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South Korea, 13 Days · Classic tour
Seoul to Busan, Chungju with Buddhist temple, DMZ and Mt Seorak
South Korea in full
Curious about one of the most exotic countries in the Far East? We have created this itinerary so that, in two weeks, you will fly home with the feeling of taking with you a little bit of the best of South Korea: Seoul, Daegu, Busan, Gyeongju, the experience of staying in a Buddhist temple, the mountainous landscapes of Mount Seorak and the demilitarised zone.
Departure date
Departures from February 2025 till November 2025
From
London, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow...
Travel details
City of origin - Seoul
Departure with destination Seoul. Night on board.
Seoul
Arrival and transfer to the hotel. Overnight stay.
Seoul
Breakfast. City tour of Seoul with a visit to the Changdeok Palace. Then it's on to the Gwangjang market, one of the largest traditional markets in South Korea to sample some of the most famous Korean street foods. Visit to the National Museum of Korea. Built in 2005, this museum boasts a fantastic collection of Korean art and relics. Next, it's the turn of COEX Mall and Byeolmadang Library. The last stop on today's tour is at the Seoul N Tower Observatory on Mount Namsan for a panoramic view of the city. Return to hotel. Overnight stay.
Seoul - P.N. Mt. Songnisan - Daegu
Breakfast. Departure to a village outside the city, where you can see traditional houses and the lifestyle of the 18th and 19th centuries. Departure to Mt. Songnisan National Park and the Beopjusa Temple, home to the largest Buddha statue in the country. The forest park is an ideal place to enjoy a walk. Afterwards, we set off for Daegu by road. Arrival at hotel. Overnight stay.
Daegu - Gyeongju
Breakfast. Visit the Yangnyeongsi Oriental Medicine Museum and Seomun Market in Daegu. Transfer to Gyeongju, the former capital of the Silla Kingdom, a museum city, due to the historical value of its buildings. Next we will have an xperience Traditional Tea at a Tea Café in Gyeongju. In the afternoon we will visit the Cheomseongdae Astronomical Observatory and the Tumulus Park with the royal tombs. We will have the opportunity to enter one of the excavated tombs to see the interior structure. Arrival at the hotel. Overnight stay.
Gyeongju
Breakfast. Full day tour of Gyeongju, starting with the Seokguram Grotto, built in the 8th century on the slopes of Mount Toham. The grotto contains a monumental statue of the seated Buddha facing the sea, considered a masterpiece of Buddhist art in the Far East. We continue with a visit to the Bulguksa Temple, which was rebuilt after its destruction by the Japanese during the occupation of Korea. We go and see the rock-cut Buddhas, the Royal Tomb of Gwaeneung and continue on a picturesque route to the port of Guryongpo. Bus ride along the coastline. Return to hotel. Overnight stay.
Gyeongju - Busan
Breakfast. Departure to the Buddhist temple of Unmunsa, located between picturesque mountains. Departure to Busan, the second largest city in South Korea. Upon arrival, we visit the Jagalchi Fish Market, Nampodong Street, and the Tower on Mount Yongdusan, with its observation deck offering breathtaking views of the city. Transfer to hotel. Overnight stay.
Busan - Andong - Chungju
Breakfast. Departure to Mount Gayasan National Park by road, where we'll visit the Haeinsa Temple. This temple contains a world famous national treasure called the "Tripitaka Koreana", from the Goryo dynasty, which was made to protect the country from invasion by Mongolian troops for the power of Buddha. Onwards to Andong, which is a two-hour drive. Andong is a well-preserved traditional town. In 1999, Queen Elizabeth II visited Hahoe village in Andong, where she was greeted with a birthday celebration in traditional Korean style. Departure to Chungju. Arrival at hotel. Overnight stay.
