 1998 Winter Olympic Games with some of the former Olympic facilities still dotted throughout the city.

We'll make our way to Nagano today via the mountain city of Matsumoto. Situated in a valley with the northern Japan Alps as a backdrop, the city is home to one of Japan's premier historic castles, Matsumoto Castle. We'll visit the castle which was built in the 16th century, admiring its architecture and learning about its rich history.

Special Experience: Take part in a soba noodle making class, used in a variety of Japanese dishes. Learn about these delicious buckwheat noodles and take away a new cooking skill you can bring home with you.

Located in Gifu, Takayama is a relatively small yet traditional city with an abundance of old inns, shops and sake breweries. Takayama is a city best known for its background in carpentry; it is believed Takayama craftsmen worked on the Imperial Palace in Kyoto and on many of the temples in Kyoto and Nara. Its high altitude and relative isolation allowed Takayama to remain relatively untouched by outside influences for a 300-year period.

Upon arrival in the city, we'll explore the narrow streets of the beautifully preserved Old Town on foot. We'll see Takayama Jinya, a traditional Japanese building dating back to 1816, before making our way to the Sanmachi Suji District. The quaint streets of the district are lined with old-style merchant houses that date back to the Edo and Meiji periods. Today, these houses are used as sake breweries, shops and restaurants.

One of the biggest morning markets in Japan, the Miyagawa Open Air Market, is a feast for the senses. Located on the banks of the Miyagawa River, we'll wander the many stalls, and check out the range of fresh fruit, vegetables, spices and local souvenirs on offer this morning.

Next, we'll visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed site of Shirakawa-go, famous for its gassho-zukuri thatched-roof farmhouses characterised by their extremely steep roofs, some of which are more than 250 years old. Gassho-zukuri means ‘constructed like hands in prayer', as the farmhouses' roofs resemble the hands of Buddhist monks in prayer. This architectural style, developed over many generations, was designed to withstand the large amounts of heavy snow that fall during winter. We'll visit the largest gassho-zukuri farmhouse in the town, where one of the town's wealthiest families once lived. Later we'll enjoy a traditional Japanese lunch at a local restaurant.

We'll then observe the traditional art of Japanese Washi papermaking in Gokayama. Some artists enjoy working with rice paper because of its distinct texture and slight translucent appearance. Rice paper, or Washi as it is known, is commonly used in the traditional paper-folding art of Origami, practiced since the early 1600s.

Kyoto, one of Japan's most beloved cities is our destination today. This ancient city was the imperial capital of Japan for 1,000 years with the Emperor residing in its elaborate palaces. Considered the country's spiritual capital, Kyoto is graced with an abundance of temples, pavilions, gardens and museums. While there are many keen tourists looking to imbibe the serenity that Kyoto exudes, it is still possible to find a peaceful moment to personally connect with your surrounds.

All aboard Japan's famous bullet train system for our journey to Kyoto. Upon arrival we'll delve into the unique craft of sake brewing.

Special Experience: Enjoy a tasting experience at a local sake brewery in Kyoto and learn how Japan's drink of choice is made. Later today we'll explore the incredible tunnel of orange Torii Gates that make up Kyoto's famous Fushimi Inari shrine, dedicated to the god of rice and sake in the 8th century. Its resplendent orange Torii Gates are a sight to behold, numbering more than 10,000 as they wrap themselves around the base of the Inari Mountain.

We'll delve further into the delightful Japanese culture today. A morning walk along Philosopher's Path is a tranquil start to our day of exploring Kyoto. Named after Nishida Kitaro, one of Japan's most famous philosophers who meditated along the path while walking to university every day. The path is an enchanting and peaceful place in the city.

Special Experience: Delve into the stunning art form of Japanese black ink calligraphy and try your hand at perfecting this ancient art. Afterwards, we'll experience a Japanese tea ceremony. In Japan it can take years to master the art of the tea ceremony, the art form of cha-no-yu. With many distinct styles, the different configurations of tatami (straw floor mats), utensils and temae (the preparation), the hanging scrolls selected with attention to the season and theme, and the chabana (floral arrangement) are all purposefully chosen to infuse meaning into the ceremony.

The remainder of our day is free to enjoy at leisure.

Today is at leisure to relax or discover more of Kyoto at your own pace. Why not visit the Gion district? Gion used to serve as the entertainment region and is best known as the home of Geisha and Maiko.

Hiroshima, a symbol of the utter devastation of war continues to build its reputation today as a symbol of peace. When the first atomic bomb exploded over Hiroshima on 6 August 1945, the city was obliterated. This moving city is our destination today.

We spend our final morning in Kyoto visiting some of the city’s most incredible temples. Our first stop is the stunning Kinkaku-ji Temple (Golden Pavilion), an exemplar of traditional Japanese architecture. The temple's top two floors are completely covered in gold leaf and the pavilion is set amongst beautiful gardens. We'll then tour the beautiful UNESCO World Heritage-listed Tenryu-ji Temple, ranked top of Kyoto's five great Zen temples before enjoying a typical Buddhist lunch.

Later we'll walk through the otherworldly Arashiyama Bamboo Forest for a moment of peace and tranquillity as we stroll along the paths that meander through the endless stalks of towering bamboo. Our final stop is a visit to the Togetsukyo Bridge, or ‘Moon Crossing Bridge', originally built in the Hein Period for nobles who came to enjoy the natural surrounds.

This afternoon, we travel to Hiroshima by bullet train.

This morning we'll visit some of Hiroshima's important sites, including the Peace Memorial Park, the Atomic Bomb Dome, and the very moving Peace Memorial Museum, commemorating the dropping of the atomic bomb over Hiroshima.

The island of Miyajima lies just off the coast from Hiroshima and is renowned for its solitude, magnificent views and the Shrine of Itsukushima, built on wooden piers over the water. The shrine's Torii is out at the head of a bay and is one of the most photographed places in Japan. The giant Torii Gate seems to float on top of the water at high tide, its orange hue contrasting vibrantly with the blue of the surrounding water. We'll take the ferry to the island this afternoon and have some time to ourselves to enjoy this UNESCO World Heritage-listed site.

A kaleidoscope of vibrant colour, traditions and culture, Osaka is Japan's second largest city. Formerly known as Naniwa, the city was Japan's first recorded capital city.

Our day begins with a bullet train ride to Himeji Castle. As Japan's largest and most-visited castle, it is regarded as the finest surviving example of Japanese castle architecture. UNESCO World Heritage-listed Himejijo, in its current form, dates back to 1617 and has remained intact despite extensive bombing during World War II and a great earthquake in 1995. We'll enjoy time at the castle and in the nearby beautiful Kokoen Gardens, a short walk from the castle's main gate.

Special Experience: Learn the way of the warriors of pre-modern Japan, the Samurai, during an interactive lesson. Many Samurai lived by the concepts of loyalty to one's master, self-discipline and ethical behaviour. They were also adept with the bow and sword. We'll learn about the art and try out the movements ourselves.

Tonight, we'll enjoy a Japanese-style group farewell dinner.

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