South Korea Adventure
K-Pop, Kimchi and culture!
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Group Size: Avg. 10-15
Trip code: SKDT
Duration: 12 days
With the rise of K-Pop and K-Beauty, South Korea is Asia's new hot destination. This intriguing country brims with beautiful scenery, vibrant cities and friendly locals. Dynamically modern, and yet steeped in tradition, it’s as much about ancient temples and historic sites as micro-breweries, virtual reality, and gleaming malls. This amazing trip takes you from sizzling Seoul to buzzing Busan over 12 days, with visits to the Demilitarised Zone, historic Gyeongju, the ‘Hawaii of Korea’ and much more. With an overnight stay in a Buddhist temple, a hike through a National Park, and a K-Pop dance class, it’s an unforgettable trip. Visit before the rest of the world catches on!
Trip highlights
- Spend a night in a Buddhist temple, learning martial arts and meditation
- Take the Marine Cable Car over the emerald bay of Busan
- Learn Taekwondo and take a K-Pop dance class in buzzing Seoul
- Cruise round beautiful Jeju Island on a yacht
- Visit the Demilitarised Zone for an insight into the divide with North Korea
- Take a bicycle tour of historic Gyeongju
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- 11 nights’ accommodation
- 1 breakfast, 2 dinners
- Bilingual tour leaders
- All in-country transport
- Taekwondo class
- Cable car up Namsan Mountain
- Korean DMZ day trip
- Meeting with a North Korean defector
- K-Pop dance class
- Gyeongbokgung Palace visit
- Royal Guard changing ceremony
- Seoraksan National Park visit
- Traditional liquor tasting
- BTS bus stop
- Cycling tour of Gyeongju
- Overnight stay at Golgulsa Temple,including meditation and martial arts lessons
- Gamcheon village visit
- Songdo Beach Marine Cable Car
- BIFF Square entertainment and shopping area
- Haedong Yonggungsa Temple visit
- Seongsan Ilchulbong hike, Jeju
- JejuOlle Trail hike
- Jungbang Waterfall
- Korean BBQ dinner
- 24-hour emergency support
- Travel insurance
- Visas
- International flights
- Airport transfers
- Some meals, plus snacks and drinks
- Optional activities and excursions
Day 1: Arrive in Seoul. Welcome to Korea! Enjoy a high-energy Taekwondo class this afternoon, then go to Namsan Mountain to admire the city’s twinkling lights and see the iconic ‘love padlocks’ at the base of N Seoul tower – cuuute!
Day 2: Seoul DMZ trip. Take a bus to the Demilitarised Zone. We’ll visit Dorasan ‘ghost’ Station, Dora Observatory, and the 3rd tunnel, before chatting to a North Korean defector.
Back in Seoul, shake your booty with a K-Pop dance class before dinner in funky Hongdae.
Day 3: Seoul. Head to Gyeongbokgung Palace early to watch the changing of the guard before a free afternoon in the city. Optional activities include a visit to Bukchon Hanok, Insadong Art Street and Gangnam District. This evening hit up Hongdae Street for a pub crawl.
Day 4: Sokcho and Seoraksan National Park. Travel to the beautiful Park, where you’ll have free time to hike, or take the cable car to one of the peaks. This afternoon, why not pay a visit to a village of North Korean refugees and eat seafood at a local fish market? This evening, enjoy a traditional liquor tasting.
Day 5: Seoul and Gyeongju. Travel to historic Gyeongju with a stop en route at the BTS bus stop! Then take a bicycle tour of the city. We’ll visit Cheonmachong Tombs, Cheomseongdae observatory, Gyerim Forest and Hyanggyo Confucius School. Enjoy some authentic food in a hanok tonight before strolling round Anapji pond for stellar views of the Palace.
Day 6: Gyeongju and Golgulsa Temple Stay. Start the day with a visit to the beautiful Bulguksa Temple, a 300 year old Hanok, or Woljeonggyo Bridge. Then transfer to Golgulsa Temple where we’ll stay the night. Get your zen on with a meditation class, enjoy a Buddhist veggie dinner, take part in the evening chanting and meditation, then learn the basics of Sunmudo!
Day 7: Busan. Join the monks’ sunrise chanting and meditation before travelling to Gamcheon Village to check out the pastel coloured houses and winding streets. Then head to Songdo Beach, where you’ll ride the Marine Cable Car before an afternoon in the uber-hip BIFF Square entertainment and shopping area in Nampo-dong in Busan.
Day 8: Busan. You’ve got another day to enjoy this vibrant city. Visit Korea’s most beautiful temple, Haedong Yonggungsa before an optional afternoon in a jjimjilbang (traditional Korean bath and sleeping house). This evening, take a boat tour of Haeundae and Gwangan Bridge, ahead of an optional night at a Korean karaoke room.
