Classic South Korea tour

Arrive in Seoul and spend a day relaxing into its rhythms and trying out Korean cuisine.

Spend a day with a private guide and driver exploring the city’s standout sights. You’ll start with the architectural jewel of Gyeongbokgung Palace, stop for street food at Namdaemun Market, and explore Bukchon Hanok (a village of traditional Korean houses) and the lively area of Insa-dong.

Spend a morning driving up to the DMZ at the border with North Korea. You’ll have a guided tour, gain a deeper understanding of the conflict, and might even get a glimpse into North Korea. When you return to Seoul, head out on a food tour in the backstreets of Insa-dong to try various classic Korean dishes and traditional drinks.

In the morning, take the KTX bullet train across the country to Gyeongju on the east coast. Spend the afternoon exploring the sites of the city, including Tumuli Park and the ancient tomb complex of Daereungwon.

Spend a full day visiting the treasures of Gyeongju that piece together the city’s long and tumultuous history. The tour will end with an hour’s drive south to the city of Busan in the southeast.

Admire Busan's skyline (considered one of the most striking in Asia) from Busan Tower. Then, visit Jagalchi and Bupyeong markets, which include a notable fish market, to try some street food for lunch. There are many other tempting foods to try here: Busan is known as Korea’s culinary capital.

Today, you’ll take a guided tour of Gamcheon Culture Village, consisting of kaleidoscopic houses overlapping the hills surrounding the city. You’ll also visit Haedong Yonggungsa, a temple that sits precariously on the clifftops and overlooks the Sea of Japan.

Fly from Busan to Jeju City, the capital of Jeju Island. Spend the afternoon with a guide, seeing the sights around the city before grabbing dinner at the Dongmun street food market. It’s the ideal place to get a feel for the tastes used in Jeju cuisine.

Head out with a guide to see the attractions east of Jeju Island, starting with a ferry ride to Udo Island. You can rent bicycles or drive around to see the beaches and volcanic rock formations that make Udo so popular. Afterwards, either climb up or admire Sunrise Peak from afar. You might see one of the celebrated female-only Haenyeo divers don their wetsuits and search for shellfish on Jeju’s rocky shore. You’ll also stop off at the Manjanggul lava caves that burrow beneath the island's surface.

For your second day in Jeju, take part in South Korea’s national pastime: hiking. Hallasan is the tallest peak in South Korea and looms over the whole of Jeju Island. It’s a full day of hiking, which should see you reaching the summit just after lunchtime, but it’s worth it to see the crater lake concealed in the summit.

Take the short flight back to Seoul where you can spend the day at your leisure.

You’ll be picked up from your hotel and taken to the airport for your flight home. Your return flight will arrive the same day.