Cornelius Amann
October 06, 2026
5/5
South Korea: Seoul, Jeonju, Gyeongju and Busan
9 days from Seoul to Busan: three nights in Seoul with the DMZ and two palaces, a hanok night in Jeonju, two nights among Gyeongju's temples and tombs, and two by the sea in Busan.
9 days · Seoul to Busan · up to 12 guests
Injeongjeon, the throne hall of Changdeokgung in Seoul Photo: Nina R, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Injeongjeon_-_Seoul,_South_Korea.jpg)
The facts
At a glance
- Length
- 9 days, 8 nights
- Start and end
- Seoul to Busan
- Group size
- 7 to 12 guests
- Longest drive
- 4 h on day 5No drive day is longer than 4 hours.
- Activity level
Moderate
Most days are 3 to 5 hours on foot, about 8 to 12 km, on palace gravel, cobbled lanes, temple steps and busy market alleys. The steeper parts are Bukchon's hill lanes, the slope down into the Third Tunnel at the DMZ, the climb to Omokdae in Jeonju and the steps at Bulguksa and Haedong Yonggungsa; each has a sit-out or a shorter way round. One night is in a hanok with a heated floor.
- Meals included
- 8 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 2 dinners
- Room of your own
- + CAD 805 (estimated price)
- Season
- April to May and late September to early November
Highlights
Why this trip
- Changdeokgung at its 9 am opening, then a guided walk through the Secret Garden, Huwon
- The DMZ: the Third Tunnel, the view north from Dora Observatory, then Gyeongbokgung on the way back into Seoul
- A night in a hanok in Jeonju, with a hanjeongsik dinner of many small dishes
- The halls that hold the Tripitaka Koreana at Haeinsa, on the drive across the mountains
- Bulguksa close to opening and the Seokguram Buddha, with a forest trail between them if you want it
- Gyeongju's royal tomb mounds by day and Wolji Pond lit after dark
- Haedong Yonggungsa on its sea rocks before the coaches, then Gamcheon and lunch at Jagalchi fish market
- The KTX back to Seoul, or a flight home from Busan
What makes this trip different
Short drives, all published
Every drive is listed day by day, and none is longer than 4 hours.
Free time is part of the plan
Free time and choices are marked on the days they fall.
Solo without the penalty
A room of your own is + CAD 805 (estimated price).
Day by day
Itinerary
The longest drive is 4 h, on day 5.
Tap any stop on the map to open that dayClick any stop on the map to open that day
Arrive in Seoul
Incheon International Airport to your hotel in central Seoul
- Welcome dinner
- Stay in Seoul
- Drive about 1.5 h
Fly into Incheon International Airport (ICN), on an island in the Yellow Sea about 55 km west of the city centre. A driver meets you in the arrivals hall for the drive in, about an hour and a quarter depending on traffic, to a central hotel within walking distance of the old palaces.
Evening
Plan to land by about 3 pm to reach the evening meeting; the exact time is sent with your final itinerary. At 6 pm your See Sight Tours guide meets the group for a short briefing on the days ahead, hands out transit cards for the metro and explains how the train days work. Then we walk along Cheonggyecheon, a stream restored in 2005 that runs below street level through the middle of downtown, to a welcome dinner of Korean barbecue, grilled at the table with banchan, the small side dishes that come with every Korean meal.
Included
- Pick-up at Incheon International Airport (ICN)
- Welcome briefing with your guide and a transit card
- Evening walk along Cheonggyecheon stream
- Welcome dinner of Korean barbecue
Free time: Free until the 6 pm meeting
Activity: If you land late, the driver still meets you and your guide catches up with you at breakfast.
