Highlights of South Korea

This Riviera Travel escorted tour of South Korea offers a paced exploration of its past and present across twelve nights. Starting with four nights in Seoul, the itinerary includes visits to Gyeongbok Palace, with its royal guard ceremony, and the vibrant Gwangjang Market, where street food scents fill the air. The tour contemplates the complex Korean peninsula divide with a full day at the Demilitarized Zone, including the third tunnel and Dora Observatory.

Further afield, the route leads northeast to the mountainous landscapes of Gangwon-Do and the coastal city of Sokcho, close to Seoraksan National Park, noted for its bronze Buddha and waterfalls. As the tour moves south, UNESCO World Heritage sites such as Dosan Seowon and the Hahoe Village offer glimpses of Korea’s Confucian and Joseon past. Highlights continue in Gyeongju, with ancient royal tombs, a cooking class, and the 7th-century Cheomseongdae observatory, before concluding in Busan, known for its white sandy beach and the lively Jagalchi Fish Market.

Throughout, the tour avoids rushing, allowing time to absorb the contrasts from futuristic urban panoramas to quiet temple grounds. The use of the KTX high-speed train between Busan and Seoul adds a modern touch to this varied itinerary, which finishes where it began — in the capital.