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

Road journey to Songnisan National Park: Depart Seoul this morning, heading south to the Songnisan National Park. This will be a journey of approximately 2-3 hours, the last section of which will see you leave the motorway and head up through the scenic hills.

Accommodation: Stay overnight in the Lake Hills Hotel, or the more adventurous should request an overnight Beopjusa Temple Stay.

Afternoon in Songnisan: For those joining the temple-stay, your program will begin upon your arrival this afternoon. For those staying at the nearby Lake Hills Hotel you will be taken on a comprehensive tour of the Beopjusa site, before enjoying some time at leisure to explore the picturesque national park.

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey to Gyeongju: Depart Songnisan this morning, cutting directly east across the rugged interior. This journey should take around 2-3 hours, depending on local traffic.

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 Hwangnamguan Hanok (Standard Korean-Style Room).

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey to Busan: After breakfast you will check out and hit the road with your private driver-guide, heading south to the coastal city of 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. You will then head back into the city, returning to your hotel via visits to the lively Gukje & Jagalchi markets.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Ibis Ambassador Haeundae (Standard Room).

Meals: Breakfast

Full day tour around Busan: After breakfast you will be met at the hotel by your driver-guide, and head out to explore sights around Busan. First stop will be Beomeosa Temple, located at the foot of Mt. Geumjeongsan in the city's northern suburbs. The original temple was constructed around AD 678 by monk Ui Sang, during the reign of Silla King Munmu. According to legend the mountain and temple as so named because: "There is a well on the top of Mt. Geumjeongsan and the water of that well is gold. The golden fish in the well rode the colourful clouds and came down from the sky. This is why the mountain is named Geumsaem (gold well) and the temple is named 'fish from heaven'." The original Beomeosa Temple building was lost during Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592, but was renovated in 1713 and remains such to this day.

Move around the base of the mountain to visit Geumjeongsanseong. Literally translated as ‘Geumjeon ‘Mountain Fortress’, this is the largest such construction remaining in Korea. The Fortress was constructed in 1703, following a series of repeated Japanese invasions, and was periodically renovated and embellished in the years following. Much of the site was destroyed during the modern Japanese occupation of the early 20th Century, but in 1972 it was handed over into private occupation and a thorough restoration process begun. Today it is just as striking as ever and affords magnificent views across the mountains to the north and west, sea to the east and south, and sprawling modern city below.

You will then head back into the city and have the opportunity to relax in true Korean style at Hurshimchung, a large hot springs complex which caters for tourists and locals alike. Established during the citywide renovation of Busan in October 1991, Hurshimchung Hot Springs has a capacity of 3,000 people and covers approximately 4,297.54m², making it one of the largest hot springs in the East. There are around 40 different baths in the main hot spring area such as the Longevity Bath, Hoemok Bath, Cheongja Bath, Cave Bath, Outdoor Bath, and Event Baths, which combine hot spring water with oriental medicinal elements and seasonal herbs. Guests can also choose one of the recommended bathing courses according to their age, health concerns, and/or personal preferences.    

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Ibis Ambassador Haeundae (Standard Room).

Meals: Breakfast

Drive from Busan to Tongyeong, with sightseeing: After breakfast you will picked up again, and head out of the city to spend the day exploring the dramatic coastline around Busan. You will be heading for Tongyeong, on the edge of Geoje Island an attractive coastal outcrop located just under 2 hours from Busan. 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 (Standard Room).                   

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey from Geoje Island to Jirisan National Park: After breakfast you will depart Tongyeong, heading inland towards Gurye County, and the beautiful Jirisan National Park. A direct drive will take around 2-3 hours, but the itinerary is flexible and you may make stops as you wish. Korea’s sleepy deep south offers quite a contrast to the urban sprawl found further north. Travelling along the coast from Busan one encounters a string of smaller, slower towns amongst a distinctly greener landscape. You will be driving through the rich scenery of Hadong County, among the most beautiful in the country, with picture-postcard scenery and idyllic villages such as Hwagae and Champandaek. You may choose to stop and explore on the way, or alternatively you could arrive earlier into the Jirisan area to spend some time roaming the national park.

Hwaeomsa Temple Stay: You will arrive at the temple complex in the early afternoon. Here you will join a small group of other overnight residents. The programme will begin an orientation and tour of the complex, before time to learn more about the rituals and practices of the monks. A monastic meal will be served in the early evening, followed by a Buddhist ceremony. With tomorrow's early rise in mind you will go to bed shortly after sundown.

Accommodation: Overnight temple stay at Hwaeomsa Temple (shared dormitory room with shared bathroom).

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Hwaeomsa Temple Stay: Wake around 4:00am for a pre-dawn ceremony, before enjoying the sunrise from the temple complex. A monastic breakfast will be served around 6:00am, after which you will have more time to explore the grounds and learn about the faith. In the mid-morning you will enjoy tea with the monks, and then another light monastic meal will be served. You will then say goodbye to the monks and the rest of your group, leaving the programme around midday.

Road journey to Boseong County: After completing your temple stay you will be re-united with your driver-guide. If you wish you may spend some more time exploring the temple and national park, or you might choose to press straight on to Boseong County. Today's drive will take you through Suncheon, which is a medium-sized city situated roughly halfway between Busan and Gwangju. Not far from the city you will make a stop at the Suncheonman 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. Suncheonman 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. After your visit you will head on to Boseong, leaving you plenty of time to explore on arrival.

Afternoon exploring Boseong: On arrival you will have the remainder of the day to explore Boseong and surrounds. We recommend a visit to 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, before returning you to your hotel to spend the evening at leisure.                             

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the CW Hanok (Simple Korean-style room).

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey to Jeonju: Depart Boseong after breakfast and head north with your driver-guide to Gwangju. After about an hour you will make a stop at 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. You will then press onto Jeonju, a further journey of around 2 hours. At Jeonju your driver-guide will drop you at your hotel, then depart. From this point on you will be self-guided.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Doldam Guesthouse (Standard Korean-Style Room).

Meals: None today

Day at leisure in Jeonju: Today you have a full day at leisure to explore Jeonju independently. Walking around the hanok village is a pleasure in itself, but if you are looking for a more informative visit we recommend the Jeonju National Museum (just outside town), or visiting the smaller Traditional Wine or Paper Museums. Jeonju is renowned as a foodie destination so we encourage putting time aside to dive into its local delights such as Jeonju Bibimbap (mixed rice with vegetables, more elaborate than it sounds!) or hottdeok (sugary, doughy pancakes).

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Doldam Guesthouse (Standard Korean-Style Room).

Meals: None today

Train journey from Jeonju to Seoul: Make your own way to Jeonju Station today. The station is located on the Eastern outskirts of the city; there are many buses available from the city centre which will take less than 30 minutes to reach the station. Alternatively, a taxi will take around 10 minutes and should cost less than KRW 6,000. From Jeonju you will take a KTX train back to Seoul Station, a journey of around 2 hours - tickets in Standard Class will be provided locally. From Seoul station make your own way to your hotel, located a short 5 minute walk away. 

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Four Points by Sheraton Namsan (Standard Room).

Meals: None today