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Changing Ceremony of Royal Guards at Gyeongbokgung Palace, South Korea

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BEST OF SOUTH KOREA

From €1,874pp | 8 days / 7 nights | South Korea

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OVERVIEW
Best of South Korea

Guided Small Group Adventure Tour

8 days / 7 nights | South Korea

Ready for a unique travel experience? South Korea fits the bill and then some. On this eight-day trip, you’ll see the highlights in and around Seoul plus visit folk villages, unique Korean temples, and the bustling markets of Busan. Learn about the sombre history of North and South Korea and take an excursion to the Demilitarized Zone separating the two. This is the perfect snapshot of a country coming into its own as a top travel destination.

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PRICE & INCLUSIONS
Guide Price
€1,874pp

* We negotiate new offers daily, from discounted flights, tours and vehicle hire, to free upgrades, added value and unique inclusions.

What's Included
  • included

    Standard hotels (6 nts), temple (1 nt)

  • included

    7 breakfasts, 1 dinner

  • excluded

    International Flights

ITINERARY
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Day 1 - Seoul
Welcome to Seoul! As fellow travellers are arriving throughout the day, there are no planned activities until a group meeting at 6 pm. Check into the hotel and enjoy the city.

Day 2 - Seoul
Sit back and relax on a private bus and enjoy a tour of the bustling metropolis where modern skyscrapers, high-tech subways and pop culture meet Buddhist temples and street markets. Visit Gyeongbokgung Palace, the National Folklore Museum, Bukchon Hanok Village and Insadong alley.

Day 3 - Seoul/Gyeongju-si
After breakfast, board a high speed bullet train for a relaxing morning ride through the countryside to Gyeongju. Once the group arrives to this old capital city for 1,000 years, they will experience an overnight stay in a local temple. During the stay the group will learn about temple etiquette, watch a monk martial arts performance, experience the daily prayer ritual and a temple style dinner.

Day 4 - Gyeongju-si/Busan
Enjoy a peaceful morning meditation, martial arts practice, and drum and bell ritual before exploring in Gyeongiu. On the city tour visit to the UNESCO site of Bulguksa Temple located on the slopes of Mount Toham and admire the national treasures there, such as Dabotap and Seokgatap stone pagodas, Cheongun-gyo, and two gilt-bronze statues of Buddha. Enjoy a visit to Yangdong Folk Village, a 500-year-old UNESCO site located in Gyeongju National Park, to get a feel for life during the early Joseon Dynasty. Afterwards, experience the oldest surviving astronomical observatory in Asia, Cheomseongdae Observatory, and the surrounding Royal Tombs. After a great day in Gyeongju, travel by private bus to Busan.

Day 5 - Busan
Spend the day getting to know colourful Busan visiting the 14th century seaside temple hidden in the rocks - Haedong Yonggungsa. After exploring the temple, visit the colourful Gamcheon Culture Village, the bustling Jagalchi fish market, Gukjesijang market, and Yongdusan Park. The evening is yours to explore as you wish. Opt to take a see the Busan skyline with a nighttime yacht experience or ride the Coastal Monorail.

Day 6 - Busan/Seoul
In the seaside city of Busan, visit Haeundae Beach and Dongbaekseom Island, before traveling back to Seoul. After arriving in Seoul by train, check out Korea's oldest traditional market - Namdaemun Market. Then make your way by cable car to N Seoul Tower to see this beautiful landmark and opt to make the trip up to the observation deck. Spend the rest of your day in Seoul opting to see Banpo Bridge, the floating islands, or hanging out in the Gangnam district.

Day 7 - Seoul
Visit the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), founded in 1953, separating North and South Korea. With over a million soldiers on watch each day, it is one of the last remnants of the Cold War. With a buffer zone 4km wide and spanning 250 km long there has been very little development in the area, therefore nature and wildlife have pretty much taken over. Spend about 3-4 hours visiting the Demilitarized Zone, then head to The War Memorial of Korea. Later, return back to Seoul for another night in the city.

Day 8 - Seoul
Depart at any time.

FLIGHTS
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Flights

As we can offer you such a flexible choice of flights, we don't include international airfares with our tour prices. The price you pay will be determined by the time of year you travel, your departure airport, airline and availability.

Your Trailfinders Travel Consultant will be able to find the best flights to suit you and your choice of tour.

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What visas (if any) will I need?

We will advise entry requirements for any destination/countries booked through Trailfinders and this will be shown on the ViewTrail app. For information and assistance with entry requirements and travel visas, our team of visa experts offer fast and friendly service. Take a look at our visa pages, email visas-ireland@trailfinders.com or call on 01 881 4949 for more information.
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Where can I get government advice about travelling abroad?

For advice about travelling abroad, including the latest information on safety and security, entry requirements, local laws, travel warnings and more, visit the DFA's Travel Advice page.
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What vaccinations will I need?

This depends on where you are heading. For all the latest information on health risks and vaccinations you require for your trip, visit the DFA's Travel Insurance & Health page.
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What different travel styles do you offer?

  • Travel Pass: Explore at your own pace, with unbeatable flexibility. Our travel passes are a fun and budget-friendly way to explore a destination!
  • Small Group: Travel with a small and sociable group of like-minded travellers, with an expert guide to take care of all the details so you can focus on the fun.
  • Group: Don’t fancy going it alone? Join a sociable group tour for young travellers. Led by knowledgeable local leaders, these tours give you the chance to meet new people, see new places and have exciting new experiences.
  • Local Add on: Bring a destination to life with our selection of exciting local experiences.
  • Hostel Pass: Whether you’re backpacking in Australia or interrailing in Europe, Trailfinders recommends using Hostelworld.com for your accommodation – it’s a fast and easy booking system with over 16,000 hostels in 180 countries to choose from.
  • Working Holiday: Forget ‘living like a local’ and actually become a local! Working abroad is by far the best way to really get to know a place, to make new friends and fund more travelling. We have arrival packs in Australia and New Zealand to get you started.
  • Gap Year: The ultimate post-uni or career break! Spend up to a year travelling, embarking on exciting new experiences, meeting new people, making new memories, and having the time of your life!
  • Mini Gap: Wanting to travel but can’t stretch your time or budget to a full gap year? Our selection of Mini Gap’s are just what you need!
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Saturday & Bank Holidays: 9am - 6pm
Sunday: 10am - 6pm

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