Board your overnight flight to Seoul today.

Welcome to South Korea! Settle into your hotel this evening. Your introduction to Seoul begins tomorrow.  

Meet up with your Tour Director and get to know South Korea’s capital city, Seoul. Situated in the northwestern reaches of the country, this thriving metropolis is home to modern skyscrapers, ornate Buddhist temples, grand palaces, and nearly 10 million residents. It’s also the perfect place to experience many of the bright, inventive, and just plain fun Korean cultural trends—from K-pop music to novelty foods—that have taken the rest of the world by storm.

• Step inside the 14th-century, 7,700-room Gyeongbokgung Palace, which was built by King Taejo and is widely considered the most beautiful of Seoul’s five grand palaces. It was destroyed during the Japanese invasion of Korea in the 16th century and its ornate wooden structures were reconstructed in the 19th century.
• Watch the Royal Guard Changing Ceremony, a reenactment of the guard-changing procedure that took place during the Joseon dynasty. The ceremony features historically reproduced costumes and weapons and offers a glimpse into historical military practices of the time.
• Pay your respects at the Statue of Peace. Known as the Comfort Woman Statue, it was installed in memory of the more than 200,000 South Korean women who were abducted by the Japanese military during World War II.
• Enter the sensory delight of Gwangjang Market, the city’s oldest traditional market, where you’ll find everything from street food to silks to hanbok—traditional Korean clothing whose origins date back more than 2,000 years.
• Enjoy a tasting of the market’s not-to-be-missed street food, followed by free time to shop and explore on your own. Find a stall dishing out tteokbokki, spicy rice cakes cooked in a hot-and-sweet sauce.
• Get to know your fellow travelers over an included welcome lunch, served with beer or wine.

K-pop’s infectious hooks and eye-catching dance moves are irresistible, so you might as well surrender to the beat. Opt into a dance class and dinner to take part in South Korea’s most fun cultural export.

To enjoy free time on your own, head to the Dongdaemun Design Plaza, known for its Zaha Hadid-designed architecture and late-night shopping.

With your free day in Seoul, you can choose to join us for a trip to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) at the 38th parallel, separating North Korea from South Korea. You’ll learn about the two countries’ delicate relationship and catch a glimpse of North Korea’s vast landscape.

There is so much more to take in if you’re staying behind in Seoul. Enjoy a contemplative tea or coffee in one of the traditional Korean hanok houses-turned-cafes in Ikseon-dong Hanok Village or go for a walk through the urban park of Seoul Forest. 

Board a high-speed bullet train bound for the city of Gyeongju. Upon arrival, head to the mountains for a closer look at sacred South Korean traditions (with a chance to take part in some of them yourself).

• Climb aboard your coach for a short transfer to Golgulsa Temple, a tucked-away sanctuary on the peaceful Hamwolsan mountain, which hosts Templestay programs for practices once reserved only for Buddhist monks.
• Meet with the monks and learn about their monastic lifestyle before taking part in a hands-on archery lesson followed by a short meditation session.
• Learn about the Korean martial art of Sunmudo during a high-flying, heart-thumping training exercise. The practice—once a closely guarded secret taught to a few privileged monks—is now open to all, combining meditation, yoga, and qigong alongside impressive acrobatics.

Continue to Gyeongju. Often referred to as the “museum without walls,” this city is home to three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including temples and a grotto. Then, join your group this evening for an included dinner served with beer or wine.

Spend the morning exploring the Daereungwon Tomb Complex in Gyeongju, the final resting place of the nobility of the Silla Kingdom, which ruled from 57 B.C.–935 A.D. You’ll have a chance to enter one of its burial mounds and view some of the 11,000 artifacts—like gold jewelry, weaponry, and pottery—that were buried with the deceased for use in the afterlife.

Later, travel to a village on Geumjeongsan mountain to visit the makers of the country’s only traditional folk wine, makgeolli. This fermented rice wine has been produced in the area for hundreds of years and retains its uniquely sweet, tangy, and tart notes. During your visit to this workshop, home to South Korea’s only registered makgeolli master, you’ll learn about the wine-making process—and have the chance to sample some of the brew along the way. Makgeolli’s relatively low alcohol content makes it a light, refreshing libation.

Afterwards, you’ll arrive in the seaside city of Busan and visit the United Nations Memorial Cemetery, where you’ll learn about the history and impact of the Korean War and pay your respects to those buried there.

