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. (D)

After breakfast this morning, join a tour of the fascinating 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 the Gyeongbukgung Palace – the main royal palace of the Joseon dynasty – and the traditional Bukchon Hanok Village. Then, explore the antique and artsy streets of Insadong. In your free time this afternoon, maybe consider visiting Namsan Mountain or Yongsan's War Museum or pick up some gadgets in the hi-tech Yongsan Electronics Shopping district. (L)

In the morning, take a local express bus to the east coast city of Sokcho. . On arrival, head to a local restaurant with buffet-style selection of Korean food. After lunch, head to visit a local super market and 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. Then visit Yeoung Geum Jung Pagoda which is on the coast overlooking the sea. The rest of the afternoon is free. You may hire a bike and ride around the scenic Yeongrang Lake, or try the Korean hotpot for dinner or go for an evening visit to Sokcho tower. (L)

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. In the afternoon, you’ll travel to Abai – a small island village that, for generations, has been a haven for refugees from North Korea by 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 defector’s family and listen to their story of how history reshaped their life. You may wish to take part in the optional village’s community dinner in the evening, where you’ll make giant Korean dumplings, have banquet noodles, rice beer and other snacks in their traditional village recreation space. The payment received for this optional dinner will be contributed to the Abai Village Preservation Society. 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, then continue to the 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 here. There is an optional dinner to try Andong’s representative food.

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. Upon arrival, visit 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 Instagrammable, so don’t forget your camera as you wander around. 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. 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 observatory or visit Gwangan Beach. (B)

Start your morning with 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. Then take a walk along the seaside of Ikidae and enjoy a lunch here. In the afternoon, you’ll have the unique opportunity to talk to a Haenyeo diver. Haenyeo, literally means '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 breaths for a very long time! A dying profession, 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 center and meet with an ex-diver and hear about her firsthand experience as a Haenyeo, the changes Busan has gone through from a sea port and about her life now. 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. (L)

This morning, jump on the KTX Bullet Train and head back to Seoul. The 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 simply can’t have left Korea without some delicious Korean BBQ! (B/D)

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. (B)