Changdeokgung, the Secret Garden and Gwangjang Market
Changdeokgung to Bukchon, then Gwangjang Market
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Seoul
- Drive about 30 min
We are at the gate of Changdeokgung when it opens at 9 am. Built in 1405 as a secondary palace of the Joseon kings and listed by UNESCO in 1997, it follows the slope of the hill rather than a straight axis, and at this hour you can stand almost alone in front of Injeongjeon, the throne hall. Next comes Huwon, the Secret Garden behind the palace, which can only be seen on a guided tour with timed tickets; we book an early one. Its paths lead past pavilions, ponds and old trees to the lotus pond of Buyongji. From the palace we walk up into Bukchon, a hillside of lived-in hanok houses, keeping our voices down for the residents.
Afternoon
Lunch is at Gwangjang Market, sitting at the stall counters over bindaetteok, a crisp mung bean pancake, and small rolls of gimbap.
Evening
The afternoon and evening are yours.
Included
- Changdeokgung at opening with your guide
- Guided tour of Huwon, the Secret Garden
- Walk through Bukchon's hanok lanes
- Street-food lunch at Gwangjang Market
Optional experiences
- National Museum of Korea
- N Seoul Tower on Namsan
Easier option: Go back to the hotel after lunch, or take a short taxi ride rather than walking Bukchon's hill lanes.
More active option: In the late afternoon, walk the Seoul city wall trail from Heunginjimun gate up to Naksan Park for the city at sunset; your guide shows you where to start.
Free time: Afternoon and evening free
Activity: Changdeokgung is closed on Mondays, so departures are set so this day never falls on one. About 6 km on foot, with hill lanes in Bukchon.
The DMZ, then Gyeongbokgung
Seoul to Imjingak, the Third Tunnel and Dora Observatory, then back to Gyeongbokgung
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Seoul
- Drive about 3 h
We leave at about 8 am for the Demilitarized Zone, the strip of land about 4 km wide that has divided the peninsula since the 1953 armistice. Sites here are visited on registered tours, so a licensed DMZ guide joins us and passports are checked on the way in. At Imjingak we see the Freedom Bridge and the ribbons tied to the fences by families divided by the war. Then we walk down the steep access slope into the Third Tunnel, dug from the North and found in 1978, and stand at Dora Observatory, where on a clear day you look across into North Korea.
Afternoon
After a sit-down lunch near the border we drive back to Seoul, arriving by about 3 pm. Then, as the day-trippers thin, we walk through Gyeongbokgung, the main royal palace of the Joseon dynasty, from the throne hall to Gyeonghoeru, the banquet pavilion standing in its pond.
Evening
The evening is free.
Included
- DMZ tour with a licensed DMZ guide: Imjingak and the Freedom Bridge, the Third Tunnel and Dora Observatory
- Sit-down lunch near the border
- Gyeongbokgung in the afternoon with your guide
Optional experiences
- The War Memorial of Korea
Easier option: Skip the walk down into the Third Tunnel and wait at the visitor centre at the top; skip Gyeongbokgung and go back to the hotel.
Free time: Evening free
Activity: Bring your passport. DMZ tours do not run on Mondays and can be cancelled at short notice for military reasons; if that happens we visit the War Memorial of Korea instead. The tunnel slope is steep on the way back up, and no photos are allowed inside it. From November Gyeongbokgung closes at 5 pm with last entry at 4 pm, so on November departures the DMZ tour leaves earlier, or we see the palace at 9 am on day 4 and take a later train.
KTX to Jeonju and a hanok night
Seoul to Jeonju by KTX, then Jeonju Hanok Village
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Jeonju
- Drive about 30 min
Morning
After breakfast our vehicle leaves for the south with the luggage, and we take the KTX high-speed train from Yongsan station to Jeonju, a ride of about an hour and three quarters, with just a day bag.
Afternoon
Lunch is Jeonju's own bibimbap, rice topped with vegetables, beef and a raw egg yolk, served in a brass bowl. Jeonju was the home town of the Joseon royal family, and its Hanok Village packs hundreds of tile-roofed houses into a grid of lanes. Your guide walks you past Jeondong Cathedral, finished in 1914, and Pungnammun, the last surviving gate of the city walls, and then the afternoon is free to wander the craft shops or rent a hanbok.
