Highlights
- Recover from your flight with a red ginseng spa treatment in Seoul
- Walk along the wooded paths of scenic Nami Island on your way to Sokcho
- Soak in the open-air hot springs of Asan, South Korea's hot springs capital
- Pick your own tangerines and visit a tea plantation on the lush island of Jeju
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Seoul, Tea Therapy & Spa Treatments | Seoul |
| Day 2 | Highlights of Seoul, Myeongdong Street Food Tour | Seoul |
| Day 3 | Transfer to Sokcho via Strawberry Farm, Petite France & Nami Island | Sokcho |
| Day 4 | Visit Seoraksan National Park & Sinheungsa Temple, Transfer to Seoul | Seoul |
| Day 5 | Transfer to Asan, Relax in the Hot Springs | Asan |
| Day 6 | Transfer to Seoul, Fly to Jeju Island, Explore Dongmun Traditional Market | Jeju Island |
| Day 7 | Jeju Island Discovery: Hallasan Observatory & Arte Museum | Jeju Island |
| Day 8 | Woljeongri & Seongsan Ilchulbong, Tangerine Picking, Seongeup Folk Village | Jeju Island |
| Day 9 | Camellias, Tea, Museums & Scenery on Jeju Island | Jeju Island |
| Day 10 | Fly to Seoul, Depart |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Seoul, Tea Therapy & Spa Treatments
Welcome to South Korea! Touch down in the dizzying capital, Seoul, where your driver will be waiting to take you to your hotel. Get your first glimpse of this futuristic metropolis, a sprawling mass of towering skyscrapers set against decorative Buddhist temples, landscaped sculpture parks, and mazelike street markets. Fashion, tech, and karaoke loom large in Seoul, alongside historical palaces and museums.
After you check into your hotel, you'll embark on a wellness journey in Seoul, starting with a visit to the Seochon Tea Therapy Studio. Your first assignment is to take part in a simple consultation with a tea expert to determine what type of tea best suits you, depending on your physical condition and emotional state. Then, sit back and enjoy a relaxing cup of tea before you begin a foot bath experience. From here, you'll head to SPA 1899 Donginbi and take part in a premium spa treatment incorporating red ginseng oil to enhance your immune system and promote relaxation.
Day 2: Highlights of Seoul, Myeongdong Street Food Tour
Today, you'll discover the best of Seoul's culture and history during a full-day immersive city tour. After meeting your private guide, you'll go to the historic Gyeongbokgung palace, dating to the 14th century. Here, you can rent a hanbok (traditional Korean clothing) and learn about the ancient Joseon Dynasty. While here, watch for traditional ceremonies, like the changing of the guard, that occur daily.
You'll learn more about the Joseon Dynasty from your guide as you stroll through the picturesque Bukchon Hanok Village, with its small streets featuring traditional dynasty architecture, cultural centers, and museums. Then it's time for lunch. Enjoy authentic Korean street food such as bibimbap (a rice-based dish) or mungbean pancakes at Gwangjang Market before visiting Namsan Park, where a cable car ride or hike will bring you to the iconic N Seoul Tower for 360-degree views of the city and Han River.
Save the evening for a self-guided tour of Myeongdong, home to the best street food in Seoul. It's hard to go wrong with any of the tasty bites in this district, but a must-try is kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup), which is especially delicious paired with garlicky kimchi (fermented and salted vegetables).Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 3: Transfer to Sokcho via Strawberry Farm, Petite France & Nami Island
Leave Seoul today and begin your transfer to Sokcho, making several stops along the way. Visit a nearby strawberry farm where farmers use trellising and hydroponics to create the perfect environment for the year-round harvesting of this Korean favorite (although many argue they're still best picked in winter). Explore the farm and pick your own fresh berries for the long drive ahead.
Next, you'll travel to a French-style village, Petite France, built on the coast with typical French architecture. Wander with your guide around the charming wonderland inspired by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's "Le Petite Prince" and spot locations used several popular K-dramas.
