- Learn about ancient and modern history in Seoul
- Spend a night and partake in ceremonies at UNESCO Haeinsa Temple
- Visit Panmunjom and the DMZ to learn how Korea was divided
- Discover Busan's bustling, colourful markets
- Be captivated by Korea's culinary delights
- Cherry blossom and autumn colours departures
Discover South Korea
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Essential Info
Weather
Korea has four seasons, with a wet monsoon/summer season in the middle of the year, and a cold winter from November to March.
We aim to avoid the coldest parts of winter and hot/humid summer and visit at the ideal times of year; spring (late March -May); view the cherry blossoms generally at the end of March/early April and autumn (September-November), with a stunning array of foliage colours, warm temperatures and clear skies. Average temperatures during these seasons range from 15 to 25 degrees Celsius. Whilst these are not rainy seasons the odd shower cannot be ruled out and evenings will be cooler.
Weather Charts
3 and 4-star hotels and 1 temple stay
During the trip we use mainly 3 to 4-star hotels with modern facilities and comforts.
One night will be spent in a traditional temple, where facilities are basic and shared. As it is a religious institution, rooms are twin/ triple/quadruple share basis with western style beds and assigned by gender so couples will not be permitted to share a room. The temple offers a unique program where you may actually appreciate the Buddhist monks’ life your own eyes, experience woodblock printing as well as Chamseon which is a traditional meditation method of Buddhism in Korea. You may also learn the Buddhist teaching by touring the small hermitages and temples around the Gaya Mountain with Haeinsa as its main temple.
2023 departures
Please be advised that the below accommodation is list of the standard hotels used for 2023 departures. However, there may be some departures where groups stay at alternative hotels of a similar quality.
Seoul (4 nights): Bestwestern Premier Kukdo Hotel
Sokcho (2 nights): Sea Cruise Sokcho
Andong (1 night): Park Hotel
Gyeongju (2 nights): Commodore Hotel
Haeinsa (1 night): Haeinsa Temple Stay (sharing room by gender)
Busan (1 night): Crown Harbor Hotel
Single supplements
Single supplements can be pre-booked for 10 nights of the tour at the hotel accommodation. These must be requested before departure and are subject to availability.
A single supplement is not available for 1 night of the tour at the Haeinsa Temple Stay.
Reviews
Add your own reviewInteresting tour
A varied and interesting tour combining a view of city life in Seoul and Busan with visits to National parks, museums, mountains, folk museums, temples, markets and much more.
Most Inspirational Moment
The overnight stay at Haeinsa Temple. What a privilege it was to observe life in the temple and to view Tripitaka Koreana. engraved on 80,000 woodblocks in the 13th century. The food was delicious, even though you had to eat it very quickly and it was good to experience eating a meal in silence. The views from the temple were breathtaking and the peace was sublime. I have read comments that have said that extra time in Busan would be preferable to the Temple stay. I disagree. I felt that the time in Busan was sufficient and would not have wanted to miss the Temple.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our group leader Michelle was wonderful. She was conscientious and in each area took us to interesting places to eat so we could experience Korean cooking in different regions.
Advice for Potential Travellers
The temple advice is outdated. The rooms we stayed in were twin rooms, the beds are comfortable and the rooms are warm which is good because the temperature is cooler in the mountains.
Suggestions
I was disappointed at the amount of single use plastic we were required to use if we wanted to stay hydrated. Of course I took a re-usable plastic bottle for my personal use but our guide advised us that we should not drink the water because although the water was safe, all the pipes were old pipes and the metal made the water unsafe (I presume she meant lead pipes). So people in Korea drink bottled water. We were provided with a 500ml plastic bottle of water in our hotel room each night but that is obviously not enough per day for a hot climate so we were obliged to buy lots of plastic bottles of water. On an Exodus trip last year there was always a large container of water on our coach for us to refill our bottles so we did not need to use the plastic bottles in the hotel.
korea review
Interesting trip to Korea . Initial few nights in Seoul then traveling gradually south until Busan and then back to Seoul night before trip end. trip includes a monastery overnight which , personally , I think could have been missed out . Spend the morning getting there and the monastery tour could have been covered as a day trip with an extra night in Busan instead . The meditation session was underwhelming and next day is very early departure. So you maybe spend 14 hours at monastery . It generally felt a “contrived” exercise ,although presumably its a revenue earner for the temple.
Most Inspirational Moment
Exploring a high tech yet little visited country .
Thoughts on Group Leader
Group Leader Michelle Kim was full of Korea information an dreadily shared it .
