Best of South Korea - 10 days

Best of South Korea - 10 days

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10 Days From

$3595

$2972

Best of South Korea - 10 days

10 Days Starting and ending in Seoul

Visiting: Seoul, DMZ zone, Gyeongju-si, Golgulsa Temple, Busan, Jeju-do

Tour operator:

On The Go Tours

Tour code:

2544/BOSK

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

2 - 16

Age range:

16 yrs with an accompanying adult

Trip Styles:

Small Group

Activities:

Hiking, Walking

From:
$3595
$2972 (USD) Operator discount: -$539 The Big ADVENTURE Sale: -$84 -17%

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

Tour Overview

SEMI-INDEPENDENT TOUR: Discover the main highlights of South Korea on this 10-day group tour. Enjoy panoramic views of Seoul from N Tower, see Gyeongbokgung Palace and visit the Demilitarized Zone to meet a North Korean defector. Cycle the ancient streets of Gyeongju, sip tea at a 300-year-old teahouse and spend a night at a working Buddhist temple. Join a spiritual meditation class, learn to cook delicious local food with a cooking class, explore Busan and hike the Jeju Olle Trail on Jeju Island, rounded off with a beach BBQ!

Highlights

  • Seoul - Admire the view from N Tower, see Gyeongbokgung Palace and watch an acrobatic Nanta Show

  • DMZ - Peek into the secretive state of North Korea from the Observatory and meet a North Korean defector

  • Gyeongju - Cycle the streets of the ancient Silla capital, see Anapji Pond and drink tea in a 300-year-old teahouse

  • Golgusa Temple - Stay at a traditional Buddhist temple where you can join a meditation session, chat to the monks and eat local food

  • Busan - Cook South Korean cuisine with a local chef, visit Haedong Yonggungsa Temple and ride a cable car over the city

  • Jeju Island - Hike along the Jeju Olle Trail, with free time to relax on the beach, climb Sunrise Peak and enjoy an included farewell BBQ

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1: Seoul

Location: Seoul

Welcome to Seoul! Make your way to our start hotel via public transport or private transfer - we can book an airport transfer for you if you wish. Freshen up at the hotel or head out to explore independently before our welcome meeting at 17:00. We then enjoy an included group dinner. Get to know the rest of the group and sample your first Korean cuisine before we ride the cable car to the top of Namsan Mountain and head to the top of N Tower to enjoy the panoramic views of the city you will be exploring over the next few days.

Day 2: Seoul

Location: Seoul

Meals Included: Lunch

We begin today with a relaxing stroll along the Cheonggyecheon stream, which flows through downtown Seoul. Then we head to Gyeongbokgung Palace, an impressive 14th century royal palace. Here we can enjoy the Changing of the Guard Ceremony and we see the Blue House before heading to Bukchon Hanok, a traditional Korean village located within the city. You can try on a traditional Hanbok and we visit Insadong Art Street before spending the rest of the afternoon at leisure.



Tonight you can relax or join an optional activity. We embrace Korea's K-Pop scene, which has spread around the world with popular bands such as BTS. It's karaoke time!

Day 3: The Dmz

Location: DMZ zone, Seoul

Today we have a fascinating if sobering visit to the DMZ - the Demilitarized Zone. Officially, the Korean War is still ongoing, although the fighting largely ended in 1953. An uneasy peace has ensued since, maintained largely by the 4km wide DMZ, which stretches across the entire Korean Peninsula, separating the South from the North.



During our visit we will be able to peek into the secretive North from the Observatory and can see the tunnels built under the DMZ as part of a plan by the North to invade. You will also have the once in a lifetime opportunity to chat to a defector from North Korea, to find out what life is really like in the country.



After our trip to the DMZ, we return to Seoul. We enjoy a wander around the cultural Hongdae area before enjoying an acrobatic Nanta Show in the Myeongdong district this evening. Afterwards, for those who wish to enjoy a drink or two, we will take you to some of the best bars in the city.

Day 4: Gyeongju

Location: Seoul, Gyeongju-si

Meals Included: Dinner

Seoul - Gyeongju. Leaving Seoul behind, we head south to Gyeongju, former capital of the ancient Silla Kingdom. There's an included cycle ride around the city this afternoon, stopping at many sights including ancient tombs and lush forests. We also enjoy tea at a 300-year-old tea house.



This evening we enjoy a group dinner at a traditional Hanok house and enjoy the night-time views of Anapji Pond, constructed in 674 CE by King Munmu of the powerful Silla Kingdom. The night is spent in our simple hanok, a truly Korean experience!

Day 5: Golgulsa Temple Stay

Location: Gyeongju-si, Golgulsa Temple

Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner

Gyeongju - Golgulsa Temple. Today we head into the mountains and our destination, Golgulsa Temple. We'll immerse ourselves in temple life, joining prayer and enjoying a meditation session. We can also have a go at archery and watch a Sunmudo martial arts demonstration, with time to hike in the lush surroundings of the temple too.



