- Tour code
KORADV01
- Start
Seoul
- End
Seoul
- Min. age
16 years old
- Group size
Max 6-16 travellers
- Trip style
Explorer
- Trip pace
Active
- Language
English
South Korea moves fast, and this trip keeps up. In Seoul you'll learn Taekwondo, eat your way through a traditional market, look into North Korea from the DMZ and spend evenings in Hongdae and Ikseondong.
A high-speed train then takes you to Gyeongju, the ancient Silla capital, for a cycling tour among royal burial mounds, a 12-dish royal meal and a night in a hanok. Next comes a day with the monks of Golgulsa Temple: archery, Sunmudo, meditation and chanting.
The second half balances temples with the sea: a cooking class and harbor cruise in Busan, then Jeju's volcanic cone, the Olle Trail and a healing forest before one last Korean BBQ and karaoke night back in Seoul.
Your Soca Islands Host is with you throughout, so the trains, flights, transfers and timings are taken care of and you can concentrate on the experience.
Why This Journey
Many people know Korea through its music, food and dramas, then arrive and only see Seoul. This route goes further in eleven days: the frontier at the DMZ, the tombs and temples of an ancient kingdom, a coastal city built around seafood and beaches, and a volcanic island with its own walking culture.
It suits active, social travelers who want to try things rather than watch them, from breaking a board to drawing a traditional bow. Free afternoons and evenings in Hongdae, Haeundae and Jeju leave room to explore at your own pace.
Where You'll Stay
Seoul (4 nights): L7 Myeongdong by LOTTE Hotels, in central Myeongdong. Gyeongju (2 nights): Gyeongju Hwangnamkwan Hanok Hotel, a traditional hanok near the royal tombs, on night 4, and a templestay at Golgulsa Temple on night 5. Busan (2 nights): L7 Haeundae by LOTTE Hotels, near Haeundae Beach. Jeju (2 nights): LOTTE City Hotel Jeju, in Jeju City. Proposed accommodation (or similar), subject to confirmation. Rooms are based on two people sharing a double room with two beds.
Getting There
International Flights Not Included. International airfare to and from the destination is not included in the package price. Travellers are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring their arrival and departure align with the trip itinerary. Fly into and out of Seoul, using Incheon International Airport (ICN) or Gimpo International Airport (GMP). Arrival and departure airport transfers are included. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
What you will see and do
A Taekwondo masterclass, board-breaking included
Archery and meditation with the monks of Golgulsa Temple
Sleep Korean-style in a hanok, a traditional wooden guesthouse
What's included
All activities mentioned on the itinerary
Accommodations in double rooms
Experienced Soca Islands Host with you throughout the trip
One farewell group activity when possible
Max 16 travellers per group
Arrival and departure airport transfers
Group transportation
What's excluded
- International flights (travellers arrange their own)
- Travel insurance (required)
- Meals not listed in the itinerary
- Optional activities and free-time costs, such as bars and sunset drinks
- Single room supplement (single rooms on request, subject to availability)
- Extra hotel nights before or after the trip
Group itinerary
Land at Incheon or Gimpo, where a private transfer is waiting to bring you to your downtown hotel.
Tonight the group comes together over a traditional Korean feast, with shared plates crowding the table and soju glasses raised to what's ahead.
Start with a Taekwondo masterclass and your shot at the classic board break. Afterward, refuel at Tongin Market, grazing on Seoul street food.
Then it's Gyeongbokgung Palace for the changing of the royal guard, and a wander through the hanok-lined lanes of Bukchon Village, where tiled roofs frame views of the modern city below.
Head north to the Demilitarized Zone, among the most fortified frontiers on the planet. Peer across at villages in the North with binoculars, then walk down into the Third Infiltration Tunnel, discovered in 1978.
Back in the city, Hongdae, the university district known for its street performers, indie bars and nightlife, is yours for the evening.
A high-speed train takes you to Gyeongju, capital of the Silla kingdom for nearly a thousand years. Explore on two wheels, pedaling at an easy pace between royal burial mounds, palace sites and pagodas.
Dinner is a royal-style spread of 12 dishes from local cooks, washed down with makgeolli, a milky rice wine. You'll sleep in a hanok, a traditional Korean house.
Morning brings Bulguksa, a UNESCO-listed temple of wooden halls on stone terraces meant to represent the Buddha's land.
In the afternoon, travel to Golgulsa Temple on Mount Hamwolsan to spend time with its monks: shoot traditional gakgung bows, try Sunmudo, the temple's martial art, and join them for meditation and chanting.
Begin with a walking meditation at dawn, then visit Haedong Yonggungsa, a temple built right on the rocks above the sea.
Continue to Busan, the country's beach and seafood capital, where a local chef shows you how to cook lunch, including gimbap and kimchi pancakes. Later, ride the Songdo cable car out over the water.
The morning is free; Haeundae Beach is the obvious choice.
Later, try a jjimjilbang, Korea's bathhouse culture of hot and cold soaking pools (be aware that most bathing areas are nude). As evening comes, board a private boat for a cruise around Busan's harbor, with the city lights and bridges reflected on the water.
Fly to Jeju, Korea's subtropical volcanic island. Stretch your legs on the short climb up Seongsan Ilchulbong, a crater-topped tuff cone rising straight out of the sea.
The afternoon is yours for beaches, villages or lava caves.
Lace up for part of Jeju's Olle Trail, passing black lava rock, tangerine orchards, grassland and sea cliffs.
After lunch, a guide leads a forest bathing session in the Seogwipo Healing Forest. The rest of the day is free; a clifftop bar makes a good call for sunset drinks.
Fly back to Seoul for some free time.
