Introduction to South Korea

(7 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis)
Seoul, Busan & Gyeongju

This private luxury tour of South Korea focuses on the country's most interesting cultural destinations. It includes flexible private touring with your own guide and driver, luxury accommodation, private transfers, first-class travel on the high-speed KTX train, and culinary and cultural activities that put you in touch with Korean culture.

Begin in Seoul, the fascinating capital of South Korea. During flexible private touring, visit highlights such as the Changdeokgung Palace complex—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—and its "secret garden." Learn about traditional Korean lifestyles while walking through Ikseondong and Bukchon, neighborhoods filled with hanok (traditional Korean houses). Stop for a cup of tea in a traditional teahouse in the Insadong neighborhood, and browse the best local shops for Korean antiques, textiles, ceramics, clothing and more. Visit Gwangjang Market, Namdaemun Market or one of the other vast markets dedicated to food, clothing, antiques, herbal medicine and more.

Discover the treasures of Seoul's best museums, such as the Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art, Korea Furniture Museum, the War Memorial of Korea or National Museum of Korea. Other options include visiting the Zaha Hadid-designed Dongdaemun Design Plaza, walking along scenic Cheonggyecheon Stream, touring Gyeongbokgung Palace and additional royal palaces, visiting the National Folk Museum of Korea, learning about Confucian traditions at Jongmyo Shrine, eating fresh sashimi at Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market, walking through trendy neighborhoods such as Myeongdong to see the latest fashions and pop culture (including K-Pop), visiting high-end fashion boutiques and restaurants in Gangnam, going to the top of N Tower, hiking in the mountains surrounding Seoul, stopping by top art galleries and visiting the vibrant Hongdae university district.

One evening, enjoy a culinary tour, and sample Korean street food dishes such as tteokbokki (chewy rice cakes in a sweet and spicy sauce), bindaetteok (fried mung bean pancakes) and irresistible hotteok (pancakes stuffed with brown sugar).

Next, travel by high-speed train to Gyeongju, which was the ancient capital of the Silla Kingdom for nearly a thousand years. During private touring, visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites and other highlights such as the Daereungwon tumuli complex of royal tombs; Bulguksa, a Buddhist temple dating from the eighth century; Wolji Pond; Seokguram Seokgul, a stone grotto temple; Cheomseongdae observatory; and Gyeongju National Museum, which exhibits gold crowns and other masterpieces of the Silla period. Other touring options around Gyeongju include Golgulsa Temple and the traditional village of Yangdong. 

Spend two nights in Busan, South Korea's second largest city and a bustling port town known for its beaches, surrounding mountains and temples. Enjoy private touring of the highlights of Busan, including temples, Dalmaji-gil Road and Jagalchi Fish Market.

Return to Seoul and, if desired, take a fascinating excursion to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and Joint Security Area (JSA) at Panmunjom.

Upon request, Artisans of Leisure can further customize this tour to include special interest activities such as a private Korean cooking class to learn to prepare kimchi or other typical Korean dishes, a private soju and makgeolli (rice wine) tasting, a strawberry picking activity or lessons in taekwondo. We can also arrange excursions to ceramics villages, folk villages, other UNESCO World Heritage Sites, amusement parks and hallyu sites.

Booking Information >

All Artisans of Leisure tours are private and depart daily.

Please Contact Us for more information regarding the above tour, or to begin customizing your own itinerary.

The Artisans of Leisure Style of Travel:

• Private touring with your own personal guides and drivers
• Preferred rooms in the very best luxury hotels
• Firsthand, sophisticated destination knowledge and recommendations from our travel specialists
• Itineraries that are customized according to your interests and schedule
• Artisans of Leisure upgrades and amenities
• A seamless travel experience, including all logistics, skipping lines during touring whenever possible, restaurant and spa reservations, performance tickets, private airport transfers, internal transportation, VIP and fast-track airport assistance in many destinations
• Around-the-clock support in each destination during your trip
• Unique, insider travel experiences and access to the Artisans of Leisure network of experts around the world