This tour is fully escorted by a dedicated tour leader who will accompany you throughout the tour. If your tour includes multiple countries, you will be met by a new tour leader in each country and any internal flights included will be unescorted.
This tour is categorised as 3 out of 5
Balanced exploration with walking tours: Our most popular style, this tour offers a good mix of planned activities and free time. Expect moderate daily walking tours, so pack comfortable shoes.
As a general requirement across all of our trips, you may be required to walk up and down stairs, get on and off transportation, handle your own luggage, and participate in all scheduled sightseeing that may be conducted on uneven ground and terrain. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability and where required, supporting documentation may be requested to ensure that we are comfortable that you will enjoy your trip.
✓ Incredible sightseeing including the buzzing metropolis of Seoul, Jogyesa Temple, Gyeongbokgung Palace, UNESCO listed Tomb of King Muryeong, Mt. Seorak National Park, and Busan
✓ 7 nights in central 3 and 4-star accommodation
✓ Airport transfers included on the first and last day of your tour
✓ Breakfast daily and 1 lunch
✓ Arrival and departure airport transfers
✓ Fully escorted by a professional English-speaking tour guide
✓ Comfortable, dedicated transportation throughout
✓ In-depth sightseeing and entrance fees as per the itinerary
✈ Needing international airfares to accompany your Inspiring Vacation? You will be able to access our flight portal after securing your package to add international airfares to your booking.
Travel with the experts for a carefully curated, value-packed discovery of the world's most iconic destinations. Our tours are bursting with must-see sights, rich experiences and quality inclusions, all at an unbeatable price. Bucket list dreams are ticked off on these all-encompassing journeys.
Welcome to South Korea! Upon arrival, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure, and you are encouraged to explore the city from your centrally located accommodation.
Check in: Passengers will be arriving at various times throughout the day. If arriving prior to standard check-in time, which is generally 3pm local time, you are welcome to leave your luggage with hotel reception and explore your surroundings until check-in becomes available, as there are generally no scheduled activities on Day 1 of the itinerary. The hotel may grant early check-in, however this is strictly subject to availability and at the hotel’s discretion.
Arrival airport transfers are included as part of your package. You will be met upon arrival at the airport and transferred to your hotel.
If Inspiring Vacations has not provided your international airfares, please ensure you provide your flight details via your Traveller Hub portal no later than 90 days prior to travel so that your transfers can be confirmed.
Please note: if you are arriving early and have made your own arrangements prior to your tour commencing, airport transfers will not be included. However, if you are purchasing pre-nights accommodation as part of your Inspiring Vacations package, airport transfers will still be provided to the starting hotel.
After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel for a full day of sightseeing in Seoul and the surrounding areas. Our first stop will be at Jogyesa Temple, the center of Korean Buddhism. We will then proceed to Gyeongbokgung Palace to observe the changing of the guard ceremony, followed by a visit to the National Folk Museum.
After lunch, we will head to the Korean Folk Village located on the outskirts of Seoul. Here, you will immerse yourself in the culture of the late Joseon Dynasty as we explore a village featuring over 260 different types of historical houses and buildings.
Inspiring Highlights
After breakfast, we depart Seoul and travel to Gongju. Here, we visit the UNESCO-listed Tomb of King Muryeong and the Royal Tombs. Dating back to 500 AD, the tomb complex was rediscovered in 1927 and provides insight into the Ungjin Period. We then explore the impressive Gongsanseong Fortress before proceeding to Buyeo, an ancient capital of the Baekje Dynasty.
Later, we journey on to Jeonju where we will spend the night at our leisure.
Inspiring Highlights
Special Information
Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours
After breakfast at our hotel, we proceed on our journey to Gwangju, the principal city of Honam, a region pivotal in the birth of the modern democratic movement in Korea. Here, we visit the May 18th National Cemetery, dedicated to those who participated in the Gwangju Uprising in 1980.
Our journey then takes us to Suncheon, where we will explore the Suncheon Bay Garden. Afterwards, we travel to Yeosu, where we take a tour of the contemporary port city before checking in to our hotel.
Inspiring Highlights
Special Information
Suncheon Bay Garden will be closed on the last Monday of every month staring from April and will be replaced to Suncheon Nakaneupseong Folk Village.
Your travel time today will be approximately 2 hours
Our first destination today is Jinjuseong Fortress, historically associated with the Japanese invasion in 1592.
Next, we proceed to Busan and visit the Jagalchi Fish Market, Busan’s largest seafood market, followed by a visit to Haeundae Beach and Dongbaek Park. Our tour then takes us to the historic coastal city of Gyeongju, where we check in to our hotel and have the evening free to relax.
Inspiring Highlights
Special Information
Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours
Today is a real highlight, starting with our first destination at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Seokguram Grotto. This religious site was constructed between 742 and 765 AD and remains significant for Korean and international Buddhists due to its ceremonial and artistic value.
Next, we visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Bulguksa Temple before heading to Andong Hahoe Folk Village, which preserves the housing architecture and village structure of the Joseon Dynasty. The village has naturally evolved with residents living there and gained global fame after a visit by Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain.
Afterwards, we continue to the scenic city of Pyeongchang, renowned for its stunning landscapes and as the host city of the 2018 Winter Olympics. Pyeongchang offers a wealth of attractions, from world-class ski resorts to captivating natural wonders.
Inspiring Highlights
Special Information
Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours
Today we visit the site of the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang.
