CLASSIC SOUTH KOREA

Day 1 Arrive in Seoul

Arrive in South Korea's dynamic capital, where a private driver will be waiting to escort you to your hotel. The remainder of the day is yours to settle in at leisure. Your hotel is ideally located for discovering many of Seoul's highlights, though its peaceful garden terrace and excellent spa may tempt you to stay closer to home.

Overnight: Four Seasons Hotel Seoul

Day 2 Discover Historic Seoul

This morning, meet your expert local guide and private driver for a tailored introduction to the historic heart of Seoul. Begin with a visit to Gyeongbokgung Palace, the most majestic of the Joseon dynasty's royal residences. Set against Seoul's modern cityscape, the palace offers a captivating glimpse into Korea's dynastic heritage, with its sweeping tiled roofs, grand throne halls and ornamental courtyards where royal rituals once unfolded.

The second part of your tour takes you to Bukchon Hanok Village, a beautifully preserved enclave where centuries-old hanok houses line narrow, winding alleyways. Still a lived-in neighbourhood, it offers an intriguing insight into traditional Korean architecture and ways of life amidst the capital's fast-moving modernity.

Overnight: Four Seasons Hotel Seoul

Day 3 Tour of the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ)

Today, venture north of Seoul guide to explore the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) - a stark reminder of the ongoing divisions afflicting the Korean Peninsula. After passing through the military checkpoint, your first stop is the 'Third Tunnel', a covert passageway hewn through solid rock by North Korea during the Cold War. Descend into the tunnel's narrow depths for a first-hand glimpse of this extraordinary attempt to breach the border.

Continue to the Dora Observatory, perched on a hilltop with commanding views across the DMZ and into North Korean territory. On a clear day, the distant mountains reveal themselves, and with luck, you may spot the gleaming gold statue of Kim Il Sung standing sentinel on the horizon. As you return toward the checkpoint, travel through one of the few civilian villages remaining within the DMZ, where a strict sundown-to-sunrise curfew is still observed.

Overnight: Four Seasons Hotel Seoul

Day 4 Free time in Seoul

Today you are free to further explore Seoul at your own pace. Perhaps head to Insadong, a lively district offering a blend of traditional Korean culture and contemporary art. For a foodie fix, dive into the bustling Gwangjang Market - one of the best places in Seoul for traditional Korean street food. Perhaps end the afternoon in Myeongdong, one of the city's most colourful shopping districts. It comes alive in the evening with neon lights, late-night shopping, and tempting street food.

Overnight: Four Seasons Hotel Seoul

Day 5 Bullet train to Gyeongju

This morning you'll board the high-speed KTX Bullet Train to Gyeongju, a journey of just over two hours. On arrival, your local guide will take you on a discovery of two of the most important Buddhist sites in Korea.

Begin your exploration with a walk through peaceful forest trails to the Seokguram Grotto, a UNESCO-listed sanctuary carved into the slopes of Mount Toham. As the trees part, you'll arrive at a stone chamber where a seated Buddha gazes out in meditative stillness, encircled by exquisitely carved guardian deities. Continue on to the Bulguksa Temple, a masterpiece of Silla dynasty artistry. Graceful wooden pavilions and intricate stone work can be appreciated throughout the immaculate grounds, and your private guide will add deeper insight into everything you are seeing.

Your base for the next two nights is one of the finest hanoks in Korea, further adding to Gyeongju's unforgettable sense of place.

Overnight: Heritage Yuwa

Day 6 Explore Gyeongju

On your second day in Gyeongju your guide will introduce you to the rich history of this UNESCO World Heritage wonder, frequently described as an open-air museum. Begin at the Daereungwon Royal Tombs, a surreal landscape of grassy burial mounds where Silla royalty were entombed in hidden chambers designed to defy looters. Step inside Cheonmachong, the only excavated tomb open to visitors, where Persian glassware and golden relics unearthed in 1973 reveal ancient connections along the Silk Road.

Continue to the Gyeongju National Museum, home to a remarkable collection of artefacts spanning centuries of Korean history from the golden age of Silla right through to the foundations of modern Korea. The rest of the afternoon and evening are free for you to explore at your own pace or relax at your serene hanok.

Overnight: Heritage Yuwa

Day 7 Busan - Gamcheon, BIFF Square & Jagalchi

Take the short journey to Busan by road today, and begin exploring South Korea's vibrant second city with a local guide. Start in the colourful Gamcheon Cultural Village. Sometimes referred to as 'The Santorini of Korea,' this hillside neighbourhood unfolds in a cascade of winding alleys, vibrant murals, and quirky cafés and shops. Your guide will navigate you to the best viewpoints, and explain more about the district's wartime origins.

You will then descend into downtown Busan, where BIFF Square buzzes with the energy of Korean cinema, K-Pop culture, and irresistible street food. Continue towards the harbour to explore the Jagalchi Fish Market, where rows of vendors display an astonishing variety of fresh seafood. If you have worked up an appetite by now, you can enjoy your chosen catch of the day prepared straight in front of you.

Overnight: Park Hyatt Busan

Day 8 Busan - forest & coastline

Today, swap the city's energy for the stillness of Ahopsan Forest, a once-hidden grove of towering bamboo and fragrant hinoki cypress, untouched for centuries and only opened to visitors in the last ten years. Wander peaceful trails beneath the canopy, accompanied only by birdsong and the scent of cypress. Back in Busan, enjoy a relaxed walk along Haeundae Beach, then board a Sky Capsule at Blueline Park for a scenic ride along the eastern coastline, gliding from Mipo to Songjeong with sweeping views of sea and shore.

Overnight: Park Hyatt Busan

Day 9 UN Memorial Cemetery & free time in Busan

This morning, meet your local guide and learn the history of the Korean War at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Korea (UNMCK). The UNMCK is the final resting place for 2,320 UN soldiers that gave their lives during the three years of the Korean War, and is the only United Nations cemetery in the world. Visit the Memorial Service Hall, witness the flag-raising ceremony, and then spend some time in quiet reflection as you visit the UN Forces Monument, the Unknown Soldier's Pathway and the Wall of Remembrance.

The afternoon is free for you to explore Busan independently. If you are in need of some retail therapy, head to Shinsegae Department Store, which is recognised as the world's largest and has seven floors to browse as well an excellent basement food court. Within Shinsegae you will find Jjimjilbang, a traditionally styled Korean bathhouse where you can relax and soak in hot pools, steam rooms, and saunas.

Overnight: Park Hyatt Busan

Day 10 Bullet train to Seoul

This morning, board the KTX Bullet Train bound for Seoul where you will spend your final night in Korea. On arrival, you'll be transferred to your hotel where the balance of your day is at leisure.

You may wish to spend your free afternoon exploring Seongsu. This district has transformed from a semi-industrial shoe-making hub into a vibrant creative hotspot. Once home to hundreds of small factories, the area repurposed its red-brick warehouses into stylish cafés, galleries, boutiques, and pop-up shops - earning it the nickname, "Seoul's Brooklyn".

Overnight: Four Seasons Hotel Seoul

Day 11 Depart

Today it will be time to say farewell to South Korea as you are transferred to the airport in time for your flight home.

Overnight: Home