Essential Korea (2026)

Day 1: Seoul

Welcome to Korea! You’ll be transferred to your hotel and have some free time. In the afternoon, you’ll receive information about the start of your tour.

Day 2: Seoul - Busan

Today we include an extensive sightseeing tour of SEOUL lasting approximately five hours. We will visit Gyeongbokgung Palace (entrance included), a complex of palaces set within a large park. Afterwards, we will stroll through Bukchon Hanok Village, a traditional historic neighborhood of small houses. We then visit the War Memorial of Korea (entrance included), an impressive museum that illustrates the conflicts experienced in Korea throughout history, especially the Korean War, in which soldiers from many countries participated under the United Nations. Lunch included at a local restaurant.We continue to the Gangnam District, one of the city’s busiest areas, home to numerous shopping and entertainment centers. To conclude the day, we stop at Lotte World Tower, an impressive 550-meter-tall building, where you will have free time to go up the tower (admission not included) or to stroll through its park or luxury shopping areas.Transfer to the train station to board the high-speed train (included) to the city of BUSAN. Arrival, transfer to the hotel, and overnight stay.

Half board includes: Marinated Korean BBQ pork called Galbi comes with soup and rice.

Day 3: Busan

In the morning, we will depart from BUSAN to visit Haedong Yonggung, a 14th-century Buddhist temple located by the sea. We return to Busan and visit the United Nations Memorial Cemetery (entrance included), where people from many different countries are laid to rest. We will then head to the country’s largest fish market, located next to the port of Nampo. Lunch is included.We walk toward Yongdusan park, home to its impressive 120-meter pagoda. Afterwards, we depart for Songdo Beach, which features the country’s first maritime cable car (entrance included, subject to weather conditions), offering stunning views of the bay. We continue to one of Busan’s most picturesque neighborhoods, the Gamcheon Cultural Village, filled with brightly colored buildings, labyrinth-like alleyways, art galleries, pottery workshops, and charming cafés. Return to Busan. Overnight stay.

Half board includes: Complete beef tenderloin menu fine beef tenderloin, bean paste stew and rice with garnishes.

Day 4: Busan - Seokguram - Bulguksa - Gyeongju - Daegu

We’ll depart for the Seokguram Buddhist Grotto (entrance included), an 8th-century site nestled on the slopes of Tohamsan. Afterward, we’ll visit the Bulguksa Temple (entrance included), considered one of the most beautiful temples in the country. Next, we’ll arrive in GYEONGJU, the Korean capital that endured the longest in the nation’s history, with a reign of 992 years under 56 kings. You’ll have the chance to photograph the stunning wooden Woljeonggyo Bridge along the banks of the Namcheon River. Lunch will be included. We’ll then head to Tumuli Park, home to the burial mounds of kings from the ancient Silla Kingdom, which are over 1,500 years old. We’ll visit one of their tombs (entrance included) before walking to the Cheomsongdae Astronomical Observatory, the oldest in East Asia and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Our journey will continue with our arrival in Daegu, the fourth most populous city in Korea. Before heading to the hotel, we’ll see Dongsan Cheongna Hill, a historic area once home to Christian missionaries, and the commercial street of Dongseong-ro, the city’s liveliest street, with its trendy shops, cafes, and restaurants and the Yangnyeongsi Museum of Traditional Medicine (entrance included), famous for its history of medicinal herbs in Eastern medicine. Overnight stay in DAEGU.

Half board includes: Bibimbap with side dishes

Day 5: Daegu - Andong - Hahoe - Seoul

Departure northward and arrival in Andong, where we will visit the traditional village of Hahoe Village (admission included), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, located on the outskirts of the city. Free time to stroll through the streets of this rural village that seems frozen in time. We will also visit the outstanding World Mask Museum, which displays masks used for dances, medical practices, religious ceremonies, and theatrical performances. Lunch included at a local restaurant.We then depart to visit Byeongsan Seowon, a Confucian academy founded in the 16th century, set in an idyllic landscape beside a peaceful river. Arrival in Seoul in the mid-afternoon.

Half board includes: Grilled Fish or Jjimdak Braised Chicken

Day 6: Seoul

After breakfast, our journey will come to an end, leaving you with wonderful lasting memories.