10-Day South Korea Cultural Tour

Women in hanbok stroll through the traditional-style homes in Seoul’s village.

What to expect on this itinerary

Zicasso’s 10-day cultural South Korea tour is a series of profound, private encounters with the nation’s heritage at heart. A graceful dialogue between the grandeur of ancient dynasties and the vibrant energy of avant-garde modernity, witness the volcanic peak of a sacred mountain, wander through subterranean majesty in a lava tube, and experience the quiet intensity of a master artisan crafting in their private studio. Through exclusive access and curated insights, you will have an intimate connection to the places, philosophies, and people that define the spirit of South Korea.

Countries Visited

South Korea

Places Visited

Seoul, Gyeongju, Jeju Island

Suggested Duration

10 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Seoul - Arrive In an Overture of Light and Flavor from the City's Apex

Upon your arrival at Incheon International Airport, a private transfer will escort you to your luxury accommodations. As twilight approaches, your immersion begins. Your private car will convey you to the base of Namsan Mountain, where pre-arranged access allows you to bypass the public queues for the cable car, ensuring a seamless and tranquil ascent. As you glide upwards, the sprawling city takes shape over the Han River, the distant mountains, and height of N Seoul Tower.

At the tower’s highest point, you are personally welcomed to a fine-dining restaurant renowned for its romantic ambiance and unparalleled views. Your table awaits within the slowly revolving dining room, for an ever-changing, 360-degree panorama of Seoul. The atmosphere is one of refined intimacy, where the clinking of fine crystal and hushed conversation create the perfect setting for your first night. Savor an exquisite French-inspired dinner, with signature dishes such as Korean beef sirloin or delicate lobster, each plate a work of culinary art.

Following dinner, descend back into the city to explore Seoul’s sophisticated dessert culture. Your destination is a premium dessert emporium in the chic neighborhood. The air is rich with aromas of fresh-baked bread, fine chocolate, and artisanal coffee.

What's Included:

Transfer
Activity
Dinner
Day 2

Seoul - Listen for Whispers of the Past in Hanok Alleys and an Artisan's Studio

Day 3

Seoul - Follow the Echoes of a Dynasty in Stone and Memory

Day 4

Seoul - Explore the Dialogue Between Ancient Treasures and Contemporary Vision

Day 5

Seoul - Journey to the Edge of a Divided Nation

Day 6

Gyeongju - Enter the Serene Kingdom of Silla's Grassy Tombs

Day 7

Gyeongju - Find the Radiance of Gold Crowns and the Sanctity of a Mountain Temple

Day 8

Jeju Island - Ascend a Volcano and Dine with the Women of the Sea

Day 9

Jeju Island - Journey to the Center of the Earth and Greet the Dawn from a Volcanic Crown

Day 10

Seoul - Depart for Home

Trip Highlights

  • Ascend to a private dinner in a revolving restaurant while suspended above Seoul's glittering skyline
  • Master the serene and meditative art of Korean calligraphy in an exclusive, one-on-one workshop with a veteran master
  • Walk the formidable stone walls of the UNESCO-listed Hwaseong Fortress with a personal historian, uncovering its military and architectural genius
  • Receive a private, specialist-led tour of the Gyeongju National Museum for an intimate viewing of the Silla Kingdom's dazzling gold crowns
  • Dine with Jeju's legendary haenyeo divers in an immersive culinary performance that blends fresh-caught seafood with powerful storytelling
  • Greet the dawn from the volcanic crater of Seongsan Ilchulbong, the "Sunrise Peak," after a privately guided pre-dawn ascent
  • Journey into the Earth's core with a guided exploration of the majestic Manjanggul Lava Tube, a subterranean world of natural artistry
  • Gain exclusive access to a private, traditional hanok home in Bukchon Village for an authentic experience of ancient Korean architecture and lifestyle
  • Explore the tense, silent landscape of the DMZ's Joint Security Area with an expert guide for an understanding of a divided nation

Starting Price

$5,500 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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