We enjoy simple but wholesome food at the temple, including a traditional dinner. We then spend a night sleeping in the temple.

Day 6: Busan

Location: Golgulsa Temple, Busan

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Golgulsa Temple - Busan. We enjoy a spiritual morning, joining a meditation class and taking breakfast with a Buddhist monk. Then it's on to Busan, South Korea's second city. We travel by bullet train.



We enjoy an included Korean cooking class with an expert local chef, and you'll be able to taste your creation and enjoy some local rice wine. After the class, we visit Gamcheon village, known for its colourful houses and artistic murals. We also ride the cable car over Busan for panoramic views of the city and the coast.



This evening we head to BIFF Square, which hosts the annual Busan International Film Festival - it's Korea's answer to the Hollywood Walk of Fame!

Day 7: Busan

Location: Busan

This morning we visit the seaside Haedong Yonggungsa Temple. It is one of the most beautiful Buddhist temples in South Korea, dating back to the year 1376. There's free time this afternoon. You could relax in a traditional jjimjilbang bath house, hit the beach or sample some of the local delicacy - hotteoks. These filled pancakes are a popular street food snack in Busan.



This evening there's an included boat party off the coast, and our guide takes us out for dinner in the Haeundae area of the city (dinner not included).

Day 8: Jeju Island

Location: Jeju-do

Busan - Jeju Island. There's an included flight to Jeju Island today, known as the 'Hawaii of Korea'! There's included yacht sailing and fishing on arrival, as well as plenty of free time this afternoon. Head to the Olle market to try some seafood, relax at Jungmu Beach or perhaps visit the cascading Cheonjiyeon Waterfall, one of many natural landmarks on Jeju.

Day 9: Jeju Island

Location: Jeju-do

Meals Included: Dinner

This morning we hike along the Jeju Olle Trail, admiring the coastal views and waterfalls. We also see Oedolgae Rock, a towering column protruding from the ocean. You will also have time to hike to the top of Seongsan Ilchubong, Sunrise Peak. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was formed by volcanic eruptions around 5,000 years ago. After enjoying the view, we head next



After all that hiking, it's time for a rest. The afternoon is free to relax on the beach before our farewell BBQ at a local restaurant.

Day 10: Seoul

Location: Seoul

Jeju Island - Seoul. Today there is an included flight back to Seoul where our tour comes to an end. We expect to arrive back in Seoul at around 13:00.

What's Included

  • Accommodation
    4-5-star hotels, hanok & temple stay

  • 1 breakfast, 3 lunches, 3 dinners

  • 1 night simple hanok accommodation in Gyeongju

  • 7 nights in 4-5-star hotels

  • Local English speaking licensed tour guides for scheduled sightseeing

  • 1 night Golgulsa Temple stay

  • 2 economy flights from Busan - Jeju and Jeju - Seoul

  • All transportation via public transport and private transfers

  • Soju (local spirit) sampling

  • DMZ excursion and chat with a North Korean defector

  • Nanta Show in Seoul

show more

What's Not Included

  • Laundry, drinks, items of a personal nature and any meals not included in the itinerary

  • Optional activities

  • International flights and visas

  • Airport transfers

  • Tipping - an entirely personal gesture

Check out our Q&As

  • What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

    Ensuring our footprint is light and that the benefits of travelling reach the local communities you visit is paramount to us. We’re proud to say that when travelling with us, the large majority of your holiday funds remain within the countries you visit, supporting local economies at a grass roots level.

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Since 1998

  • Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?

    With English-speaking tours, it's not a huge surprise that most on our travellers are from English-speaking countries or have English as their second language. Our group tours cater for everyone from 18 years old to 70+

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    Yes

Reviews of this Operator

Calvin  

Wonderful experience

05-Jan-2023

Jamal is our tour guide. Right from the start, he created a group chat in whatsapp and if any issues to make sure we contact him. He was on the ball with every issue thrown at him. Luggage being left behind, stragglers wondered off in a different path, hotel room etc. He explains the various site along our route to give us a better understanding of the local cultures. We had a great time, thanks to Jamal.

Trustpilot
Norma Sullivan  

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The Land of Northern Lights tour was a triumph! My tour of Southern Iceland was absolutely wonderful. The venues chosen, the timing allotted at each venue and the variety of things to experience was nearly perfect. Our guide, "Thor", was smart, amusing, full of history and anecdotal stories as well as being incredibly hospitable and helpful. This small group experience was my first, but not my last thanks to On the Go.

