Stories in stone.
Korea, revealed.
Jeju to Seoul · 9 days / 8 nights
Begin with Jeju’s coastal landscapes, then trace eastern Korea through Busan, Gyeongju, Haeinsa and Andong. Mountain scenery leads into Seoul, where a half-day DMZ excursion adds a contemporary perspective before a final day at your own pace. Land arrangements only: your flight to Jeju and the required Jeju–Busan flight are not included.
Haeinsa Temple in Gayasan National ParkNine days.
Past and present.
Six nights in listed five-star hotels or similar, then two nights in a listed four-star Seoul hotel or similar. Eight breakfasts included; all flights additional.
Begin with a different perspective.
Jeju’s tea culture, volcanic coast and women-diver traditions begin the journey before a required, separately purchased flight to Busan.
Places that hold their stories.
Haeinsa’s temple setting and Andong’s preserved village houses complement the royal and Buddhist heritage encountered in Gyeongju.
A final chapter beyond Seoul.
The half-day DMZ route adds contemporary history to the cultural journey. Carry your passport; access is conditional, and the route includes an Amethyst or Ginseng Center stop.
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.
Arrive on the island.
Meet your driver on arrival at Jeju Airport and transfer to your hotel. Check-in is available after 3:00 p.m.; the rest of the day is at leisure.
Your flight to Jeju is not included. Confirm arrival arrangements before travel, then use this first day to settle in before the two days of island touring.
MEALS No meals listed as included today
Tea, gardens,
and the southern coast.
After breakfast, begin at Hyupjae Beach, then visit Spirited Garden. Bonsai trees, stone sculptures and tranquil ponds bring a carefully composed contrast to the island’s open coastline.
At O’sulloc Tea Museum, turn your attention to Korean tea culture. Take the Sanbang Mountain Cruise and continue to Cheonjeyeon Falls before returning to your hotel. Lunch and dinner are outside the package.
MEALS Breakfast included; lunch and dinner extra
Island stories,
then a mainland chapter.
Explore Jeolmul Natural Recreation Forest, then visit the Haenyeo Museum and a live women-diver performance. Continue to Seongsan Ilchulbong’s volcanic scenery and Jeju Stone Park, where the island’s traditions are represented through stone.
Transfer to Jeju Airport for the required Jeju–Busan flight, purchased separately. A hotel transfer follows arrival in Busan. The flight is necessary to complete the itinerary but is not included in the land-tour price; confirm timings, taxes and baggage with Gala before booking.
MEALS Breakfast included; lunch and dinner extra
Required Jeju–Busan airfare is excluded.
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 activity requires eight participants; Wolji night visit may be omitted with Ulsan hotel.
The many layers
of Silla heritage.
After breakfast, meet the guide at 8:30 a.m. Visit Gyeongju National Museum and Cheomseongdae Observatory, beginning a day devoted to the cultural legacy of the Silla kingdom.
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 overnight stay.
MEALS Breakfast included; lunch and dinner extra
Mountain perspectives,
then the capital.
The Woljeongsa temple programme and monastic meal require at least eight participants and are unavailable below that number. When the 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, with the Gwongeumseong cable car available as an optional extra. Travel onward to Seoul and transfer to your hotel. This day includes the Seoul hotel transfer; review the October walking and access advisory before booking.
MEALS Breakfast included; monastic meal only with the qualifying eight-participant programme; other lunch/dinner arrangements extra
Woljeongsa programme and monastic meal require eight participants; hotel transfer in Seoul included.
A closer look
at contemporary history.
Your hotel pickup for the half-day DMZ excursion is at 8:00 a.m. Bring your passport. The route includes Imjingak, Unification Bridge and an ID check, the DMZ theater/exhibition, Third Infiltration Tunnel, Dora Observatory and Unification Village.
The programme also stops at an Amethyst or Ginseng Center; it is not advertised as a no-shopping itinerary. The excursion finishes at Seoul City Hall. Return to your hotel independently at your own expense. DMZ tours are closed on Mondays and Korean national holidays, and access remains subject to operational confirmation.
MEALS Breakfast included; lunch and dinner extra
Passport required. City Hallfinish; independent hotel return at your expense. Amethyst or Ginseng Center stop included.
Seoul, at your own pace.
After breakfast, enjoy free time before the tour ends. There is no further hotel night or scheduled sightseeing programme today.
Arrange your onward journey independently. Your airport transfer is not included, so allow time and budget for your chosen transport and any flight arrangements.
What’s included.
- ✓ Eight hotel nights in twin-sharing accommodation at named hotels or similar: six nights at listed five-star hotels or similar, followed by two Seoul nights at a listed four-star hotel or similar
- ✓ Eight breakfasts
- ✓ Bilingual English–Korean guiding
- ✓ Scheduled ground transportation, including the day 7 transfer to the Seoul hotel
- ✓ Specified admissions and the scheduled DMZ excursion, subject to access and operation
What’s additional.
- — All flights, including the initial flight to Jeju and required Jeju–Busan flight on day 3
- — Guide and driver gratuities
- — Lunches and dinners, except the conditional monastic meal when the eight-participant Woljeongsa programme operates
- — Travel insurance
- — Optional activities and personal expenses
- — Single-room supplement, when requested
- — Independent return from Seoul City Hall to the hotel after the DMZ excursion
- — Day 9 onward transport and airport transfer
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 | $2,799 | $3,099 |
| Single supplement | $960 | $1,260 |
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
6 Jul · 13 Jul · 17 Aug · 24 Aug · 21 Dec · 28 Dec, 2027
No departures
2 Feb · 9 Feb · 20 Jul · 27 Jul · 3 Aug · 10 Aug · 14 Sep, 2027
Other scheduled Tuesday starts are general season. No availability guarantee is implied.
Good to know.
Required flights
The required Jeju–Busan flight on day 3 is excluded from the land price, not an optional excursion. Your arrival flight to Jeju is also excluded. Confirm timings and full airfare, including taxes and baggage, with Gala; do not book independent connections before operator approval.
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.
DMZ passport and access
For the day 8 DMZ excursion, meet at 8:00 a.m. and bring your passport. The DMZ programme is closed Mondays and Korean national holidays; access is subject to operational confirmation.
DMZ shopping stop
The DMZ itinerary includes an Amethyst or Ginseng Center stop. The itinerary includes this shopping stop.
Seoul transfers
Day7 includes transfer to the Seoul hotel. By contrast, day 8 return from City Hall to the hotel and day 9 airport transfer are not included.
Seoul accommodation
The two Seoul nights are at The Link Seoul Hotel or similar, listed 4-star, not 5-star.
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
Korea.net / Korean Culture and Information Service · Seongsan Ilchulbong, Jeju · CC BY-SA 2.0
lumoplank · Tea fields at O’sulloc, Jeju · CC0 1.0
Bernard Gagnon · Gamcheon Culture Village, Busan · CC0 1.0
Basile Morin · Bulguksa Temple, Gyeongju · CC BY-SA 4.0
Bernard Gagnon · Seoraksan mountain landscape · CC0 1.0
Bernard Gagnon · Haeinsa Temple in Gayasan National Park · CC0 1.0
Staryu · View from Dora Observatory — access subject to operational confirmation · CC0 1.0. Images cropped for layout; seasonal appearance varies. Adapted CC BY-SA images retain their respective original licenses.
Let the journey begin.
Gala Holidays · galaholiday.com · 1-888-666-1888