Private transfer: Upon arrival in Seoul Incheon you will be welcomed to Korea by a private driver, and taken to your hotel to check in. Once checked in you have the remainder of the day at leisure to relax after your long flight.

Time to recover: Once arrived and checked in you have the remainder of the day at leisure to relax after your long flight.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Shilla Stay Gwanghwamun (Standard Room).

Full day tour of Seoul: After breakfast you will be picked up at the hotel by a private English-speaking guide and driver, and set out to explore the Korean capital. You will begin with a visit to the peaceful Changdeokgung Palace complex. Changdeokgung is one of the 'Five Grand Palaces' of the Joseon Dynasty - the palace dates back to the 1400s, and was still in use up until the end of Japanese occupation. Later in the morning you will be taken for a hands-on course on the preparation of Kimchi - the infamous Korean national dish! Kimchi is a traditional fermented dish made of vegatables (commonly Chinese cabbage) with hot pepper paste. The sour, spicy taste forms the basis of many Korean meals such as Kimchi stew, Kimchi pancakes, and Kimchi fried rice.

After your class you will be follow on to Insa-dong antiques street – an area of artisanal shops and traditional teahouses in the heart of modern Seoul. Near the top of Insadong is the Jogyesa Temple – small and little-visited, but one of the most beautiful complexes in the city. You will then head to the northern edge of the city centre to explore the attractive Bukchon Hanok villages - one of the last remaining areas of traditional housing in the city. You will then cap off your day with a visit to the bustling Gwangjang Market - a hive of activity, commerce, and cheap eats. After this flavour of local life you will return to the hotel to spend the evening at leisure.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Shilla Stay Gwanghwamun (Standard Room).

Meals: Breakfast

Full day tour of Suwon & the Korean Folk Village: In the morning you will meet your guide once more and be driven south of Seoul to Suwon, a journey of around 1-1.5 hours, depending on local traffic. Suwon is famous for its UNESCO-protected Hwaseong Fortress – constructed in 1794 to become the peninsula’s new capital. Unfortunately for Suwonites, King Jeongjo died before the move could take place, and the royals remained in Seoul. The fortress does however very much survive, and a good half-day at least can be taken by exploring the impressive walls and complex within.

The city has now long since expanded beyond the fortress, and after you finish at Hwaeseong you will be taken to the edge of town to visit the Korean Folk Village. Set in a natural environment occupying approximately 243 acres, visitors can experience the natural atmosphere with over 260 traditional houses reminiscent of the late Joseon Dynasty, including various household goods from different regions. All these features have been relocated and restored to provide visitors with a broad understanding of Korean food, clothing, and housing style of the past. Return to your hotel in the mid-afternoon and spend the remainder of the day at leisure.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Shilla Stay Gwanghwamun (Standard Room).

Meals: Breakfast

Train journey to Gwangju: This morning make your own way to Seoul Station, where you will catch a KTX bullet train heading south to Gwangju. This will be a journey of approximately 1 hour 45 minutes.

Afternoon tour of Damyang: On arrival, you will be met by your private English-speaking driver-guide and taken on a guided tour of the city and its surrounds.

Damyang - a small town renowned for its bamboo production. Juknokwon is Damyang's famous bamboo forest which features a beautiful artificial waterfall, pavilion, walking paths and an eco-exhibition centre. A walking tour will take around one hour, will a little further time neede to explore the small onsite museum. Depart Damyang on National Highway 15, which after a short drive will bring you to the famous Metasequoia Road. This section of highway is lined with - you guessed it - lines of Metasequoia which are quite beautiful, especially during the spring or autumn. If you like, you may leave the car and hire a bicycle (payable locally) to take in the 4km stretch of highway at a more leisurely pace.

A final stop will be made at the Gwangju Lake Eco Park to walk amongst its wide variety of wildflowers and trees. After ample time enjoying the picturesque views, you will return to your city hotel to relax and enjoy the evening at leisure.

Accommodation: Stay overnight in the Ramada Plaza (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey to Yeosu with sightseeing: After breakfast, you will head out on a scenic drive to Yeosu with sightseeing enroute with your driver-guide. Today's drive will take you first to Boseong, known above all else for its association with green tea. Here you will pay a visit to the Daehan Dawon Tea Plantation, a picturesque site which is also now popular with Koreans due its use as a filming location in a popular drama series. The road leading to Daehan Dawon Plantation is verdant, full of green tea fields and cedar trees. Your guide will be on hand to plan a walking route around the plantation.

Continue by road through Suncheon, a medium-sized city situated roughly halfway between Busan and Gwangju. Not far from the city you will make a stop at the Suncheon Bay Wetland Reserve, thickly covered with tall reeds. The wetland is home to many plants that thrive in damp conditions, like the common reed and the starwort. Suncheon Bay is also widely known for attracting a large number of rare birds such as the hooded crane, white-naped crane, white stork, black-faced spoonbill, Eurasian Oystercatcher, as well as various other endemic species. You will then press on and make a second stop at Naganeupseong, a traditional folk village a short distance outside Suncheon. The village contains a large and well-preserved town castle, which still houses around 100 families within its walls.     

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Yeosu Benikea Hotel (Deluxe Ocean View Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Drive to Tongyeong, with sightseeing: After breakfast you will picked up by your diver-guide, and together head out of the city to spend the day exploring the dramatic southern coastline. You will be heading for Tongyeong, on the edge of Geoje Island an attractive coastal outcrop located around 2 hours from Yeosu. Your first visit will be to Yi Sun Shin Park which has a number of statues of the Immortal Admiral, linked by picturesque cliff-top walkways.

