Personalized trips to South Korea
for independent travelers

How it works
Chat with specialist icon Step 1
Tell us what kind of trip you want
Complete our quick travel quiz
Chat icons Step 2
Chat with a local travel specialist
Work out the details together
Credit card icon Step 3
Securely book your trip
100% satisfaction guaranteed

Travelers love kimkim

- ., traveled to in

Introducing South Korea

South Korea captivates travelers with its unique blend of traditional and modern cultures. This vibrant peninsula nation offers a diverse range of experiences from the bustling metropolis of Seoul, with its high-tech subways and pop culture, to the tranquil Buddhist temples and historic palaces tucked away in the countryside. South Korea's landscapes are equally varied and beautiful, ranging from the volcanic Jeju Island to the stunning Seoraksan Mountain peaks, and the scenic coastal city of Busan. Visitors can immerse themselves in the country's rich history in Gyeongju, sample local cuisine in a Seoul food market, or explore the art scenes in the rustic village of Andong. All these elements combine to create an unforgettable Korean experience that appeals to adventurers, history buffs, and food lovers alike.

Explore trips by duration: 5 days · 7 days · 8 days · 9 days · 10 days · 13 days · 14 days

South Korea Tours & Itineraries

Get inspired by trips other travelers have loved
Go for a ride in a Sky Capsule tram at the Haeundae Blue Line Park in Busan
Map of Best of South Korea: Seoul,  Andong, Busan & Jeju Island - 10 Days
Best of South Korea: Seoul, Andong, Busan & Jeju Island - 10 Days

Explore South Korea's cultural highlights and natural wonders on this 10-day itinerary. The adventure begins in Seoul, where you'll explore the urban culture and street food scene. Visit the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) next before continuing to historic temples in Andong. Discover the beautiful coastline of Busan, then fly to Jeju Island to marvel at the spectacular scenery and take in views from the country's highest peak.

Discover South Korean history and culture on a cross-country tour, stopping for views at Busan's Songdo Skywalk
Map of  Best of South Korea & Japan: Seoul, Busan, Tokyo & Kyoto - 14 Days
Best of South Korea & Japan: Seoul, Busan, Tokyo & Kyoto - 14 Days

See the best of South Korea and Japan as you cross the two nations by car, plane, and train. Learn about culinary traditions at busy markets in Seoul and Busan, then explore volcanic Jeju Island's gardens and mountains. Jet off to Tokyo for Mount Fuji views and pop culture, and ride a bullet train to Kyoto for a tea ceremony and hike before indulging in street food in Osaka.

Visit famous K-drama filming locations like Jeonju Hanok Village, with traditional buildings
Map of South Korea K-Drama Tour: Seoul, Jeonju, Gyeongju & Busan - 10 Days
South Korea K-Drama Tour: Seoul, Jeonju, Gyeongju & Busan - 10 Days

Immerse yourself in Korean drama on this 10-day tour of South Korea. You'll visit the country's most famous locations, featured on film, from Seoul to Jeonju, Gyeongju, and Busan. Marvel at the capital's Gyeongbokgung palace and N Seoul Tower, then discover European-themed villages and the UNESCO-listed Seokguram Grotto. More movie-worthy highlights include Jeonju's ancient hanok houses, Daerengwon Tomb Complex, and Busan's Gamcheon Cultural Village.

Explore K-drama filming locations like the sprawling Gyeongbokgung palace
Map of South Korea K-Drama Tour of Seoul - 5 Days
South Korea K-Drama Tour of Seoul - 5 Days

Experience a taste of South Korea's "Hallyuwood" as you hit the sights of Korean drama scenes on this five-day trip. You'll tour some of Seoul's most famous locations, which feature heavily in popular South Korean movies and TV shows. Visit ancient Gyeongbokgung Palace, Namsan Mountain, and the iconic N Seoul Tower—you'll even have the chance to ride rollercoasters at Lotte World. Head out of the city for more K-drama hotspots, from European-themed villages to the tree-lined parks of Nami Island.

Taste the flavors of South Korea from the islands to the city
Map of South Korea Culinary Adventure: Seoul, Busan & Jeju - 7 Days
South Korea Culinary Adventure: Seoul, Busan & Jeju - 7 Days

Explore South Korea's diverse culinary traditions from cities to islands on this seven-day tour by train, car, and air, from Seoul to Busan to Udo. Learn Korean flavors and ingredients in a cooking class, and explore the vast Gyeongbokgung palace in Seoul. Board a train south to Busan and then join locals at Jagalchi Fish Market, buying seafood cooked to order. Then fly to tranquil Udo for beach time and village life to end your adventure.

