11 Apr 2027
Twin share
£4,710pp
Single from £5,785
Escorted tour
Discover South Korea: Seoul, Gyeongju & a Temple Stay – 12 Days
Palaces, the DMZ, Silla temples and a night with Buddhist monks.
12 days
From £4,710
Tour overview
This 12-day trip explores South Korea's history, mountains and Buddhist heritage, with a tour leader and a group of four to sixteen. You stay ten nights in comfortable hotels and one in a traditional temple, with breakfast daily and a few other meals.
In Seoul you walk through Insadong, Jogyesa Temple, Gyeongbokgung Palace and Bukchon Hanok Village, and visit Panmunjom on the border with North Korea. On the east coast you join a cooking class and walk in Seoraksan National Park.
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Inland, Andong's Hahoe Folk Village preserves traditional life. In Gyeongju, the old Silla capital, you see the royal tumuli, the Cheomseongdae observatory, Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple.
A night at Haeinsa Temple includes a vegetarian meal and a dawn ceremony, before a tour of Busan and a bullet train back to Seoul. The physical rating is low.
Trip highlights
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Gyeongbokgung Palace (Day 2)
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Panmunjom and the DMZ (Day 3)
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Seoraksan National Park (Day 5)
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Hahoe Folk Village (Day 6)
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Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto (Day 8)
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A temple stay at Haeinsa (Day 9)
Your route
11 stops from Seoul to Seoul
- Seoul Days 1–3
- Panmunjom Day 3
- Gangneung Day 4
- Sokcho Days 4–5
- Seoraksan National Park Day 5
- Andong Day 6
- Hahoe Folk Village Day 6
- Gyeongju Days 7–8
- Haeinsa Temple Day 9
- Busan Day 10
- Seoul Days 11–12
Why choose this tour
A night in a Buddhist temple. Bullet train and DMZ visit included.
Best suited to
- Culture and history lovers
- First-time visitors to Korea
- Solo travellers
- Food lovers
Day-by-day itinerary
12 days from Seoul, South Korea to Seoul, South Korea
-
Day 1 · Seoul Seoul
Welcome to Korea.
- Hotel
- Kukdo Hotel or similar
- Meals
- Dinner
-
Day 2 · Insadong, Gyeongbokgung Palace, Bukchon Hanok Village Seoul
Seoul on foot.
- Hotel
- Kukdo Hotel or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 3 · Panmunjom Seoul
The DMZ.
- Hotel
- Kukdo Hotel or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
-
Day 4 · Gangneung, Sokcho Sokcho
Cooking on the coast.
- Hotel
- Sea Cruise Hotel or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
-
Day 5 · Seoraksan National Park Sokcho
Seoraksan.
- Hotel
- Sea Cruise Hotel or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 6 · Hahoe Folk Village Andong
Andong.
- Hotel
- The Stanford Andong or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 7 · Tumuli Park, Cheomseongdae Gyeongju
To Gyeongju.
- Hotel
- Commodore Hotel or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 8 · Seokguram Grotto, Bulguksa Temple, Anapji Pond Gyeongju
Silla treasures.
- Hotel
- Commodore Hotel or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 9 · Haeinsa Temple Haeinsa
A temple stay.
- Hotel
- Haeinsa Temple
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
-
Day 10 · Busan Busan
Dawn ceremony and Busan.
- Hotel
- Asti Hotel or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 11 · Seoul Seoul
Bullet train to Seoul.
- Hotel
- Kukdo Hotel or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 12 · Seoul Seoul
The trip ends.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Where you stay
- Seoul (3 nights) Kukdo Hotel or similar
- Sokcho (2 nights) Sea Cruise Hotel or similar
- Andong (1 night) The Stanford Andong or similar
- Gyeongju (2 nights) Commodore Hotel or similar
- Haeinsa (1 night) Haeinsa Temple
- Busan (1 night) Asti Hotel or similar
- Seoul (1 night) Kukdo Hotel or similar
Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.
What's included
Included
- Accommodation 10 hotel nights and 1 temple stay
- Meals 11 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 2 dinners
- Private minibus, metro and bullet train
- DMZ visit with a specialist guide
- Korean cooking class
- Tour leader throughout
Not included
- Flights
- Meals not included 8 lunches and 9 dinners
- Travel insurance and personal spending
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You dislike early starts
- You want most meals included
- You want luxury hotels
- You want flights included — they are not
Good to know
Meals by day
Breakfast: Days 2–12 · Lunch: Days 3–4 · Dinner: Days 1 and 9
FCDO advice
UK FCDO travel advice for South Korea
In pictures
Departures & prices
From £4,710 per person, twin share, tour only. 12 upcoming departures.
09 May 2027
Twin share
£4,710pp
Single from £5,785
19 Sept 2027
Twin share
£4,710pp
Single from £5,785
17 Oct 2027
Twin share
£4,710pp
Single from £5,785
24 Oct 2027
Twin share
£4,710pp
Single from £5,785
21 Mar 2028
Twin share
£4,749pp
Single from £5,879
28 Mar 2028
Twin share
£4,749pp
Single from £5,879
09 Apr 2028
Twin share
£4,749pp
Single from £5,879
07 May 2028
Twin share
£4,749pp
Single from £5,879
17 Sept 2028
Twin share
£4,749pp
Single from £5,879
08 Oct 2028
Twin share
£4,749pp
Single from £5,879
15 Oct 2028
Twin share
£4,749pp
Single from £5,879
Frequently asked questions
How do I book this tour?
Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.
What financial protection do I get?
Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.
Do I need a visa for South Korea?
No visa is needed for tourist stays of up to 90 days, but check if you need a K-ETA travel authorisation before you go.
What is the temple stay like?
Simple shared rooms separated by sex, a vegetarian dinner and a 3.30am ceremony; one night only.
Which meals are included?
11 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 2 dinners.
Can I have my own room?
A single supplement may be available; otherwise solo travellers share with someone of the same gender.
How many people travel together?
Between four and sixteen, with a tour leader.
Can you tailor the trip?
Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.
What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?
If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.
ATOL protected
100% financially protected in a Trust bank account
PTS 6035
4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option
Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.
If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.
Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary