Best of South Korea & Japan

Ready to discover the best of South Korea and Japan? Meet your trip leader and new travel mates for the first time this evening in Seoul. Tonight we'll get to know each other over a group dinner, getting excited about all the adventures to come!

Get to know the traditional culture of South Korea today as we tour the city's most historic sights. We'll begin the day at Gyeongbokgung Palace, famed for its vibrant architecture and Changing of the Guard Ceremony. Next up is the enchanting laneways of Hanok Village before we head to Insadong Street for an afternoon of shopping and cafe-hopping. When day falls, Seoul's incredible nightlife awaits!

Today is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity as we visit the DMZ, a demilitarised border split between North and South Korea. Catch a rare glimpse into one of the most mysterious countries in the world from the observatory deck. Back in Seoul, get a taste of Gwangjang Market with your trip leader able to give you their best street food recommendations. We're talking noodles, tteokbokki, savoury pancakes and so much more!

We're taking our first high-speed train to Jeonju, famed for its stunning Heritage Village. Today's all about soaking in the historic atmosphere, with plenty of photo stops along the way. Enjoy a traditional Korean rice wine and soju tasting; then it's time to roll up our sleeves and learn how to cook Jeonju's signature dish, bibimbap!

Busan is about to blow your mind as our adventure continues south today with another high-speed train journey. Enjoy a free afternoon to hit up the golden beaches or go café-hopping. Then we've got tickets for the Haeundae Sky Capsule, promising the best ocean views as we glide from coast to coast. No trip to South Korea is complete without digging into some traditional BBQ, followed up by a night of karaoke. Get your songs ready!

We're kickstarting the day with a traditional Taekwondo class! Whether you're a total beginner or a martial arts pro, everyone's welcome to take part as we learn all the basic moves and even get to try breaking a few wooden boards. The rest of today is completely free for you to discover Busan at your leisure.

Ever wondered what it would be like to spend the night inside a temple? Today we're about to find out, as we arrive at our special stay surrounded by epic forest stretches. We'll explore the peaceful temple grounds, join the monks for some prayers and enjoy traditional Buddhist temple cuisine for dinner.

Our adventure continues to Gyeongju, where the ancient Silla Kingdom reigned for almost 1,000 years. Today we'll take a cycling tour around this former ancient capital, discovering its breathtaking array of temples, palace ruins and tomb complexes. Later on, we'll get dressed up in colourful Hanbok.

We're heading back to the city where it all began today, and what better way to celebrate our arrival than with a K-pop dance class? After learning a few moves, we'll head over to HiKR ground to film our very own music video. Tonight we'll go for one last group dinner to celebrate all the memories we've made!

Say hello (or "Konnichiwa") to Japan! Today you will take an included flight from Seoul to Tokyo, before checking into your hostel in the heart of Japan's buzzing capital. Then tonight you'll meet some new faces and trip leader for the first time!

We'll start the day at Sensō-ji, the city's most ancient temple, before heading to the Meiji Shrine, which is like an emerald oasis in the heart of Tokyo. Next up is the Harajuku district for some kawaii culture, where everyday is like a colourful fashion show! We'll tick Shibuya Crossing off our Japan bucket list before grabbing drinks at one of the famously tiny bars that Shinjuku is famous for!

Learn the art of sushi making with our class this morning; then with our bellies full, enjoy a bit of free time to explore Tokyo. Later, we'll make our way over to the 'Anime District' of Akihabara. This is a pop culture paradise with something for everyone, from epic gaming arcades to themed cafés, manga shops and so much more!

Today we're taking our first Japanese bullet train, which will take us to Nagano at almost lightning speed! This afternoon's all about practising our origami skills with a fun introductory class before unwinding in the steamy waters of a traditional onsen. This evening, we have a special Ryokan (Japanese-style inn) stay!

By now, you've surely fallen in love at first bite with Japanese food. The heart only grows fonder with our morning cooking class, where we'll learn how to make our own soba noodles! Later today, we're heading to the mountains to spot the famous snow monkey residents and wander along the nature trails.

Our journey continues to Hakone today, as we board our next bullet train for the iconic landscapes of Mount Fuji. Upon arrival in Hakone, you're free to explore some of the local viewpoints or enjoy some chill time at our next accommodation.

Mount Fuji has to be one of Japan's most breathtaking viewpoints, and today we're soaking it all in. First, we're taking a cable car up for the best view of Mount Fuji. Then, we have a pirate ship cruise planned over the crystal-clear waters of Lake Ashi. Later on, we'll take a bullet train to Osaka (spoiler alert: this may become your new favourite place). Tonight we're going for a Japanese BBQ with a chance for some karaoke!

Choose your own adventures this morning. Later, we'll head to the fairytale grounds of Osaka Castle. As part of our visit, we'll head inside to learn all about Osaka's epic samurai history. Tonight we're going to the Dotonbori district, famed for its vibrant canals and some of the tastiest street food in Japan. There's a reason why they call Osaka the 'Nation's Kitchen', and you're about to find out!

We're swapping the city vibes today for a peaceful temple retreat. Mountains meet emerald forest stretches inside this stunning location, with more than 1,000 years of history to its name. Wander through the nearby nature trails, join the monks for meditation, dig into a traditional temple meal and tour the famous cemetery at night.

It's an early rise this morning for the experience of a lifetime, as we'll get to witness the Buddhist monks' prayer ritual and fire ceremony. After breakfast at the temple, the city of Kyoto is calling our name. You've seen all the pictures, yet nothing can prepare you for the beauty of Kyoto in person! Enjoy some free time upon arrival to wander the traditional laneways inside this ancient former capital. Then tonight, we'll explore the famous geisha district of Gion!

Today is packed with magical sights as we begin the day at the Bamboo Forest of Arashiyama before heading over to the Golden Pavilion, Kyoto's most legendary temple covered almost entirely in gold leaf. The rest of the day is free for you to choose your own adventures in Kyoto.

This morning, we'll tick the Fushimi-Inari shrine off our Japan bucket list, exploring the bright orange torii gates that take us into the heart of the forest. Back in Kyoto, it's time to put our samurai knowledge to the test, as we learn how to wield the sword as part of our masterclass!

This morning we'll head out to explore the neighbouring city of Nara. The deer are local celebrities here, so expect to come away with loads of pictures!

This morning, we'll stroll along the streets of Sannenzaka, where we'll enjoy a traditional tea ceremony, before taking the bullet train to Hiroshima and spending the afternoon learning about Hiroshima's deeply moving history. We'll pay our respects at the Atomic Bomb Dome, as well as the Peace Memorial Park and Museum to see the eternal flame lit in commemoration.

This morning we'll take the ferry over to a tiny island called Miyajima, famed for its floating torii gates in the ocean. Choose your own adventures on the island afterwards, whether you fancy some hiking, temple exploring or riding the famous cable car for unbeatable views. Back in Hiroshima, we'll taste one of the city's speciality dishes before heading out to a hidden whiskey bar.

Today we're returning to Osaka and enjoying some free time upon arrival to do some shopping and sightseeing. Then we'll head to the retro Shinsekai neighbourhood for one last group dinner, raising a toast to the memories made!

Our trip finishes today after breakfast. Travellers are welcome to depart at any time, and your trip leader can help assist you with transfers or a bullet train journey back to Tokyo. So, same time next year?