Discover South Korea

This small-group escorted tour by Explore Worldwide threads through South Korea’s contrasts: bright, modern Seoul with its royal palaces and bustling markets, then on to the ancient kingdom capital of Gyeongju, where tumuli and stone pagodas mark a bygone era. The itinerary also includes Andong’s Hahoe Folk Village and Busan’s seaside charms, with seafood markets and a cable car ride along the coast.

There is a sharp turn on day three, when the group visits the Demilitarised Zone, a reminder of the peninsula’s uneasy division and one of the few places on earth where Cold War tensions remain visible. Elsewhere the tour balances city sights with nature, such as a hike on Namsan Mountain dotted with Buddhist relics, and visits to serene temples where one can observe traditional monastic arts. The journey closes back in Seoul, allowing time to wander or pick up last-minute purchases.

These are the places the trip visits, in order. Explore Worldwide publishes the day-by-day itinerary on its own site.