Meet South Korea: Exotic, extraordinary and utterly inspiring

In South Korea ancient traditions clash with modern life with a vibrant, buzzy BANG! This place is quite extraordinary, a whole lot less familiar than anything you’ll find in Europe, the US, Australia and the rest of the western world. When bizarre, unforgettable and breathtaking are top of your guided travel menu, Korea delivers in spades. In Part 1 of our South Korea guide, we explore some of the best guided holiday ideas to get your imagination going.

Guided travel in magical South Korea

First, the basics

South Koreans are famously friendly, rightfully proud of their heritage, and their lovely country has a very low crime rate. Travel to South Korea outside of the typhoon season, avoiding June to November, means you’ll enjoy its delights in comfort.

Next, the magic!

This place is rich in history, offering stunning landscapes and a vibrant culture. The colourful hyper-modern cities with their  bustling streets make an adventure in their own right, as do the mountains, UNESCO World Heritage sites, grand palaces, demilitarised zone, varied cuisine and exotic wildlife. Neon-lit Seoul is like something out of a sci-fi movie with its futuristic skyscrapers, decorative temples, and busy markets. The Demilitarised Zone or DMZ offers a hint of the Korean Peninsula’s military challenges, a sobering reminder that human tragedy lurks behind the smiles. The countryside is gorgeous, Seoraksan National Park is outstanding and Gamcheon Culture Village gives you a more intimate feel for the place, for its art and creative culture. There’s so much more, so let’s dive into the detail.

16 Sooth Korean UNESCO World Heritage sites to explore

You could easily base an entire holiday on the country’s UNESCO marvels alone. Together they’ll give you an insight into the country and its heritage. Here’s the full list of South Korea UNESCO World heritage sites:

1. Changdeokgung Palace Complex
2. Jongmyo Shrine
3. Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa Dolmen Sites
4. Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats
5. Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty
6. Namhansanseong
7. Hwaseong Fortress
8. Gyeongju Historic Areas
9. Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes
10. Gaya Tumuli
11. Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple
12. Haeinsa Temple
13. Historic Villages of Korea: Hahoe and Yangdong
14. Sansa, Buddhist Mountain Monasteries in Korea
15. Seowon, Korean Neo-Confucian Academies
16. Baekje Historic Areas

The Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)

The infamous Third Tunnel, Freedom Park, Dorasan Station and Observatory and DMZ Museum welcome you to the stark realities of a country that remains divided. The ironically-named ‘Demilitarized Zone’ is actually heavily militarised, bristling with weaponry and soldiers. It separates North Korea from South Korea, created in 1953 as part of the Korean Armistice Agreement to end the Korean War. Think of it as a bit like the Berlin Wall but much longer, a 148 mile strip of land straddling both countries and following the old World War Two demarcation line.

Fabulous South Korean cuisine

To know a country properly you need to know the food. The nation’s favourite drink is called Soju; clear, colourless and very strong, traditionally made from rice but now made from a variety of other grains. Think vodka and you get the picture. They drink it neat and at anything from 12% to 53% ABV, it comes with a powerful kick. Accompanied by bulgogi, thin, marinated slices of good quality beef grilled on a barbecue or griddle or pan-fried, it gives you a flavour of Korean food to base more Korean culinary adventures on. You might even want to take authentic South Korean cooking lessons then bring the flavours back home.

South Korea guided travel destinations and attractions

Food, history and military might blend with a host of amazing things to see and places to discover. Here are just some of the best places to see and things to do in South Korea.

• See Woljeonggyo Bridge lit up at night on a tour of Gyeongju, the ancient capital of the kingdom of Silla. This coastal city has a reputation for being a museum in its own right, so rich in traditional roots and Korean heritage that there’s something awe inspiring to discover around every corner. You’ll find ruins and remains dating back a thousand years, home to the UNESCO world heritage Bulguksa temple as well as the National Museum stuffed with artefacts. Make sure you see the Anapji pond, the bizarre mounds at Tumuli Park and the Seokguram Grotto.
• Visit Jeju Island for a natural paradise South Korea-style, 85km off the coast and worth every minute of the boat trip. This place has been named one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature for its pristine white sand beaches, verdant pine forests, volcanic craters, lava caves and botanical gardens. Don’t miss Seongsan Sunrise Peak, Halassang National Park, Seopjikoji promontory, Hyeopjae beach, Hamdeok beach, and the dramatic Cheonjiyeon Waterfalls.
• Spend time in lovely Busan, set like a jewel on the country’s beautiful coastline. This is South Korea’s second biggest city and host to Asia’s most important international film festival. Marvel at the uber-modern skyscrapers, fall in love with the majestic mountains, lounge on the fabulous beaches, discover the ancient Buddhist temples and absorb the vibe at leisure on foot. You’ll want to experience the Haedong Yonggungsa temple along the coast, Jagalchi fish market, the many excellent street food stalls, Haeundae Beach, the Sea Life Aquarium, Folk Square, Beomeosa Temple, Gwangalli Beach and the Hurshimchung Hot Springs.
• Find your way to Incheon, whose buzzy blend of contemporary buildings, party lifestyle, famous pop culture and glittering boulevards make it a city to remember.
• Steep yourself in Seoul‘s history, culture, palaces, chic restaurants, National Museum, War Memorial, and Gangnam shopping district, a temple to world-class retail therapy. Visit Changdeokgung Palace and its Secret Garden, Gyeongbokgung Palace, Bukchon Hanok village, Lotte World amusement park and Bukhansan National Park, then make your way to the dizzying top of N Seoul Tower for vast far-reaching views of it all.
• Dadohaehaesang National Park offers a total of 1700 islands and islets, the star of which is Cheongsando island with its stunning landscapes and chilled way of life. The islands of Hongdo and Heuksando are both accessible by boat, wonderfully tranquil. Pyeongchang County is a real hiker’s paradise deep in the Taebaek Mountains 180km from Seoul. Then there’s Odaesan National Park, another great destination for walking with its many trails up the snowy peaks, perfect for cleansing the spirit. You can even ski and go snowboarding here in winter, at Alpensia or Yongpyong. Alternatively seek out the region’s many pretty Buddhist shrines, every one an Instagram winner. Be sure to visit Woljeongsa temple and Pyeongchang Hyanggyo while you’re there.
• A short journey from Seoul, Suwon‘s Hwaseong Fortress comes with brutal stone walls, four huge gates and vast archways, built by the Joseon dynasty, complete with foprbidding artillery towers and military observation decks. Visit the Hwaseong Museum to know more about the fortress. The Hwaseong Haenggung Palace comes with a less-warlike history, and the retail therapy in the city is a real treat. Go to the Samsung Innovation Museum for a spot of modern history. Or, if you love nature more than architecture and tech, head to Gwanggyosan Mountain for unforgettably scenic hiking.
• Go to Seoraksan National Park to lose yourself metaphorically speaking in the Snowy Crag Mountains, admire the mighty Seoraksan range, walk to the Ulsan Rock or take a gondola ride for spectacular views of the whole thing. You won’t be able to miss the giant Buddha statue! Also don’t miss the Baekdam sa Buddhist temple, Gyejo-am hermitage, and the magnificent Yukdam-Pokpo waterfall.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg. We cover more of the magic in Part 2 of our post about guided travel in South Korea. Click here to fall even deeper in love with this remarkable country.

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