Best of South Korea

This week-long itinerary starts in Seoul, where time is split between the city’s history and buzzier areas such as Namdaemun Market and the N Seoul Tower. A visit to the Demilitarized Zone offers a glimpse of the ongoing division between North and South Korea, amid reminders of a fraught past.

Leaving the capital, the tour pauses for an overnight temple stay in Gyeongju-si. Here, the quiet atmosphere of the temple contrasts sharply with the crowds in Busan, South Korea’s second city. Busan introduces different sides of modern life, from its beach at Haeundae to a temple clinging to the sea at Haedong Yonggungsa. Travellers will spend most days on foot and on public transport, often moving between places where the older rhythms of life meet Korea’s rapid urban development.

G Adventures leads this tour with local guides and a Chief Experience Officer who brings extra insight without taking charge. The group is capped at 16, which keeps things manageable whether navigating subway stations or sampling street food. It’s a reasonable pace for a week that balances culture, history and everyday city life without oversimplifying either.