Advice for Potential Travellers
Be aware that koreans view eating out as exactly that , eating only. No starters , no desserts simply not part of the culture. Evening meal tends to be 19.00 with restaurants emptying out by 19.45 whereas we tend to view eating out as a social thing for several hours. Limited english in restaurants and hotels. No early check in at hotels , so if arriving on group flight in morning you have to wait until 15.00 to check in to hotel in Seoul . When using ATMs not all accept foreign cards, you have to ensure it has a visa symbol on it and may show a message confirming foreign cards accepted. This may mean a bit of a hunt for a suitable ATM, especially once out of Seoul .
Discover South Korea
Great trip, good pace, good variety of places visited
Thoughts on Group Leader
Michelle was a very good group leader. Very engaging. Gave us plenty of information and lots of interesting stories about Korean life, culture, and history.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Don't miss the fact that you need a K-ETA. All the focus was on covid requirements and this is easily overlooked
Suggestions
Trip notes are hugely inaccurate and need a complete overhaul. Visited places not in trip notes. Optional extras not available / practical. Option of hike or cable car on day 5 is incorrect - cable car is additional to hike, not instead of. Info about monastery accomodation is inaccurate. Amount suggested for lunch / dinner considerably overstated. Etc, etc Should put more focus on K-ETA. It is there in the trip notes - but not obvious. One couple had to apply after arrival at airport. Several others said only applied at last minute. I missed my flight. Should be included with extra info sent about covid requirements (which are actually no longer required). Some of our group charged £150 for airport transfer which is outrageous - airport bus is very efficient and £10 per person, local taxi is c£50
South Korea unmasked
As this is only my second group trip I have a limited experience with comparing these types of trips but I thoroughly enjoyed this experience. Our guide was knowledgeable and filled any gaps in our itinerary with valuable insightful excursions. All key sights were covered in the trip. Unfortunately we did not get to go to the JSA, however this did not detract from the the overall visit to the DMZ. The DMZ felt very surreal and to be able to peak into North Korea was an experience.
Seoul is your typical city, traffic included but the subway system is very easy to negotiate and cheap and clean. There are plenty of lively markets to immerse oneself into the culture and to sample various food on a stick. I would recommend catching the Nanta show. This was amazing.
The scenery was breathtaking especially in Seoraksan National Park and Jeju Island. For a country that had to completely rebuild it is amazing how the government was able to cultivate such wonderful green spaces.
The food on offer was second to none and I did not find the food too spicy at all, although when given the option I chose the least spicy option.
Most Inspirational Moment
The most inspirational moment was learning all the history behind South Korea. Admittedly I did not much about Korean history but I found the topic fascinating. It was uplifting to learn how through adversity the Korean people were able to achieve all they have in such a short space of time. It was not only the infrastructure that was rebuilt but the green belt too. The fact that the government even thought about constructing green spaces demonstrates how forward thinking a government can be. The temple stay was a highlight too, especially the conversation with the monk. It was interesting to hear about how an enlightened person thinks about the modern world.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Mirium was an exceptional group leader and she always recommended good restaurants that were not expensive. She was always providing us with background to all the places we were visiting and her in depth knowledge of the history was very compelling. I don't think I know English history as well as she knows her Korean history. What was also good given that we were visiting during elevated tension levels with the North, she not only gave us a daily briefing on what was on the news, as on a couple of days we had no access to English channels. She also offered an insight of the South Korean mindset regarding the North. She also made sure that everyone was accommodated and was willing to flit between restaurants to ensure everyone was able to order what they wanted. Her instructions on where and when to meet were very clear and I felt she went above and beyond her duties. At all restaurants she would recommend the items on the menu which she knew were the local dishes and good. This sort of knowledge is priceless.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Be prepared for a lot of walking on all types of terrain and eating good food.
An Unknown Country
There are very few British tourists visiting this lovely country and this Exodus trip was a good way of understanding the Past and the Present state of Korea. A visit to the DMZ gives you an understanding of the conflict between the South and the North.
The gardens and ordinary road-side trees are beautiful and the people are charming. There was absolutely no hassle from the local people or officials.
Most Inspirational Moment
Although uncomfortable by our standards, the Temple Stay was inspirational and an eye opener. We lived the life of a monk (but only for one night!) well away from the electronic world of some parts of Korea.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Minhe Kim was a petite and charming girl with an infectious and rather cheeky smile which made up for any shortcomings on her part.
Advice for Potential Travellers
This is a rather hectic trip involving two internal flights and walking tours as well as optional hikes. So make sure that you are reasonably fit and that your shoes are comfortable but sturdy.
Suggestions
The food was an interesting experience and to complete your experience you need to sample street food as recommended by your tour leader. If this is not to your tastes you could always have Western type meals or resort to Pot Noodle! Even Starbucks serve Pot Noodle and so that was not a facetious comment on my part!
A taste of Korea
I thoroughly enjoyed this trip & can recommend it.