A guided tour awaits tomorrow, but if you’d like to get a head start on exploration, visit Gwangalli Beach, known for its twinkling night view of the illuminated Gwangan Bridge. The beachfront is lined with cafes and restaurants, making it a perfect spot for a casual meal.

Meet up with your Tour Director to explore Busan, a thriving port city at the southern tip of the Korean Peninsula. Home to roughly 3.5 million people, Busan is the country’s second-largest metropolis. Here, visitors will find a little bit of everything, from the go-go-go of city streets to scenic beaches and teeming night markets.

• Travel to the Gamcheon Culture Village and learn how it evolved from a downtrodden destination for Korean War refugees to a must-see destination known for its colorful dwellings and labyrinthine alleyways.
• Head back to the city and visit the vast (and pungent!) Jagalchi Market. You’ll find an extensive array of shellfish, octopus, and seaweed, as well as food stalls preparing this just-caught fare.
• Enjoy free time for shopping and lunch along the Gwangbok-dong Cultural & Fashion Street. Keep an eye out for handmade Korean crafts like pottery, fans, and Busan-style anchovy sauce or shop for luxury goods.

One of our favorite ways to take in the coastal majesty of Busan is from the water. Join us for an optional harbor cruise, ending with a hearty Korean barbecue dinner when you disembark.

If you’re staying on land, check out Busan Tower for a panoramic view of the city from a soaring observation deck. It’s especially captivating at night with the city lights sparkling below.

Make your way west across South Korea to the trendy city of Gwangju, known as a center for culture and art. Along the way, pay a visit to Juknokwon, a sprawling bamboo forest in the countryside of Damyang. The nearby town worked to cultivate the serene forest, which features an artificial waterfall and walking paths that come together to create a healing, meditative escape. Take your time strolling through the towering bamboo shoots, admiring art installations and decorative pavilions—and be sure to grab a cone of refreshing bamboo ice cream to take along the way.

No Korean meal would be complete without kimchi, a traditional side dish of spicy, fermented vegetables. Continue to the city of Gwangju to take part in a hands-on class making this quintessential Korean dish. You’ll learn how to craft your own traditional kimchi using ingredients like cabbage, radishes, gochugaru (or chili powder), garlic, and ginger. Leave your lesson with a small jar of the beloved garnish as a souvenir.

After freshening up at your hotel, gather together for an included dinner this evening, served with beer or wine.

Please note: The kimchi class is seasonal and takes place on departures from April-November. On departures when the kimchi class is not available, a cooking class focusing on a different Korean specialty may take place in Gwangju or on day 10 in Seoul.

Tea holds a special place in South Korean culture, with deep historical, cultural, and social significance—offering tea to guests is a common gesture of hospitality. The country’s beloved green tea has grown on the emerald hills of Boseong since the 1600s. In fact, the area was dubbed the green tea capital of South Korea. Spend the day at a tea plantation and learn about its history and cultural significance.

• Sigh at the fragrant expanse that drapes across the hills and mountains. Its more than 26 hectares of land remains verdant year-round with terraced slopes of green tea bushes thanks to frequent rain.
• Learn about the history of green tea and the fields during the times of the Silla, Goryeo, and Joseon dynasties as well as how the fields were replanted and rehabilitated following the devastation of the Korean War.
• Take your time to mindfully walk among the rows of bushes, then take part in a tea ceremony where you’ll be instructed in the proper etiquette of enjoying green tea grown in the area. The ceremony emphasizes respect, mindfulness, and a deep reverence for the refined aesthetics of tea presentation.

Later, head to a local restaurant for an included lunch before returning to Gwangju, where you’ll have free time for the rest of the day. Gwangju is a popular filming location for K-dramas, so be sure to ask your Tour Director for TV-famous locales if you’re a fan.

Board the KTX bullet train this morning and zoom back north to Seoul, where you’ll have a free afternoon to freshen up.

Tonight, celebrate your trip during a farewell dinner, served with beer or wine.

Transfer to the airport to board your flight home, or choose to continue your adventure with a visit to picturesque Jeju Island. This volcanic island is a Hawaii-meets-Iceland combination of dizzying peaks, sandy beaches, and clear waters—making it the perfect place to continue (and end) your trip in style.