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Best of South Korea

8 Days
From CAD 3,104 Was CAD 3,449

Best Rate
Guarantee

Trip Type
Small Group

Activity Level
Light

Rating

(20 reviews)

Experience Overview

Ready for a unique travel experience? South Korea fits the bill and then some. On this eight-day trip, you’ll see the highlights in and around Seoul plus visit folk villages, unique Korean temples, and the bustling markets of Busan. Learn about the sombre history of North and South Korea and take an excursion to the Demilitarized Zone separating the two. This is the perfect snapshot of a country coming into its own as a top travel destination.

Highlights

Visit the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea
Sleep in a temple in Gyeongju-si
Sample the diverse cuisine of Korea.

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Trip Details

Product Code: 1540

Tour Type: Small Group

Accommodation: Budget

Transport: Private van, train, subway, walking.

Guide Language: English

Travel Styles: Budget

Supplier Code: AKSS

Starts: Seoul, South Korea

Finishes: Seoul, South Korea

Duration: 8 days

Departures: Guaranteed

Physical rating: Light

Includes

Activities

Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group Your Local Living Moment: Overnight Temple Stay, Gyeongju-si
City tour of Seoul
DMZ visit
City tour of Gyeongju
Yangdong Folk Village visit
Haedong Yonggungsa Temple Visit
City tour of Busan
Haeundae Beach and Dongbaek Island (APEC House) Visit
N Seoul Tower Visit
Namdaemun Market Visit
All transport between destinations and to/from included activities

Accommodation

Standard hotels (6 nts), temple (1 nt).

7 breakfasts, 1 dinner

Transport

Private van, train, subway, walking.

Group Leader

CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guides.

Price

Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD 3104 (CAD 388 /day)

Itinerary

Day 1: Seoul

Welcome to Seoul! As fellow travellers are arriving throughout the day, there are no planned activities until a group meeting at 6 pm. Check into the hotel and enjoy the city.
After the welcome meeting, join your CEO for an orientation walk down Cheonggyecheon Stream to learn about Seoul while walking past small waterfalls and nearly two dozen overhead bridges. Then, enjoy the dense grid of streets found in the bustling neighbourhood of Myeongdong which is packed with people at all hours of the day looking to enjoy some of the best shopping, street food, and nightlife in all of Korea.

Opt for a group dinner to end your first night!

Day 2: Seoul

Sit back and relax on a private bus and enjoy a tour of the bustling metropolis where modern skyscrapers, high-tech subways and pop culture meet Buddhist temples and street markets. Visit Gyengbokgung Palace, the National Folklore Museum, Bukchon Hanok Village and Insadong alley.
After exploring the city, opt to see a show, explore a local museum, or hit the pavement and eat your way through street markets trying local fares such as bibimbap, soondae, and kimchi.

Day 3: Seoul/Gyeongju-si

After breakfast, board a high speed bullet train for a relaxing morning ride through the countryside to Gyeongiu. Once the group arrives to this old capital city for 1,000 years, they will experience an overnight stay in a local temple. During the stay the group will learn about temple etiquette, watch a monk martial arts performance, experience the daily prayer ritual and a temple style dinner.
Stay in rooms called Ondol. These rooms are very traditional, heated to be cozy and comfortable, with beds made up directly on the floor. The rooms here are multi-share, divided up by male and female rooms. Enjoy a traditional dinner and breakfast during the stay.

Have the opportunity to learn about temple etiquette, experience the daily drum and bell ritual and take an easy hike up to the only stone cave temple in Korea for morning meditation.

Day 4: Gyeongju-si

Enjoy a peaceful morning meditation, martial arts practice, and drum and bell ritual before exploring in Gyeongiu. On the city tour visit to the UNESCO site of Bulguksa Temple located on the slopes of Mount Toham and admire the national treasures there, such as Dabotap and Seokgatap stone pagodas, Cheongun-gyo, and two gilt-bronze statues of Buddha. Afterwards, experience the oldest surviving astronomical observatory in Asia, Cheomseongdae Observatory, and the surrounding Royal Tombs.

Day 5: Gyeongju-si/Busan

Travel by bus to Busan. Along the way enjoy a day trip to Yangdong Folk Village, a 500-year-old UNESCO site located in Gyeongju National Park, to get a feel for life during the early Joseon Dynasty. Afterwards, continue on to the picturesque 14th century seaside temple hidden in the rocks - Haedong Yonggungsa. After exploring the temple, check in to your hotel and get your bearings with an orientation walk on Haeundae Beach and Dongbaek Island (APEC House). Spend the evening getting to know colourful Busan, opt to treat yourself at a Jjimjilbang spa or sing your heart out at a popular karaoke bar.

Day 6: Busan/Seoul

In the seaside city, Busan, visit the bustling Jagalchi fish market, Gukjesijang market, Yongdusan Park, and the colourful Gamcheon Culture Village before traveling back to Seoul. After arriving in Seoul by train, check out Korea's oldest traditional market - Namdaemun Market. Then make your way by cable car to N Seoul Tower to see this beautiful landmark and opt to make the trip up to the observation deck. Spend the rest of your day in Seoul opting to see Banpo Bridge, the floating islands, or hanging out in the Gangnam district.

Day 7: Seoul

Visit the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), founded in 1953, separating North and South Korea. With over a million soldiers on watch each day, it is one of the last remnants of the Cold War. With a buffer zone 4km wide and spanning 250 km long there has been very little development in the area, therefore nature and wildlife have pretty much taken over. Spend about 3-4 hours visiting the Demilitarized Zone, then head to The War Memorial of Korea. Later, return back to Seoul for another night in the city.
Opt to visit the Samsung Leeum Contemporary Gallery, explore the Itaewon neighbourhood, or prebook the Kimchi making and Hanbok experience.

Day 8: Seoul

Depart at any time.

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Tour Operator

G Adventures

G Adventures is an operator of small-group escorted tours. It is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with 28 offices worldwide. It offers more than 700 itineraries in more than 100 countries, and carries 200,000 travelers from 160 countries each year.

In Business Since 1990

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Reviews

Christina D. - Traveled, October 2023

It was a great trip.

Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/10/2023

Daniela B. - Traveled, October 2023

This was my first tour ever and it was one of the best experiences of my life due to that fact that I Came to South Korea, travelled with a great group of ladies and had the best Tour guide.

Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/10/2023

Nhu N. - Traveled, October 2023

It was so nice to not have to think of where to go and what to plan.

Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/10/2023

Breena H. - Traveled, October 2023

I like that G Adventures plans majority of the activities and some of those activities are not common activities. This help alleviate the stress of planning a trip.

Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/10/2023

Savanna W. - Traveled, October 2023

I thought everything was well organized, easy transport, good accommodation.

Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/10/2023

Georgia M. - Traveled, October 2023

The ability to see a range of places and enjoy a range of experiences. The tour guide.

Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/10/2023

Sabina W. - Traveled, October 2023

It was an overall great experience, but the fast travel style might not be for everyone.