Compare Best of South Korea by G Adventures vs Classic South Korea tour by Audley Travel
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 8 days | 12 days |
| Price From | $ 2,559 | $ 6,595 |
| Price Per Day | $ 320 | $ 550 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour | Private guided tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Standard |
| Physical Level |
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| Travel Themes |
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| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
| Activities |
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| Meals Included | 7 breakfasts, 1 dinner | N/A |
| Description |
Ready for a unique travel experience? South Korea fits the bill and then some. On this eight-day trip, you’ll see the highlights in and around Seoul plus visit folk villages, unique Korean temples, and the bustling markets of Busan. Learn about the sombre history of North and South Korea and take an excursion to the Demilitarized Zone separating the two. This is the perfect snapshot of a country coming into its own as a top travel destination. |
Buddhist temples, imperial palaces, futuristic architecture and markets so vast they take up whole city blocks…South Korea is a multifaceted destination. Our specialists know the country well and can introduce you to its many attractions, from Seoul’s 14th-century palaces and Gyeongju’s tombs to the volcanic landscape of Jeju Island.Along with seeing the country’s main highlights, we’ll help you explore Korean culture which sees ancient traditions, customs and craftsmanship sit side by side with cutting-edge technology, karaoke bars and quirky cat cafés. |
Day 1 Seoul
Arrive at any time.
Welcome to Seoul! As fellow travellers are arriving throughout the day, there are no planned activities until a group meeting at 6 pm. Check into the hotel and enjoy the city. After the welcome meeting, join your CEO for an orientation walk down Cheonggyecheon Stream to learn about Seoul while walking past small waterfalls and nearly two dozen overhead bridges. Then, enjoy the dense grid of streets found in the bustling neighbourhood of Myeongdong which is packed with people at all hours of the day looking to enjoy some of the best shopping, street food, and nightlife in all of Korea. Opt for a group dinner to end your first night!
Day 2 Seoul
Sit back and relax on a private bus and enjoy a tour of the bustling metropolis where modern skyscrapers, high-tech subways and pop culture meet Buddhist temples and street markets. Visit Gyengbokgung Palace, the National Folklore Museum, Bukchon Hanok Village and Insadong alley.
After exploring the city, opt to see a show, explore a local museum, or hit the pavement and eat your way through street markets trying local fares such as bibimbap, soondae, and kimchi.
Day 3 Seoul/Gyeongju-si
After breakfast, board a high speed bullet train for a relaxing morning ride through the countryside to Gyeongiu. Once the group arrives to this old capital city for 1,000 years, they will experience an overnight stay in a local temple. During the stay the group will learn about temple etiquette, watch a monk martial arts performance, experience the daily prayer ritual and a temple style dinner. Then, enjoy an easy hike up to the only stove cave temple in Korea for a morning meditation.
Stay in rooms called Ondol. These rooms are very traditional, heated to be cozy and comfortable, with beds made up directly on the floor. The rooms here are multi-share, divided up by male and female rooms. Enjoy a traditional dinner and breakfast during the stay. Have the opportunity to learn about temple etiquette, experience the daily drum and bell ritual and take an easy hike up to the only stone cave temple in Korea for morning meditation.
Day 4 Gyeongju-si
Enjoy a peaceful morning meditation, martial arts practice, and drum and bell ritual before exploring in Gyeongiu. On the city tour visit to the UNESCO site of Bulguksa Temple located on the slopes of Mount Toham and admire the national treasures there, such as Dabotap and Seokgatap stone pagodas, Cheongun-gyo, and two gilt-bronze statues of Buddha. Afterwards, experience the oldest surviving astronomical observatory in Asia, Cheomseongdae Observatory, and the surrounding Royal Tombs.
Day 5 Gyeongju-si/Busan
Travel by bus to Busan. Along the way enjoy a day trip to Yangdong Folk Village, a 500-year-old UNESCO site located in Gyeongju National Park, to get a feel for life during the early Joseon Dynasty. Afterwards, continue on to the picturesque 14th century seaside temple hidden in the rocks - Haedong Yonggungsa. After exploring the temple, check in to your hotel and get your bearings with an orientation walk on Haeundae Beach and Dongbaek Island (APEC House). Spend the evening getting to know colourful Busan, opt to treat yourself at a Jjimjilbang spa or sing your heart out at a popular karaoke bar.
Day 6 Busan/Seoul
In the seaside city, Busan, visit the bustling Jagalchi fish market, Gukjesijang market, Yongdusan Park, and the colourful Gamcheon Culture Village before traveling back to Seoul. After arriving in Seoul by train, check out Korea's oldest traditional market - Namdaemun Market. Then make your way by cable car to N Seoul Tower to see this beautiful landmark and opt to make the trip up to the observation deck. Spend the rest of your day in Seoul opting to see Banpo Bridge, the floating islands, or hanging out in the Gangnam district.
Day 7 Seoul
Visit the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), founded in 1953, separating North and South Korea. With over a million soldiers on watch each day, it is one of the last remnants of the Cold War. With a buffer zone 4km wide and spanning 250 km long there has been very little development in the area, therefore nature and wildlife have pretty much taken over. Spend about 3-4 hours visiting the Demilitarized Zone, then head to The War Memorial of Korea. Later, return back to Seoul for another night in the city.
