The journey
Travel the length of Korea from the palaces of Seoul to a mask dance in Andong, ancient tombs in Gyeongju, coastal skywalks in Busan and the volcanic trails of Jeju, fourteen days across the country's fullest span of history, culture and landscape.
Korea in Depth is a fourteen-day journey that captures the country's full range, from royal Seoul to the island trails of Jeju. Begin in the capital with Gwanghwamun Plaza, Gyeongbokgung Palace and a day at the DMZ, then travel by KTX to Andong for a private Hahoe Mask Dance show and a walk to Buyongdae Cliff above Hahoe Village. Continue to Gyeongju, once the capital of the Silla Kingdom, for Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple, a sunset hike on Namsan Mountain, and a Cheongju rice-wine brewing workshop at a 500-year-old hanok. In Busan, ride the Haeundae Sky Capsule and the Songdo cable car before flying on to Jeju, where the final four days bring the volcanic crater of Seongsan Ilchulbong, the Jeju Haenyeo Museum, a hike at Geomun Oreum and the hexagonal cliffs of Jusangjeolli.
Highlights
- Explore Seoul's grand palaces and spend a full day at the DMZ, the border between North and South Korea
- Attend a private Hahoe Mask Dance show in Andong and meet the performers
- Hike Mount Namsan near Gyeongju at sunset, home to over 100 temple sites and 80 stone Buddha statues
- Join a Cheongju rice-wine brewing workshop at a 500-year-old hanok in Yangdong Folk Village
- Ride Busan's Haeundae Sky Capsule, the Songdo Cable Car and Songdo Cloud Walk along the coast
- Climb Seongsan Ilchulbong and hike Geomun Oreum on Jeju, Korea's volcanic island
Included
Accommodation
13 nights across Seoul, Andong, Gyeongju, Busan and Jeju
Activities
Seoul city tour (Gwanghwamun Plaza, Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changing of the Guard, National Folk Museum, Insadong, Jogyesa Temple, Gwangjang Market) · DMZ full-day tour (Freedom Bridge, 3rd Infiltration Tunnel, Imjingak Park, Dora Observatory) · KTX to Andong · Hahoe Mask Dance show and private meeting with performers · Andong touring (Buyongdae Cliff, Wolyeonggyo Bridge, Dosan Seowon, Bongjeongsa Temple, Icheon-dong Rock-carved Buddha) · Gyeongju touring (Gyeongju National Museum, Woljeong Bridge, Gyochon Traditional Village, Hwangnidan-gil, Seokguram Grotto, Bulguksa Temple, Daereungwon/Tumuli Park, Cheonmachong Tomb, Cheomseongdae Observatory, Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond) · Namsan Mountain sunset hike · Yangdong Folk Village and Cheongju brewing workshop at Manho Gotaek · Busan touring (Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, Daritgol Skywalk, Haeundae Sky Capsule, X the Sky, bibimbap cooking class, Jagalchi Market, Gamcheon Village, Songdo Cable Car, Sky Harbor Observatory, Songdo Yonggung Suspension Bridge) · Jeju touring (Seongsan Ilchulbong, Jeju Haenyeo Museum, Geomun Oreum hike, Jeju World Natural Heritage Center, 4.3 Peace Memorial Hall, Samseonghyeol, Dongmun Market, Jeongbang Waterfall, Yakcheonsa Temple, Jusangjeolli Cliffs, O'sulloc Tea Museum)
Also included
Private airport transfer on Day 1 (no guide) · English-speaking guides and private vehicle transfers as mentioned on Days 2 and 4 to 13 · DMZ join-in guide on Day 3 · KTX train tickets on Day 4 · entrance fees for mentioned visits · breakfast daily from Day 2 (13 total), plus lunch on Days 2 and 6 to 11 (7 total)
The route
Fourteen days across South Korea
5 stops · Seoul to Jeju
Seoul
Andong
Gyeongju
Busan
Jeju
Stop 1 of 5
Journey's end
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Stop 1 of 5
Day by day
The route in detail
Day 1
Arrival in Seoul
Arrive at Incheon International Airport and transfer by private, air-conditioned vehicle to Seoul, the capital of South Korea and a sprawling metropolis where historic palaces, bustling markets and futuristic architecture sit side by side. Check in to the hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in Seoul.