Trawls (Google Reviewer)  

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05-Feb-2024

On The Go Tours Sri Lanka was an incredible experience that was made even better by our tour guide Akthar. He was incredibly knowledgeable about his country and he loved sharing it with us. The tour covers a wide range of activities so you can truly experience what Sri Lanka is all about. The beautiful 4-5 star hotels at the end of every day was an absolute bonus. Thanks for a great trip OTGT I’m sure this won’t be my last

Xtreme Floor Care (Google Reviewer)  

Traveled through Egypt with On...

30-Nov-2023

Traveled through Egypt with On the Go Tours, professional service, very informative and helpful tour guides. The choice of hotels was excellent... Definitely recommend this company

Gavin Harrigan  

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16-Sep-2021

I have just returned from my tour with On The Go and it was an amazing trip! From arriving at the airport and meeting the OTG representative, everything was well organised and hassle free.  Our tour guide was Amir. He is awesome!! From the beginning he was so friendly and enthusiastic about showing us around Egypt, giving us loads of information at each place and time to explore ourselves. Learnt so much from him about this fascinating place, and he was always happy to answer more questions.   The trip itself was amazing. There's lots of travelling on this trip, but it's really not too bad, and the sights you see when you get to where you are going are worth it. I'm not a big fan of boats, but the Felluca ride across the Nile was pretty fun too.  On the first day I also did the optional tour of Cairo with Ahmed Helal - another excellent guide from OTG. It's worth doing this add on as you don't spend much time in Cairo, and you go to three very different places.  I'm so glad that I decided to do this trip. It was just ace.  If you're thinking about it too, you should probably just book it. And hopefully you get Amir as your guide.

Paul Kelly (Google Reviewer)  

TOTALLY MOROCCO We booked a 9...

26-Feb-2023

TOTALLY MOROCCO We booked a 9 day tour of Morocco visiting many main cities and places of interest. The coach was very comfortable and we felt safe with the driver Suliman. The guide was Hicham Touraouine and he was fantastic. He spoke perfect English as well as French, Arabic and Berber. He was so kind and considerate and made a good tour great. We particularly enjoyed ‘glamming in the Sahara Desert. So much to see and do and great food and company. We would definitely use On The Go Tours again, especially if Hicham was the guide. Paul & Penny

Rolly Hay hay (Google Reviewer)  

Gallipoli tour. The guide was...

28-Sep-2023

Gallipoli tour. The guide was awesome. Everything went like clockwork.. My complaint is that you expect 4 people to cramp together on the back seat of the van for 4 hours. That is poverty travel. Not really acceptable for the price paid. So uncomfortable. If was to do this trip again I'd just rent a car. Although the guide was amazing, but that's 3 hours of the trip.

Sarah Paterson (Google Reviewer)  

Terrible tour of India. For...

27-Dec-2023

Terrible tour of India. For some reason On the Go hadn't realised that my room mate had booked her own room for the first night of tour. So the hotel in Delhi had tried to put me in her room after midnight, by wheeling in an extra bed. She went Crazy!! I then had to sit in hotel reception for hours. While the tour guide said he couldn't find me a room. Throughout the tour the guide consistently ask me and my room mate for money for my room, causing more friction between us. Don't book with this company had the worst experience ever. Go with Intrepid or G Adventure

brandy hoffman (Google Reviewer)  

I had used them once...

09-Aug-2023

I had used them once before and loved them. I decided to try them again for a Baltic tour not knowing that they put me on another Tour group- Baltic vision. Loved that tour but was not impressed they marked up the cost for me over 100%. I understand taking some for yourself because of paperwork, but over double the cost everyone else paid on the tour. Just double check before you book with them that you’re not over paying.

Giovanni Guidi (Google Reviewer)  

I booked three tours with...

19-Aug-2023

I booked three tours with this agency. While the first two experiences were very nice, with well-thought-out itineraries and knowledgeable guides, the third tour was an absolute nightmare for us. Due to the unavailability of an hotel from the trip notes, the agency opted to replace it with another they claimed was "similar." To our dismay, this alternative was nothing short of a decrepit, filthy establishment that threatened to ruin our entire safari experience in South Africa. But the fiasco didn't end there. This so-called hotel began proposing and organizing activities starkly different from what we were promised in the trip notes, together with an awful services of their guides and vehicles. And when this disaster struck and we desperately needed their support? The agency ghosted us. It took them an entire day to respond, and when they did, they simply shrugged off our concerns, asserting it was too late to fix anything, even though three nights of our trip were still ahead. The level of unprofessionalism was staggering. Forced to salvage our experience, we took matters into our own hands, leaving that awful place to book another hotel and activities for the remainder of our trip—all at my own expense. Based on my experience, I suggest travelers to think twice before considering this agency. Seek out reputable companies known for their commitment to customer service and integrity.

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Book with Confidence

  • Transfer as credit to Future Tours

    On The Go Tours allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform on the go tours, 60 days before departure.

  • Low Deposit

    On The Go Tours requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of on the go tours charges.

    Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 59 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.

    At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

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