Your last night kicks off around a Korean BBQ grill, moves on to a private karaoke booth, and finishes with drinks in the hanok alleys of Ikseondong.
Your trip wraps up today. Say goodbye to the group and make your way to the airport for the flight home, with new friends and plenty of stories.
Accommodations
Here's a glimpse of the hotels we selected for this adventure.
L7 Myeongdong by LOTTE Hotels
A contemporary lifestyle hotel on Toegye-ro in Myeongdong, central Seoul, steps from the Myeongdong shopping streets and Myeong-dong station, with Namsan and Namdaemun Market close by. The palaces, Bukchon and Ikseondong are a short subway or taxi ride away.
The Floating rooftop bar looks out over the city, which makes it a natural first or last stop of the evening.
Rooms are 25.1 m² (270 ft²).
Hotel websiteGyeongju Hwangnamkwan Hanok Hotel
A hanok hotel of traditional tiled-roof houses in Hwangnam-dong, a minute's walk from the cafés of Hwangnidan-gil and a few minutes from the Daereungwon royal tombs, at the centre of historic Gyeongju.
Most rooms are ondol style, with futon bedding on heated floors, and a few have beds; all have private bathrooms and air conditioning.
Golgulsa Temple Templestay
A templestay at Golgulsa, the cave temple on Mount Hamwolsan east of Gyeongju and the home of Seonmudo, the Korean Buddhist martial art.
Guests sleep in the temple's lodging and follow its day, from Seonmudo practice and meditation to the dawn chanting service, with temple meals included.
L7 Haeundae by LOTTE Hotels
A lifestyle hotel in the heart of Haeundae, Busan's best-known beach district, a short walk from the sand, the Haeundae market streets and the subway.
Its rooftop pool and poolside lounge are open to hotel guests (with a pool package required in July and August), a good fit for the free morning by the beach.
Rooms are 25–31 m² (269–334 ft²), with two single beds.
Hotel websiteLOTTE City Hotel Jeju
A modern business-class hotel in Jeju City, around ten minutes from Jeju International Airport and convenient for the flights in and out of the island.
With a large room inventory and twin rooms, it's a practical base for exploring Seongsan Ilchulbong and the Olle Trail.
Rooms are 30–35 m² (323–377 ft²).
Hotel websiteRooms
You'll stay at Trip Hotel.
- Included
Shared double
Shared with the person you book with, or a fellow traveller of the same sex.
- +$1,625 per person
Single room
A room to yourself, subject to availability.
Room prices are per person for the Apr 22, 2027 departure and can differ on other dates. You choose your room when you book.
Tour FAQS
Fly into and out of Gimpo International Airport (GMP) or Incheon International Airport (ICN) in Seoul.
Proposed accommodation is L7 Myeongdong by LOTTE Hotels in Seoul, Gyeongju Hwangnamkwan Hanok Hotel in Gyeongju (night 4), a templestay at Golgulsa Temple (night 5), L7 Haeundae by LOTTE Hotels in Busan and LOTTE City Hotel Jeju on Jeju (or similar), subject to confirmation.
International Flights Not Included. International airfare to and from the destination is not included in the package price. Travellers are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring their arrival and departure align with the trip itinerary. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
Yes. Arrival and departure airport transfers in Seoul are included. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
10 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 4 dinners are included, as described in the itinerary. Other meals are at your own cost.
Extra nights can be requested, subject to hotel availability; contact our Customer Experience team for a quote.
There are no scheduled activities on the final day, so feel free to book your departure at your own convenience.
We recommend arriving before 3 pm on Day 1 to make it in time for the welcome event. But don’t worry no matter when you land, we’ll have an airport transfer ready for you.
Please Refer to your government’s travel advice or consult your local consulate. Remember, passport and visa requirements can change, so make sure to stay updated.
Excluding alcohol, we suggest budgeting around USD $40.00 per day for extras.
While we’re not medical professionals, we want to help you prepare for a safe and healthy adventure. Here are some tips:
- Consult with a healthcare professional: Schedule an appointment with your travel nurse or doctor at least eight weeks before your adventure to get any necessary vaccines or medications.
- Up-to-date medical advice:
- US residents: Check the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
- UK residents: Visit the NHS Fit For Travel website.
- Australian residents: Refer to the Smart Traveler Health website.
3. Government travel advice:
- US residents: Consult the US Department of State Travel Advice.
- UK residents: Check the FCDO Travel Advice.
- Australian residents: Visit the Smart Traveler website.
4. Medication tips: If you take prescription medication, bring enough to last the entire trip, plus a few extra days in case of delays. Carry a copy of your prescription in case you need to visit a clinic abroad.
We hope this helps you prepare for a safe and enjoyable adventure.
Please keep in mind that our itinerary, activities, and hotels might change. These adjustments could happen with little notice due to factors like availability, weather conditions, seasonal shifts, or other circumstances beyond our control. Rest assured, we always aim to minimise any impact on your experience. Occasionally, we may tweak the itinerary to try out fresh ideas and keep the adventure exciting.
We believe solo travelers shouldn’t have to pay extra to explore the world. That’s why our group trips are designed around shared accommodation and do not include a single supplement. Solo travelers joining our group trips are paired in twin or multi-share rooms with another traveler of the same sex for the duration of the trip.
Some of our Independent trips are structured differently. For these itineraries, solo travelers will need to book at the single occupancy rate.
Tips are not included in the cost of this tour. Remember, tipping is entirely at your discretion and based on what you feel comfortable with.
Would you like to learn more or customise our Extraordinary South Korea trip?
Have questions about accommodations, accessibility, group preferences, or dietary needs? Complete the form below and our team will get back to you shortly.
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