18 Oct 2026
Twin share
£5,160pp
Escorted tour
Luxury South Korea: Seoul, a Temple Stay & Jeju – 9 Days
Seoul, the DMZ, Jeonju, a night at Haeinsa Temple, Mokpo and Jeju Island, in a group of up to 12.
9 days
From £3,311
Tour overview
This 9-day premium journey travels from Seoul to the volcanic island of Jeju, combining South Korea's royal heritage and food culture with a night in a UNESCO-listed Buddhist temple and meetings with remarkable local people. Groups have up to 12 travellers aged 15 and over, with a trip leader throughout and an arrival transfer included. You stay eight nights: seven in comfortable hotels and one at Haeinsa Temple. Breakfast is included daily, with four lunches and four dinners, from Korean hot pot to Jeonju bibimbap and Jeju's famous black pork barbecue.
Your journey begins in Seoul with a welcome dinner of Korean hot pot. You visit Gyeongbokgung Palace, the main royal palace of the Joseon dynasty, and the traditional hanok houses of Bukchon, then join a food expert at his home for a lecture on Korean cuisine and help prepare lunch. In the afternoon you meet a North Korean defector to hear their story. The next day a tour of the DMZ takes you to the Third Tunnel and Imjingak Peace Park before you travel to Jeonju for dinner at a traditional bibimbap restaurant.
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Jeonju's hanok village is a showcase of traditional architecture and crafts, and you visit a brassware workshop, walk through a bamboo forest at Damyang and try local specialities. On Mount Gaya you spend a night at Haeinsa Temple, home to the Tripitaka Koreana and one of Korea's Three Jewel Temples, sharing tea with a monk, touring the temple and joining an evening meditation.
In the south-west you visit a local home in the Shinan islands and ride Korea's longest cable car up Mount Yudal in Mokpo for views over the archipelago. A ferry takes you to Jeju, where you visit an orange farm, climb Seongsan Ilchulbong, a volcanic crater rising from the sea and known as Sunrise Peak, and explore a folk village. On the west coast you visit a green tea farm, see the lava dome of Sanbangsan and meet one of Jeju's haenyeo, the island's famous women divers, before a farewell dinner.
The physical rating is low. This journey suits travellers who want a comfortable, insightful introduction to Korea with authentic encounters.
Trip highlights
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A food lecture and lunch in a Seoul home (Day 2)
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Meeting a North Korean defector (Day 2)
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The DMZ (Day 3)
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A night at Haeinsa Temple (Day 5)
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Seongsan Ilchulbong on Jeju (Day 7)
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Meeting a haenyeo diver (Day 8)
Your route
7 stops from Seoul to Jeju Island
- Seoul Days 1–2
- Third Tunnel of Aggression Day 3
- Jeonju Days 3–4
- Haeinsa Temple Day 5
- Mokpo Day 6
- Seongsan Ilchulbong Day 7
- Jeju Island Days 7–9
Why choose this tour
A temple stay and personal encounters, from a defector to a woman diver. Premium hotels, a small group and plenty of meals included.
Best suited to
- Culture and food lovers
- Travellers who value comfort
- Couples and solo travellers
- First-time visitors to Korea
Day-by-day itinerary
9 days from Seoul, South Korea to Jeju Island, South Korea
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Day 1 · Seoul, Gongdeok Seoul
A welcome hot-pot dinner.
- Hotel
- Lotte City Mapo or similar
- Meals
- Dinner
-
Day 2 · Gyeongbokgung Palace, Bukchon Seoul
A palace, a food lecture and a defector's story.
- Hotel
- Lotte City Mapo or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
-
Day 3 · DMZ, Jeonju Jeonju
The DMZ, then bibimbap in Jeonju.
- Hotel
- Jeonju Silla Hotel or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
-
Day 4 · Damyang, Jeonju Hanok Village Jeonju
A bamboo forest and a brassware workshop.
- Hotel
- Jeonju Silla Hotel or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
-
Day 5 · Haeinsa Temple Haeinsa
Tea with a monk and meditation.
- Hotel
- Haeinsa Temple
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
-
Day 6 · Shinan, Mount Yudal Mokpo
A home visit and a cable car.
- Hotel
- Editions Hotel or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
-
Day 7 · Seongsan Ilchulbong Jeju
A ferry to Jeju and Sunrise Peak.
- Hotel
- Lotte City Jeju or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 8 · Sanbangsan Jeju
Tea fields, a diver and a farewell dinner.
- Hotel
- Lotte City Jeju or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
-
Day 9 · Jeju Trip ends
The trip ends after breakfast.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Where you stay
- Seoul (2 nights) Lotte City Mapo or similar
- Jeonju (2 nights) Jeonju Silla Hotel or similar
- Haeinsa (1 night) Haeinsa Temple
- Mokpo (1 night) Editions Hotel or similar
- Jeju (2 nights) Lotte City Jeju or similar
Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.