Day 2
Seoul Full Day City Tour
Meet the guide at 9:00 and begin at Gwanghwamun Plaza, home to the statues of King Sejong, creator of the Korean alphabet, and Admiral Yi Sun-sin, celebrated for his naval victories against Japan in the 16th century. Continue through Gwanghwamun Gate to Gyeongbokgung Palace, the largest of Seoul's five grand palaces, timed to witness the ceremonial Changing of the Guard, then explore the neighbouring National Folk Museum. After lunch, stroll Insadong, a street of traditional crafts, tea houses and galleries, then visit Jogyesa Temple, the main temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. Finish at Gwangjang Market, sampling Korean street food such as mayak gimbap, bindaetteok and tteokbokki. Overnight in Seoul.
Day 3
Seoul's Demilitarized Zone
Around 7:00, join a shared bus tour and meet a DMZ specialist guide for a transfer to the Korean Demilitarized Zone, the border between North and South Korea. Explore Freedom Bridge, the 3rd Infiltration Tunnel, Imjingak Park and the Dora Observatory, a passport required for entry, before transferring back to Seoul by bus, disembarking at City Hall Station. The rest of the day is free to explore independently or book an optional experience: a hands-on Taekwondo class with a certified black belt master, an evening tour of Seoul's markets with dinner and soju, or a 90-minute aromatic body therapy session at a central wellness retreat. Overnight in Seoul.
Day 4
Seoul to Andong by KTX
After breakfast, check out and transfer to Seoul Station to board a KTX high-speed train for the roughly two-and-a-half-hour journey to Andong, often considered the spiritual and cultural heart of South Korea for its preservation of traditional customs and architecture. On arrival, transfer by private car to Andong Hahoe Village. At 14:00, attend a Hahoe Mask Dance show, a traditional performance by masked performers that offers insight into Korean culture and history. Afterwards, meet privately with the performers to learn some of the dance moves and craft a mask, then walk through the village admiring its historic buildings before transferring to the hotel. Overnight in Andong.
Day 5
Hahoe Village and Surroundings
After breakfast, take a leisurely 15-minute walk to Buyongdae Cliff for sweeping views of Hahoe Village, the Nakdonggang River and the surrounding mountains. Continue to Wolyeonggyo Bridge, a picturesque wooden pedestrian bridge over the Nakdong River, then visit Dosan Seowon Confucian Academy, founded by the scholar Yi Hwang in the 16th century. Visit Bongjeongsa Temple, Korea's largest and one of its oldest temples, including Geungnakjeon, the country's oldest wooden building, once visited by Queen Elizabeth II in 1999. End the day at the Rock-carved Standing Buddha in Icheon-dong, a 12.38-metre statue carved into a natural rock face during the Goryeo Dynasty, before transferring back to the hotel. Overnight in Andong.
Day 6
Andong to Gyeongju
Meet the guide at 10:00 and transfer by private vehicle to Gyeongju, once the capital of the 8th-century Silla Kingdom and a UNESCO World Heritage Site revered as an open-air museum. After lunch at a local restaurant, explore the Gyeongju National Museum, home to an extensive collection of Silla artefacts and royal treasures. Stroll to Woljeong Bridge, a restored wooden structure that once linked the royal palaces to the southern city, then continue to Gyochon Traditional Village, where hanok houses and craft workshops bring Silla-era daily life into focus. End the day along Hwangnidan-gil, Gyeongju's hanok-lined street of cafes and boutiques. Overnight in Gyeongju.
Day 7
Gyeongju Full Day Tour
Meet the guide at 9:00 for a day by private vehicle beginning at Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple, UNESCO World Heritage Sites built during the Silla Kingdom, showcasing a serene stone Buddha and elegant wooden halls and stone terraces. After lunch, visit the Daereungwon Tomb Complex, or Tumuli Park, where more than 20 grass-covered burial mounds of Silla royalty lie, and step inside Cheonmachong Tomb to see its painted heavenly horse saddle flap. Visit Cheomseongdae Observatory, the oldest surviving astronomical observatory in Asia, then continue to Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond, an artificial pond from the Silla palace complex whose reflections and soft lighting create a photogenic scene as evening falls. Overnight in Gyeongju.
