Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Seoul - Gyeongju - Busan - Suncheon - Mokpo - Jeungdo
100% customisable for you
Your 13-day adventure to the scenic and cultural powerhouse of South Korea starts today. Head to the airport, speed through check-in and security with a priority pass and settle into the premium lounge as you await departure. Most direct flights to the airport hub of Incheon depart in the evening and take about 13 hours, so spend tonight onboard and touchdown tomorrow. With a few K-dramas, and K-pop albums downloaded, relax comfortably as you head across the world.
Rise and shine to views across the Korean peninsula as you prepare to land in the airport hub of Incheon. A private driver will be waiting for you in arrivals, ready to whisk you into the heart of Seoul. Your home for the next two nights here is a contemporary hotel nestled in one of the dizzying skyscrapers of Myeong-dong. The rest of today is yours to spend as you please. We recommend heading out for a stroll along the neighbourhood’s main bustling avenue. Hundreds of shops, cafes and street-food stalls compete for the attention of a diverse and cheerful crowd. Overhead, signs and neon lights crackle and light up at nightfall, forming one of the postcard images of Seoul.
You’ll be armed with a handy prepaid transport card, which, together with the city’s enviable metro system, makes travelling around the city easy and efficient. Some of our must-visit spots include the grand Gyeongbok Palace, Zaha Hadid’s futuristic Dongdaemun Design Plaza, the four-mile promenade of Cheonggyecheon, the ultra-stylish district of Gangnam, the Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA), the Confucian sanctuary of Jongmyo and the royal tombs of the Joseon dynasty.
You only have one full day in the capital, so wake up bright and early to make the most of your time. On today’s agenda: a private walking tour with a clued-up local guide. The walk is relaxed and based around you, so you can be totally spontaneous. This is a chance to discover the undiscovered, get off the tourist trail and visit the favourite spots of a trusty Seoulite. Ask your guide any burning questions about South Korean culture, as well as get some handy tips and recommendations for the rest of your trip. Along the way, make sure to tuck into some local street food delicacies, such as tteokbokki (rice cakes in a spicy sauce), odeng (fish skewers), gyeranppang (bread topped with an egg) or the popular kimbap (the Korean take on sushi).
Wave goodbye to the bright lights of the capital from the comfort of the high-speed KTX train as you head south. Today’s adventure is as much a journey through space as it is through time; Gyeongju was the capital of the ancient Silla Kingdom, which ruled over nearly 1,000 years of Korean history between 57 BCE – 935 CE. On arrival, settle in for the night in a traditional yet contemporary hotel and spend the rest of today exploring a plethora of ancient artefacts, monuments and tombs. We recommend heading out on foot or by bike, passing by a temples, statues, traditional hanok houses and several iconic grass mounds dotted around the city, which house the ancient tombs of former kings and queens. Slightly further outside the city lie the UNESCO-listed Bulguksa temple and the Seokgorum grotto, which displays a magnificent Buddha statue.
Your journey to the coast continues today with a speedy 30-minute train ride to Busan, a scenic port city in the country’s southeast peninsula. Hang up your hat for two nights in an elegant and contemporary hotel located near a popular fish market and spend the rest of today getting your first taste of Busan. Due to its proximity to the Sea of Japan, this coastal hub long boasted some serious clout in cultural exchanges with its Japanese neighbour. Today, it’s a traditional yet trendy second city, home to stunning oceanside temples, beaches and seafood galore. The Jagalchi Fish Market, near your hotel, is the largest of its kind in Korea and delights foodies with its array of fresh catches ready to be devoured. An evening meal here is a great way to rub shoulders with the locals and ease yourself into life on the coast.
On today’s agenda: a full day exploring Busan. To aid your discoveries, you’ll start the day on a walking tour with a local guide. Nothing is really planned in advance, so you can be as spontaneous as you like. Popular sightseeing options include visiting the many museums of Busan, such as Trickeye, where reality becomes augmented with moving floors and illusions; gazing across the city skyline from Beomeosa temple; photographing one of Korea’s most beautiful temples Haedong Yonggungsa, with its traditional architecture and exquisite sea views; or strolling down the golden expanses of Haeundae beach. Finally, the culinary specialities of the region are really quite special and well-worth sampling. Expect to find the likes of raw mackerel, fish croquettes and seafood tortillas on many menus around the port.
