$2699—South Korea: Palaces, Coast & a DMZ Defector Encounter
South Korea’s cities, coastline and history come together in one well-paced, considered journey.
Why We Love This Deal
South Korea rewards a journey that moves with intent. Seoul brings palace streets, hanok lanes, and big-city energy. Busan adds coastline, markets, and a city shaped by the sea. Then the itinerary does something most Korean tours don't—it pushes deeper. Gyeongju's royal tombs and UNESCO temples give the trip real historical weight. Andong and Hahoe Folk Village feel lived-in, not preserved for show. The DMZ comes last. It's structured, confronting, and hard to ignore. You'll meet a North Korean defector and hear the other side firsthand—few tours anywhere offer that. The 9-day tour includes accommodation, daily breakfasts, three dinners, and private transport throughout. Travelling with no more than 24 travellers is the difference between a tour and an experience. A professional English-speaking guide handles everything—you just show up and take it all in. Nine days. Four destinations. This is one of the most complete Korea trips we've seen.
Starting at just $2699 per person, Travelzoo members enjoy exclusive savings of up to 32%. That's an impressive saving of up to $1296 per person.
What's included
- 8 nights in 3 and 4-star accommodation
- Breakfast daily and 3 dinners
- Private transportation throughout
- Fully escorted by a professional English-speaking tour guide
- In-depth sightseeing and entrance fees as per the itinerary
When
The feature price is valid for travel on 8 departures from 27 October 2026 to 9 November 2027.
Book by 6 May 2026.
To find out more, see our partner's website.
Travelzoo tip: South Korea pairs naturally with Japan. We've negotiated exclusive savings of $3596 to $4046 per person on two itineraries worth considering.
The 25-day option ($8499) is classic Japan done properly. It extends your journey with Mount Fuji, historic castles, Shirakawa-go, a bullet train ride, an onsen stay and izakaya dining.
The 23-night option ($7899) takes a quieter route—distinctive regions, deeper cultural texture, less obvious choices. Both sit comfortably alongside the Korea itinerary without feeling overextended.
Holiday snapshot
Seoul - Busan - Gyeongju - Andong - Seoul - DMZ - Seoul
Itinerary highlights
You begin in Seoul, where royal palaces, traditional markets and neon-lit districts sit side by side, blending historic gates, hanok-lined streets and late-night food culture into one fast-moving city.
In Busan, the coastline defines the experience, from Haeundae Beach to Jagalchi Fish Market and along the harbour, where seafood stalls and ocean views shape the atmosphere.
Across Gyeongju, ancient burial mounds, temple complexes, and open parklands reveal the legacy of the Silla Kingdom, with key sites quietly scattered across the landscape.
In Andong, a traditional hanok village offers a closer look at Korean heritage, where wooden homes, tiled roofs and local customs remain part of daily life.
At the DMZ, the mood shifts completely, where observation points, tunnels and military boundaries bring the division of the Korean Peninsula into sharp, confronting focus.