Discover South Korea

Arrive in Seoul. Time permitting and depending on the arrival time of the group, the leader will arrange a short orientation tour in proximity of the hotel. In the evening we have the chance to visit the Gwangjang market, one of the oldest food markets in Seoul, where locals meet after work to enjoy traditional foods and liquor. The market also sells vintage clothing and textiles during the day, but comes alive in the evenings when unique foods such as 'bindaetteok', a popular pancake with 'makkolli', the traditional Korean rice wine, are served.Bestwestern Premier Kukdo Hotel or similar

Today we will enjoy a walking tour of Seoul. We first head towards the Cheonggyecheon, an age old canal in downtown Seoul that was filled with concrete in the 1960's but reopened in 2005 in its original state. Continue to Tapgol Park, the central point of the Korean independence movement in 1919. From there, we continue on to Insadong, the artisan neighbourhood where traditional teahouses and souvenir shops are lined up in a cosy, welcoming atmosphere. After, we visit Jogyesa Temple, one of the most beautiful temple complexes in the heart of Seoul. At Gwanghwamoon you can admire the impressive statues of Admiral Yi and King Sejong; men who played vital roles in Korean history. The next stop for the day is at Gyeongbokgung Palace. Built by the Joseon Dynasty in 1394, this immense complex was the centre of power up to Japanese occupation at the start of the last century. At the Palace, we may see the changing of guards. Our last visit for today will be Bukchon Hanok Village which is home to hundreds of traditional houses, called hanok, that date back to the Joseon dynasty. (Please note that the order of these activities may change). Bestwestern Premier Kukdo Hotel or similar

Today we will have an excursion to Panmunjom, the only place on the peninsula where North and South Koreans can meet face to face. It was here that the peace treaty was signed in 1953 and where both parties agreed on a Joint Security Area (JSA) in the middle of the border between the two countries, also known as DMZ (Demilitarized Zone). After a short briefing by US army personnel you will enter the JSA; here you will visit Freedom House, the blue barracks sharing a conference room for talks between both North and South Korea, the visitor's observation post and the bridge of no return. En route you will enjoy a traditional Korean dish for lunch. Please note that due to government restrictions in place this excursion is guided by a local JSA specialised guide and not by your tour leader. Please also note that the Panmunjom tour may be withdrawn at any time and in such cases this trip will be substituted with visits to other key areas in the North/South Korean history, such as the Third Tunnel. We must also mention that some nationalities will not be permitted to take part in the tour (at time of writing this includes nationals from Afghanistan, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Pakistan, Sudan and Syria) and it will be more difficult to obtain permission for South Korean and Chinese nationals to join the tour. Strict rules are in place for DMZ tours and as such passport details must be provided in advance. For dual passport holders, please ensure you provide Exodus with the exact passport details you will be entering South Korea with (and will be required to carry on the day tour). During the tour, it is critically important that you follow instructions from military personnel and guides whilst on the tour. Please refer to the 'What To Take' section for information on required attire for this day trip May 2023 update: Please be advised that the joint Security Area (JSA) is currently closed, and could re-open at any time. Entry into the DMZ area itself is open and other key sites such as the Third Tunnel will still be possible to visit. Bestwestern Premier Kukdo Hotel or similar