Highlights of South Korea (11 days)

A compact itinerary which will serve as a comprehensive introduction to the Land of Morning Calm. Covering all the principal sightseeing without ever breaking into a hectic pace, this tour begins in the buzzing capital Seoul and finishes in the southern second city of Busan. En route you will experience a quieter, more traditional side of the country in Andong, and also spend a couple of days exploring in depth Gyeongju – the ‘Museum without walls’.

Guide Price

From £3,775 per person.

Day by Day Itinerary

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Day 1: Fly from London Heathrow to Seoul

Flight: OZ522 London Heathrow - Seoul 20.50 - 15.50 (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 and checked in, you have the remainder of the day at leisure to relax after your long flight.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Shilla Stay Gwanghwamun (Standard Room)

Dusk over Seoul

Day 3: Full day tour of Seoul

Full day tour of Seoul: After breakfast, you will be picked up at the hotel and head straight to Gwanghwamun – Seoul’s answer to the Mall, Pennsylvania Avenue, or Champs-Elysee. Here you can you see the towering statues of Korean heroes Admiral Yi Sun Shin and King Sejong, both of whom played a vital role in the Korean history. At the very top of Gwanghwamun lies the sprawling Gyeongbokgung Palace. The Palace was built by the Joseon Dynasty in 1394. For centuries, this immense complex was the centre of power, until deposed under the Japanese occupation. You will witness the changing of the guard at Gyeongbokgung, and then head to the northern edge of the city centre to explore the attractive Bukchon Hanok villages - one of the last remaining areas of traditional housing in the city.

In the afternoon, you will continue 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. Your final stop of the day will be at the bustling Gwangjang Market - a hive of activity, commerce, and cheap eats. After this flavour of local life you will return to your hotel to spend the evening at leisure. Today’s tour will be conducted on foot and by public transport (fees included) in the company of your English-speaking private guide.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Shilla Stay Gwanghwamun (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Bukchon Hanok Village, Seoul

Day 4: Day at leisure

Day at leisure: Today you have a second full day in the Korean capital, at leisure and unaccompanied. Arming yourselves with cheap T-money transport cards would be a fine idea – with which you can explore the city independently on all modes of public transport. Sites not covered yesterday and worth a look would be the Mt. Namsan and the N Seoul Tower, the National Museum, or the futuristic downtown Gangnam area. We would also heartily recommend diving into local cuisine, especially around the bustling markets of Dongdaemun and Namdaemun. If you would like further touring to be built in on this day – particularly to out of town areas such as Panmunjeom and the DMZ, the historical city of Suwon, or the picturesque lake city of Chuncheon – please inform us in advance and we will happily assist.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Shilla Stay Gwanghwamun (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Gwangjang Market, Seoul

Day 5: Travel by train to Andong

Own transfer to Cheongnyangi Station: Make your own way to Cheongnyangi Station this morning. Cheongnyangi is located in the east of the city, and is found on Metro Line 1 (dark blue), so is a direct journey of only 7 stops from Seoul Station. You can also take a taxi, which should take around 30 minutes and cost no more than KRW 12,000.

Train journey from Seoul to Andong: From Cheongnyangi Station you will be taking the Mugungwha service to Andong, a journey of around 3.5 hours. At the other end, you will be met a private driver-guide who will take you to your hotel to check-in.

Afternoon tour of Andong: After checking in, you will set out to explore the Andong area. Your first stop will be to the fascinating Hahoe Folk Village, with its wide collection of traditional Korean crafts and artefacts. You will then head over to the viewpoint at Buyongdae Cliff, offering a fine sweeping vista of the folk village, the edge of the Taebaek Mountains, and the wide Nakdong River in between. You will then discover the fine collection of traditional masks held in the neighbouring Hahoe Mask Museum, before heading back to the hotel via a stop at the Byeongsan Lecture Hall.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Rakkojae Hahoe (Standard Korean-style Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Hahoe Folk Village, Andong

Day 6: Road transfer to Gyeongju

Morning tour of Andong: After breakfast, you will be taken for a stroll along the picturesque Wolyeonggyo Bridge - translated as 'Moonlight Bridge' due to its apparent beauty on a clear moonlit night. You will then make a short visit to a traditional alcohol-making museum in Andong city, before hitting the road and heading for Gyeongju.

