Experience Our South Korea

Our customized, private insider tours of South Korea feature our favorite places and experiences in the country.

Seoul food...

We arrange reservations for our travelers at the best restaurants in Seoul to dine on fine contemporary Korean cooking, exquisite Buddhist vegetarian cuisine and more.

Living like royalty...

Learn about life in the court of the Joseon dynasty while touring the most interesting of Seoul’s five former royal palaces, including Changdeokgung Palace and its Biwon (Secret Garden), a sublime compound of pavilions and ponds under the trees.

Contemporary architecture...

Tadao Ando constructed a notable art center of volcanic rock on Jeju Island. Zaha Hadid designed the landmark Dongdaemun Design Plaza, a complex of biomorphic buildings in Seoul. Interesting new buildings springing up around Seoul are by an up-and-coming generation of young Korean architects.

Beautiful seasons...

South Korea is a beautiful year-round destination, with distinct and colorful seasons. Look forward to cherry blossoms in spring, lotus flowers in summer, the bright leaves of ginkgo trees in autumn and a snowy wonderland in winter.

Go back in time...

In Gyeongju, visit ancient royal tombs, Buddhist temples and other major archaeological sites.

Did you know...

The South Korean version of the White House is called the Blue House?

Favorite shopping...

Traditional ceramics, wooden furniture, handmade paper and bronzeware in the Insadong neighborhood. Upscale fashions from designer boutiques in the Gangnam district. The latest pop culture trends in the lively Myeongdong neighborhood.

Families love...

Trying their hand at a traditional craft, dressing up in hanbok (traditional costume), exploring ancient palaces and visiting amusement parks such as Everland.

Kimchi for every occasion...

Korea’s fermented favorite comes in many different styles, including spicy napa cabbage kimchi, daikon kimchi, white kimchi and spicy cucumber kimchi. We can arrange a class on making classic kimchi and other Korean banchan (side dishes).

Baseball...

Is a passion in Korea. We’ll get tickets to the game, and then you can get in the spirit as the locals do, with beer and dried squid.

Korean art masterpieces...

During a private tour with a local expert, see fine Korean celadon, Silla-period golden crowns, Buddhist sculptures and other National Treasures at the best museums in Korea, such as the National Museum of Korea and Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art.

Local drinks...

Consider having us arrange a private tasting of different types of makgeolli (rice beer) or soju (distilled alcohol).

Hike a mountain or volcano...

We can organize guided hikes in the mountains around Seoul and on one of the hundreds of oreum (volcanic cones) on Jeju Island for a dramatic look at the geologic history of the island.

Traditional Korean design...

We can arrange access to the private Korea Furniture Museum, a complex of hanok (traditional wooden houses with tile roofs) that display hundreds of pieces of wooden furniture and illustrate the lifestyle of the Joseon period.

Family values...

Learn the importance of ancestor worship in traditional Korean culture at Jongmyo Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Seoul that’s dedicated to the spirit tablets of Joseon dynasty royalty.

Unexpected DMZ...

The Demilitarized Zone separating North and South Korea is essentially a huge nature preserve protected by the standoff between the two nations. Peer into it with high-powered binoculars along the border.

Hangul...

Korea’s uniquely rational written language was introduced by a 15th-century king. We can organize a lesson to learn the basics of reading and writing hangul.

Regional foods...

Jeju Island is famous for seafood, green tea, hallabong (mandarin oranges), black pork and horsemeat.

Traditional performances...

We can arrange tickets to a performance of pansori (traditional storytelling by a singer and drummer) or other Korean music or dance.