Opt to visit the Samsung Leeum Contemporary Gallery, explore the Itaewon neighbourhood, or prebook the Kimchi making and Hanbok experience.
Day 8 Seoul
Depart at anytime.
Day 1 Seoul
Seoul
Arrive into Seoul and spend a day relaxing into its rhythms and trying out Korean cuisine.
Accommodation options While the itinerary price reflects the suggested accommodation, this itinerary is 100% flexible, and a specialist can help you select the option best suited to your tastes and budget.
Day 2 Seoul
Spend a day with a private guide and driver exploring the city’s standout sights. You’ll start with the architectural jewel of Gyeongbokgung Palace, stop for street food at Namdaemun Market, and explore Bukchon Hanok (a village of traditional Korean houses) and the lively area of Insa-dong.
Accommodation options While the itinerary price reflects the suggested accommodation, this itinerary is 100% flexible, and a specialist can help you select the option best suited to your tastes and budget.
Day 3 Seoul
Spend a morning driving up to the DMZ at the border with North Korea. You’ll have a guided tour, gain a deeper understanding of the conflict, and might even get a glimpse into North Korea. When you get back to Seoul, head out on a food tour in the backstreets of Insa-dong to try a variety of classic Korean dishes and traditional drinks.
Accommodation options While the itinerary price reflects the suggested accommodation, this itinerary is 100% flexible, and a specialist can help you select the option best suited to your tastes and budget.
Day 4 Gyeongju
In the morning, take the KTX bullet train across the country to Gyeongju on the east coast. Spend the afternoon exploring the sites of the city, including Tumuli Park and the ancient tomb complex of Daereungwon.
Accommodation While the itinerary price reflects the suggested accommodation, this itinerary is 100% flexible, and a specialist can help you select the option best suited to your tastes and budget.
Day 5 Busan
Gyeongju , Busan
Spend a full day visiting the treasures of Gyeongju that piece together the city’s long and tumultuous history. The tour will end with an hour’s drive south to the city of Busan in the southeast.
Accommodation options While the itinerary price reflects the suggested accommodation, this itinerary is 100% flexible, and a specialist can help you select the option best suited to your tastes and budget.
Day 6 Busan
Admire the skyline of Busan (thought to be one of the most striking in Asia) from Busan Tower. Then visit Jagalchi and Bupyeong markets, which include a notable fish market, to try some street food for lunch. There’s lots of other tempting foods to try here: Busan is known as Korea’s culinary capital.
Accommodation options While the itinerary price reflects the suggested accommodation, this itinerary is 100% flexible, and a specialist can help you select the option best suited to your tastes and budget.
Day 7 Busan
Today you’ll take a guided tour of Gamcheon Culture Village, which consists of kaleidoscopic houses overlapping onto the hills that surround the city. You’ll also visit Haedong Yonggungsa, a temple which sits precariously on the clifftops, overlooking the Sea of Japan.
Accommodation options While the itinerary price reflects the suggested accommodation, this itinerary is 100% flexible, and a specialist can help you select the option best suited to your tastes and budget.
Day 8 Jeju island
Fly from Busan to Jeju City, the capital of Jeju Island. Spend the afternoon with a guide seeing the sights around the city before grabbing some dinner at the Dongsun street food market. It’s the ideal place to get a feel for the tastes used in Jeju cuisine.
Accommodation While the itinerary price reflects the suggested accommodation, this itinerary is 100% flexible, and a specialist can help you select the option best suited to your tastes and budget.
Day 9 Jeju island
Head out with a guide to see the attractions to the east of Jeju island, starting with a ferry ride to Udo Island. There you can rent bicycles or drive around to see the beaches and volcanic rock formations that make Udo so popular. Afterwards, either climb up or admire Sunrise Peak from afar. You might see one of the celebrated female-only Hanyeo divers don their wetsuits and search for shellfish on Jeju’s rocky shore. You’ll also stop off at the Manjanggul lava caves that burrow beneath the surface of the island.
Accommodation While the itinerary price reflects the suggested accommodation, this itinerary is 100% flexible, and a specialist can help you select the option best suited to your tastes and budget.
Day 10 Jeju island
For your second day in Jeju, take part in South Korea’s national pastime: hiking. Hallasan is the tallest peak in South Korea and looms over the whole of Jeju Island. It’s a full day of hiking, which should see you reaching the summit just after lunchtime, but it’s worth it to see the crater lake concealed in the summit.
Accommodation While the itinerary price reflects the suggested accommodation, this itinerary is 100% flexible, and a specialist can help you select the option best suited to your tastes and budget.
Day 11 Seoul
Jeju island , Seoul
Accommodation options While the itinerary price reflects the suggested accommodation, this itinerary is 100% flexible, and a specialist can help you select the option best suited to your tastes and budget.
Day 12 Return home
Seoul
You’ll be picked up from your hotel and taken to the airport for your flight home.