Day 9: Busan and Jeju Island. This morning, head to the beach for a picnic breakfast and a morning swim. We’ve got lots on offer this afternoon, from a Korean cooking class, to a trip to the famous Haeundae Blueline Park, and the colourful Huinnyeoul Culture Village. Later, catch the overnight ferry to the ‘Hawaii of South Korea’, Jeju Island.
Day 10: Jeju Island. Arrive in Jeju early in the morning and take a hike to the top of Seongsan Ilchulbong before an unforgettable yacht sailing tour. Spend the afternoon on Jungmun Beach, head to Cheonjiyeon Waterfall, take a wander around Maritime Park and go for sundowners at The Cliff beach club.
Day 11: Jeju Island Waterfall Visit and JejuOlle Trek. This morning visit Jeongbang Waterfall before a day-long trek along the Jeju Olle Trail. We’ll break for lunch in Seogwipo city, before continuing to Oedolgae Rock. Return to the hostel this afternoon and chill on the beach, before enjoying a farewell Korean barbecue in a local restaurant.
Day 12: Depart. Your incredible adventure in South Korea with us has come to an end. Swap numbers with your new friends and say your goodbyes. Stay on to enjoy Jeju Island for longer, or head back to Seoul. See you again soon!
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If you'd like to discuss availability or would like us to help you find a similar trip please contact us...Arrival
Your South Korea Adventure starts in Seoul on Day 1. Fly into Incheon International Airport and make your own way to your starting accommodation. There are no activities planned for today until a welcome meeting at 2pm this afternoon so make sure you arrive in time! Trains run every 23 minutes between Incheon Airport and Seoul Station, with a journey time of 40 minutes to an hour. You can also take a taxi transfer which will take a similar amount of time, but will be considerably more expensive.
Departure
The tour will finish on Jeju Island on day 12. Your guide can help you arrange a departure transfer to Jeju International Airport (CJU) as we find most customers arrange a flight back to Seoul for their onward travel. Day 12 is a departure day and you can leave at any time.
Accommodation
You’ll stay in a range of authentic accommodation throughout the trip, including guesthouses, hostels, and temples! You’ll also spend a night on an overnight ferry. Rooms are on a single-sex or mixed, multi-share basis.
Meals
Your trip includes 1 breakfast and 2 dinners. You’ll have to purchase all other meals and snacks and drinks yourself. This gives you maximum flexibility to eat where and when you like, and to explore the cuisine of this fascinating country.
You must be a minimum of 18 years old to join this trip.
This trip mainly attracts ages 18-35, please note the maximum age to join this tour is 55.
If you’re a British citizen, you can enter South Korea as a tourist for up to 90 days without a visa. You must have an onward or return ticket. Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 3 months from date of entry. It’s your responsibility to obtain the necessary visas for your time away. Visa rules are subject to change without prior notice, so please do check visa requirements at the time of your trip.
This trip is designed with your safety and wellbeing in mind. As a result of Covid-19, many of our suppliers and partners around the world are introducing new policies and procedures surrounding health and safety in response to the Coronavirus outbreak. As the state of travel is evolving these new safety measures will adapt over time, and will be different for each trip. Here are some of the changes you may see on your trip:
Arrival safety meetings
Most trips have an arrival meeting on the first day where the guide or local team will run through the trip, the safety protocols, and to answer any questions you may have. Now more than ever it is important you arrive in time for these meetings.
Proof of vaccination or negative covid test
For the safety of all travellers, at the start of some trips you may be required to show evidence that you are fully vaccinated (14 days after your second dose) and/or show evidence of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of the tour start date in order to join the programme.
Updated hygiene and safety procedures
Our suppliers and partners have health and safety procedures in place on all of our trips. These protocols will be updated and adapted as a response to the Coronavirus outbreak, dependent on local restrictions and laws.
Transport and accommodation choices
Our suppliers and partners choose the accommodation and transport on our trips very carefully, and you may see a change to what would normally be used as a response to the outbreak. This may involve such changes as enhanced use of private transport or quieter accommodation.
Trained and knowledgeable staff
Our staff in the UK are trained to help you with your trip before you depart and answer any questions you may have. In addition, the local team and guides on our trips are there to help with any health and safety concerns and to ensure our trips run safely and smoothly.
Reduced group sizes
Some trips will run with reduced group sizes to start with. You may find that trips are more intimate and chilled, whilst still being packed with fun and adventure.
Healthcare
Your guide or the local team will be on hand to help you seek medical attention should you require it during your trip. As medical facilities and standards can vary around the world, you should ensure you have adequate travel insurance in place before you depart to cover you for any medical emergencies.
24/7 emergency support
We operate an emergency phone line for our travellers abroad. This is operated by a UK based member of staff 24/7 if you have a genuine emergency or urgent matter that you need attending.
It is important that you take measures to make travelling safer for yourself and others around you. Ensure you frequently wash your hands, cover your face when you sneeze and cough, bring and use your own hand sanitiser and facial coverings/masks, and enable social distancing where necessary. You should also ensure you listen to the instructions and guidance of the local team at all times, and follow all local laws and restrictions.