Next, we head to Mt. Seorak National Park. The peaks of the Seoraksan Mountains pierce through the clouds, and jade-like water flows through the valleys, creating stunning vistas that make this Korea's most renowned national park. UNESCO designated this park as a Biosphere Preservation District in 1982 due to its abundance of rare species. You will have the option to take a cable car to the summit (additional cost) before we return to Seoul for our final evening in South Korea.
Inspiring Highlights
Special Information
Your travel time today will be approximately 2 hours
Today marks the conclusion of your remarkable journey through Japan and South Korea.
After breakfast, please join your included transfer to the airport for your flight home or continue on your own independent onward journey.
Special Information:
Departure transfers are included as part of your package. You will be collected from your hotel at the appropriate time and transferred to the airport to meet your flight.
If Inspiring Vacations has not provided your international airfares, please ensure you provide your flight details via your Traveller Hub portal no later than 90 days prior to travel so that your transfers can be confirmed.
Thank you for travelling with Inspiring Vacations. We hope you had a memorable experience.
This is a land only package.
This package does not include international airfares. If you would like to add airfares to your booking our flight portal will be available via your Traveller Hub. The flight portal will allow you to search for all available airfares to your destination. The function works like most general flight search engines allowing you to select your preferred airline, book different cabin classes (eg. Business class) and view flight durations and transit times to your destination.
The flight portal will be available via your Traveller Hub once the following criteria has been met:
Visit our Flight Hub for more information on terms and conditions, amending your flights and information on luggage allowances.
Some of our packages will include airport transfers in either one or both directions when arriving or departing from your destination. To know if transfers are included please view the ‘inclusions’ section of your selected package. If airport transfers are stated, transfers will be included as advised.
If transfers are not included, we also offer the option to book your airport transfers using our online portal. Access to this portal is available through your Traveller Hub once your booking is confirmed. Transfers are readily available and do not need to be booked until your final hotel list has been confirmed. Once you have made a transfer booking, please refer to your confirmation email for all transfer details including a local contact number for the transfer company.
If you book pre and/or post-tour accommodation on your own arrangement, and the tour includes transfers, note that these will be forfeited. The transfers are only provided in line with the tour dates and pre and/or post-tour accommodation purchased through Inspiring Vacations when available.
It is the traveller's responsibility to ensure they have a valid passport. The passport must be valid for a minimum of six months from the intended date of return. Visas may be required for your destination. For further visa information, click here.
Fitness Requirements
While the tour itinerary should give you some guidance and overview to the expected requirements, to determine if this tour is right for you we categorise each of our tours in terms of their intensity. These guidelines are to ensure that each tour group is conducted as expected and to ensure the overall satisfaction of all Inspiring Vacations customers.
As a general rule, porterage is not included, therefore at all times you are expected to handle your own luggage where help may not be available.
This particular tour is categorised as a”3”
3 – Moderate Tour: A good level of fitness and mobility is required, as this tour includes a moderate level of physical activity and is considered a medium-fast paced tour. You should be able to walk up and down stairs, get on and off the coach and able to walk reasonable distances of approximately 2 kilometres per day or more with ease. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability. If you have any form of walking aids, other than a walking stick or hiking poles, then this tour is not suitable.
Tipping
A friendly reminder that tipping is not included in your package. While tipping is not customary, it's of great significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels, inspires excellent service, and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across many destinations.
You may also consider tipping your tour leader and driver for outstanding service throughout your trip. Remember, a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.
Accommodation
The accommodation listed is subject to change. Any changes will be of an equal or higher standard. Bedding configurations (double or twin) are requests only. All efforts will be made to meet your preferences, but we can’t guarantee your request will be available at all properties.
Single travellers
When booking this tour, solo travellers will be presented with two options:
1 - Single Supplement
By paying an additional $1,045.00 per person, in addition to the twin-share price, you guarantee the privacy of your own room throughout the entire trip.
2- Shared Room with a known friend
If travelling together with a friend, you can opt to share your room with him/her and avoid paying a single supplement.
You and your friend can create a unique booking each. Creating a unique booking, gives each of you the flexibility of making different travel arrangements (such adding extra accommodation, flights, etc), make separate payments and have individual access to our Traveller’s Hub
During the purchase path, you will need to provide your friend’s booking ID (if known) or at a minimum, your friend’s full name.
Triple Share
Not available.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is recommended to protect yourself against the unexpected. In addition to the support that a policy may provide, you may be asked to present a copy of your travel insurance documentation while traveling.
Group Size
2-50people
Children
Children must be 5 years old or above and share a room with parents at all times. Children are charged the same price as adults.
Tour Style
To meet the needs of various types of travelers, we choose to operate various types of tours, and depending on your selected package will mean different services are provided throughout your trip. The following descriptions of each tour style we hope will ensure that each traveller has appropriate expectations before they start their travels:
All participants must be in good physical condition to fully engage in this journey. For the safety and welfare of yourself and fellow travellers, if you are feeling unwell prior to departure, we advise staying home and contacting us to arrange alternate plans.
Prior to selecting your trip, carefully review the itinerary to assess your ability to comfortably manage our travel style. Please be aware that if, based on evaluation by our leader or local representative, a participant is deemed unable to safely complete the itinerary, we retain the right to exclude them from all or part of the trip without reimbursement.
It is advisable to consult your physician for current medical travel advisories and any required vaccinations before embarking. We recommend carrying a first aid kit and any necessary medications in their original packaging, as they may not be readily available during travel. For those carrying medication, it's essential to check your government's foreign travel guidelines for local restrictions or regulations.
Click HERE for more information on weather in South Korea
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