Evening
Before sunset we climb the short path to Omokdae for the view over the rooftops as the lanes light up. Tonight is a hanok guesthouse, and dinner is hanjeongsik, a full table of many small dishes.
Included
- KTX from Seoul to Jeonju, with your luggage sent ahead by road
- Jeonju bibimbap lunch
- Walk through Jeonju Hanok Village: Jeondong Cathedral and Pungnammun gate
- Omokdae viewpoint at sunset
- Hanjeongsik dinner
- Night in a hanok guesthouse
Optional experiences
- Hanbok rental for an afternoon
Easier option: Skip the climb to Omokdae and watch the lights come on from the lanes below.
Free time: Afternoon free in the Hanok Village
Activity: Hanok rooms are heated through the floor. Each room has its own bathroom; beds are raised where the house has them, otherwise thick mattresses on the floor.
Gyeonggijeon, Haeinsa and on to Gyeongju
Jeonju to Haeinsa on Gayasan, then to Gyeongju
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Gyeongju
- Drive about 4 h
We walk through the quiet lanes of the Hanok Village to Gyeonggijeon for its 9 am opening. The shrine was built in 1410 to hold the portrait of Taejo, founder of the Joseon dynasty, and its courtyards are quiet before the day's visitors arrive. At about 9:45 we drive east across the mountains, about two hours, to Haeinsa on the slopes of Gayasan.
Afternoon
Lunch is mountain-vegetable bibimbap in the temple village. Haeinsa keeps the Tripitaka Koreana, more than 80,000 wooden printing blocks of the Buddhist scriptures carved in the 13th century, in the Janggyeong Panjeon halls, built so that air moves through slatted windows to keep the wood dry. You look in through those slats; the halls themselves are closed. We walk the temple courtyards with your guide, then drive about two hours on to Gyeongju, with a stop on the way. It is the longest driving day, about four hours in all, broken in the middle by the temple and lunch.
Evening
The evening is free.
Included
- Gyeonggijeon shrine at opening
- Haeinsa and the Janggyeong Panjeon halls of the Tripitaka Koreana with your guide
- Mountain-vegetable bibimbap lunch near Haeinsa
Easier option: Haeinsa's main courtyards are up a gentle slope and some stone steps; you can wait at the café by the gate instead.
Free time: Evening free in Gyeongju
Activity: About four hours of driving in two halves, leaving Jeonju at about 9:45 with Haeinsa and lunch between, and reaching Gyeongju at about 4:30 pm. Shoes come off if you step into a temple hall.
Bulguksa, Seokguram and Gyeongju by lamplight
Gyeongju to Bulguksa and Seokguram, then Daereungwon, Cheomseongdae and Wolji Pond
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Gyeongju
- Drive about 1.5 h
Gyeongju was the capital of the Silla kingdom for close to a thousand years, and today we see it from the hills to the lamps. We reach Bulguksa close to opening, before the school groups. Rebuilt in the 8th century and listed by UNESCO in 1995 with Seokguram, it rises on stone terraces reached by two double stairways, with the stone pagodas Dabotap and Seokgatap in its main courtyard. Higher on the mountain, Seokguram is a granite Buddha in a man-made grotto, seen through a glass screen. We drive up, and anyone who likes can walk the forest trail between the two instead.
Afternoon
Lunch is ssambap, rice wrapped in fresh leaves, then the early afternoon is free.
Evening
At about 4 pm we walk among the grass-covered tomb mounds of Daereungwon, step inside Cheonmachong, pass Cheomseongdae, the 7th-century observatory, and end at dusk at Wolji Pond, when Donggung's pavilions are lit on the water.
