South Korea: Seoul, Hanok Villages & Jeju Island — 9 Days

Arrive in Seoul and spend your day at your own pace. The city is navigated by public transportation and on foot. Use the morning and afternoon to rest after travel, acclimate to Seoul's train network, or locate practical essentials like supermarkets and ATMs. In the evening, meet your CEO and fellow travellers for a Welcome Meeting at the time and location posted in your hotel lobby or available from reception. This covers tour information and logistics. After the Welcome Meeting, join the group for a local dinner. Following dinner, your CEO will lead an orientation walk through central Seoul to ground you in the city's layout and key services. The walk takes you through Cheonggyecheon Stream, an 8.4-kilometre public waterway running through downtown Seoul, and Myeongdong, a commercial district with street food carts, shopping malls, and entertainment venues. The walk is approximately 1–2 kilometres and takes 45–60 minutes at a moderate pace on paved, level ground. Be prepared to carry your luggage through train stations and busy streets. Comfortable walking shoes are essential. You will depart Seoul tomorrow, though you will return later in the tour.

Begin with a free morning in Seoul before boarding a high-speed train to Jeonju, approximately 120 kilometres south, a two-hour journey. Upon arrival in Jeonju, enter Hanok Village, a historic district with wooden hanok houses along narrow lanes and courtyards. A guided tour (approximately two hours, continuous walking on uneven ground) covers Gyeonggijeon Shrine, Jeondong Catholic Church, the Korean Liquor Museum, and the Jeonju Handicraft Exhibition Hall. In the evening, sit down to a Hanjeongsik dinner—a traditional Korean multi-course meal with multiple small banchan (side dishes) representing different aspects of Korean cuisine. Optional activities include renting a hanbok (traditional Korean dress) and having your hair styled, or visiting the Hanok Village Craft Museum to try hands-on traditional crafts: hanji (Korean paper) shaping, pottery throwing, calligraphy, or decorative fan painting. These activities take 1–2 hours. You will stay overnight in a hanok guesthouse.

Depart Jeonju by private vehicle, approximately 120 kilometres (two hours) to Damyang-gun. Walk through Juknokwon, South Korea's largest bamboo forest, spanning roughly 150,000 square meters with interconnected trails on uneven ground. Allow one to two hours for leisurely exploration. The canopy creates noticeably cooler temperatures than surrounding areas. Continue by private vehicle approximately 50 kilometres (one hour) to Boseong-gun. Visit Daehan Dawon, a large-scale green tea field. Walk among planted hills on sloped terrain over approximately one to two hours. The site includes a tea museum, tea tastings, and green tea ice cream. Terrain includes slopes and uneven ground. In late afternoon, drive to Yeosu on the southern coast. Yeosu is a coastal city where mountains meet the sea. Optional evening activity: Pocha Street, a waterfront food court beneath the Yeosu Geobukseon Bridge featuring approximately 20 local food trucks serving regional specialties.

Start with the Yeosu Maritime Cable Car, a ride to Dolsan Island approximately two kilometres from central Yeosu, taking five to eight minutes. The glass-bottomed car provides views of the strait, coastline, and surrounding islands. Round-trip time is approximately 20–30 minutes. Head to Yeosu Art Land, where you will find large-scale sculptures and immersive installations. Walk through 3D illusion exhibits and stand within the Hand of Midas, a giant palm-shaped viewing platform extending toward the sea. The site covers approximately three to four hectares on level ground. Allow two to three hours at your own pace. Optional paid add-ons at Yeosu Art Land include the Extreme Swing and Ocean Skywalk. The afternoon offers free time. Optional activities include the Marina Yacht Tour (approximately one to two hours on the water, moderate cost), Aqua Planet, a four-level aquarium with diverse exhibitions (approximately two to three hours), and ARTE Museum, featuring 11 interactive media-based exhibits (approximately 1.5–2 hours). Breakfast is included. Accommodation is at Hotel Soo or similar.