This trip is not only a great introduction to Korea but a good way to visit Asia if you haven’t been to the Far East before as compared to other countries in this region, it is clean, safe, and developed.
However, to get the most out of it you have to be prepared to explore during your free time. This trip puts you in the position, by giving you the opportunity to see some wonderful things that are not on the itinerary. For example the Seoul Tower with the wonderful Season’s table all you can eat Korean restaurant, or the Sun Cruise Resort and surrounding area in Gyeongpo, a 20 minute taxi ride from your hotel.
Taxis are cheap and a good way to get round.
Budget wise I would suggest you allow about £20 per day on food. The food here is lovely but expensive.
Credit cards are widely accepted but I would take US Dollars or Euros to change into the local currency, the Won. I found it hard to change the Pound, with the only place being a handful of banks in the major cities. When you arrive in Seoul I suggest you change your money you need for the trip then, as changing it in other areas other than Busan and Jeju was difficult. Even though ATMs are widely available for debit cards, you have to look for a global one which we found difficult finding and it was hit and miss whether the card would be accepted.
You must have patience as service can be slow and language can be a barrier.
My main criticism is we didn’t have enough time in Busan; it was almost a fleeting visit, which doesn’t do the place justice. I would like to have more time there at the expense of the temple stay, which in my opinion added little value to the trip.
There was also too much emphasis on Buddhism. My biggest surprise coming here was the number of churches I saw, and finding out that they aren’t devoutly religious or follow one particular faith, just a mix of multi-faith and non-religious groups. For example, there are more Christians and other religions than Buddhists – for instance 29 % are Christian and only 24 % are Buddhist. With this in mind, I would like to reduce the number of temples that are visited by exploring the other faiths and learning more of the contemporary recent history that makes up this dynamic nation.
Highlights; (1) the big Yakcheonsa Buddhist temple in Jeju, which we allowed to freely photograph; (2) DMZ; (3) The museum in Busan, which explained in concise terms the history of this nation.
Low points; (1) Temple stay, which was a complete waste of time and added nothing to my understanding of Korea. This should be made an optional extra or cut out completely, with time better spent in Busan. (2) Not enough time in Busan and war memorial. (3) Too many markets and temples visited – only one or two would do.
Overall I can recommend this trip to anyone who wants a taste of Korea but to get the most out of it, you must have a sense of adventure and explore the surrounding area in your free time. 4/5.
Most Inspirational Moment
Going to the War Memorial and museum in Busan which puts into context the sacrifices made by the Korean people, This not only provided an excellent concise summary of contemporary Korean history but also to the complete history of this fascinating nation.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our tour guide was good, very professional, and always on hand to help. In particular, she made a number of excellent decisions on changing the itinerary because of the weather and on when and where we went to each place. Exodus would do well to listen to her when it comes to refining the itinerary for future tours.
Advice for Potential Travellers
See my comments about making the most of your free time in my Summary. To reiterate to get the most out of this trip you have to be prepared to explore during your free time. This trip puts you in the position, by giving you the opportunity to see some wonderful things that are not on the itinerary. Like I said, I can recommend this trip to anyone who wants a taste of Korea but to get the most out of it, you really must have a sense of adventure and be prepared to explore the surrounding area in your free time. 4/5.
Suggestions
See my comments about money in the Summary.
South Korea - a fascinating snap shot
This is a different and wonderful country which is very misunderstood. It has a lot to offer from the busyness of Seoul, the beauty of the National Parks to the amazing volcanic island of Jehu. I thought this country would be a mixture of Japan and China yet it is quite different. The culture is fascinating – when they are into something (such as coffee shops, hiking), they are into it big time yet the battle between tradition and western influence is fascinating to witness and observe in different areas in Seoul and in the rest of the country. Each area specialises in a different type of food (Kimchi always included) and this trip gives a great snapshot into different parts of South Korea from the cities (Seoul and Busan) to the DMZ to the countryside (national park and folk villages). This is not a very active holiday and there are not any long trips.
Most Inspirational Moment
The DMZ is fascinating in terms of set up and hearing the views of people affected. Jehu is a beautiful island - stay longer here if you can as although large, is a fascinating volcanic island with lots to visit. Seoul is like a usual capital city, busy but with lots to see (palaces and modern architecture) and lots of exciting districts.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Seony adapted well to the needs of the group and always was helpful and friendly when asked. I think the culture of South Korea is that they don't try to interact too much in free time during or after meals though.
Advice for Potential Travellers
There are 3 days where you have to sleep on the floor with thin or no mattresses. The Buddhist Temple stay is fascinating experience but it it no 3 star hotel! Visit now though as the balance between tradition and western culture and China is very apparent!
Suggestions
Out of the cities, there isn't a great amount to do in the evening. Also, there is quite a lot of free time on the trip for you to plan to do your own thing if there is something to do in that area.
