Adventure Korea (14 days)

A varied private tour featured the best Korea has to offer in outdoor experience. This trip takes in some of the country’s most exciting landscapes, and has plenty of opportunities for outdoor activity. Much of this can be arranged at your discretion, adjusted to suit those who wish to explore at a more sedate (or action-packed!) pace. As well as plenty of adventure there is still a wide variety of excursions included, meaning there is no missing out on Korea’s array of cultural and historical treasures. Beginning in Seoul, this itinerary passes along the rugged east coast through the Seoraksan National Park. Next it heads south with three nights to discover the volcanic Jeju island, followed by two nights in Busan and overnight stay in a Buddhist temple.

Guide Price

From £4,620 per person.

Day by Day Itinerary

Click on each day to expand the itinerary detail. Or click on the print itinerary button above to preview the tour in full.

Day 1: Fly from London Heathrow to Seoul, via Paris

Flight: AF168 London Heathrow - Paris CDG 09.40 - 11.55

Flight: AF264 Paris CDG - Seoul Incheon 13.10 - 08.00 (overnight)

Day 2: Arrival in Seoul

Meet & greet: Upon arrival in Seoul Incheon, you will be welcomed to Korea by a private driver, and taken to your hotel to check in.

Time to recover: Once arrived, you have the remainder of the day at leisure to relax and recuperate after your long flight. Please note an early check-in is subject to availability today.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Nine Tree Premier Myeongdong (Standard Room)

Myeongdong District, Seoul

Myeongdong District, Seoul

Day 3: Walking tour of Seoul

Half day walking tour of Seoul: This morning, you will join a private guide for a walking tour of central Seoul. Begin with a walk along the Cheonggyecheon stream. Cheonggyecheon is an age-old canal in downtown Seoul that was filled with concrete in the 1960's. Over time it evolved into a multi-level highway which came to symbolise the city's rapid and gritty developement. After extensive consultation and planning it was re-opened in 2005: no longer a road, but now an 11km-long public recreational space, complete with gardens, fountains, and walking trails. Cheonggyecheon is now an oasis in the middle of the city. Continue on to City Hall stopping briefly at Tapgol Park, marking the spot of a huge popular uprising against the Japanese occupation in 1919. Follow on to Insa-dong antiques street – an area of artisanal shops and traditional teahouses in the heart of modern Seoul. Near the top of Insadong is the Jogyesa Temple – small and little-visited, but one of the most beautiful complexes in the city.

Afternoon at leisure: Your guide will then leave you to spend the rest of the day at leisure. Please feel free to pump the guide for information on how best to spend your time!

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Nine Tree Premier Myeongdong (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Bukchon Hanok Village, Seoul

Bukchon Hanok Village, Seoul

Day 4: Day at leisure

Day at leisure – suggested activities: Today you have a day at leisure to explore Seoul independently. If you’d like to explore around the capital we can advise on self-guided day trips to the historical city of Suwon, the port city of Incheon, or the pleasant lakeside provincial capital of Chuncheon. Trips north of the city to the DMZ can also be arranged on request.

If you are keen on staying active there are a range of activities on offer in and around the city. There is some excellent hiking among the peaks of the Bukhansan National Park, which tower above the northern edge of the capital. Accessed easily on Subway Lines 3 or 4 – 30 minutes’ ride from downtown hotels – the park has a number of walking trails to suit all tastes. Koreans are notoriously active hikers, with Bukhansan a particularly treasured peak; the mountain may be crowded at weekends but more pleasant if visiting during the week.

For a more sedate activity we also recommend heading down to the Han River park where bikes can be hired and cycled along many miles of well paved cycle tracks. Please ask your consultant for more information on any of these activities or day trips.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Nine Tree Premier Myeongdong (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Hiking in Bukhansan National Park

Hiking in Bukhansan National Park

Day 5: Road transfer to Seoraksan National Park

Road journey to Seoraksan: Depart Seoul this morning, heading east to Seoraksan National Park. You will travel by road with your private driver-guide for around 4 hours, passing through increasingly stunning scenery as you progress.

Enroute you will stop by the Sogeumsan Mountain Suspension Bridge in Wonju. The bridge is the longest and largest pedestrian bridge in Korea with a length of 200 meters and height of 100 meters. The skywalk next to the bridge offers great views of the surrounding area.

Arrive in the afternoon and be taken straight to your hotel near the entrance of the National Park. The remainder of the day is then at leisure. We recommend introducing yourself to the staggering natural surroundings with a light hike – various routes are available immediately from the hotel.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Kensington Stars Seorak (Classic Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Seoraksan National Park

Seoraksan National Park

Day 6: Exploring Seoraksan National Park

Day at leisure / suggested activities: Today you have a full day at leisure to explore the vast National Park independently. A range of activities can be arranged locally, including rafting, kayaking, climbing, or hiking – please let us know in advance if require any assistance organising any of these.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Kensington Stars Seorak (Classic Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Misty peaks in Seoraksan National Park

Misty peaks in Seoraksan National Park

Day 7: Fly to Jeju Island

Morning at leisure: This morning is at leisure to further explore the National Park.

Transfer to Yangyang Airport: Depart Seoraksan after breakfast this morning, heading south-east by road to Yangyang Airport, from where you will take a short domestic flight over to Jeju Island. This will be a drive of around 30 minutes.