Road journey from Andong to Gyeongju: Leave Andong behind and head cross country to Gyeongju, a journey of around 2 hours. On arrival head straight to your hotel to check in.

Afternoon tour of Gyeongju: After checking in, you will set out to explore the Museum Without Walls in the company of a private English-speaking driver-guide. First you will visit the impressive Seokguram grotto – a huge man-made cave housing a 3.5m tall sitting Buddha and UNESCO World Heritage Site – before heading on to the beautiful Bulguksa temple complex. Round off the afternoon with a trip to Anapji Pond, a deeply picturesque network of water gardens and palaces. According to the historical records of ‘Samguk-sagi,’ Anapji Pond was built during the 14th year of King Munmu (in power 661-681 AD) of the Silla Kingdom (57 BC-935 AD). Small mountains were created inside the palace walls, beautiful flowers were planted, and rare animals were brought in to create an exquisitely exotic garden fit for royalty. You will then be taken for dinner in a local restaurant (payable locally) before returning to the hotel to spend the evening at leisure.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Benikea Swiss Rosen (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Bulguksa Temple, Gyeongju

Day 7: Exploring Gyeongju

Morning tour of Gyeongju: After breakfast, you will be taken to Tumuli Park, a large green space housing more than 20 traditional tombs from the Silla dynasty. Within the same complex is the Cheomseongdae – an ancient star-gazing tower of nearly 10m in height, and the oldest such observatory in East Asia. Any time remaining in the morning can be used to visit some of Gyeongju's remaining sites, or perhaps take a short hike in the sprawling Gyeongju National Park.

Afternoon at leisure in Gyeongju: You have a full day at leisure in Gyeongju. You may choose to cram in some more of the cultural highlights, or in turn explore the rugged scenery which surrounds. The neighbouring Gyeongju National Park is ripe for exploration with numerous walking trails covering peaks, valleys, forests, and rocky outposts. Bikes can be hired locally and are also a good way to get around.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Benikea Swiss Rosen (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Cheomseongdae Observatory, Gyeongju

Day 8: Road transfer to Busan

Road journey to Busan: After breakfast, you will hit the road with your private driver-guide, heading south to the coastal city of Busan. This journey should be around 2 hours, depending on local traffic. On arrival in Busan will be taken straight to your hotel to check in.

Afternoon tour of Busan: After checking in, you will head out with your driver-guide to explore the area. First stop will be Haedong Yonggung Temple - among the 3 most sacred Buddhist sites in Korea. This complex is dramatically located amongst craggy cliffs looking out to sea. It is a picturesque and reverent spot which can be explored on foot for as long as you may wish. Continue to 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 Ibis Ambassador Haeundae (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Jagalchi Market, Busan

Day 9: Exploring Busan

Day at leisure: 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 district's 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 Ibis Ambassador Haeundae (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Gamcheon Village, Busan

Day 10: High-speed train back to Seoul

Train journey from Busan to Seoul: Make your own way to Busan station - detailed instructions will again be included in your travel pack. At the station you will board a highspeed KTX train back to Seoul. This cross-country journey will take just 3 hours. On arrival at Seoul Station make your own way to your hotel, check in, and spend the remainder of the day at leisure. Train tickets are included in the quote, but any transfer to and from stations at either end will be on your own account. Your hotel in Seoul is located very close to the station, making transfers this evening and tomorrow morning as straightforward as possible.

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

Meals: Breakfast

KTX train to Seoul

Day 11: Fly from Seoul to London Heathrow

Own transfer to Incheon Airport: After breakfast 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: OZ521 Seoul Incheon - London Heathrow 14.30 – 18.25

Meals: Breakfast

The Highlights of South Korea

Highlights of South Korea (11 days)

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