Compare Classic South Korea tour by Audley Travel vs Highlights of Korea from Seoul to Busan by Odynovo
Compare details and see what other travelers are saying.
| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 12 days | 6 days |
| Price From | $ 6,595 | $ 1,736 |
| Price Per Day | $ 550 | $ 289 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Private guided tour | Private guided tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Premium |
| 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 | N/A |
5 breakfasts |
| Description |
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. |
South Korea is a fascinating blend of old and new. In the six days, you will travel between Seoul and Busan with speedy KTX trains to explore the nation's historical palaces and temples, active communities and markets, heavily-fortified DMZ, and laidback coastal areas. There are also a lot of chances to taste authentic local foods and purchase exotic souvenirs. |
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.
Day 1: Arrival - Seoul
Overnight: Seoul
Welcome to Seoul!
Upon arrival, be transferred to your hotel for check-in and then have the remainder of the day at your leisure, recovering from jet lag or walking out for a light adventure.
Day 2: Seoul
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Seoul
Meet your guide at your hotel lobby and start the city exploration from Gyeongbokgung Palace, the first and largest palace of the Joseon dynasty lasting from 1392 AD to 1897 AD. Marvel at its splendid architecture and watch the guard changing ceremony, usually taking place at 10 am and 2 pm daily except on Tuesdays. On the eastern side of the palace ground, you will visit the National Folk Museum, a place to get a view of the nation's history and culture.
Next, explore the Bukchon Hanok Village, an active neighborhood full of traditional houses (locally called Hanok) now serving as art galleries, restaurants, and guesthouses, to learn and immerse in Korean culture. Later on, while strolling around Insa-dong, the largest antique and artwork market in the country, you can sample authentic Korean foods and buy some exotic souvenirs.
Day 3: Seoul
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Seoul
The DMZ between North Korea and Korea is a 4 km-wide and 240 km-long buffer zone located in the vicinity of the 38th parallel. The organized group tour to the most heavily fortified border on earth will offer you a rare chance to dive into the history and politics of these two countries of the same origin. In such a tour, you will explore Imjingak Park with many monuments to remember the Korean War, walk across the Bridge of Freedom, explore the Third Infiltration Tunnel, visit the DMZ Exhibition Hall and DMZ Theater, and capture a panoramic view of this sensitive zone from Dora Observatory.
Day 4: Seoul - Busan
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Busan
Check out after breakfast at your hotel and take a private transfer to the railway station for the KTX train to Busan. On arrival, meet your guide for touring Haedong Yonggungsa, a Buddhist temple scenically standing on the northeastern coast of Busan. Continue with a leisurely walk on Dongbaekseom, the Island of Camellias, to enjoy the charming shoreline of Busan. Later on, check into your hotel and have some leisure time on your own.
Day 5: Busan
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Busan
Start the tour today from the Beomeosa Temple, surrounded by natural beauty. Hike around to take in its peaceful atmosphere or join the locals praying for a little wish. Afterward, view Gwangan Bridge, Korea's longest double-story bridge across the sea and the beautiful landmark of the city, and continue to Jagalchi Fish Market, a great place to see and enjoy fresh seafood. What follows will be Busan Tower boasting a panoramic view of the whole city and Gukjae Flee International Market with everything you can imagine on sale.
Day 6: Busan - Seoul - Departure
Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast, be transferred to Busan station for the return train to Seoul. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to Incheon International Airport for your onward flight.
