South Korea in 1 Week
One week on a South Korea tour will give you enough time to visit the DMZ, stay in a temple, and visit the two largest cities in the country, Seoul and Busan. You may not have time to take a trip to the countryside or the tropical Jeju island, but you can still get a great taste of the traditional and modern culture this country has to offer.
Day 1, Seoul:Free time to explore the city - go shopping or relax. Meet with your tour guide and group for dinner.
Day 2, Seoul: Visit the Gyeongbokgung Palace, the largest of the Five Grand Palaces. Next, stop by the Bukchon Hanok Village, a traditional village where locals reside up to this day. Go for lunch at the Gwangjang Market and feast on bibimbap - a bowl of rice with fresh vegetables mixed with gochujang (spicy sauce. End the day by taking a stroll around Insadong, where traditional artisanal crafts are sold.
Day 3, DMZ:We will take a bus up to the border between South and North Korea, known as the Demilitarized Zone. Learn about fascinating and disheartening history about the two countries, travel through one of their underground tunnels, and use binoculars to take a peek into the country. Stay the night in an ondol: where the guesthouses use floor heating and sleep on mats close to the ground.
Day 4, Temple Stay:Stay overnight in a temple where monks reside. Learn how to make your own meditation beads, have an open-ended discussion with a monk over tea, and eat their delicious temple food. If you’d like, wake up at 4am to experience chanting with the monks and watch as they perform their daily morning rituals.
Day 5, Busan:We will visit the largest fish market of the country, Jagalchi Fish Market. Here, you can find a wide selection of seafood and have your try at bargaining. Bring your food upstairs to have it cooked any way you’d like, or pick from their menu if you’d prefer not to pick out your own seafood. After lunch, we will go to Haeundae Beach, the most popular beach in the country. Spend the day relaxing, swimming, or exploring the area.
Day 6, Busan:Take a stroll through the picturesque oceanside temple, Haedong Yonggungsa. You will be guided through the short hike to get to the temple. Afterwards we will stop by a traditional Korean tea house where we partake in a tea ceremony while sampling Korean snacks.
Day 7, Drive Back to Seoul:Drive back to Seoul in the morning, say farewell to your tour guide and group.
South Korea in 2 Weeks
If you want to see everything South Korea has to offer, two weeks will give you time to go to the countryside, tea fields, mountains, and heritage sites on top of all the major tourist spots.
Day 1, Airport Meet Up: Take a private charter bus to Seoul.
Day 2, Seoul: Take the time to explore the city by yourself today.
Day 3, Seoul: Gyeongbokgung Palace, Bukchon Hanok Village, Gwangjang Market, Insadong Market.
Day 4, DMZ: The demilitarized zone, sleep in an ondol.
Day 5, Suwon: Visit to Suwon Hwaseong Fortress, south of Seoul. Explore the fortress where the royal family retreated to during the way.
Day 6, Seoraksan: Visit Mount Seoraksan, where you can find a breathtaking view from the top of the mountains overlooking the clouds.
Day 7, Pyeongchang: Visit the site of the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, where international athletes united for the love of sports just recently.
Day 8, Temple Stay:Stay overnight in a temple where monks reside.
Day 9, Busan: Jagalchi Fish Market, Haeundae Beach
Day 10, Busan:Haedong Yonggungsa Oceanside Temple, Tea Ceremony
Day 11, Andong Hahoe Village: Another well-preserved heritage site with rich history and architectual beauty.
Day 12, Jeonju: Explore this quaint and traditional village, where it feels as though you’ve traveled back in time.
Day 13, Boseong: We will visit the breathtaking fields of the Boseong Green Tea Fields. Sip on green tea and sample green tea flavored snacks while taking pictures of the well-organized bushes that stretch on for ages.
Day 14, Back to Seoul: Drive back to Seoul and say farewell.
South Korea Historical and Heritage Itinerary
Consider going on a historical and heritage tour if you're mostly interested in learning about South Korea's fascinating and heartbreaking past. A historical tour of South Korea will allow you to visit important heritage sites, learn about it's troubling past with North Korea, and wander through quaint villages.
Day 1, DMZ: The demilitarized zone, sleep in an ondol.
Day 2, Gyeongju: Explore Gyeongju, a city filled with rich history and important historical landmarks that have been preserved since 935AD. With 52 different designated sites spread across the area, you’ll definitely be in for an educational day.
Day 3, Gyeongju: We will visit the Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto, both lie further out from the rest of Gyeongju’s main attractions.
Day 4, Andong Hahoe Village: We’ll then transfer to the Andong Hahoe Village which is another well-preserved heritage site with more historical beauty.
Day 5, Jeonju: Explore this quaint and traditional village, where it feels as though you’ve traveled back in time.