Included
- Bulguksa close to opening with your guide
- Seokguram grotto
- Ssambap lunch
- Daereungwon tomb park and the Cheonmachong tomb
- Cheomseongdae observatory
- Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond at dusk
Optional experiences
- Gyeongju National Museum
Easier option: Ride both ways between Bulguksa and Seokguram, and skip the evening walk for a taxi straight to Wolji Pond.
More active option: Walk the forest trail from Bulguksa up to Seokguram, about 3 km and an hour's steady climb, and meet the group at the top.
Free time: Early afternoon free; dinner free
Activity: About 7 km on foot with the evening walk, plus stone steps at Bulguksa. No photos inside the Seokguram grotto.
Yangdong Folk Village and down to Busan
Gyeongju to Yangdong, then to Busan: Haeundae, Dongbaekseom and Gwangalli
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Busan
- Drive about 2.5 h
We start at Yangdong, a village of tile-roofed and thatched houses about 16 km north of Gyeongju, where the Son and Yi clans have lived since the 15th century.
Morning
Listed by UNESCO in 2010 with Hahoe, it is a lived-in place, not a museum, and the morning is the quietest time to walk up the lanes to the clan houses on the hillside.
Afternoon
After lunch in Gyeongju we drive about an hour and a quarter to Busan, Korea's second city and its biggest port, and settle into a hotel near Haeundae beach. In the late afternoon your guide walks you round Dongbaekseom, a small wooded headland at the end of the beach, on a path above the rocks.
Evening
At dusk we drive about 15 minutes to Gwangalli, the next beach west, to see the Gwangan Bridge lit over the bay. The evening is free, among the seafood restaurants on the beach streets.
Included
- Yangdong Folk Village with your guide
- Lunch in Gyeongju
- Walk around Dongbaekseom and along Haeundae beach
- Gwangalli beach and the Gwangan Bridge lit at dusk
Optional experiences
- A jjimjilbang, a Korean bathhouse and sauna
- An evening cruise past the Gwangan Bridge
Easier option: Yangdong's upper lanes are steep in places; stay in the lower village and meet the group at the bottom.
Free time: Evening free
Activity: Yangdong is a living village: keep to the open houses and paths, and ask before photographing residents.
Haedong Yonggungsa, Gamcheon and Jagalchi
Haeundae to Haedong Yonggungsa, then Gamcheon Culture Village, Jagalchi and Gukje markets
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Busan
- Drive about 2.5 h
We are at Haedong Yonggungsa by about 8 am, before the tour coaches. First founded in the 14th century and rebuilt in the 20th, it is one of the few Korean temples built on the sea rather than in the mountains, and the steps down lead to halls on the rocks with the waves breaking below. From there we cross the city to Gamcheon Culture Village, a hillside of small houses built by refugees during the Korean War and painted in bright colours, and walk its lanes and stairways with your guide.
Afternoon
A short hop down the hill, about 15 minutes, brings us to lunch at Jagalchi, Korea's best-known fish market: choose fish, octopus or shellfish from the tanks on the ground floor and have it cooked for you upstairs. Afterwards we walk through Gukje Market's covered lanes and stop for ssiat hotteok, a pancake filled with seeds and syrup.
Evening
The rest of the afternoon is free, and in the evening we meet for a farewell dinner.
Included
- Haedong Yonggungsa early, before the coaches
- Gamcheon Culture Village with your guide
- Seafood lunch at Jagalchi fish market
- Walk through Gukje Market and a ssiat hotteok
- Farewell dinner
Optional experiences
- Busan Tower in Yongdusan Park
Easier option: At Gamcheon, stay on the main lane along the top of the hill instead of the stairways down into the village; at Yonggungsa, the view from the top of the steps takes in the whole temple.
Free time: Afternoon free
Activity: About 108 steps down to Yonggungsa and back up, and steep stairways at Gamcheon. Jagalchi has a few closing days a month, so departures are set around them.
