South Korea Highlights
South Korea Highlights
South Korea Highlights
9 Days Starting and ending in Seoul
Visiting: Seoul, Sokcho, Andong, Busan, Korea Republic Of
Tour operator:
Tour code:
CJSK
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 12
Age range:
15-99 years
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Tour Overview
A destination of natural wonder, culinary delights and mesmerising cityscapes, South Korea is a rewarding trip for any traveller. On this nine-day exploration, you’ll discover Korea’s Demilitarised Zone, eat ‘til you drop at an all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ restaurant, hike through the amazing scenery of Seoraksan Mountain, wander through the colourful Gamcheong Culture Village, spend a night in a traditional hanok house and discover the charisma of Busan from seaside Haedong Temple to the stories of Haeyno divers.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Seoul
Location: Seoul
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: dinner
Annyeong! Welcome to South Korea. Your adventure begins in Seoul, South Korea's vibrant capital of high-tech gadgetry, soaring skyscrapers and delicious eats. If you arrive early, explore this modern Asian metropolis at your own pace and discover how ancient traditions come together with the modern in one of Asia's great cities. You’ll have a welcome meeting at 4 pm this afternoon. After, your leader will take you to visit the renowned Gwangjang Market for a fun dinner tour. Here, you’ll find some of Korea’s street food favourites like mayak gimbap (rice rolls), mandu (North Korean dumplings), bindaetteok (mung bean pancake) and the famous kimchi. Later, follow your group leader to the top of Naksan to see an awesome view of Seoul’s skyline at night.
Included Activities:
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Day 2: Seoul
Location: Seoul
Accommodation: Hotel
An early morning to get to join a tour of the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ). From the South Korean side of the Zone, you’ll learn how this peninsula has been divided since the devastating Korean War. You’ll visit points of interest, including the Third Tunnel of Aggression, the Unification Bridge, Imjingak Park and the Dora Observatory. In the afternoon, explore Gyeongbukgung Palace – the main royal palace of the Joseon dynasty – and the traditional Bukchon Hanok Village. Your tour today will finish late afternoon and feel free to stay longer behind the group at Bukchon as there's a lot to explore. In your free time afterwards, consider visiting Namsan Mountain or Yongsan's War Museum or pick up some gadgets in the hi-tech Yongsan Electronics Shopping district.
Included Activities:
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Day 3: Sokcho
Location: Sokcho
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: dinner
In the morning, take a local express bus to the east coast city of Sokcho. On arrival, head to the Sokcho Central Market for a real insight of how local people go about their daily lives, with the option of trying a few different local snacks or have your lunch here. Enjoy some free time afterwards then head to Abai – a small island village in Sokcho that, for generations, has been a haven for refugees fleeing the Korea War from North Korea, offering education and housing. Getting there is half the fun – you’ll have to work together to pull a rope on a small barge to get to the other side. Visit a North Korean refugee’s family and listen to their story of how history reshaped their life.Then take part in a cooking demo and learn how to make giant Korean dumplings. Enjoy a delicious dinner, like Japchai, kimbap, rice beer and other snacks in their shared recreation space, all freshly cooked with home recipe. The payment they received for this dinner will be contributed to the Abai Village Preservation Society.
Included Activities:
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Day 4: Sokcho
Location: Sokcho
Accommodation: Hotel
Head to Seoraksan – Korea’s most well-known mountain and the third highest in the peninsula – and take a hike to see the stunning views of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. The afternoon and evening is yours to explore Sokcho. Maybe visit Yeoung Geum Jung Pagoda which is on the coast, overlooking the sea. Or hire a bike and ride around the scenic Yeongrang Lake. Maybe try the Korean hotpot for dinner or go for an evening visit to Sokcho Expo Tower. Otherwise, you could take a walk along Sokcho Harbor or opt for a relaxing soak at the Cheoksan Hot Springs.
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 5: Andong
Location: Andong
Accommodation: Hanok
Meals Included: dinner
Hit the road this morning for Andong Hahoe Folk Village. This quaint settlement is easy to walk around, so you’ll join your leader on a stroll through the traditional houses (including the one that hosted Queen Elizabeth II in 1999) to get your bearings. Visit the remnants of a traditional school to see how students studied in the past and take a short hike to Buyongdae Hill, where you’ll get a bird’s eye view of the village dotted with the traditional hanok houses. Being a traditional Korean outpost, there may also be masked dancers performing in town. To learn more about this ritual, why not visit the nearby mask museum? Staying in an authentic hanok (traditional Korean house) is a unique experience and the perfect opportunity to gain more insight into local life. Enjoy a dinner at the village to try some of Andong's signature dishes.
Included Activities:
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Day 6: Busan
Location: Busan
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
After saying goodbye to your host family, you’ll make your way to Busan. South Korea’s second-largest city is home to mountains, beaches, hot springs and deliciously fresh seafood. After arrival, you’ll have the unique opportunity to talk to a Haenyeo diver. Haenyeo, literally 'sea women', are the brave souls who dive into the sea to collect clams, sea urchins and oysters and are famous for being able to hold their breath for a very long time. A dwindling industry, this has been a main source of income for the divers (predominantly female) to support their families through changing times. Visit the local Haenyeo community centre and meet with an ex-diver and hear about her experience diving, the changes Busan has gone through and her life now. Then visit Haedong Temple – the famous Buddhist temple by the sea. Explore this rare gem, backdropped by the ocean and soak in the coastal views, before going to Gamcheong Culture Village for a great overview of the city before exploring the cafes and galleries at your own pace. This colourful village is also extremely photogenic, so don’t forget your camera as you wander around. There are different spots in the city for a perfect sunset, so maybe grab a few of your group members and head to one of the many scenic viewpoints at dusk. In the evening you are free to visit Busan X the Sky or Gwangan Beach.