Chungju - Donghae
Breakfast. We board a boat to enjoy the scenery of Chungju Lake, subject to weather conditions. We leave for Mount Doota for a unique experience: a stay in a Buddhist temple. On arrival, we'll change into temple robes and receive instructions on the rules and schedules during the stay. We will attend the evening bell ringing ceremony and the evening Buddha service. Dinner at the temple. Overnight stay. Note: during the night stay at the temple, there will be no telephone or television in the room, which is shared in traditional Korean style, divided into male and female rooms. Please inform us in good time if you wish to replace your stay at the temple with a tourist class hotel in the vicinity, at a possible extra charge.
Donghae - Gangneung - DMZ - Mount Seorak
Travellers may attend the morning prayer service at 4 a.m. if they wish. Breakfast. Departure to Gangneung to visit Seongyojang, a monumental traditional residence. Then it's on to the Unification Observatory in the demilitarised zone, the DMZ, where we will have a close-up view of the North Korean landscape. Arrival at Mount Seorak. Overnight stay. Note: The DMZ visit may be cancelled due to local circumstances, in which case it will be replaced by an alternative visit.
Mount Seorak - Seoul
Breakfast. We'll take a tour of the mountain scenery, including Shinheungsa Temple and the cable car ride up to Gwonngeumseong Fortress. We'll also see the Flower Garden and the Tree Park in Gapyeong. Return journey to Seoul. Arrival. Overnight stay.
Seoul - City of origin
Breakfast. Transfer to the airport by your own account. Flight to City of origin destination. Night on board.
City of origin
Arrival. End of the trip and our services.
Your trip includes
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Return flight.
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Overnight stay in the listed hotels, or similar.
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Transfers according to the itinerary.
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Transportation in vehicles appropriate to the size of the group.
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Regular tours mentioned in the itinerary, not stated as optional.
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English-speaking local guides.
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Diet: 10 breakfasts, 1 dinner.
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Insolvency protection.
Your trip doesn't include
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Airport transfer on the last day is not included. It can be booked up to 7 days after booking as long as there are at least 45 days until departure. It cannot be booked later. Please take this into account when booking your trip.
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Any other service not previously mentioned as included.
Destinations Visited
Expected Hotels (or similar)
In this section you will find a selection of hotels according to the category specified in the itinerary.
Flight
Overnight stay on board.
Important remarks
- Triple rooms in South Korea are generally rooms with twin beds or a double, in which a folding bed is installed to accommodate the third person. Due to the inconvenience this causes, we advise against using this option as far the possible.
- Please check with your international vaccination centre about the recommended healthcare measures in South Korea.
- Depending on the return flight, the trip may be one day longer.
- Check-in time at the hotel on the day of arrival depends on each establishment, but in no case will it be before 3:00 p.m., unless otherwise indicated.
- Groups may be multilingual.
- There are certain rules to follow during visits to temples: smoking and drinking alcohol is prohibited; visitors must wear appropriate clothing, avoiding sleeveless tops and shorts; socks must be worn at all times; punctuality is requested at mealtimes, and dishes must be washed after meals; and loud noises should be avoided, as this is a spiritual community.
- For the stay at the temple, accommodation will be in Korean-style, shared rooms; divided for men and women. They have neither telephone nor television. The stay can be replaced by a tourist class hotel less than an hour from the temple. Please inform at the time of booking. Once you leave the temple, you are not allowed to join the experience the next day.
- Note that if the Samhwasa temple rooms are full, another alternative temple will be offered.
- The DMZ visit may be cancelled due to local circumstances, in which case it will be replaced by an alternative visit.
- The order of the itinerary may be altered for logistical reasons, without prior notice, but no scheduled trips will be cancelled (except in the case that adverse weather conditions prevent its realisation).
- A credit card is considered a guarantee, so sometimes you will need one for check-in at hotels.
- Prices are calculated based on admission fees to the sights as of the date of publication. If there is an increase in these prices, you will be promptly informed.
- If you are a person with reduced mobility, please contact us to confirm the suitability of the trip.
- Consult the necessary documentation to enter the destinations visited and for transit in the countries where air stopovers are made.