Highlights of South Korea Group Tour 2027

Arrive at Incheon International Airport and meet your driver for a private transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to relax or explore independently.

• Hotel Description

Today is your full introduction to one of Asia's most dynamic cities. From the top of N Seoul Tower on Mt. Namsan, the scale of this city of ten million people becomes clear. Next, the National Museum of Korea, the sixth largest in the world, sets the scene for the history you'll encounter throughout the trip, tracing Korean civilisation from ancient times to the present.

The afternoon takes you to COEX Mall, home to the remarkable Byeolmadang Library, a cavernous space lined with over 70,000 books across two floors and one of Seoul's most photographed spaces. Round off the day at Gwangjang Market, one of Korea's oldest and largest traditional markets, and Myeongdong, the city's most famous street food and shopping district. (B)

• Hotel Description

The day begins with a visit to Changdeokgung Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best-preserved royal palaces of the Joseon Dynasty. Built in the early 15th century, it sits within a vast secret garden that feels worlds away from the city surrounding it.

From Seoul, you'll head to the Korean Folk Village, an open-air living museum outside the city where traditional 18th and 19th-century Korean life is recreated in impressive detail. Villagers demonstrate old crafts, customs and ways of living in authentic traditional homes. The day ends with a drive south to Gyeongju, a city so dense with historical landmarks it has been called a museum without walls. (B)

• Hotel Description

Gyeongju was the capital of the Silla Kingdom for close to a thousand years, and a full day here barely scratches the surface. Start at Bulguksa Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the finest examples of Buddhist architecture in East Asia, dating back to the 8th century. From there, Seokguram Grotto, also UNESCO-listed, houses a magnificently carved stone Buddha gazing out towards the sea from the slopes of Mt. Toham, considered a masterpiece of Buddhist art in the Far East.

The afternoon brings you to Cheomseongdae, one of the oldest astronomical observatories in Asia, and the Royal Tumuli Park, where you can step inside one of the excavated royal tombs of the Silla Dynasty and get a rare, close-up look at ancient Korean burial practices. (B)

• Hotel Description

The morning starts in Gyochon Traditional Village with the chance to dress in hanbok, Korea's traditional attire, and explore the surrounding area on foot, including the beautifully restored Woljeonggyo Bridge. It is a genuinely memorable way to connect with Korean culture before leaving the region.

From there, the journey continues south to Busan, Korea's second city and a place with a personality entirely its own. The afternoon introduces you to Haedong Yonggungsa, a rare coastal Buddhist temple perched dramatically on the rocky shoreline with unobstructed ocean views. The day ends at Haeundae Beach and the Oryukdo Skywalk, a glass-floored walkway cantilevered over the cliffs above the sea. (B)

• Hotel Description

A full day in Busan reveals why this port city has become one of Korea's most talked-about destinations. Gamcheon Culture Village, often compared to Machu Picchu for its terraced hillside layout, is a maze of colourful alleyways, murals and independent cafes with sweeping views of the city below. A ride on the Songdo Marine Cable Car over the water gives you a different perspective entirely.

The afternoon takes in Jagalchi Market, Korea's largest seafood market, where the catch arrives fresh from the nearby sea daily. BIFF Square and Nampodong Shopping Street offer a lively taste of local culture before the day closes at Arte Museum Busan, an immersive digital art space where light, sound and scent combine into a genuinely striking experience. (B)

• Hotel Description

After breakfast, the group transfers back to Seoul by vehicle or KTX express train. The KTX connects Busan and Seoul in around two and a half hours and is one of the most efficient rail journeys in Asia. On arrival in Seoul, the rest of the day is yours to use as you wish. Whether you want to revisit a neighbourhood from earlier in the trip, shop, or simply sit in one of Seoul's excellent coffee shops and watch the city move, the time is entirely your own. (B)

• Hotel Description

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before checking out. Airport transfers can be arranged upon request. (B)