Get off the beaten track today as you abandon the famous city of Busan in favour of the lesser-visited Suncheon. The bus ride is certainly a scenic route, taking in mountain peaks and coastal panoramas during the three-hour journey. On arrival, settle for two nights in a modern and comfortable hotel in the city centre and spend the rest of today capitalising on your tickets to Suncheon Bay. A protected wetland spanning over eight square miles, this natural treasure is a migration hub for 140 species of birds, making it a bird lovers paradise. Wander through the vast reed fields on boardwalks that cover the wetlands, keeping an eye out for the storks and herons soaring overhead. Make sure to head up Mount Yongsan in time for sunset; the views over the landscapes below are beautiful on a clear day.
Suncheon is quickly becoming known as a highly eco-friendly city due to its array of landscapes filled with flora and fauna. While the bay forms the major attraction here, Suncheon also has mountains beset with terraced tea plantations where, following the departure of Japanese colonial forces, local entrepreneurs set about taking back control and igniting a booming tea business. Today, the region is the source of 40% of the country’s tea production. The Suncheon Bay Gardens are equally spectacular, home to 860,000 trees and 650,000 flowers. The colours are bright, the aromas enticing and the views immense. Finally, a visit to the village of Naganeupseong is a great way to balance nature with culture. Built under the Joseon dynasty, a rich culture has stood the test of time within incising fortress walls. 300 villagers still live here and are known for their beautiful handicrafts and preservation of centuries-old history.
It’s time to abandon public transport in favour of a rental car, which makes it possible to be more flexible with your route. Before heading west to your next destination, we recommend taking some time to discover the beautiful park that surrounds Mount Jogyesan. A luscious undulating landscape with craggy peaks and remote ridge lines, it hides pretty temples in the verdant forest valley. Seonamsa and Songgwangsa are particularly striking temples and certainly worth the detour. Continue three hours on the road to your next hotel: a beautiful hanok in Mokpo, where you’ll stay for the night. Spend the rest of today seeing the local sights: take a stroll down Yudal Beach passing the pavilions for a pit stop, head up Yudal mountain for panoramic views across the archipelago of Dadohae National Maritime Park and admire the ancient shipwrecks displayed in the maritime museum.
Among the well-connected archipelago lies your next destination, Jeungdo Island. Accessible by a snaking road that passes through the heart of the Sinan Archipelago, you can reach the island in less than an hour. After settling in for two nights in a lovely contemporary hotel, the rest of today is yours to enjoy water-based fun at the on-site swimming pool, thermal pools or the inviting ocean that borders stretches of golden sand. Savour the delicious seafood masterfully cooked in nearby local restaurants for dinner.
Jeungdo was officially the first Asian city to be labelled a ‘Slow City’ in 2008, a tribute to the leisurely pace of life and freedom of time the locals and visitors can enjoy. The history of this land is closely linked with its salt production. Explore it on foot or on two wheels via a two-mile path. At the end, take a tour of the salt museum for some insider knowledge on the process, history and livelihoods involved here. The Yeomsaeng Botanical Garden displays the intertwining connection between nature and the salt marsh. Here, an array of wildlife species have managed to flourish, despite the salty surroundings. Round off the day admiring the sunset from Ujeon beach, which is reached through the enchanting Hanbando pine forest.
It’s time to return the rental car in Mokpo before taking one last KTX train to Seoul. The journey takes around three hours, passing through the verdant hilly landscapes that now feel familiar. Your final hotel is a beautiful hanok in Bukchon Village, a slice of the city known and adored for its traditional hanoks, once called home by the nobility of yesteryear. The rest of the day can be as busy or relaxed as you want. Visit the art galleries in the Insa-dong district, rub shoulders with the local youth in trendy Hongdae, follow the aromas of street barbecues in Gwangjang Market or simply stroll around the boutique stores and teahouses that fill Bukchon.
Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, so after checking out of your accommodation, a private driver will whisk you back to Incheon airport for your return international flight. After heading through security, relax in the airport lounge with some nibbles and refreshments before boarding. Direct flights back to the UK tend to depart in the afternoon and take around 14 hours, making it possible to arrive home today (thanks to the time difference).
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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