Damyan Bamboo Forest
Map of Discover South Korea's Western Coast Natural Wonders - 7 Days
Discover South Korea's Western Coast Natural Wonders - 7 Days

From bamboo forests to mountain summits, discover some of South Korea's natural wonders along the peninsula's western coast. Touchdown in Seoul and admire the extensive grounds of Gyeongbokgung palace before heading south to explore Taeanhaean National Park and soaring over Daecheon Beach by sky bike. After checking out the traditional houses of Jeonju Hanok Village and wandering Damyan's lush bamboo forests, you'll take in the extraordinary views of Jirisan National Park.

Make the Most of Your Time in South Korea

Have a fixed number of days? Maximize the things to see and do during your visit
Take in a pansori (genre of musical storytelling) performance of drums and singing
How Many Days to Spend in South Korea

A 10-day visit is recommended for South Korea. The small size of the country, combined with good roads, multiple domestic airports, and excellent public transportation, makes it...

South Korea Travel Advice

Read our detailed insights to make sure you have the best trip

Our Latest South Korea Content

See the iconic sights of Seoul and spend a peaceful night in the tranquil Geumsunsa Temple
Map of Signature Seoul & Geumsunsa Temple Stay - 6 Days
Signature Seoul & Geumsunsa Temple Stay - 6 Days

Experience the highlights of South Korea's capital, including an immersive temple stay, with this six-day Seoul getaway. See the traditional changing of the guard at the palace of Gyeongbokgung, learn about more recent Korean history at the DMZ, and take in the views from atop the iconic N Seoul Tower. Spend a night with the monks at Geumsunsa Temple, then end your trip amid the city's best cafés, bathhouses, and street food markets.

Indulge in savory pork bone hot pot with traditional Korean "banchan"
Map of South Korea Culinary Adventure: Seoul, Jeonju, Gwangju, Busan & Jeju - 13 Days
South Korea Culinary Adventure: Seoul, Jeonju, Gwangju, Busan & Jeju - 13 Days

Love exploring new cultures through your taste buds? You'll explore local markets in five different cities and learn to cook plenty of traditional dishes with this 13-day foodie adventure through South Korea. Start by following tantalizing smells and sizzling sounds in Seoul's markets and alleyways before moving on to the country's culinary capital, Jeonju. Continue making your way south, exploring seaside Busan, before wrapping things up among the tangerine groves and tea fields of Jeju Island.

Explore South Korea's UNESCO-listed sites, such as Namhansanseong, during this 10-day tour
Map of South Korea's UNESCO Treasures & Temple Stay - 10 Days
South Korea's UNESCO Treasures & Temple Stay - 10 Days

Discover some of South Korea's UNESCO-listed wonders during this 10-day journey. See palaces and temples in Seoul, make your own Korean name stamp, and learn some traditional recipes before admiring ancient relics in Gongju and Buyeo. Spend a memorable night at the Beopjusa Temple in Songnisan National Park before transferring to Gyeongju, South Korea's "museum without walls." Finally, return to Seoul via a walk along the ancient fortress walls of Namhansanseong.

South Korea Travel Maps

Get the lay of land, and understand distances between the places you want to visit
Map 2 Weeks in South Korea - 4 Unique Itinerary Ideas
2 Weeks in South Korea - 4 Unique Itinerary Ideas
View article
Map 10 Days in South Korea - 4 Unique Itinerary Ideas
10 Days in South Korea - 4 Unique Itinerary Ideas
View article
Map 1 Week in South Korea - 4 Unique Itinerary Ideas
1 Week in South Korea - 4 Unique Itinerary Ideas
View article

Meet our Local Travel Specialists

Experienced travel agents with a passion for South Korea
Travel specialist Jessica Wang
active 6 hours ago

Jessica Wang

My philosophy is that travel is about personal reflection and growth, about meeting people of different cultures, taking in the beauty of nature, and experiencing authentic activities. Let me know...

read more...
Travel specialist Christine Liu
active 9 hours ago

Christine Liu

I have a deep passion for exploring and traveling, as it allows me to encounter new cultures, meet new people, and witness the incredible diversity of our world. I have traveled to more than 30...

read more...
Travel specialist Lisa Sun
active 1 min ago

Lisa Sun

As a China English-speaking tour guide with 20 years of experience in the tourism industry, I have a deep passion for the travel profession and am dedicated to introducing China's rich culture and...

read more...

Related Destinations

Travelers who visit South Korea also visit these destinations

Why travelers love kimkim

Custom trips for independent travelers who are too busy to plan

Customize your trip with the help of a local travel specialist

Kimkim has handpicked the world’s top local travel specialists so you will have peace of mind and an unforgettable trip that meets your exact requirements.

