South Korea Highlights tour

Planet

This trip makes use of South Korea's excellent public transport system for environmental reasons, but also because it’s fast, efficient and the most fun way to travel. In Seoul, your guide will take you on the local subway systems and bus networks to get between different sights, and you’ll have a chance to navigate local transport yourself in Busan. When travelling long distances between Seoul, Jeonju and Busan, you’ll zip across the country on Korea’s world-class, high-speed KTX bullet trains instead of flying.

In Jeonju, you’ll stay in a traditional Korean house, hanok, now recognised for their eco-friendly credentials. Built using minimal resources and natural materials such as earth, stone and wood their construction limits negative environmental impacts. Natural light shines into the room through the fine hanji paper used to cover windows and doors. The tightly intertwined fibres of hanji have small gaps, allowing air to flow through freely from both sides – it’s no wonder Koreans describe hanok as ‘a house that breathes’. Unlike Western smooth-surfaced concrete, the red clay’s structure works as a sponge that absorbs moisture, so hanok have an excellent humidity regulating capacity.

South Korea is also big on recycling so look out for separate bins where you’re staying and outside convenience stores.

People

Our guides are proud cultural Korea ambassadors. They explain the history, culture, language, food etiquette, myths and legends as they take you around their favourite cities. In Seoul, this may be picking out the best Korean snacks in Gwangjang Market. In Busan, they’ll explain how Busan’s most colourful neighbourhood started life providing shelter for refugees in the 1950s Korean War.

Korea is famous for its food culture, and it goes beyond Korean Barbecue. In Busan, you’ll take part in a locally run cooking class, where chefs will share their tips and tricks on how to make tasty Korean dishes back in your home country.