Comprehensive 14-Day South Korea Trip

Framing Gyeongbokgung Palace, a historic Joseon Dynasty landmark.

What to expect on this itinerary

Our 14-day South Korea trip is a curated treasure trove of moments. It is an intimate exploration of a land where ancient dynasties can be felt in palace corridors and a vibrant future fills some of the world's most dynamic cities. From private audiences with master artisans in their secluded Seoul studios to chef-led culinary odysseys through bustling markets, your experience transcends typical travel expectations. It is a deep, sensorial immersion into the soul of South Korea that will connect you to timeless heritage and exhilarating modern luxury.

Countries Visited

South Korea

Places Visited

Seoul, Jeju Island, Busan

Suggested Duration

14 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Seoul - Arrival and an Immersion in Dynastic Grandeur

Your journey into the heart of Korea begins as you are met by your private transfer at Incheon International Airport and chauffeured to your serene luxury accommodation. Take time to settle in before your private architectural historian meets you for an exclusive tour of Gyeongbokgung Palace. Built in 1395, this is the grandest of Seoul's five royal palaces and a magnificent symbol of the Joseon Dynasty. You will feel the dynasty's power in the main throne hall, where kings held grand ceremonies. Your guide will explain the symbolism of the intricate dancheong paintwork, meant to protect the wooden structures while conveying royal authority.

Your evening unfolds within the intimate, paper-walled rooms of a restored hanok, or traditional Korean house, in the atmospheric alleys of Insadong. At a celebrated restaurant, you can experience the artistry of cuisine inspired by the royal court. The ambiance could exude understated elegance, with the soft glow of lanterns illuminating natural wood. Your meal might begin with the signature Bojagi Bibimbap, a delicate parcel of rice and vegetables encased in a thin egg omelet, with each course a testament to the balance and seasonality that defines Korean fine dining.

What's Included:

Transfer
Tour
Dinner
Day 2

Seoul - Experience an Artisan's Touch and a Taste of Tradition

Day 3

Seoul - Glimpse Across Borders and Retreat into Wellness

Day 4

Seoul - Feel the Pulse of the Modern Metropolis

Day 5

Jeju Island - Arrive at Volcanic Shores and Lush Fields

Day 6

Jeju Island - Explore Myths of the Earth and Flavors of the Market

Day 7

Jeju Island - Uncover Women of the Sea and the Fire of the Earth

Day 8

Jeju Island - Witness Dawn's Majesty and Nature's Power

Day 9

Jeju Island - Find the Spirit of the Island and the Art of the Earth

Day 10

Busan - Expect a New Beginning

Day 11

Busan - Uncover the Art of Community and the Craft of Style

Day 12

Busan - Visit Coastal Sanctuaries and Seaside Trails

Day 13

Seoul - A Final Busan Morning and Swift Return to Seoul

Day 14

Seoul - A Fond Farewell to Seoul

Trip Highlights

  • Experience the grandeur of Gyeongbokgung Palace, the Joseon Dynasty's main palace, with a private architectural historian after the daytime crowds have departed
  • Participate in a private, meditative tea ceremony in a traditional teahouse within the historic Bukchon Hanok Village
  • Create bespoke treasures in private workshops, including a session on traditional hanji papermaking in Seoul and a ceramic class with a master artist on Jeju Island
  • Explore the world's most fortified border with a specialist guide on a solemn, educational tour
  • Sail in luxury with private sunset cruises along Jeju's western coastline and past Busan's glittering Haeundae Beach and Gwangan Bridge
  • Explore Jeju's famous Dongmun Traditional Market with a local chef, culminating in a private dinner featuring the ingredients you helped select
  • Share an intimate meal with the legendary women divers of Jeju, tasting the fresh seafood they harvested from the sea that day
  • Witness the sunrise from the crater rim of Jeju's iconic "Sunrise Peak," a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site
  • Connect with Jeju's pastoral spirit on a private horseback ride along the coast, with spectacular scenery as your backdrop
  • Experience the serene and powerful atmosphere of Haedong Yonggungsa, one of Korea's few temples built on a rocky cliffside overlooking the ocean

Starting Price

$7,000 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

4.6

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 7 reviews

Kenneth A.
Japan, South Korea Vacation Review: History, Culture, Local Cuisine, 2 Weeks

The trip was fantastic. The communication with Zicasso's travel agency was excellent. Everything worked out as planned and all expectations were exceeded.

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Karen L.
South Korea Tour Review: Seoul, Cooking Class, 9 Nights

Working with Zicasso and the travel company was a pleasure. Both companies were responsive and listened to our travel goals and feedback as we worked through versions of our itineraries. The trip was wonderful and the guides, drivers, and assistants in South Korea were absolutely fantastic. The hotels were great and all planned events were what we were expecting. We'd definitely work with Zicasso and this travel company again. Thank you for helping to make our trip so memorable.

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Sunny M.
Japan, South Korea Luxury Vacation Review: 12-Night Tour

Zicasso’s company was very professional and responsive. Our tour operator was a great travel agent and organizer. I had never used Zicasso and was slightly anxious as this was a very expensive, high-luxury trip. The trip was amazing. It was a trip of a lifetime. I would highly recommend our travel company!

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Scott F.
Korea, South Luxury Vacation Review: Seoul, Incheon, Gyeongju-si, DMZ, Architecture, Art, Local Cuisine

We had an outstanding trip to South Korea organized by Zicasso’s travel agent. He was terrific to work and communicate with, very responsive, and knowledgeable.

He had the challenging task of organizing a full itinerary built around two business-related meetings in Incheon and Gyeongju-si, as well as coordinating my hosts.

The arrangements were perfect and the guides in Seoul, Gyeongju, and those on a day trip to the DMZ were impeccable, timely, and informative. Our guide in Seoul in particular was highly responsive to last-minute requests and a pleasure to be with. All vehicles were almost new and driving skills were excellent.

We saw a huge amount of Korea in only a week (plus two meetings) and it couldn't have been better. Bravo to our travel team, the guides, and the agency for a memorable experience in every way.

 

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Douglas B.
Review: Luxury Trip to Japan, South Korea & Taiwan, Tokyo, Kyoto, Mount Fuji, Seoul, Taipei, Culture & Art

We thought the travel company service was excellent.  Our travel planner was very responsive when ever we had a question.  However, we thought that our transportation around Kyoto should have been planned and charged for taxi service and not the crowded public bus.

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Rebecca V.
Japan & South Korea Travel Review, The Demilitarized Zone, Traditional Dress, Local Cuisine, Theme Park

We had a great trip and were matched with excellent guides at every step. The end result was great, but some of the planning was less than ideal. We were pushed to schedule some things infeasibly tight, were given bad advice on our interim international flight, and in general felt that we did not receive enough detail to go into our trip stress-free. Our final schedule document came quite close to our departure and had some logical inconsistencies. Our guides were able to smooth everything out on the day of, but it was difficult to decipher from the document we were given. Compared to a similar trip we'd taken earlier with another tour company, we were not impressed with the detail and accuracy of our pre-trip documents.

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

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