Day 8
Gyeongju's Mountain and Folk Village
Meet the guide and set off for a half-day hike on Namsan Mountain, home to over 100 temples, 80 stone Buddha statues and 60 stone pagodas, following a well-maintained trail for around three hours and watching the sunset from the top before returning to the base. Lunch is served at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, travel along the Hyeongsan River to Yangdong Folk Village, a UNESCO World Heritage Site preserving Joseon-era yangban heritage along peaceful lanes of tiled and thatched houses. At Manho Gotaek, a 500-year-old hanok, join a Cheongju rice-wine brewing workshop under local masters, learning the process of fermenting, filtering and ageing the clear rice wine, then taste freshly made Cheongju and artisanal soju paired with local bites. Overnight in Gyeongju.
Day 9
Transfer to Busan
After breakfast, check out and transfer to Busan, South Korea's second-largest city, known for its beaches, seafood markets and harbour views. En route, stop at Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, a rare seaside Buddhist temple perched on rocky cliffs above the East Sea, followed by lunch at a local restaurant. Visit Daritgol Skywalk, a glass-bottomed bridge above the coastline, then board the Haeundae Sky Capsule at Cheongsapo Station for an elevated ride along the seaside. Continue to X the Sky, an observation deck in Haeundae's tallest skyscraper, for panoramic views of the city and coast, before finishing at Haeundae Beach and transferring to the hotel. Overnight in Busan.
Day 10
Busan Sightseeing
Meet the guide at 9:00 and transfer to a join-in cooking class to learn bibimbap, one of Korea's most popular dishes, enjoying the freshly prepared result for lunch and taking the recipe home. Continue to Jagalchi Market, South Korea's largest seafood market, then to Gamcheon Village, a hillside neighbourhood of colourful houses, murals and galleries reborn through the Village Art Project. Take a cable car ride across the sea, taking in views of Songdo Beach and the surrounding bridges and cliffs, then stop at Sky Harbor Observatory and walk the Songdo Yonggung Suspension Bridge before returning to the hotel for a final evening in Busan. Overnight in Busan.
Day 11
Fly to Jeju
Check out after breakfast and transfer without a guide to the airport for a short flight to Jeju Island, often called the "Hawaii of Korea" for its volcanic coastlines, lava caves and distinctive culture. On arrival, a local guide and private driver transfer you to the east side of the island for a quick lunch, followed by a visit to Seongsan Ilchulbong, or Sunrise Peak, a filming location for the Korean drama When Life Gives You Tangerines. Climb the volcanic crater, around 40 minutes each way, for sweeping views of the coastline and Jeju's volcanic terrain, then visit the Jeju Haenyeo Museum to learn about the island's Haenyeo, women divers who have long gathered seafood using time-honoured methods. Transfer to the hotel to check in. An optional Haenyeo dinner, a cultural dining theatre with live performances by Haenyeo followed by a seasonal seafood feast, is available on request Thursday to Sunday. Overnight in Jeju.
Day 12
Full Day Jeju Sightseeing
Meet the guide at 9:00 and transfer to Geomun Oreum for a hike up the volcanic crater, beginning with a brief stop at the Jeju World Natural Heritage Center to learn about the island's volcanic origins. Two trail options are available: a Summit Course of 1.8 km, around an hour, or a longer Crater Course of 5.5 km, around two and a half hours, both winding through forest, along crater rims and up to panoramic viewpoints. Continue to the 4.3 Peace Memorial Hall, honouring the victims of the Jeju Uprising, then to Samseonghyeol, believed to be the birthplace of the island's earliest inhabitants. End the day at Dongmun Market, Jeju's most famous traditional market, with its street food, seafood counters and produce stalls. Overnight in Jeju.
Day 13
Full Day Jeju Sightseeing
Meet the guide for a day exploring South Jeju by private vehicle, beginning at Jeongbang Waterfall, one of the few waterfalls in Asia to fall directly into the ocean. Continue to Yakcheonsa Temple, one of the largest Buddhist temples in Asia, standing 30 metres tall and housing Korea's largest Vairocana Buddha alongside 18,000 smaller Buddhas. Drive to Jusangjeolli Cliffs, where hexagonal rock pillars formed by ancient volcanic activity meet the sea, then visit the O'sulloc Tea Museum to learn about Jeju's tea history, sample teas, walk the tea fields and try the museum's green tea ice cream. Transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Jeju.
Day 14
Departure from Jeju
After breakfast, check out and transfer without a guide to the airport or ferry terminal for onward travel.
Moments
Along the way
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