Best of South Korea

Once you have arrived in Seoul, make your way to the accommodation, where you check in and meet the Tour Leader before the welcome meeting.

We then head out for dinner of jjimdak, a well-liked Korean dish of braised chicken, giving everyone a chance to get acquainted. Afterwards, we go to the theatre for the internationally known Nanta Show, a fast-paced mix of comedy, music and drumming on ordinary kitchen utensils. With no dialogue, it is easy to enjoy and gives a lively first taste of modern Korean culture.

This morning begins with a close-up view of the Royal Guard Changing Ceremony, before we head into Gyeongbokgung Palace to explore its courtyards, pavilions and mountain-backed grounds. You can also choose to rent a traditional hanbok to wear around the palace.

Next, we stop at Bukchon Hanok Village, where our included lunch is samgye-tang, a soup of chicken and ginseng. There is then time for you to wander Bukchon’s old lanes and browse the antiques, teahouses and handmade souvenirs of Insadong Art Street.

Later, we ride the cable car up Namsan Mountain to N Seoul Tower for wide views as Seoul’s lights come on below.

Today, we travel north of Seoul to the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ), among the most tightly guarded borders in the world. Along the way, we learn about the Korean Peninsula’s past and have a rare chance to hear a North Korean defector describe life in the North.

At Dora Observatory, we look out over North Korea, then go down into the Third Tunnel, a secret passage found beneath the border that brings us within a short distance of the North. It is a visit that leaves plenty to reflect on and is unlike anything else in South Korea. After lunch, we are back in Seoul by the afternoon.

Tonight, we head to Hongdae, among Seoul’s liveliest neighbourhoods, known for its independently run cafes, trendy shops, live music and energetic feel. If you are up for it, you can join the group for optional Korean-style karaoke.

Seoul - Gyeongju. We leave Seoul today on the KTX, South Korea’s high-speed train, bound for Gyeongju, once the capital of the Silla Kingdom.

We stop for lunch, then continue to Golgulsa Temple, an active Buddhist temple set into a mountainside that offers a window on Korean monastic life. Our time here includes meditation, archery and Sunmudo martial arts training, along with a vegetarian temple dinner, as we learn about Korean Buddhist customs and philosophy.

Later, we head back to Gyeongju and check in to a hanok for a night Korean-style. Before turning in, we visit Anapji Pond, among the city’s loveliest evening sights, where lit pavilions are reflected in the water. With its mix of history, culture and local customs, the day shows a very different South Korea from the modern cities seen so far.

Gyeongju - Busan. Few South Korean cities are as steeped in history as Gyeongju, and today we explore it by bike, riding past the royal tombs of Daereungwon Tumuli Park to Cheomseongdae, the earliest astronomical observatory still standing in East Asia.

We then sit down in a hanok for an included meal with a table of regional specialities and side dishes, sampling classic Korean spirits and learning about the country’s long drinking culture.

The afternoon is free for you to explore Gyeongju’s old centre further, find an old-style teahouse, browse local shops or simply wander.

Later, we travel south to Busan on the coast. Once checked in, you have the evening free for fresh seafood, bars by the beach, night markets or a walk along the waterfront.

We spend the day in Busan, a firm favourite among South Korea’s cities, starting at Haedong Yonggungsa Temple. Among the country’s most impressive temples, it sits at the sea’s edge, an unusual sight in Korea, with waves and open ocean in place of mountains.

Next, we head to Gamcheon Culture Village, where brightly painted streets climb the hillside. Its murals, cafes, galleries and tucked-away alleys have made it a magnet for photographers, and you have time to explore on your own.

After lunch, we ride the Songdo Marine Cable Car over the bay, with views back over Busan and its coastline, then continue to BIFF Square, the city’s well-known entertainment district. You are free here to shop, try local street food and take in the atmosphere.

This evening is free for fresh seafood, the Haeundae Night Market or unwinding on the beach after dark.

A Korean cooking class starts the day, as we learn to prepare some of Korea’s best-known dishes and then eat them for lunch - a tasty piece of Korea to take home.

You are free this afternoon to relax on Haeundae Beach, see more of Busan, or unwind as locals do at a jjimjilbang, a Korean bathhouse with saunas, steam rooms and relaxation areas. You can also opt to join a pottery-making class and make a Korean-inspired piece of your own.

Tonight, we head out on an evening cruise along Busan’s coast, a high point of our stay, sitting back with a drink as the city’s lights shimmer across the water and Korea’s second city comes alive after dark.

Afterwards, the last evening in Busan is yours. Seafood, a beach bar, the night markets or a quiet drink by the water all make a fitting close to the time on Korea’s south coast.

Please note: Pieces made in the pottery-making class cannot be taken home, as they will not have finished drying.

Busan - Jeju Island. We leave Busan this morning on a quick flight to Jeju Island, the final stop of the tour. Known for its volcanic landscapes, coastline and easy-going pace, Jeju feels a world apart from the mainland.

From the airport, we go straight to Sangumburi Crater, among Jeju’s most distinctive natural sights, walking through wide grasslands and along the crater’s rim with far-reaching views over the island’s wild interior - scenery that hardly feels like South Korea.

Once we have checked in, the evening is free. You might find a seafood restaurant with coastal views, wander through Seogwipo or simply relax on your first evening on the island.

This morning, we walk a section of the Jeju Olle Trail No.7, among the island’s most scenic, following the coastline past Oedolgae Rock to Jeongbang Waterfall, a rare Asian example of a waterfall that drops straight into the sea.

Later, we meet the Haenyeo, Jeju’s renowned women free-divers, who have dived for seafood for generations without breathing apparatus, a tradition recognised by UNESCO. During a Q&A session, we hear directly about their daily routines, diving methods and role in keeping Jeju’s culture alive.

You have the remainder of the afternoon free to visit Seongsan Ilchulbong, look around Jeju Folk Village or unwind at the pool.

This evening, we gather for a farewell dinner of Jeju’s well-known black pork BBQ, a signature island meal grilled at the table and served with plenty of Korean side dishes.

Jeju Island - Seoul. After your final breakfast, you head to the airport for the return flight to Seoul, where the tour ends on arrival at Seoul Gimpo Airport around lunchtime.

If you would like to stay on, post-tour accommodation can be added in Seoul or Jeju.