Authentic travel experiences

Kimkim’s local specialists ensure that you will have the best experience based on up-to-date local insights. On top of that, the vast majority of your money will go straight to support and grow local economies.

Secure & easy booking

Once you are happy with the trip, you can easily book via kimkim’s secure payment platform.

Local support during your trip

You can always reach your local specialist with a quick message or call in case you hit a snag during your trip, or simply want some great local recommendations.

100% satisfaction guarantee
Kimkim offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you are not fully satisfied with us, we’ll work with you to make it right.
kimkim trips are 100% climate neutral
A portion of every kimkim trip goes toward the removal of carbon from the atmosphere. Learn more
BBB A+ rated

Kimkim is accredited by the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating.

Seller of Travel Registration number: CST #2136279-40.
Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California.

Trip Reviews for South Korea

The latest reviews by travelers who booked their trip on kimkim

AMAZING!!!! Jessica was amazing. She managed to understan...
South Korea | Oct 22 - Nov 4, 2024

Michelle
Michelle B.
Flagami, FL | Reviewed on Nov 08, 2024
Jessica was amazing. She managed to understand and follow up with all my requests. This was my first solo trip and I felt safe. I had wonderful guides. Mr Taylor Woo and William were amazing. Had a great vacation. Read more

Jessica was amazing. She managed to understand and follow up with all my requests. This was my first solo trip and I felt safe. I had wonderful guides. Mr Taylor Woo and William were amazing. Had a great vacation.

Hotel Reviews
Lotte City Hotel Jeju
Jeju

I wanted to share some feedback about my hotel experience, as it was unfortunately the only downside of my time in Korea. The hotel lacked room service and didn’t have an onsite restaurant, so I was left with only the convenience store onsite for meals—which wasn’t ideal, especially with the heavy rain preventing me from going out. The TV was outdated (not a smart TV, NO netflix or other apps), with only CNN available for English-speaking guests, and the staff’s limited English fluency made it difficult to get assistance. Additionally, there was a strong, overpowering smell of wood in both the hallways and the rooms, making the environment uncomfortable. I seriously considered changing hotels due to these issues.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
They took my shower cap and didn't replace it. NO hand soap. Only 2 large and medium towels. NO small, face towel.
Grand Josun Busan

Loved the location, the staff, the room and the food!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Soi Hanock Stay
Gyeongju

Very nice host and very clean! So relaxing!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
There is no on-site staff. The owner of the house is pretty accessible.
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Westin Josun Seoul

This hotel is great and has an amazing location. I had 2 situations. 1) there was construction and they had to relocate me to another room. 2) In The second room the A/C was not properly working so they had to move me again. Although I had to change rooms three times, the staff was very helpful and acted quickly. They tried to make me feel comfortable and well cared for.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Sightsee in Seoul: Gyeongbokgung Palace&Bukchon Hanok Village&N Seoul Tower
Sightsee in Seoul: Gyeongbokgung Palace&Bukchon Hanok Village&N Seoul Tower
Seoul

Mr. Woo was a great guide

Hwadam Botanic Garden&Gwangmyeong Cave tour
Hwadam Botanic Garden&Gwangmyeong Cave tour
Seoul

This was a group tour. They just drop you there and you walk and practically self-guide. If you want to do the Monorail you have to purchase ahead of time since it gets sold out quickly.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Petite France and Nami Island Tour (join in )
Full Day Petite France and Nami Island Tour (join in )
Seoul

Self guided. They just provide transportation.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Jessica Wang
Jessica
Jessica Wang
Local specialist in South Korea | Replied on Nov 20, 2024
Dear Michelle , Hope you are doing fantastic. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts! We're thrilled to hear that you had an amazing experience with me, Mr. Taylor Woo, and William during your trip. Your safety and enjoyment are our top priorities. However, we're genuinely sorry to learn about the challenges you faced at Lotte City Hotel Jeju. Your feedback regarding the lack of room service, outdated amenities, and staff language barriers is invaluable, and we'll be sure to pass it... Read more

Dear Michelle ,

Hope you are doing fantastic.

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts! We're thrilled to hear that you had an amazing experience with me, Mr. Taylor Woo, and William during your trip. Your safety and enjoyment are our top priorities.

However, we're genuinely sorry to learn about the challenges you faced at Lotte City Hotel Jeju. Your feedback regarding the lack of room service, outdated amenities, and staff language barriers is invaluable, and we'll be sure to pass it on to the hotel management for improvement. We appreciate you bringing this to our attention.

Regarding the tour experience at Hwadam Botanic Garden and Gwangmyeong Cave, we appreciate your insights about the self-guided aspect and the need to plan ahead for the Monorail. Your feedback helps us enhance the experiences we offer. We hope your future travels are filled with even more wonderful moments.

