Family Tour of South Korea

(9 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis)
Seoul, Gyeongju, Busan

This private tour is the perfect family tour of South Korea. It includes flexible private touring with your own guide and driver, luxury accommodation, private transfers, first-class travel on the high-speed KTX train, and culinary and cultural family-friendly activities and excursions that put your family in touch with Korean culture.

Begin in Seoul, the fascinating capital of South Korea. During flexible private touring, visit highlights such as the Changdeokgung Palace complex—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—and its "secret garden." Learn about traditional Korean lifestyles while walking through Ikseondong and Bukchon, neighborhoods filled with hanok (traditional Korean houses). Stop for a cup of tea in a traditional teahouse in the Insadong neighborhood, and browse the best local shops for Korean antiques, textiles, ceramics, clothing and more. Visit Gwangjang Market, Namdaemun Market or one of the other vast markets dedicated to food, clothing, antiques, herbal medicine and more. Walk through trendy neighborhoods such as Myeongdong to see the latest fashions and pop culture (including K-Pop). A K-pop dance lesson or tickets to a K-pop hologram performance can be arranged on request.

Discover the treasures of Seoul's best museums, such as the Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art, Korea Furniture Museum, the War Memorial of Korea or National Museum of Korea. Other options include visiting the Zaha Hadid-designed Dongdaemun Design Plaza, walking along scenic Cheonggyecheon Stream, touring Gyeongbokgung Palace and additional royal palaces, visiting the National Folk Museum of Korea, learning about Confucian traditions at Jongmyo Shrine, eating fresh sashimi at Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market, visiting high-end fashion boutiques and restaurants in Gangnam, going to the top of N Tower, hiking in the mountains surrounding Seoul, stopping by top art galleries and visiting the vibrant Hongdae university district. 

One day, enjoy a private excursion to the Korean Folk Village. Learn about authentic traditional architecture, craftsmanship and rituals while enjoying performances and participating in activities such as weaving, pottery and paper making. Also visit Hwaseong Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Suwon, or Everland, Korea's largest and most popular amusement park. Alternatively, take a fascinating excursion to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and Joint Security Area (JSA) at Panmunjom.

Next, travel by high-speed train to Gyeongju, which was the ancient capital of the Silla Kingdom for nearly a thousand years. During private touring, visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites and other highlights such as the Daereungwon tumuli complex of royal tombs; Bulguksa, a Buddhist temple dating from the eighth century; Wolji Pond; Seokguram Seokgul, a stone grotto temple; Cheomseongdae observatory; and Gyeongju National Museum, which exhibits gold crowns and other masterpieces of the Silla period. Other touring options around Gyeongju include Golgulsa Temple and the traditional village of Yangdong. 

Continue to Busan, a bustling port town that’s South Korea's second largest city. During private touring, visit highlights of Busan, such as Jagalchi Fish Market, the largest fish market in Korea; Huinnyeoul Culture Village, a charming coastal village; and Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, an important Buddhist temple on the waterfront. Also, opt to take a hike in the hills outside of the city. Other options include riding the Busan Air Cruise for scenic views over beaches and the sea and shopping at Shinsegae or Lotte Department Store Centum City, among the world’s largest department stores.

Return to Seoul and continue private touring and shopping according to your interests. Also enjoy a culinary tour, and sample Korean street food dishes such as tteokbokki (chewy rice cakes in a sweet and spicy sauce), bindaetteok (fried mung bean pancakes) and irresistible hotteok (pancakes stuffed with brown sugar).

Upon request, Artisans of Leisure can further customize this tour to include special interest activities such as a private Korean cooking class to learn to prepare kimchi or other typical Korean dishes, a private soju and makgeolli (rice wine) tasting, a strawberry picking activity or lessons in taekwondo. We can also arrange excursions to ceramics villages, other UNESCO World Heritage Sites, hallyu sites and other destinations outside Seoul.