Autumn Colors & Local Culture in South Korea - 10 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Seoul, Seasonal Colors Tour in Seoul Forest Park

Welcome to Seoul, the dynamic South Korean capital with more than nine million residents. Meet your driver at Incheon International Airport to transfer directly to your hotel, which is approximately an hour's drive away. Depending on your arrival time, spend the day exploring the city or resting after your journey. 

Head to the Insadong neighborhood to tour its tea houses, shops, and restaurants, walking along cobblestone streets lined with autumnal yellow ginkgo trees. Or, stroll through Myeongdong, a skincare and cosmetics hub, before tasting some of the city's best street food at Gwangjang Market while mingling with the locals. Take your pick from dishes such as dak gangjeong (fried chicken), mandu (dumplings), and kkochi (skewers). Then, see the city skyline views at Seoul Sky, an observation deck with a glass floor above the city. 

In the afternoon, visit the beautiful Seoul Forest Park for an introduction to Seoul's seasonal colors. A peaceful oasis at any time of year, the park is alight with oranges and yellows during autumn. Explore the lanes of autumnal trees, then stop by other attractions, including a waterfront marina, an art park, and forest playgrounds.

Day 3: Transfer to Sokcho via Garden of Morning Calm & Nami Island

Rise early today for a three-hour transfer to Sokcho, visiting some natural wonders on the way. First, you'll stop with your guide to explore the Garden of Morning Calm, which comprises 20 different gardens and is home to over 5,000 plants, including Korean winter hazel, katsura trees, maple trees, Japanese larch trees, and ginkgo trees. The abundance of color is spectacular every season, especially in the fall. Ramble along the paved paths, seeing the autumnal hues, then continue to Nami Island in the middle of the North Han River.

The famous Maple Tree Lane is ablaze with fiery oranges and burnished reds in the fall. Stroll along the riverside walkway and through the island's tree-lined lanes, featuring pine trees, ginkgo trees, and redwood giants. After exploring the forests and stopping at the charming pagodas, ride the island Gangchon Railbike along an old railway for adventure with a side of mountain and river views. Then, continue with your guide to Sokcho for the night, which is about two hours away.

Day 4: Visit Seoraksan National Park & Sinheungsa Temple, Transfer to Seoul

After breakfast at your hotel in Sokcho, explore the beauty of Seoraksan National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Preservation District, with a private guide today. Start by riding a cable car to Gwongeumseong Fortress Peak to view the park's diverse landscapes while your guide highlights the rare plant and animal species within the park. When you arrive, admire the scenic vista of Seoraksan, one of Korea's highest peaks at 5,603 feet (1,708 m).

Visit the seventh-century Buddhist Seoraksan Sinheungsa Temple on the mountain slopes and stop by the Tongil Daebul (Great Unification Buddha) statue, which symbolizes the Korean people's wish for reunification. Take photos of green valleys, flowing waterfalls, and rare flora and fauna throughout the park, which is beautiful in every season but particularly when set ablaze with autumn foliage.

Afterward, your driver will take you an hour from Sokcho to the Goseong Unification Observation Tower for sweeping views over the North Korean coastline, the rocky peaks of Geumgangsan, and far-off ocean islands. After you climb the tower, meet your driver for your return to Seoul, a three-hour drive away. 

Day 5: Transfer to Busan via Mungyeongsaejae Provincial Park & Film Village

You'll slowly start making your way to Busan this morning, stopping in Mungyeong to break up your journey. After a two-hour transfer, you'll arrive in this quiet town, once known for its coal mining. Your first stop of the day is Mungyeongsaejae Provincial Park. The tallest pass in South Korea, Mungyeongseajae Pass, is inside the park. You'll travel through dense pine forests, visiting three gates that controlled those who crossed over the Joryeongsan Mountain and in and out of the province centuries ago. 