Wish you happy all the time.

Warm regards from Asia,
Jessica

Exceptional visit to South Korea organized by Christine
South Korea | Sep 28 - Oct 26, 2024

Mona
Mona Y.
France | Reviewed on Oct 31, 2024
As usual, Kimkim never disappointed me. Christine, my travel counselor, was amazing, professional, proactive and gave me recommendations on what to do and see.
Christine was continuously in contact with me during my month long trip in South Korea.
She organized 21 days of my stay, other days were my own planning, even so she continued to advise me.
In some places I joined group tours, which were very well organized. My private tours were in Gyeongju and Busan.
In Gyeongju, Jino was an...
Read more

As usual, Kimkim never disappointed me. Christine, my travel counselor, was amazing, professional, proactive and gave me recommendations on what to do and see.
Christine was continuously in contact with me during my month long trip in South Korea.
She organized 21 days of my stay, other days were my own planning, even so she continued to advise me.
In some places I joined group tours, which were very well organized. My private tours were in Gyeongju and Busan.
In Gyeongju, Jino was an amazing guide so knowledgeable and helpful, he was my private guide for my whole stay in Gyeongju and he drove me to Busan, where he was my guide the first day in Busan.
Another private guide was Lily in Busan was also wonderful.
All other visits were with group tours.

Activity Reviews
Korean Full-Course Meal Cooking Class at Local Home with Local Market Experience
Korean Full-Course Meal Cooking Class at Local Home with Local Market Experience
Seoul

An amazing experience, we learned to cook few local dishes. The cooking teacher was wonderful, perfect English, funny, and very efficient. We enjoyed what we cooked and the dishes were delicious

Quality of Experience
The cooking teacher
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Excursion to Korean DMZ + Suspension Bridge Tour (Join-in)
Full Day Excursion to Korean DMZ + Suspension Bridge Tour (Join-in)
Seoul

Fascinating visit to the DMZ. I went with a group, the guide Paul was a fantastic guide, passionate and knowledgeable. Thanks to him I learned a lot about the DMZ and the N and S Korea conflict and hopes for unification. A memorable visit in spite of the rainy weather

Quality of Experience
The guide was very knowledgeable
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Seoul Traditional Korean Folk Painting
Seoul Traditional Korean Folk Painting
Seoul

I missed the class because I mixed up the station name

Quality of Experience
Did not join
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Did not join
Transport
Did not join
Korean Folk Village / Suwon Hwaseong Day Tour from Seoul
Korean Folk Village / Suwon Hwaseong Day Tour from Seoul
Seoul

Very enjoyable experience learned a lot about the way of living in traditional villages

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Petite France and Nami Island Tour (join in )
Full Day Petite France and Nami Island Tour (join in )
Seoul

I enjoyed both visits tremendously. Nam island is very special and not to be missed

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Christine Liu
Christine
Christine Liu
Local specialist in Seoul and China | Replied on Nov 04, 2024
Dear Mona, Greetings from Christine.Thank you so much for your wonderful review. We're thrilled to hear that your experience with Kimkim exceeded your expectations. It's great to know that my proactive communication made your month-long trip in South Korea enjoyable. We're glad to hear you enjoyed the private tours in Gyeongju with Jino and in Busan with Lily. Their knowledge and support truly make a difference in enhancing the travel experience. We're also happy that the group tours met... Read more

Dear Mona,

Greetings from Christine.Thank you so much for your wonderful review. We're thrilled to hear that your experience with Kimkim exceeded your expectations. It's great to know that my proactive communication made your month-long trip in South Korea enjoyable.

We're glad to hear you enjoyed the private tours in Gyeongju with Jino and in Busan with Lily. Their knowledge and support truly make a difference in enhancing the travel experience. We're also happy that the group tours met your needs as well. Thank you for choosing Kimkim for your travel plans, and we look forward to assisting you on your future adventures.

Wish you a wonderful day.

All the best,
Christine

Taylor Woo was an exceptional private tour gu...
South Korea | Oct 22 - Oct 28, 2024

Jordan
Jordan L.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Oct 30, 2024

Taylor Woo was an exceptional private tour guide! We had so much fun exploring the city and learning from him.

Local specialist: Christine Liu
Christine
Christine Liu
Local specialist in Seoul and China | Replied on Nov 04, 2024

Dear Jordan,

Hope you are doing great.Thank you so much for your kind words.We're thrilled to hear that you had a great time exploring the city with Taylor Woo. He truly is exceptional at what he does, and we're glad you enjoyed your experience. We hope to welcome you back for more adventures in the future.

All the best,
Christine