What's included
Included
- Accommodation 7 nights in hotels and 1 at Haeinsa Temple
- Meals 8 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 4 dinners
- Arrival transfer, private transport and the ferry to Jeju
- Gyeongbokgung Palace and Bukchon
- Food lecture, defector meeting and DMZ tour
- Haeinsa temple stay with tea and meditation
- Mount Yudal cable car, Sunrise Peak and haenyeo meeting
- Trip leader throughout
Not included
- Flights
- Departure transfer from Jeju
- Meals not included 4 lunches and 4 dinners
- Tips, travel insurance and personal spending
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You dislike simple temple accommodation for a night
- You want an active holiday
- You want to stay in one place
- You want flights included — they are not
Good to know
Meals by day
Breakfast: Days 2–9 · Lunch: Days 2, 4 and 6 · Dinner: Days 1, 3, 5 and 8
FCDO advice
UK FCDO travel advice for South Korea
In pictures
Departures & prices
From £3,311 per person, twin share, tour only. 73 upcoming departures.
01 Nov 2026
Twin share
£4,595pp
08 Nov 2026
Twin share
£3,311pp
07 Mar 2027
Twin share
£3,960pp
14 Mar 2027
Twin share
£3,890pp
21 Mar 2027
Twin share
£4,490pp
28 Mar 2027
Twin share
£4,865pp
31 Mar 2027
Twin share
£4,125pp
04 Apr 2027
Twin share
£4,690pp
11 Apr 2027
Twin share
£4,690pp
18 Apr 2027
Twin share
£4,690pp
21 Apr 2027
Twin share
£4,830pp
25 Apr 2027
Twin share
£4,830pp
02 May 2027
Twin share
£4,845pp
09 May 2027
Twin share
£4,845pp
12 May 2027
Twin share
£4,860pp
16 May 2027
Twin share
£4,895pp
19 May 2027
Twin share
£4,705pp
23 May 2027
Twin share
£4,760pp
30 May 2027
Twin share
£4,705pp
06 Jun 2027
Twin share
£3,795pp
13 Jun 2027
Twin share
£3,695pp
20 Jun 2027
Twin share
£3,890pp
04 Jul 2027
Twin share
£3,890pp
01 Sep 2027
Twin share
£3,890pp
05 Sep 2027
Twin share
£4,005pp
12 Sep 2027
Twin share
£4,095pp
19 Sep 2027
Twin share
£4,195pp
22 Sep 2027
Twin share
£4,260pp
26 Sep 2027
Twin share
£4,200pp
29 Sep 2027
Twin share
£4,560pp
06 Oct 2027
Twin share
£4,705pp
10 Oct 2027
Twin share
£4,845pp
17 Oct 2027
Twin share
£4,845pp
20 Oct 2027
Twin share
£4,845pp
24 Oct 2027
Twin share
£4,705pp
31 Oct 2027
Twin share
£4,705pp
07 Nov 2027
Twin share
£4,005pp
10 Nov 2027
Twin share
£3,890pp
14 Nov 2027
Twin share
£3,890pp
05 Mar 2028
Twin share
£4,085pp
19 Mar 2028
Twin share
£4,205pp
26 Mar 2028
Twin share
£4,205pp
02 Apr 2028
Twin share
£5,085pp
09 Apr 2028
Twin share
£5,085pp
16 Apr 2028
Twin share
£5,595pp
19 Apr 2028
Twin share
£5,595pp
23 Apr 2028
Twin share
£5,595pp
30 Apr 2028
Twin share
£5,595pp
07 May 2028
Twin share
£5,085pp
14 May 2028
Twin share
£5,085pp
21 May 2028
Twin share
£4,940pp
28 May 2028
Twin share
£4,940pp
04 Jun 2028
Twin share
£4,085pp
11 Jun 2028
Twin share
£4,085pp
18 Jun 2028
Twin share
£4,085pp
02 Jul 2028
Twin share
£4,085pp
30 Aug 2028
Twin share
£4,800pp
03 Sep 2028
Twin share
£4,205pp
10 Sep 2028
Twin share
£4,205pp
17 Sep 2028
Twin share
£4,330pp
20 Sep 2028
Twin share
£4,330pp
24 Sep 2028
Twin share
£4,760pp
27 Sep 2028
Twin share
£4,760pp
04 Oct 2028
Twin share
£5,595pp
08 Oct 2028
Twin share
£5,595pp
15 Oct 2028
Twin share
£5,085pp
18 Oct 2028
Twin share
£5,085pp
22 Oct 2028
Twin share
£4,940pp
29 Oct 2028
Twin share
£4,940pp
05 Nov 2028
Twin share
£4,085pp
08 Nov 2028
Twin share
£4,085pp
12 Nov 2028
Twin share
£4,085pp
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.
What is the temple stay like?
A simple, rustic night at Haeinsa Temple following the temple's schedule, with dinner and evening meditation.
Where does the trip end?
On Jeju Island. Flights from Jeju are not included.
Is porterage included?
Porterage isn't generally available in Korean hotels, so pack light.
Do I need a visa?
UK citizens don't need a visa for South Korea but may need a K-ETA. Check the latest advice before travel.
Which meals are included?
Breakfast daily, plus four lunches and four dinners.
How many people travel together?
Up to 12 travellers, with a trip 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