Korean Cultural Odyssey Seoul to Busan - 9 Days

Welcome to Korea. On arrival in Seoul, we arrange your transfer to the hotel, where you can settle in and enjoy some free time – rest after your journey or take a short stroll if you wish. In the afternoon, we hold a brief welcome meeting with essential information about the start of your tour and the days ahead. Please note: This tour may have travellers joining or departing at various points along the route, meaning group composition can change during the tour. Please also be aware that depending on group composition, guiding may be in additional languages as well as English.

We travel to the Aegibong Observatory in Gimpo, close to the border with North Korea, where the views across the river are remarkably clear. We then continue to the Paju Demilitarised Zone at Imjingang – lunch included – to see the National Memorial and Mangbaedan Altar, and the Imjingak Pavilion Temple, a symbol of peace. We take the cable car to look down over areas near the Military Demarcation Line, and finish at the Freedom Bridge, a long‑standing symbol of hope and reunion. Please bring your passport – it is mandatory. The DMZ is an active military zone and may close without notice; if so, an alternative tour will be offered. Later, with our guide, we head to the square by City Hall to view the building’s distinctive wave shaped design from the outside, then cross to Deoksugung Palace, which is especially striking when lit after dark. We stroll on to Myeongdong, Seoul’s largest shopping and entertainment district – its name means bright tunnel. Dinner is included at a local restaurant before we return to the hotel on Seoul’s modern subway – ticket included. Overnight in Seoul.

We set out on an in-depth Seoul tour of around five hours – entry included at each main site. We visit Changdeokgung Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site set within expansive gardens, then stroll through Bukchon Hanok Village to see its lanes of well-preserved traditional houses. We continue to the War Memorial of Korea – entry included – which traces the country’s conflicts with a focus on the Korean War and the role of United Nations forces.

Lunch is included at a local restaurant. We then head to the Gangnam district, one of the city’s most dynamic areas with extensive shopping and entertainment. To round off the day, we stop at Lotte World Tower, an impressive 550‑metre landmark – you can choose to go up to the observation deck (admission not included) or explore the surrounding park and luxury shopping centres. Return to the hotel and free time.

We begin at Gyeongbokgung Palace (entrance included), a royal complex with more than 600 years of history, where we may witness the ceremonial changing of the guard if it coincides with our visit. Afterwards, we leave Seoul and travel south to Suwon, the former capital, to see its impressive UNESCO World Heritage walls and visit Hwaseong Haenggung, the summer palace (entrance included). Lunch is included. We then continue to Jeonju to explore its historic centre in the Hanok Village, with traditional houses, artisan shops and small art galleries.

We depart Jeonju for Sunchang Gochujang Village at the foot of Mount Amisan, a settlement of hanok houses with courtyards lined with hang‑a‑ri clay pots. Here we meet master artisans and take part in a hands on session learning how this famous chilli paste is made using traditional methods. We continue to Damyang to explore the Juknokwon Bamboo Forest – entrance included – and visit the Bamboo Museum – entrance included. Lunch is included and features a local speciality: rice cooked and served inside a bamboo stalk.

In the afternoon we travel on to Haeinsa – entrance included – one of Korea’s most important Buddhist temples and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, founded in 802 and home to the Tripitaka carved on 80,000 wooden tablets. We then continue to Busan, Korea’s second largest city, for our overnight stay.

Morning departure from Busan to Haedong Yonggung, a 14th–century Buddhist temple set by the sea. We return to the city to visit the United Nations Memorial Cemetery (entrance included), which honours people from many nations. We then head to the country’s largest fish market by Nampo Port, where lunch is included. We walk to Yongdusan Park, home to its 120–metre pagoda, before continuing to Songdo Beach for a ride on the country’s first maritime cable car – ticket included and weather permitting – with wide views over the bay. We finish in Gamcheon Cultural Village, known for its brightly coloured buildings, winding alleyways, art galleries, pottery workshops and cafés. We return to Busan for the night.

We leave Busan for the Seokguram Grotto – entrance included – an 8th century Buddhist sanctuary set on the slopes of Tohamsan. We continue to Bulguksa Temple – entrance included – regarded as one of Korea’s most beautiful temples. Then it is on to Gyeongju, capital of the Silla Kingdom for 992 years under 56 kings, where we pause by the wooden Woljeonggyo Bridge on the Namcheon River for photos. Lunch is included. In the afternoon we explore Tumuli Park to see the ancient burial mounds of Silla royalty and enter one of the tombs – entrance included – before walking to the Cheomsongdae Astronomical Observatory, the oldest in East Asia and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We then travel to Daegu, Korea’s fourth largest city. Before checking in, we view Dongsan Cheongna Hill – a historic area once home to Christian missionaries – stroll along Dongseong ro, the city’s liveliest street with trendy shops, cafés and restaurants, and visit the Yangnyeongsi Museum of Traditional Medicine – entrance included. Overnight in Daegu.

We travel north from Daegu to Andong and visit Hahoe Village (admission included), a UNESCO World Heritage site on the city’s outskirts. You’ll have free time to wander its lanes and traditional houses. We then explore the World Mask Museum, which showcases masks used in dances, medical practices, religious ceremonies and theatrical performances. Lunch is included at a local restaurant. In the afternoon we continue to Byeongsan Seowon, a Confucian academy founded in the 16th century beside a peaceful river, before arriving in Seoul by mid afternoon.

After breakfast, we conclude our journey in Seoul – the tour ends here. You can make your own onward arrangements and depart at your convenience.