KTX back to Seoul, or fly from Busan
Busan to Seoul Station by KTX and the airport train to Incheon, or Busan to Gimhae International Airport
- Breakfast
- Drive about 42 min
Your last day goes one of two ways, and you choose when you book.
Morning
Most guests fly home from Incheon: after breakfast our vehicle takes you to Busan Station, and you ride the KTX with your guide for about two and a half hours up the length of the country to Seoul Station. There your guide sees you onto the AREX express train, which reaches Incheon International Airport in under an hour, and says goodbye.
Afternoon
With a morning train you are at the airport around midday, so book an international flight leaving after about 3 pm. If you would rather fly out of Busan, a driver takes you instead to Gimhae International Airport (PUS), about 45 to 60 minutes from the hotel depending on traffic, at a time set by your flight. Either way, if you want to stay on in Seoul or Busan, ask us for extra hotel nights when you book.
Included
- KTX from Busan to Seoul Station with your guide, and the AREX express to Incheon International Airport (ICN)
- Or a drop-off at Gimhae International Airport (PUS) for flights from Busan
Activity: Flying from Incheon: book a flight after about 3 pm. Flying from Gimhae: any flight after about 10 am works.
- Seoul3 nights
- Jeonju1 night
- Gyeongju2 nights
- Busan2 nights
- Overnight stop
- Day trip
- By boat or train
Wildlife and weather: Spring brings cherry blossom in early April, often at its peak around Gyeongju's tombs and Seoul's palaces, and mild days through May. Autumn is clear and dry, with maple colour from mid October in the mountains at Haeinsa and Bulguksa to early November in Seoul. From November the palaces close an hour earlier, at 5 pm, so on November departures we adjust the day 3 timing (see day 3). Late June and July bring the monsoon rains and humid heat; winter in Seoul is cold and dry.
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Before you book
Right for you?
Good for you if you want
- First-time visitors to Korea who want Seoul, the old capitals and the coast in one trip
- Travellers who like history, temples and food more than nightlife
- Those who want to travel by fast train without dragging suitcases through stations
- Solo travellers who want company at meals and fair single pricing
Not for you if you want
- Step-free access: palaces, temples and Busan's hillsides mean steps, slopes and gravel
- A K-pop or nightlife trip
- Travellers who want Jeju Island; this trip stays on the mainland
- High summer travel in the monsoon heat
Book flights after we confirm your seat.
8 nights
Where you'll stay
Your hotels are named in your trip confirmation.
- Seoul3 nights
- Jeonju1 night
- Gyeongju2 nights
- Busan2 nights
One price
What's in the price
Included
Accommodation
- 8 nights: 3 in central Seoul near the palaces, 1 in a hanok guesthouse in Jeonju Hanok Village, 2 in central Gyeongju and 2 near Haeundae beach in Busan
- Central hotels of a 3-star-plus standard or better, named when we confirm your dates
- Rooms shared, or your own for a supplement
Transport
- Pick-up at Incheon International Airport (ICN) on day 1
- On day 9, the KTX to Seoul Station and the AREX express to Incheon, or a drop-off at Gimhae International Airport (PUS)
- KTX high-speed train from Seoul to Jeonju
- A private air-conditioned vehicle and driver for the group, which carries your luggage by road on the train days
- A transit card for the Seoul metro
Your guide
- A See Sight Tours guide with the group from arrival to the last morning
- A licensed DMZ guide on day 3
- Local guides at Huwon, the Secret Garden, and where other sites require them
Activities
- Seoul: Changdeokgung and a guided Huwon (Secret Garden) tour, Bukchon, Gwangjang Market and Gyeongbokgung
- DMZ: Imjingak and the Freedom Bridge, the Third Tunnel and Dora Observatory
- Jeonju: the Hanok Village, Jeondong Cathedral, Pungnammun, Omokdae and Gyeonggijeon
- Haeinsa and the Tripitaka Koreana halls
- Gyeongju: Bulguksa, Seokguram, Daereungwon and Cheonmachong, Cheomseongdae, and Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond at dusk
- Yangdong Folk Village