From here you will move into the busier part of town to visit Dongpirang Village, a hive of traditional hanok housing where tight alleys are decorated with wall-paintings and murals. The village is a pleasant walk and from the top of the hill one can enjoy excellent views across the port. You will then be taken up to the summit of neighbouring Mireuksan Mountain to take a dramatic cable car journey across the coastal scenery. From the car one can observe the network of bays and islets which make up this beautiful stretch of coastline. You will then be taken onto the hotel to check in and spend the remainder of the day at leisure.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Benikea Anchovy Hotel (Deluxe Ocean View Room).                   

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey to Busan: After breakfast you will check out and hit the road with your private driver-guide, heading to South Korea’s second city, Busan. This journey should be around 2 hours, depending on local traffic. On arrival in Busan will be taken straight to your hotel to check in.

Afternoon tour of Busan:  After checking in you will head out with your driver-guide to explore the area. First stop will be Haedong Yonggung Temple - among the 3 most sacred Buddhist sites in Korea. This complex is dramatically located amongst craggy cliffs looking out to sea. It is a picturesque and reverent spot which can be explored on foot for as long as you may wish. Continue to Gamcheon Culture Village, a former mountainside slum which students decided to brighten up in 2009.Today it’s a colourful mosaic of homes with a thriving art scene. You will then head back into the city, returning to your hotel via visits to the lively Gukje & Jagalchi markets where you have the option to sample some of the famous local seafood.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Asti Hotel(Standard Room).

Meals: Breakfast

Day at leisure in Busan: Today you have a full day at leisure to simply relax and recharge your batteries or explore this picturesque seaside city independently. If the weather is good, head to one of Busan’s beaches – both Haeundae and Gwangalli are among the most famous in the country. Note that the better the weather, the less space on the beach! Alternatively you may prefer to use Busan’s efficient public transport system to explore the districts numerous temples and museums, or head downtown to negotiate the active local markets. A pleasant hike can be made on the Geumjong Fortress hiking trail leading to the majestic Beomeosa Temple, from where you are rewarded with stunning panoramic views.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Asti Hotel (Standard Room).

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey to Gyeongju: After breakfast, reunite with your private driver-guide and travel to Gyeongju, a journey of just over an hour.

Afternoon tour of Gyeongju: After checking in to your hotel set out to explore the Museum without Walls. First you will visit the impressive Seokguram grotto – a huge man-made cave housing a 3.5m tall sitting Buddha and UNESCO World Heritage Site – before heading on to the beautiful Bulguksa temple complex. Round off the afternoon with a trip to Tumuli Park, a large green space housing more than 20 traditional tombs from the Silla dynasty. Within the same complex is the Cheomseongdae – an ancient star-gazing tower of nearly 10m in height, and the oldest such observatory in East Asia.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at The Suites Hotel (Deluxe Room).

Meals: Breakfast

Full day tour of Gyeongju: Today you will continue explore the Museum Without Walls in the company of your private English-speaking driver-guide. First you will visit the Royal Tombs in Daereungwon, surrounded by a well-kept park. Continue on to the Gyeongju Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond the site of the secondary palace used as a place of residence for the crown prince during the Silla dynasty.

In the afternoon venture on to the famous Namsan Mountain, a short distance south of Gyeongju. Namsan is just one peak in the expansive Gyeongju National Park area, and its proximity to Gyeongju makes it a popular hiking destination for domestic and foreign tourists. The mountainside is home to a number of temples and shrines, all of which would have been deeply scared sites during the Silla kingdom. There are a range of hiking trails to suit all tastes, with the total area covering around 40 valleys and some 180 peaks.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at The Suites Hotel (Deluxe Room).

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey to Andong: After breakfast, you will leave Gyeongju behind, travelling cross country with your driver-guide to Andong, a journey of around 2 hours. On arrival head straight to your hotel to check in.

Afternoon tour of Andong: After checking in you will set out to explore the Andong area. Your first stop will be to the fascinating Hahoe Folk Village, with its wide collection of traditional Korean crafts and artefacts. You will then head over to the viewpoint at Buyongdae Cliff, offering a fine sweeping vista of the folk village, the edge of the Taebaek Mountains, and the wide Nakdong River in between. You will then discover the fine collection of traditional masks held in the neighbouring Hahoe Mask Museum, before heading back to the hotel via a stop at the Byeongsan Lecture Hall.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Rakkojae (Standard Korean-style Room).

Meals: Breakfast & Traditional Korean Dinner

Morning tour of Andong: After breakfast you will be taken for a stroll along the picturesque Wolyeonggyo Bridge - translated as 'Moonlight Bridge' due to its apparent beauty on a clear moonlit night. You will then make a short visit to a traditional alcohol-making museum in Andong city, before hitting the road and Seoraksan National Park.

Road journey to Seoraksan National Park: After breakfast, you will meet your private driver and head north in to Mountainous Gangwondo Province home of the Seoraksan National Park. This will be a journey of around 3 hours depending on traffic. Upon arrival at Seoraksan you will be transferred to your hotel in the National Park to check in and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Kensington Stars Seorak (Classic Room). 

Meals: Breakfast

Day at leisure / suggested activities: Today you have a full day at leisure to explore the vast National Park independently. A range of activities can be arranged locally, including rafting, kayaking, climbing, or hiking – please let us know in advance if require any assistance organising any of these.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Kensington Stars Seorak (Classic Room).

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey to Seoul, via Chuncheon: After breakfast, you will be collected from your hotel by your private English-speaking driver and transferred to Seoul.  This will be a journey of around 3 hours depending on local traffic. You will make a stop at Chuncheon city – the provincial capital of Gangwon-do. Chuncheon is famous for its ‘dakgalbi’ – spicy barbecued chicken. Enjoy a dakgalbi lunch (payable locally) before continuing to Seoul. Check in to your hotel in Seoul and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel (Superior Room).

Meals: Breakfast