What are the highlights of this 8 day adventure:
- Gyeongbokgung Palace
- City tour of Gyeongju
- Busan City tour
Itinerary:
Day 1: Seoul. Welcome to Seoul! As fellow travellers are arriving throughout the day, there are no planned activities until a group meeting at 6 pm. Check into the hotel and enjoy the city.
Accommodation: Hotel Prince (or similar) - Hotel
Today's activities:
- Seoul Orientation Walk: Enjoy a brief walk with your CEO who will give you some tips on finding things like supermarkets, main squares, and ATMs. You'll be taken through Cheonggyecheon Stream which is an 8.4 kilometre (5.2 mile) waterway and public space that runs through the heart of downtown Seoul. Myeongdong is another popular spot you'll hit on your orientation walk. This exciting district features street food carts, major shopping malls, and entertainment.
- Meet your CEO and group: Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
The most convenient way to get around South Korea is by public transportation and on foot. The country's train system is world renowned so the majority of our trips utilize this efficient train network. In this tour, you will need to be able to spend the majority of the day on your feet and carry your luggage through busy train stations and streets. Please ensure you are fit enough to carry your own luggage and spend most of the day on your feet.
Day 2: Seoul. Sit back and relax on a private bus and enjoy a tour of the bustling metropolis where modern skyscrapers, high-tech subways and pop culture meet Buddhist temples and street markets. Visit Gyeongbokgung Palace, the National Folklore Museum, Bukchon Hanok Village and Insadong alley.
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Prince (or similar) - Hotel
Today's activities:
- Gyeongbokgung Palace: Visit Gyeongbokgung Palace, the main royal palace of the Joseon Dynasty built in 1395. The palace has been destroyed many times over, but more than 50 per cent of the buildings are still standing or are restored. The complex is also home to the National Palace Museum and the National Folk Museum.
- Insadong Alley: Explore the narrow and hidden alleys of one of the most memorable places in Seoul. Now filled with antique shops, galleries, tea houses and traditional restaurants, this area once housed the royal studio for painters during the Joseon Dynasty.
- National Folklore Museum: Located within the grounds of the Gyeongbokgung Palace, learn about the history and traditions of the Korean people during the Joseon era.
- Seoul City Tour: Enjoy a bus tour of the bustling capital of South Korea. Visit different areas of the city including Gyengbokgung Palace, National Folklore Museum, Jogyesa Temple, Bukchon Hanok Village and Insadong alley.
- Free Time: Head out and explore.
- Bukchon Hanok Village Exploration: Be transported back 600 years into Seoul's past while walking through Bukchon Hanok Village, which boasts the largest cluster of privately owned traditional Korean wooden homes (hanok) in Seoul. Keep an eye out for the half-dozen or so alleys that have beautifully restored architectural features like small courtyards, decorative outer walls, and dark tiled roofs.
Day 3: Seoul/Gyeongju-si. After breakfast, board a high speed bullet train for a relaxing morning ride through the countryside to Gyeongju. Once the group arrives to this old capital city for 1,000 years, they will experience an overnight stay in a local temple. During the stay the group will learn about temple etiquette, watch a monk martial arts performance, experience the daily prayer ritual and a temple style dinner.
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Golgulsa Temple Stay (or similar) - Temple
Today's activities:
- Overnight Temple Stay: Stay in rooms called Ondol, which are very traditional and heated to be cozy and comfortable with beds made up directly on the floor. The rooms here are multi-share, divided up by male and female rooms. Enjoy a traditional dinner and breakfast during the stay.
- Bullet Train: Seoul - Gyeongju-si, 2 hours. Get to your next destination faster than the speed of light (ok maybe not that fast) aboard a high-speed train.
Day 4: Gyeongju-si/Busan. Enjoy a peaceful morning meditation, martial arts practice, and drum and bell ritual before exploring in Gyeongju. On the city tour visit to the UNESCO site of Bulguksa Temple located on the slopes of Mount Toham and admire the national treasures there, such as Dabotap and Seokgatap stone pagodas, Cheongun-gyo, and two gilt-bronze statues of Buddha. Enjoy a visit to Yangdong Folk Village, a 500-year-old UNESCO site located in Gyeongju National Park, to get a feel for life during the early Joseon Dynasty. Afterwards, experience the oldest surviving astronomical observatory in Asia, Cheomseongdae Observatory, and the surrounding Royal Tombs. After a great day in Gyeongju, travel by private bus to Busan.
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Swiss Rosen Hotel Gyeongju (or similar) - Hotel
Today's activities:
- City Tour of Gyeongju: Visit sights around Gyeongju on an included tour. See the UNESCO site Bulguksa Temple, a head temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism and encompasses seven National treasures of South Korea.
- Yangdong Folk Village: Get a fascinating look into life during the Joseon Dynasty on this visit to the Yangdong Folk Village. Founded in the early 1400s, the village boasts well-preserved buildings and has more than 160 homes displaying traditional Joseon architecture within a gorgeous natural setting.
- Cheomseongdae Observatory: Nestled in the heart of Gyeongju, the capital of the former Silla Kingdom, Cheomseongdae may not appear to be a monumental landmark. But this observatory tower that dates back to the seventh century is actually the oldest existing astronomical observatory in all of East Asia. Cheomseongdae was used for observing the stars in order to forecast the weather in the ancient scientific hub of Gyeongju.