Discover South Korea
A great two week trip around South Korea, Exodus’s first trip there. Fascinating places to visit, good food and transport and accommodation, giving a glimpse into a country that is definitely worth visiting, and a trip that covers the main sites. The itinerary worked well, some timings need tweaking and trip notes altering slightly. Just the one early start on temple stay and leaving day, some busy days, and sometimes quick turnaround between arrival at hotels and going out. The hotel we had in Seoul is away from some sites, but metro is nearby and cheap to use. On arrival there was no early check in booked or planned, so we did the market that morning. The rest of the day is free. I went to the aquarium and saw an underwater sardine play. Plenty to see in Seoul over the next few days. The JSA and DMZ are fascinating. There followed a busy trip – cookery school, National Park, the idyllic guest house, Temple-stay (go with the flow), Busan (more time needed here), Jeju Island (optional trip well worth doing), then back to Seoul for a last afternoon and evening. Food was great, cheaper than the trip notes, and lots of it, we enjoyed the bbqs. The autumnal colours were beautiful. Some great nights out in the singing rooms and snow flake desserts
Most Inspirational Moment
A highlight each day, for me - Jogyesa Temple, the food, the JSA, singing rooms, snow flake desserts, guest house in Gyeongju, ceremonies at Haeinsa, normal Korean life.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Seony had the patience of a saint at times, lots of information about each site, timings accurate, may have left the odd one or two people behind at times though. Very helpful with the evening group meal choices and translations.
Advice for Potential Travellers
I should know this by now but if you see it buy it. e.g. at Andong Village, and won't have time at Haeinsa Temple to buy anything there. Department stores are a bit posh with lots of assistants. Souvenirs, metro are very reasonably priced. Evening meals around £10, beer anything from £1.50 to £6 depending on where you are eating/partying. JUMP show in Seoul is very good, also optional Jeju trip. Not much free/down time, say first day in Seoul and the afternoon before departure day. Loads of coffee shops and convenience stores for snacks. I liked the BBQ meals. For cash need to use ATMs marked as Global, of which there are only a few but there's plenty of money exchanges around. The Temple-stay early morning is then followed by a very long day in Busan, sense of humour needed on this day. In Busan the hotel is a bit out of centre but plenty of places to eat and drink nearby.
Suggestions
Enjoy, go with the flow. I recommend this trip as a comprehensive trip to South Korea.
Start
Finish
Availability
Adult Price From
Optional Single Supplement
Sunday Saturday
17 Sep 2023 16 Sep 2023
Thursday Thursday
28 Sep 2023 28 Sep 2023
Availability Sold Out
Adult Price From USD 4,899
Optional Single Supplement +USD 910
Available upon Request
Availability
This departure is guaranteed to go ahead and is now fully booked, although we may have people holding spaces without payment. Please contact our Sales team for further information.
View Trip NotesSunday Saturday
15 Oct 2023 14 Oct 2023
Thursday Thursday
26 Oct 2023 26 Oct 2023
Availability Sold Out
Adult Price From USD 4,899
Optional Single Supplement +USD 910
Available upon Request
Autumn colours
Autumn colours
Availability
This departure is guaranteed to go ahead and is now fully booked, although we may have people holding spaces without payment. Please contact our Sales team for further information.
View Trip NotesTuesday Monday
26 Mar 2024 25 Mar 2024
Saturday Saturday
06 Apr 2024 06 Apr 2024
Availability Guaranteed (Available)
Adult Price From USD 5,349
Optional Single Supplement +USD 952
Cherry Blossom season
Cherry Blossom season
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSunday Saturday
14 Apr 2024 13 Apr 2024
Thursday Thursday
25 Apr 2024 25 Apr 2024
Availability Available
Adult Price From USD 5,349
Optional Single Supplement +USD 952
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSunday Saturday
12 May 2024 11 May 2024
Thursday Thursday
23 May 2024 23 May 2024
Availability Available
Adult Price From USD 5,349
Optional Single Supplement +USD 952
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSunday Saturday
15 Sep 2024 14 Sep 2024
Thursday Thursday
26 Sep 2024 26 Sep 2024
Availability Guaranteed (Available)
Adult Price From USD 5,349
Optional Single Supplement +USD 952
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSunday Saturday
20 Oct 2024 19 Oct 2024
Thursday Thursday
31 Oct 2024 31 Oct 2024
Availability Available
Adult Price From USD 5,349
Optional Single Supplement +USD 952
Autumn colours
Autumn colours
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesWould you like to include flights with your booking?
- ATOL protected
- Competitive flight prices
- Full refunds in the event of FCDO cancellations or major disruption at your UK departure airport
- Specialist support to rearrange flights and transfers
- Regional flights available from many UK airports
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Discover South Korea
12 Days from
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