Coast & culture.
Korea, in depth.
Busan to Seoul · 5 days / 4 nights
Begin where Busan meets the sea, then travel inland through royal Gyeongju, temple landscapes and Andong’s traditional village streets. Four nights in listed five-star hotels or similar bring a comfortable rhythm to a journey that ends among the mountains before returning to Seoul.
Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond — visit may be omitted with an Ulsan hotel substitutionFive days.
Layers of Korean heritage.
Four nights in listed five-star hotels or similar, with four breakfasts. The planned final stay is InterContinental Alpensia Pyeongchang Resort or similar—not a guaranteed specific hotel.
A different view of Busan
From Haeundae Beach and Haedong Yonggungsa Temple to Gamcheon’s hillside streets, discover a city shaped by both the coast and its neighbourhoods. Jagalchi Market and BIFF Square add the character of old downtown.
Time, beautifully layered
Gyeongju’s museum, Cheomseongdae, Seokguram and Bulguksa reveal different facets of Silla heritage. At Haeinsa, the story continues with the Tripitaka Koreana woodblocks.
Village streets to mountain paths.
Andong’s preserved houses and the scenery of Seoraksan provide a different perspective on Korea’s cultural landscapes. Four nights in listed five-star hotels or similar bring a comfortable rhythm to the route.
A story that unfolds
one place at a time.
See the actual route, overnight arrangements and included meals. Hotels are the listed property or similar, not a guaranteed named hotel.
A coastal beginning.
Join the scheduled hotel transfer from Busan Station at approximately 3:00 p.m. Arrangements for arrival at Gimhae Airport or other meeting points require separate confirmation; airport pickup is not assumed to be included.
After check-in, the evening is at leisure. This is an arrival day rather than a scheduled sightseeing day, allowing you to settle into Busan before the touring programme begins.
MEALS No meals listed as included today
Sea air, hillside colour,
royal reflections.
Explore Haeundae Beach and Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, then discover the layered hillside streets of Gamcheon Culture Village. Jagalchi Fish Market and BIFF Square introduce another side of Busan’s urban character.
Rice-cake making is offered only when there are at least eight participants. Continue to Gyeongju for a night visit to Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond. During peak season, if accommodation is substituted in Ulsan, this night visit may be omitted.
MEALS Breakfast included; lunch and dinner extra
Rice-cake making requires at least eight participants. Wolji night visit may be omitted if an Ulsan hotel is used.
The many layers
of Silla heritage.
After breakfast, meet the guide at 8:30 a.m. Begin a day devoted to Gyeongju’s heritage, visiting Gyeongju National Museum and Cheomseongdae Observatory.
Continue to Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple. The combination of collections, monuments and temple architecture gives the day its depth before the journey continues to Daegu for the night.
MEALS Breakfast included; lunch and dinner extra
Sacred texts,
living village traditions.
After breakfast, visit Haeinsa Temple in Gayasan National Park, home to the Tripitaka Koreana woodblocks. The temple setting offers a distinct contrast to the royal heritage encountered in Gyeongju.
Continue to Andong Hahoe Village, where preserved traditional houses bring the journey into a different cultural landscape. Travel onward to Pyeongchang for your final overnight stay.
MEALS Breakfast included; lunch and dinner extra
Temple traditions,
mountain perspectives.
The Woljeongsa temple programme and monastic meal require at least eight participants and are not available below that number. When the group requirement is met, the programme may include temple etiquette, a temple tour, walking meditation or conversation with a monk, together with a monastic meal.
Continue to Seoraksan National Park and Sinheungsa Temple. The Gwongeumseong cable car is an optional extra. Finish at Donghwa Duty Free, Gwanghwamun, Seoul, at approximately 6:00 p.m.; onward travel is at your own arrangement. Read the October walking and access advisory before booking.
The Woljeongsa experience and monastic meal require at least eight participants; minimum-two departure does not guarantee these activities.
What’s included.
- ✓ Four hotel nights in twin-sharing accommodation at listed five-star hotels or similar
- ✓ Four breakfasts
- ✓ Scheduled transfers
- ✓ Bilingual English–Korean guide
- ✓ Specified admissions
What’s additional.
- — International and domestic flights
- — Guide and driver gratuities
- — Lunches and dinners, except the conditional monastic meal when the eight-participant programme operates
- — Travel insurance
- — Optional activities and personal expenses
- — Single-room supplement, when requested
2027 dates.
Clear pricing.
Choose your tour start date
Dates are local tour start dates. Select a date to add it to your inquiry. All departures and fares remain subject to confirmation.
| USD per person | General | High season |
|---|---|---|
| Twin-share land tour | $1,849 | $1,949 |
| Single supplement | $400 | $480 |
Per person, twin sharing, land only. Add the applicable supplement for a single room. Child prices on request; all rooms and departures subject to confirmation.
High-season starts
8 Jul · 15 Jul · 19 Aug · 26 Aug · 23 Dec · 30 Dec, 2027
No departures
4 Feb · 22 Jul · 29 Jul · 5 Aug · 12 Aug · 16 Sep, 2027
Other scheduled Thursday starts are general season. No availability guarantee is implied.
Good to know.
Minimum participants for experiences
Minimum two guests for scheduled departure is not the threshold for the rice-cake or Woljeongsa experiences: those require at least eight participants. The Woljeongsa experience and monastic meal are not available below eight.
Wolji Pond visit
During peak season, an Ulsan hotel substitution may mean Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond are omitted.
October mountain access
In October, bus restrictions may require an approximately 3.6 km walk from C District Square to the Seoraksan park entrance. Traffic may prevent the park visit. Discuss mobility requirements before booking.
Hotels and substitutions
All named hotels are examples; the listed hotel or similar may be used. The InterContinental property is subject to confirmation and may be replaced by similar accommodation.
Optional arrangements
Seoul–Busan KTX before joining: US$75 per person. Gwongeumseong cable car: US$20 per person. Both are optional, not included, and subject to confirmation and availability.
Reservations and changes
Book at least seven Korean working days before departure. Changes require at least 14 Korean working days. Korean Standard Time applies; Korean weekends and public holidays are excluded. Hotels and routing may change for weather, traffic, local conditions or major events.
Gala Holidays cancellation terms
Cancel in writing to bill@galaholiday.com. At 60 or more days before departure, the deposit is forfeited; at 30–59 days, 50% of the total package price; at 15–29 days, 75%; and less than 15 days, 100% (no refund). Deposit amount varies by package. Unused services are non-refundable. Full Gala Holidays terms and conditions apply.
Photography credits
Ckdeo8282 · Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond — visit may be omitted with an Ulsan hotel substitution · CC BY-SA 4.0
lumoplank · Haedong Yonggungsa Temple on the Busan coast · CC0 1.0
Basile Morin · Bulguksa Temple, Gyeongju · CC BY-SA 4.0
Bernard Gagnon · Andong Hahoe Folk Village · CC0 1.0
Bernard Gagnon · Seoraksan mountain landscape · CC0 1.0
Bernard Gagnon · Gamcheon Culture Village, Busan · CC0 1.0. Images cropped for layout; seasonal appearance varies. Adapted CC BY-SA images remain under their respective original licenses.
Let the journey begin.
Gala Holidays · galaholiday.com · 1-888-666-1888