- Daereungwon Tomb Complex: The Daereungwon Tomb complex in Gyeongju holds 23 tombs that are found inside of large mounds. The complex is beautiful with its rolling mounds and gardens, but the real treat can be found inside the tombs, the most famous being Cheonmachong and Hwangnamdaechong. Each tomb holds thousands of relics that gives us a window into the Silla Dynasty and its royal family. The contents of these tombs are over 1,500 years old and a great treasure to anyone who enjoys Korean history and artistic beauty.
- Private Vehicle: Gyeongju-si - Busan. Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Day 5: Busan. Spend the day getting to know colourful Busan visiting the 14th century seaside temple hidden in the rocks - Haedong Yonggungsa. After exploring the temple, visit the colourful Gamcheon Culture Village, the bustling Jagalchi fish market, Gukjesijang market, and Yongdusan Park. The evening is yours to explore as you wish. Opt to take a see the Busan skyline with a nighttime yacht experience or ride the Coastal Monorail.
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Felix Hotel by STX (or similar) - Hotel
Today's activities:
- Busan City Tour: Get to know the city. Explore Busan, visiting the sights.
- Haedong Yonggungsa Temple Visit: Originally built in 1376, this picturesque, cliffside Buddhist temple overlooks the East China Sea. Opt to grab a bizarre local snack at the traditional market. Legend foretells that should you pray here, at least one of your wishes will come true.
- Gamcheon Culture Village: Explore the pastel-coloured village of Gamcheon, nestled in the side of a mountain, with uniquely painted houses, murals, cafes, and shops.
- Yongdusan Park Visit: Visit Yongdusan Park, home to more than 70 different types of trees, and see the 118m (387 ft) high Busan Tower. The park's unique shape is said to look like a dragon's head.
- Gukje Traditional Market: Gukjesijang or Gukje Market is nestled near Biff Square, a well-known modern movie district in Busan. The market once was a place for refugees to earn a living over the period of the Korean War. Now, it's a bustling international market where loads of food, home goods, clothes, souvenirs and more can be found.
- Jagalchi Fish Market: Discover this market and major attraction at Nampo Port. Wander through the rows of stalls selling everything you can dream of from the sea. Watch as locals haggle for the best price and fishmongers hawk their wares.
Day 6: Busan/Seoul. In the seaside city of Busan, visit Haeundae Beach and Dongbaekseom Island, before traveling back to Seoul. After arriving in Seoul by train, check out Korea's oldest traditional market - Namdaemun Market. Then make your way by cable car to N Seoul Tower to see this beautiful landmark and opt to make the trip up to the observation deck. Spend the rest of your day in Seoul opting to see Banpo Bridge, the floating islands, or hanging out in the Gangnam district.
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Prince (or similar) - Hotel
Today's activities:
- Haeundae Beach and Dongbaek Island (APEC House) Visit: Visit Haeundae Beach, one of Korea's most beautiful beaches. Enjoy a walk along the shore, or take a swim (don't forget your suit!) And see the famed APEC House built to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Corporation (APEC) summit meeting in 2005 on Dongbaek Island.
- Bullet Train: Busan - Seoul, 2 hours and 30 minutes. Get to your next destination faster than the speed of light (ok maybe not that fast) aboard a high-speed train.
- Namdaemun Market Visit: Dating back to 1414, this is Korea's oldest traditional market and it's largest, with over 10,000 vendors spanning several city blocks. Get ready to shop!
- N Seoul Tower Visit: Take the cable car to visit the most iconic landmark in Seoul! Located at the top of Mt Namsan, and standing at 480m above sea level, what used to be a broadcasting station before it was open to the public, is now a beautiful observatory. If you'd like to go up the tower to the observatory an additional fee is required.
Day 7: Seoul. Visit the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), founded in 1953, separating North and South Korea. With over a million soldiers on watch each day, it is one of the last remnants of the Cold War. With a buffer zone 4km wide and spanning 250 km long there has been very little development in the area, therefore nature and wildlife have pretty much taken over. Spend about 3-4 hours visiting the Demilitarized Zone, then head to The War Memorial of Korea. Later, return back to Seoul for another night in the city.
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Prince (or similar) - Hotel
Today's activities:
- Private Vehicle: Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) - Seoul, 1 hour and 30 minutes. Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
- Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) Visit: Visit the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) the de facto border between North and South Korea, which cuts the peninsula in half. Created in 1953, it is the most heavily militarized border in the world.
- The War Memorial Hall of Korea: If you love history - dive right into The War Memorial of Korea. The memorial building serves to exhibit and memorialize the military history of Korea and preserve materials related to the Korean War. Divided into indoor and outdoor exhibits containing about 9,000 artifacts, there sure is a lot to see here!
Day 8: Seoul. Depart at any time.
Meals included: Breakfast
Today's activities:
- Departure Day: Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.
Next Steps
Ready to go? Simply request a spot via your portal and our team will reach out with availability and seasonal pricing details.
This tour can be completed before or after your internship in South Korea, we'll help with recommendations to bridge any gaps between your internship and the tour. These arrangements are your responsibility and we can provide you with personalized transit and accommodation advice to make your travel straightforward.
Best of all, you’ll be in great hands with our trusted partners who have led sustainable, community-first travel for 30 years. Your adventure makes a real, positive difference every step of the way.
Please note that exact activities and timing can vary depending on the season and availability. Don't worry, your tour provider will share your final, confirmed itinerary once your dates are set!
Let’s get your journey started!
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