South Korea Highlights tour

Planet

This trip makes use of South Korea's excellent public transport system for environmental reasons, but also because it is fast, efficient and the most fun way to travel; all part of the Korean experience! In Seoul and Busan guides will take you on the local subway systems and bus networks to get between different sights. When traveling long distances between Seoul, Jeonju and Busan, you’ll also use the excellent KTX bullet trains, instead of flying.

In Jeonju your accommodation will be a hanok (traditional Korean house), which are now recognised for their eco-friendly credentials. Hanok is a sensible way of house building, using minimal resources and limiting negative environmental impacts. They are made using only natural materials such as earth, stone and wood. 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. As a result, the clay used for the floor and walls has an excellent humidity regulating capacity. Natural light shines into the room through the fine hanji paper used to cover windows and doors. The tightly intertwined fibers of hanji have small gaps, allowing air to flow through freely from both sides. Because of this, the room is properly ventilated without opening a single door or window.

South Korea is also big on recycling so look out for separate bins in your accommodations and outside convenience stores.

People

Wherever possible, we encourage you to spend time in local communities and interact with the people there to find out more about their way of life, traditions and cultural practices. This is often much easier when you have a guide to assist with language and cultural barriers, so we always ensure we use local English-speaking guides wherever possible.

Our guides are fantastic ambassadors for their own regions, whether it’s explaining the history, culture or food etiquette, but best of all, they act as a bridge to the local people you meet along the way. In Seoul and Busan, local guides will give you the lowdown on each city and really help you understand the culture and history of all the sights you see. For example, they’ll help you to access the ‘Secret Garden’ at Changdeokgung Palace and weave your way through local markets picking out the best Korean snacks.

Visits to lesser-known but culturally intriguing neighbourhoods are also included in between the more famous historical sightseeing stops, giving you an opportunity to meet more local people and hear their stories. You’ll also take part in a locally run cooking class in Busan, where chefs will be delighted to share their tips on how to make tasty Korean dishes back in your home country and share the delights of this proud food nation.