- Busan: Dongbaekseom and Haeundae beach, Haedong Yonggungsa, Gamcheon Culture Village, Jagalchi and Gukje markets
Meals
- 8 breakfasts
- 7 lunches, on days 2 to 8, including Gwangjang Market street food, Jeonju bibimbap and seafood at Jagalchi
- 3 dinners: a welcome Korean barbecue in Seoul, a hanjeongsik in Jeonju and a farewell dinner in Busan
Not included
- International flights into Incheon and out of Incheon or Busan
- K-ETA travel authorisation, if your passport needs one
- Travel insurance
- Lunches and dinners not listed above
- Drinks
- Tips for your guide, local guides and driver
- Optional activities: the National Museum of Korea, N Seoul Tower, the War Memorial of Korea, hanbok rental, the Gyeongju National Museum, a jjimjilbang, a Busan evening cruise and Busan Tower
- Personal expenses such as laundry and shopping
Extras
- Room of your own
- CAD 805 (estimated price)
When you can go
Dates and prices
Pick your start date when you request to book. We check that date and confirm it in your quote.
Prefer to travel without a group or guide? Ask us about arranging hotels, transport and city tours for you to travel independently.
Before you book
Booking terms
Nothing is charged now. Full terms and the cancellation schedule come with your quote, before you accept.
Business addresses
See Sight Tours Trips (USA): 3172 N Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89108, United StatesSee Sight Tours Trips (Canada): 5305 50 Avenue, #1091, Red Deer, AB T4N 4B6, Canada+1-888-961-6584Guest reviews
What guests say
Reviews from guests on our day tours.
Jane
October 06, 2026
5/5
Susan
October 06, 2026
5/5
Tom L
October 05, 2026
5/5
MandL83
October 05, 2026
5/5
Darren O
October 05, 2026
5/5
Good to know
Questions
What does the price include?
Eight nights in central hotels and a Jeonju hanok, 8 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 3 dinners, your See Sight Tours guide throughout, a private vehicle and driver that carries your luggage, the KTX journeys, airport transfers, the DMZ tour, and every entry on the plan, including the Secret Garden, Haeinsa, Bulguksa, Seokguram and Wolji Pond at night.
How big is the group?
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.
Who leads the trip?
A See Sight Tours guide travels with the group from the evening of day 1 to the last morning. A licensed DMZ guide joins on day 3, and local guides lead where sites require them, such as the Secret Garden. We name your guide when we confirm your dates.
How fit do I need to be?
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.
I am travelling solo. Do I pay a single supplement?
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.
When is the best time to go to South Korea?
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.
How does booking work?
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.
Can we travel privately or on our own dates?
Yes. Besides the small group, the trip comes as a private trip for your party only, on a date you choose, with a guide and vehicle for your party. If you would rather travel independently on your own dates, ask us from the dates section and we will quote the same hotels, trains and local guides.
Do Canadians need a visa for South Korea?
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.
What happens if the DMZ tour is cancelled?
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.
What is a hanok stay like?
A hanok is a traditional Korean house of wood, clay and tiled roofs, heated through the floor. Ours in Jeonju has a private bathroom in every room; beds are raised where the house has them, otherwise you sleep on thick mattresses on the warm floor. Shoes come off at the door.
Can I fly home from Busan instead of Seoul?
Yes. On day 9 you choose: the KTX back to Seoul with your guide and the airport train to Incheon, or a drop-off at Gimhae International Airport in Busan, about 45 to 60 minutes from the hotel. Tell us when you book so we can time your transfer.
See Sight Tours has been providing travel services across North America since 2006. Operating in 20 cities across Canada and the USA, the company specializes in small group tours that offer personalized, high-quality experiences for travelers.
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