In the morning, board a domestic flight to Jeju Island, approximately 450 kilometres, a one-hour journey. After lunch on the island, travel to Seongsan Ilchilbong (Seongsan Sunrise Peak), a UNESCO World Heritage Site created approximately 5,000 years ago by underwater volcanic activity. The well-maintained beginner trail spans one to two kilometres round-trip and takes one to two hours at a leisurely pace. Terrain is sloped but manageable for most fitness levels. From the peak, views extend across the ocean and surrounding landscape. Descend and proceed to a Haenyeo (women divers) live performance. These traditional breath-hold divers demonstrate harvesting techniques, surfacing with abalone, conch, sea cucumber, and other seafood. Following the show, you will have time to interact with the divers and optionally purchase fresh seafood. In late afternoon, visit Seongeup Folk Village, approximately 30 kilometres from Seongsan Peak, a 45-minute drive. The guided tour (approximately 1.5–2 hours on level ground) moves through restored homes, harubang (volcanic stone statues), and lava walls constructed from volcanic rock. Optional activity: Jeju Dongmun Market, a traditional market with local specialties including black pork, hallabong (Jeju tangerines), and fresh seafood. The market features the Red Lobster Fire Dance Show performed among vendor stalls. Allow one to two hours. Breakfast is included. Accommodation is at Hotel Skypark Jeju or similar.

Start at Hallim Park, a large botanical garden. The park contains themed sections with subtropical plants, bonsai collections, and palm groves on level ground. Two caves, Ssangyong Cave and Hyeonbae Cave, are accessible via short walks. A folk village is also included. Allow two to three hours total at your own pace. Head to Yongmeori Coast on the western shore. Walk the short coastal hiking trail up Mt. Sanbang to a temple situated on the mountain. The round-trip hike is approximately one to two kilometres on sloped terrain with stairs and uneven ground, taking one to two hours. Views extend westward across the ocean and the Hallim coastline. After lunch, travel to Cheonjiyeon Waterfall. A short walk through subtropical forest leads to a three-tiered waterfall cascading into a pool below. The walk is on level, paved ground. Swimming is generally not permitted. In late afternoon, proceed to Soesokkak Estuary, where pine forests, volcanic terrain, and freshwater streams converge with the sea. Board a guided boat tour lasting 45 minutes to one hour to navigate the narrow canyon and coastal inlet. Optional: Discuss with your CEO about hiking a portion of the Olle Trail, a 437-kilometre loop circumnavigating Jeju's coastline. Routes 6 and 7 are among the most popular sections, available as half-day or full-day hikes with varying terrain and difficulty levels.

In late morning, depart Jeju by domestic flight returning to Seoul, approximately 450 kilometres, a one-hour to one-and-a-half-hour journey. Upon arrival, settle into your accommodation before meeting your CEO for a brief orientation walk through the city. The walk covers practical essentials—supermarket and ATM locations, main squares—and takes you through Cheonggyecheon Stream, an 8.4-kilometre waterway threading through downtown Seoul, and Myeongdong, a commercial district known for street food carts, shopping malls, and entertainment venues. The walk is approximately one to two kilometres on level, paved ground, taking 45–60 minutes. The remainder of your afternoon and evening are yours to visit Seoul independently. An optional group dinner is available in the evening with your CEO and fellow travellers.

The entire day is unstructured. Visit Seoul independently according to your interests. Optional guided activities include: Gyeongbokgung Palace (built 1395), the main royal palace of the Joseon Dynasty. Over 50 percent of its original buildings remain standing or are restored. The complex includes the National Palace Museum and National Folk Museum. Entrance fee is approximately 3,000 KRW per person. Allow two to three hours. The Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), established in 1953, the de facto border between North and South Korea. Full-day guided tours are available from Seoul, requiring approximately six to eight hours total including transport. Insadong Alley, a narrow historic quarter with antique shops, art galleries, tea houses, and traditional restaurants. The alley spans approximately 600 metres on level ground. Allow one to two hours for walking. Bukchon Hanok Village in northern Seoul contains the largest cluster of privately owned traditional wooden homes (hanok) in the city, spanning 600 years of Korean residential architecture. The area features six restored alleys with small courtyards, decorative walls, and dark tiled roofs on sloped terrain. Allow 1.5–2 hours for walking. Your CEO can assist with booking tours or arranging transportation.

Depart at any time. Your CEO is available to assist with onward travel arrangements or extensions.