Flight: KE1851 Yangyang - Jeju 13.20 - 14.30

Private transfer: Upon arrival in Jeju, you will be met by your private driver and transferred to your hotel for a three night stay.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Ocean Suites Jeju (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Fertility statue, Jeju Island

Fertility statue, Jeju Island

Days 8-9: Days at leisure on Jeju Island

Days at leisure / suggested activities: For the next few days you are at leisure to explore unaccompanied on Jeju Island. We especially recommend taking one of Jeju’s ‘Olle’ walking routes; Route 7 in particular is a dramatic coastal trail passing around numerous rocky outcrops with volcanic scenery all the way along.

Accommodation: Stay these nights at the Ocean Suites Jeju (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Olle Hiking Trail, Jeju Island

Olle Hiking Trail, Jeju Island

Day 10: Fly to Busan and afternoon city tour

Private transfer: After breakfast, you will be picked up and transferred to Jeju International Airport to board your flight back over to the mainland.

Flight: OZ8104 Jeju - Busan 10.35 - 11.35

Afternoon tour of Busan: Upon arrival, your driver-guide will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel and then introduce you to South Korea's second city. You will be taken to the Gamcheon Culture Village, a former mountainside slum which students decided to brighten up in 2009.Today it’s a colourful mosaic of homes with a thriving art scene. You will then head back into the city, returning to your hotel via visits to the lively Gukje & Jagalchi markets.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Golden Tulip Haeundae Hotel (Tulip Double Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Gamcheon Culture Village, Busan

Gamcheon Culture Village, Busan

Day 11: Exploring Busan

Day at leisure in Busan: Today you have a full day at leisure to explore this picturesque seaside city. If the weather is good, head to one of Busan’s beaches – both Haeundae and Gwangalli are among the most famous in the country. Note that the better the weather, the less space on the beach! Alternatively you may prefer to use Busan’s efficient public transport system to explore the districts numerous temples and museums, or head downtown to negotiate the active local markets. A pleasant hike can be made on the Geumjong Fortress hiking trail leading to the majestic Beomeosa Temple, from where you are rewarded with stunning panoramic views.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Golden Tulip Haeundae Hotel (Tulip Double Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Geumgang Park Ropeway Cable Car, Busan

Geumgang Park Ropeway Cable Car

Day 12: Road transfer to Jirisan National Park and overnight temple stay

Road journey to Jirisan National Park: After breakfast, you will depart Busan, heading inland towards Gurye County, and the beautiful Jirisan National Park. A direct drive will take around 2-3 hours, but the itinerary is flexible and you may make stops as you wish. Korea’s sleepy deep south offers quite a contrast to the urban sprawl found further north. Travelling along the coast from Busan one encounters a string of smaller, slower towns amongst a distinctly greener landscape. You will be driving through the rich scenery of Hadong County, among the most beautiful in the country, with picture-postcard scenery and idyllic villages such as Hwagae and Champandaek. You may choose to stop and explore on the way, or alternatively you could arrive earlier into the Jirisan area to spend some time roaming the national park.

Hwaeomsa Temple Stay: You will arrive at the temple complex in the early afternoon. Here you will join a small group of other overnight residents. The programme will begin an orientation and tour of the complex, before time to learn more about the rituals and practices of the monks. A monastic meal will be served in the early evening, followed by a Buddhist ceremony. With tomorrow's early rise in mind you will go to bed shortly after sundown.

Accommodation: Overnight temple stay at Hwaeomsa Temple (Simple Private Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Hwaeomsa Temple, Jirisan National Park

Hwaeomsa Temple

Day 13: Transfer to Jeonju and train to Seoul

Hwaeomsa Temple Stay: Wake around 4am for a pre-dawn ceremony, before enjoying the sunrise from the temple complex. A monastic breakfast will be served around 6am, after which you will have more time to explore the grounds and learn about the faith. In the mid-morning you will enjoy tea with the monks, and then another light monastic meal will be served. You will then say goodbye to the monks and the rest of your group, leaving the programme around midday.

Road journey to Jeonju: After completing your temple stay, you will be re-united with your driver-guide who will transfer you to Jeonju. Enroute you will make a stop at the Gurye Sansuyu Village, widely known as the home of sansuyu (cornus fruit) and is responsible for 70 percent of Korea’s sansuyu fruit production. The real highlight, however, is the village’s location in a beautiful natural landscape with the snow covered Jirisan Mountain range providing a stunning backdrop.

Afternoon guided tour of Jeonju: Upon arrival in Jeonju, your guide will show you the principal sites of this atmospheric city. The first stop in your afternoon tour of Jeonju will be the Hanji Museum. Learn all about the traditional art of paper making. Continue on to Jeonju's atmospheric Hanok village before finishing the afternoon with a stop in the Korean Traditional Wine Museum.

Train journey to Seoul: After your city tour, your guide will transfer you to Jeonju station to board a train bound for Seoul. From Jeonju, you will take a KTX train into Seoul's Yongsan Station - tickets in Standard Class will be provided locally. From Yongsan station, a private driver will be waiting to transfer you to your city hotel.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Four Points by Sheraton Josun (Superior Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Evening in Jeonju

Evening in Jeonju

Day 14: Fly from Seoul to London Heathrow, via Paris

Own transfer to Incheon Airport: Early this morning, make your own way back to Incheon International Airport in time to check in for your flight. The Airport Express train departs from Seoul Station every 20 minutes, taking aroud 40 minutes to reach Incheon and costing KRW 14,800 (around £9-10). There are also a number of direct bus services to the airport departing from points all across the city, usually costing around KRW 12,000 - 14,000. A taxi will take around 1 hour and cost upwards of KRW 60,000.

Flight: AF267 Seoul Incheon - Paris CDG 09.45 - 13.50

Flight: AF1280 Paris CDG - London Heathrow 16.15 - 16.35

Meals: Breakfast