Classic South Korea

Seoul - Gongju - Jeonju. We set off from central Seoul, leaving the modern capital behind as we head deep into Korea’s ancient heartlands.Our first encounter with the past comes at Gongsanseong Fortress in Gongju, where pine-lined ramparts wind across a forested hill. As we walk the old stone walls, it’s easy to imagine Baekje sentries keeping watch, their kingdom framed by the same sweeping river views we see today.

Just beyond lies the Tomb of King Muryeong. Though time has stolen some of its treasures, what remains- golden ornaments, foreign coins, intricate tiles - offers a haunting glimpse into a kingdom that once reached far beyond its borders.

We continue to the Gongju National Museum, where carved relics and shimmering regalia evoke the grandeur of a long-vanished world. Among over 10,000 artefacts, we trace stories of court life, belief, and conquest.By dusk, we reach Jeonju, known for its proud role in shaping Korea’s identity. After a nourishing local meal, we settle in for the night, ready to uncover the city’s living traditions.

Jeonju - Jangseong - Gwangju. wakes slowly, and so do we - with breakfast and a walk through its old Hanok Village, where sloping tiled roofs and creaking wooden floors preserve the rhythm of a quieter age.

Clad in hanbok, we become part of the scene - wandering between craft shops, tea houses, and weathered alleyways that speak softly of dynasties past. At Gyeonggijeon Shrine, a portrait of King Taejo, founder of the Joseon dynasty, stares out across gardens that have witnessed six centuries of change.

After lunch, we travel to Baegyangsa Temple, hidden deep in Naejangsan National Park. With its prayer halls set against forested ridges, it feels less like a monument and more like a sanctuary. In hushed surroundings, we join a resident monk for a tea ceremony - sharing not just warmth from the cup, but a moment of clarity from a slower, simpler world.We end the day in Gwangju, where we dine together and rest with the mountains at our back.

Gwangju - Boseong - Suncheon - Busan. This morning leads us into the velvety green slopes of Boseong. Here, tea bushes curve with military precision across the hillside, scenting the air with earth and leaves. We learn how generations have worked this land and reward ourselves with a cup - and a cone -of Boseong’s famed green tea.

Following lunch, we travel to the reed-filled tidal flats of Suncheonman Bay. This estuary isn’t just scenic - it breathes with life. As we walk wooden pathways through wind-blown fields, cranes rise in slow arcs, and the distant sea murmurs against the tidelands.If the bay is closed (as it is on the last Monday of each month), we instead explore the crumbling ramparts of Nak-an Fortress, where farmers still live among the walls, chickens clucking beside fortress gates.

By evening, Busan welcomes us with city lights and sea air. We check in for a two-night stay, perfectly placed to explore this coastal giant.

We begin with silence and ceremony at the UN Memorial Cemetery—a poignant patch of green honouring those who never returned home. Neatly kept graves, each marked by nation, tell a quiet story of sacrifice and global ties.

From solemn to sensory, we head to Jagalchi Market. It’s gritty, boisterous, and alive with motion. Squid wriggle in shallow tubs, elderly vendors yell prices over tanks, and a thousand sea smells clash and mingle. This is Busan at its most raw and real.

To round off the day, we climb into cable cars for a ride above the coast. Floating over Songdo Bay, we watch the sun glint off rooftops and ripple through the tide below - a city shaped by water and time.Back on land, you're free to follow your own rhythm through Busan’s neon nights - or return with your guide to the hotel.

Busan - Gyeongju. After breakfast, we stretch our legs on windswept Dongbaekseom Island. Among camellia trees and rocky paths sits Nurimaru APEC House -a curious blend of politics and design, now a peaceful lookout over Busan’s shores.

We press on to Gyeongju, once capital of the mighty Silla kingdom. After lunch, we wander Bulguksa Temple, where stone bridges cross lotus ponds and ancient pagodas hold stories carved in granite. It’s a place that hums with devotion even centuries later.

Nearby, grassy burial mounds swell from the earth - royal tombs from a thousand years ago. Inside Cheonmachong, we see treasures left to guide a king to the afterlife: golden crowns, lacquered shoes, and delicate earrings.At the Gyeongju National Museum, history shifts from abstract to intimate. We see the jewellery people wore, the statues they prayed to, the tools they held in hand.

Our final stop is Cheomseongdae Observatory - a 7th-century tower built not to conquer, but to watch the stars. With evening approaching, it’s the perfect place to pause and reflect before dinner.

Gyeongju - Daegu - Andong - Pyeongchang. In Daegu, we roll up our sleeves for a rare treat: a traditional cooking workshop with a master of “han-gwa”, Korea’s beloved tea snacks. We knead, press and fry our way through sesame, rice syrup and grains - earning the sweet reward of tasting our own creations.

If the group is small and the class doesn’t run, we visit Buyongdae Cliff instead. From its dizzying height, we gaze down on Hahoe Village, where tiled roofs and dirt paths form the shape of a lotus blossom cradled by the river.

Later, we step into that village. A living repository of Confucian ideals, Hahoe hasn’t been frozen in time - it’s been gently steered by it. We walk beneath ancient trees and past homes still occupied by the Ryu clan, soaking in the quiet wisdom of a place that has never needed to shout.

Dinner awaits en route to Pyeongchang, where we arrive beneath a sky full of stars and mountains.

Pyeongchang - Yangyang - Seoul. We begin our final day in the highlands of Mt. Seorak, walking into the Jujeongol Valley as morning light filters through maple leaves. The air is sharp, the silence unbroken but for birdsong and the crunch of gravel underfoot.

Whether you hike far or simply pause beneath the trees, this place leaves a mark - subtle but lasting.Lunch is served in Yangyang, where we toast the journey behind us with flavours from the forest and sea.

By late afternoon, we return to the capital, arriving in Insadong around 5pm. This maze of alleys and artisan shops is Seoul’s memory box - ideal for a final wander, a last cup of tea, and the perfect keepsake to carry home.