Then, continue your journey to the famous Nami Island in the middle of the North Han River. Beloved for its spring cherry blossoms and autumn foliage, the island also becomes a snowy wonderland in winter. No matter when you visit, the charming pagodas and endless forests of birch trees, ginkgo trees, and redwoods are spectacular. Enjoy a stroll along a wooden riverside path before rejoining your driver to travel two more hours to Sokcho, where you'll check into your hotel for the night.
Day 4: Visit Seoraksan National Park & Sinheungsa Temple, Transfer to Seoul
Today, you'll discover the beauty of Seoraksan National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Preservation District, with a private guide. Start by riding the cable car to Gwongeumseong Fortress Peak to view the park's diverse landscapes and a castle ruins. When you arrive, admire peak of Seoraksan, one of Korea's highest mountains, and visit the historic seventh-century Buddhist Seoraksan Sinheungsa Temple on the mountain slopes.
Stop at the Tongil Daebul (Great Unification Buddha) statue, symbolizing the Korean people's wish for reunification, and take photos of valleys, waterfalls, and rare flora and fauna throughout the park, which is beautiful in every season. After exploring, you might like to hike the 3-mile (6 km) loop of the Biseondae Rock Course, which follows a stream along a picturesque valley to Biseondae Rock, a giant monolith etched with words by ancient poets. The moderate hike should take about three hours to finish.
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, return to Sokcho, where you'll stay the night.
Day 5: Transfer to Asan, Relax in Hot Springs
This morning, you'll meet your driver for a two-hour private transfer to South Korea's "Hot Springs Capital," the city of Asan. Here, you'll find the oldest hot springs in the country, the 600-year-old Onyang Hot Springs, with mineral-rich waters famed for relaxation and healing. Once you arrive, visit the Paradise Spa Dogo to relax your muscles and rejuvenate your body and mind.
Relax in the indoor and open-air baths, soak your feet in a flower bath, or sweat out toxins in one of the on-site saunas. If you're up for more experimentation, try an amethyst sauna, hydrotherapy, or a traditional therapy massage. You'll have the rest of the day and night to utilize the spa facilities and relax.
Day 6: Transfer to Seoul, Fly to Jeju Island, Explore Dongmun Traditional Market
Meet your driver for a two-hour transfer back to Seoul this morning, where you'll catch a scenic 1.5-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.
Settle into your hotel, then head out to explore Dongmun Traditional Market in Jeju City. This colorful, bustling hub is chock-full of mouthwatering food stalls, with octopus-stuffed mandu dumplings and the local specialty, black pork. Don't forget to grab hallabong (tangerine) themed souvenirs to take home, the symbol of Jeju.
Day 7: Jeju Island Discovery: Hallasan Observatory & Arte Museum
Day 8: Woljeongri & Seongsan Ilchulbong, Tangerine Picking, Seongeup Folk Village
Get ready for another day of exploring Jeju. With your guide, you'll first visit Woljeongri Beach, a stretch of white sand near picturesque cafés, where you can enjoy the beautiful view with a cup of tea. From there, head to the UNESCO-listed Seongsan Ilchulbong (Sunrise Peak), a large volcanic tuff cone that erupted from the sea over 5,000 years ago.
After taking in the incredible views, head to a nearby tangerine grove to pick some of Jeju's signature fruit that ripens in the winter season. Fill your basket with the fragrant orange fruit, then end the day at Seongeup Folk Village, a town of 3,000 thatched roof and lava rock homes passed down through generations. Learn folk songs in the local dialect, and see dol haruebangs ("grandfather made of stone" statues), which you can take home in miniature.
Day 9: Camellias, Tea, Museums & Scenery on Jeju Island
Begin your final day exploring Jeju and South Korea with your guide at Jusangjeoli Cliff. These otherworldly basalt rock formations on the island's south coast were created by lava from Hallasan that erupted into the sea of Jungmun. From here, stroll through a tranquil forest to the 72-foot-high (22 m) Cheonjiyeon Waterfall, which means "sky connected with land."
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.
Meet the adorable bears at the Teddy Bear Museum and end your day on the slopes of Hallasan at the 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 fresh tea and learn more about the harvesting process.
Day 10: Fly to Seoul, Depart
More Great South Korea Itineraries
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