South Korean Express - 7 Days

Sunday. Welcome to Seoul! Airport arrival transfer to our city centre hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure.

Today we discover highlights of the nation’s charming capital on a guided tour. First stop is the grand Gyeongbokgung Palace which was once the main residence of the Joseon Dynasty and within the beautiful palace grounds we visit the National Folk Museum which focuses on Korean culture and history. We continue on to Jogyesa Temple, the centre of Zen Buddhism in Korea and nearby Insadong, a lively antique alley, lined with art galleries, antique, craft and pottery shops, traditional restaurants and teahouses. We then take a stroll alongside Cheonggycheon Stream which runs serenely through the heart of downtown’s gleaming sky scrapers. Our final port of call is the lofty Seoul Tower on Mt. Namsa, which provides spectacular panoramic views of the city from its observatory.

Seoul - DMZ - Seoul. We take an exciting excursion to the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) today, which is located 45km north of Seoul and acts as the buffer zone and border between the two nations of North and South Korea. Our private tour provides a fascinating insight into the events that resulted in Korea’s division and also includes a visit to Imjingak Park, built to commemorate those who lost their homes and families when Korea was divided and the 3rd North Korean Infiltration Tunnel. The tunnel, which is 1.5km in length and 150m below ground, was built with the intention of a surprise invasion by North Korea. You’ll also have the chance to peek into the reclusive north by visiting Dora Observatory situated on Mount Dora and visit Dorasan Station, once used for freight trains to travel between the South and the North. On the way back to Seoul the tour coach makes a stop at an amethyst or ginseng shop, for those who are interested.