Tours to South Korea

South Korea occupies the southern half of the Korean Peninsula, bordered by the Yellow Sea to the west, the East Sea to the east and the Korea Strait to the south, with Japan a short flight or ferry away. Most trips begin in Seoul, where the restored Gyeongbokgung Palace and Changdeokgung Palace with its Secret Garden sit within walking distance of the hanok lanes of Bukchon Hanok Village and the tea houses of Insadong. Beyond the palaces, travellers explore the youthful streets of Hongdae, the riverside parks along the Han, the views from N Seoul Tower on Namsan, and day trips to the DMZ at the border with North Korea. The KTX high-speed rail network makes it easy to link the capital with the rest of the country in a few hours.

The southeast holds much of Korea's historical depth. Gyeongju, capital of the Silla kingdom for nearly a thousand years, is home to Bulguksa Temple, the Seokguram Grotto and grassy royal burial mounds. Busan, the country's second city, combines Haeundae Beach, the hillside Gamcheon Culture Village and the clifftop Haedong Yonggungsa Temple with Jagalchi, the largest seafood market in Korea. Off the south coast, volcanic Jeju Island offers Hallasan, the nation's highest peak, the crater of Seongsan Ilchulbong and the haenyeo women divers. Ten days to two weeks covers Seoul, Gyeongju, Busan and Jeju comfortably.

Spring brings cherry blossoms from late March to mid-April, and autumn, from late September to early November, delivers crisp weather and blazing maple foliage in mountains such as Seoraksan. Summers are hot, humid and wet during the monsoon, while winters are cold and dry, suited to skiing in Gangwon Province. Korean food is a highlight in itself: sizzling samgyeopsal grilled at the table, bibimbap from Jeonju, Busan's dwaeji gukbap pork soup, Jeju black pork, street-stall tteokbokki and the ever-present array of kimchi and banchan side dishes.