Each gate, Juheulgwan, Jogokgwan, and Joryeonggwan, is uniquely beautiful and was initially built during the Imjin War in the 16th century. You'll visit each one, a round-trip loop that takes around four hours in total, while also stopping by the Mungyeongsaejae Open Set. The dreamy backdrop of these misty mountains and rocky landscapes, shrouded in trees, was the perfect setting for historical K-dramas like "Red Sleeve," "Kingdom," and "The Moon Embracing the Sun." Remnants of the sets, including a small hanok village, are still visible.

At the end of the day, your driver will take you three hours to Busan, South Korea's second-largest city, nestled between mountain ranges on the coast.

Day 6: Busan's Fall Colors: Beomeosa, Geumgang Park & Jagalchi Fish Market

Get ready for a jam-packed day exploring the best of Busan, starting at the ancient Beomeosa Temple from the Silla Kingdom. Discover the intricate gateways, pagodas, and halls situated on the slopes of Geumjeongsan, then follow your guide to Geumgang Park, where you'll hop a cable car for panoramic views of the red-hued forests. Then, you'll head to the Gamcheon Culture Village, with its colorful houses built up the sides of a coastal mountain.

Admire vibrant street art and indulge in the local treat, ssiat hotteok (pancake filled with brown sugar). Continue to BIFF Square, one of the best places in Busan, to sample the street food. The streets are lined with food stalls and vendors selling specialties like tteokbokki (simmered rice cake).

End your day in Busan with a guided visit to Jagalchi Fish Market, the largest fish market in South Korea. Trawl through its treasures, split between indoor and outdoor areas, from dried sea products to freshly caught seafood. Sample a range of fish, prawns, shellfish, lobster, and squid before returning to your hotel.

Day 7: Fly to Jeju Island, Explore Sangumburi Crater & Seongsan Ilchulbong

Start your day with a one-hour flight to Jeju, a volcanic atoll where you'll spend the next two nights. This island, celebrated for its natural beauty, citrus fruit, ancient cultural traditions, and temperate climate, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After settling into your hotel, join your guide on a full-day tour to explore Jeju's natural attractions.

Begin at Woljeongri Beach, a stretch of white sand near picturesque cafés, where you can enjoy the beautiful view with a cup of tea. Then head to the Sangumburi Crater, a National Monument that measures 2,100 feet (650 m) wide and 328 feet (100 m) deep. It's known for its many plant species, such as colonies of silver grass, which turn golden in the winter.

End your day at Seongsan Ilchulbong (Sunrise Peak), a peak that seems to emerge directly from the sea on the island's eastern side, for spectacular ocean and sky views. This rocky outcrop overlooks the island and can be seen from various vantage points around Jeju. Over 100,000 years old, the remarkable geological formation has a grassy crater at its center, and you can walk along its sheer cliffs. Afterward, head to Dongmun Traditional Market to try local specialties such as haemul ttukbaegi (hot pot seafood stew), hallabong (tangerines), black pork barbecue, and abalone porridge for dinner.

Day 8: Scenic Sights of Jeju Island

Day 9: Jeju Island's Gardens, Tea, Flowers & History Tour

Along with your guide, today will unveil more of Jeju's autumnal charms. Start the day at the Hangpaduri Hangmong Historical Site, where the Goryeo dynasty fought bravely against the invading Mongolian army. Visit the exhibit hall to learn more about the complex history of the site, see the remains of the former mud fortress, and soak up the surrounding fall foliage.

Continue to the beautiful Camellia Hill. This botanical garden is a definite highlight of Jeju's autumn and winter trips, with 6,000 camellia trees of 500 different species bursting into splendid colors during these months. Take your time to wander around the rows and rows of blooming camellias, and capture these flowers at their most beautiful as a souvenir of your memorable trip.

In the afternoon, you'll walk through paths dotted with bonsai trees, waterfalls, and ponds at the Spirited Garden. Afterward, travel with your guide to Osulloc Green Tea Plantation. You can walk the rows of fragrant tea bushes, admiring Jeju's largest green tea grower, before popping into the Green Tea Museum to taste a piping hot cup of tea and learn more about the harvesting process. End the tour with a tea ceremony, savoring a cup of fresh tea as you take in the panoramic views of Hallasan before returning to your hotel.