Included Activities:
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Day 7: Busan
Location: Busan
Accommodation: Hotel
This morning, head to the seaside of Ikidae and take a coastal walk (and optional plogging) first. Then make a visit to a local ‘Smart Farm’ – this incubation site is where startups are growing crops in recycled shipping containers, as well as turning them into shops and cafes. The rest of the day is yours. Tonight, maybe take an optional night cruise and see Busan from the water as the sun goes down. You can also visit Haeundae Night Market or see the buskers on the boardwalk.
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 8: Seoul
Location: Seoul
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: dinner
This morning, jump on the KTX Bullet Train and head back to Seoul. You'll arrive early afternoon and the rest of afternoon is yours to explore. Perhaps venture out and explore the National Museum, Leeum Art Museum, or you might like to check out the huge range of shopping that Seoul’s Dongdaemun has to offer. This evening, gather your travel pals for one final group dinner at an all-you-can-eat barbecue feast – you can't leave Korea without experiencing this hands-on meal!
Day 9: Seoul
Location: Seoul
Your adventure comes to an end after breakfast today. With no activities planned, you’re free to leave at any time. If you’d like to spend more time in Seoul, just speak to your booking agent.
What's Included
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Accommodation
Hotel (7 nights), Hanok (1 night) -
Seoul - Gwangjang market
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Seoul - Naksan night view over the city
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Seoul - Gyeongbukgung Palace
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Seoul - Demilitarized Zone (DMZ/South Korea)
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Seoul - Bukchon Hanok Village
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Sokcho - Seoraksan Mountain
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Sokcho - Daepo Fish market
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Sokcho - Island village of Abai
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Sokcho - North Korea refugee family visit
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Andong - Andong folk village
Included Activities
Seoul - Gwangjang marketSeoul - Naksan night view over the citySeoul - Samsung D'Light Technology ComplexSeoul - Jamsil Olympic ParkSeoul - Gyeongbukgung PalaceSeoul - North VillageGangneung - Ojukheon VillageGangneung - Gyeongpo LakeSokcho - Island village of AbaiSokcho - Daepo Fish marketSokcho - Seoraksan MountainSeoul - Demilitarized Zone (DMZ/South Korea)Andong - Andong folk villageAndong - confucianist school and temple visitSuncheon - Suncheonman Bay Wetland ReserveSuncheon - Open film setSuncheon - Suncheon Bay National GardenSuncheon - Nagan Fortress Village
Transport
If you are spending additional time before or after your tour, you will find that the transport in South Korea is reasonably priced, quick and efficient. Public buses don't always have the signage in English so is is recommended that you write your destination in hangeul (Korean phonetic alphabet) letters on a piece of paper. Bus drivers don't speak English. Local tourist centres usually have English-speaking staff and are the best places to find out about local buses.
Accommodation
Hotel rooms:Many South Korean hotels have a limited supply of double rooms. If you are a couple travelling, please advise at the time of booking if you would like double bedding (subject to availability). Double bed in South Korea also tends to be smaller than normal western standard, closer to a queen size bed. It may be possible to book twin share rooms where you may push the beds together into one bigger bed, but this can't be guaranteed.Air-conditioning & Heating:Air-conditioning is not usually turned on until the warmer season. The traditional housing has floor heating.Hanok Stay:Your mattress will be on the floor. If you find that the surface is too hard, you can stack the bedding or ask for an extra mattress.
Important Information
1. This trip starts in Seoul on Day 1 at 4pm. This allows time after the welcome meeting for your first included activities.2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Day 5 where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
Mode of Transport
If you are spending additional time before or after your tour, you will find that the transport in South Korea is reasonably priced, quick and efficient. Public buses don't always have the signage in English so is is recommended that you write your destination in hangeul (Korean phonetic alphabet) letters on a piece of paper. Bus drivers don't speak English. Local tourist centres usually have English-speaking staff and are the best places to find out about local buses.
Accommodation
Hotel rooms:Many South Korean hotels have a limited supply of double rooms. If you are a couple travelling, please advise at the time of booking if you would like double bedding (subject to availability)Air-conditioning & Heating:Air-conditioning is not usually turned on until the warmer season. The traditional housing has floor heating.Hanok Stay:Your mattress will be on the floor. If you find that the surface is too hard, you can stack the bedding or ask for an extra mattress.
Check out our Q&As
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Is this trip right for you
A good degree of fitness is recommended for this trip as a lot of walking is involved. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended. You will need to be able to handle your luggage on metro and in busy transport hubs, so we advise packing light.
This trip doesn't spend much time in Seoul so we recommend extending your trip to enjoy this city to its fullest. Please speak to your booking agent about adding additional nights of accommodation to your booking. -
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room
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Free Date Changes
Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 400 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.
Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Terms and Conditions
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