South Korea small group trips

April to May and late September to early November. Spring brings cherry blossom in early April and mild days; autumn is clear and dry, with maple colour in the mountains from mid October. Late June and July are hot, humid and rainy, and winter in Seoul is cold.

Answer for South Korea: Seoul, Jeonju, Gyeongju and Busan

Moderately fit. Most days mean 3 to 5 hours on foot, with hill lanes, temple steps and the steep slope into the DMZ's Third Tunnel. Every demanding stretch has an easier way round, and the forest trail to Seokguram is an extra for those who want it.

Answer for South Korea: Seoul, Jeonju, Gyeongju and Busan

Only for a room of your own, which is from CAD 805 more, shown before you send your request so there is no surprise later. Solo travellers get the same seats, tables and guide time as everyone else, and the group meals mean you are never left to eat alone unless you want to.

Answer for South Korea: Seoul, Jeonju, Gyeongju and Busan

The small-group trip runs with 7 to 12 guests. That is small enough to fit one Secret Garden tour slot, share a few stall counters at Gwangjang Market and sit around one table at dinner.

Answer for South Korea: Seoul, Jeonju, Gyeongju and Busan

Choose a start date and send a request to book. We confirm your place within 24 hours, and no payment is taken until then. Prices are per person sharing a room, with taxes; the small group starts from CAD 4,745 and the private trip from CAD 8,540.

Answer for South Korea: Seoul, Jeonju, Gyeongju and Busan

No visa is needed for a short tourist stay on a Canadian or US passport. Korea also has an online travel authorisation, the K-ETA, which it has waived for some countries for set periods. We send the rule that applies to your passport, and the arrival-card steps, with your final itinerary.

Answer for South Korea: Seoul, Jeonju, Gyeongju and Busan

April to May and late September to mid November. Spring brings cherry blossom from late March in Japan and early April in Korea, with crowds to match; autumn is clear, with maple colour in Kyoto from mid November. Summer is hot, humid and rainy, and typhoons can disrupt the ferry from August to October.

Answer for Korea and Japan: Seoul, Busan, the Night Ferry, Kyoto and Tokyo

A room of your own is from CAD 780 more for the whole trip, shown up front when you request to book. If you would rather share, tell us and we pair you with another solo guest of the same gender where we can.

Answer for Korea: Seoul, Busan and Jeju Island for Food Lovers

We go to the War Memorial of Korea in Seoul instead, with its exhibitions on the Korean War, and you have more time at Gyeongbokgung. DMZ tours do not run on Mondays and can be cancelled at short notice for military reasons, so we plan departures around the known closures.

Answer for South Korea: Seoul, Jeonju, Gyeongju and Busan

No visa is needed for a short tourist stay in either country on a Canadian or US passport. Korea has an online travel authorisation, the K-ETA, which it has waived for some countries for set periods, and Japan uses Visit Japan Web for arrival forms. We send the rules for your passport with your final itinerary.

Answer for Korea and Japan: Seoul, Busan, the Night Ferry, Kyoto and Tokyo