Seoul
Jeju City
12 days
Maximum 20
discovery
About your trip
Discover the wonders of South Korea with this exhilarating 12-day exploration of its fascinating past, its ultra-modern present and its incredibly unique culture. You’ll begin in the capital Seoul, where you’ll take part in a Taekwondo class, take a cable car up to the stunning Namsan mountain and witness the Royal guard changing ceremony at Gyeongbokgung Palace. You can also visit the North Korean border on a DMZ tour and learn all about the global phenomenon K-pop, with a special dance class.
From Seoul you’ll then head to Sokcho, where you’ll explore the Seoraksan National Park, full of stunning caves, waterfalls and hiking trails, before spending the evening tasting traditional Korean alcohol, including the famous soju rice wine.
Next up on the trip is Gyeongju where you’ll learn meditation and try your hand at Sunmudo, a Korean Buddhist martial art. You'll also be served a traditional vegetarian dinner, and have the chance to take a cycling tour of the old town.
Your penultimate stop on your trip will be Busan, where you can enjoy a day out at Songdo Beach or visit its many modern and fashionable shopping areas. You can also see Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, a rare religious site overlooking the sea. You’ll learn how to make classic Korean dishes with a cooking class before moving on to Jeju island, a Unesco world heritage site and home to some stunning natural scenery. You can hike to the top of Seongsan Ilchulbong mountain and set sail on a yacht tour before bidding farewell to your fellow travellers over a dinner of Jeju black pork barbecue.
Trip Highlights
- Get an authentic taste of Korean culture by trying your hand at Taekwondo before taking in the city from the peak of Namsan Mountain and visiting its most famous spots, including Gyeongbokgung Palace and the DMZ.
- Get lost in nature among the caves and waterfalls of Seoraksan National Park, which can be explored on foot or by cable car.
- See the country's most beautiful temple right by the sea in Korea's second city, Busan, where you can take some time to relax in a local spa.
- Unwind with breakfast on the beach a spot of morning swimming in Jeju before expanding your culinary repertoire with a cooking masterclass.
Your Itinerary
What's included
- Bilingual Adventure Leaders: Knowledgeable guides to enhance your experience throughout the tour.
- Transport within South Korea: Includes all transportation for the main itinerary activities (excluding transport for optional or suggested activities). Airport transfers are also available at an additional cost.
- Accommodation: A mix of comfortable hostels and unique stays like temple accommodations
- Taekwondo Class (Seoul)
- Tour around the DMZ, including Dora Observatory, tunnels, and Q&A with North Korean defector (Seoul)
- K-Pop Class (Seoul)
- Namsan Cable Car Ride (Seoul)
- Visit to Gyeongbokgung Palace (Seoul)
- Visit to Seoraksan Park, including Bisundae and Geumganggul Cave, waterfalls, and Ulsanbawi Rock (Sokcho)
- Gatbae boat & visit to Abai Village (Sokcho)
- Traditional liquor tasting (Sokcho)
- Cycling tour of Gyeongju (Gyeongju)
- Visit to Chunmachong Ancient Tombs in Daereungwon Tumuli Park (Gyeongju)
- Visit to Cheomseongdae (Gyeongju)
- Golgulsa Temple stay (Gyeongju)
- Traditional vegetarian dinner & breakfast (Gyeongju)
- Sunmudo training session (Gyeongju)
- Buddhist meditation session (Gyeongju)
- Private day tour of Busan, including Gamcheon Village, Songdo Marine Cable Car, and BIFF Square entertainment area (Busan)
- Visit to Haedong Yonggungsa Temple (Busan)
- Hike to summit of Seongsan Ilchulbong (Jeju)
- Yacht sailing tour (Jeju)
- Half-day nature hike in Jeju Island (Jeju)
- Farewell BBQ dinner (Jeju)
What's not included
- Visas
- Travel Insurance
- Hotel Transfers (unless otherwise stated in the Included Activities section above)
- Flights to and from the destination
- Visit to Seoul N Tower (Seoul)
- Meals & drinks (Seoul)
- Makgeolli Making Class (Seoul) – £70
- Dinner at the Fish Market (Sokcho)
- Traditional set meal in Hanok (Gyeongju)
- Evening visit to Anapji (Gyeongju)
- Meals & drinks (Busan)
- Visit to Centum Spa Land (Busan)
- Sightseeing boat tour (Busan)
- Karaoke (Busan)
- Bibimbap cooking class (Busan) – £85
- Any activities within free time