South Korea Essentials: History, Flavors & Scenery

South Korea Essentials: History, Flavors & Scenery takes you on a perfect ten-day journey from the dynamic streets of Seoul to Busan’s sun-drenched shores and Jeju’s volcanic wonders. Delve into millennia of heritage at palaces and temples, savor mouthwatering street food and fine cuisine, and unwind amid stunning coastal vistas. This curated tour blends cultural discovery, culinary delights, and breathtaking landscapes for an unforgettable Korean experience.

Tour highlights

  • Explore Seoul’s modern icons: Gangnam, Cheong Wa Dae, and N Seoul Tower.
  • Thrill at Lotte World Adventure, the world’s largest indoor theme park.
  • Wander Busan’s Gamcheon Culture Village and Haedong Yonggungsa Temple.
  • Discover Jeju’s Manjanggul Lava Tube, Seongsan “Sunrise” Peak, and beachfront resort relaxation.

  • 1

    Unwind this evening in your hotel’s elegant lounge or atop the rooftop bar with skyline views of Seoul. If you’re feeling adventurous, step out to nearby Insadong to browse traditional tea houses and artisanal craft shops. For a cultural pick-me-up, join an evening calligraphy workshop or sample street-food favorites at a late-night pojangmacha stall.

  • 2

    After your city tour, dine in a hanok-style restaurant where low tables and paper lanterns set the mood. If you still have energy, explore Itaewon’s nightlife-pop into a hidden speakeasy for craft soju cocktails or catch a live jazz performance in a cozy underground club. End the night with a stroll along the Cheonggyecheon Stream, where softly lit walkways bring the city to life after dark.

  • 3

    Return to your hotel’s spa or heated pool for a soothing massage and sauna session to ease any theme-park thrills. Alternatively, head to a nearby noraebang (karaoke room) and sing your favorite K-pop hits with your guide’s top song suggestions. If you’d rather keep moving, wander through the adjacent Olympic Park, where evening light installations create a magical atmosphere.

  • 4

    Spend your first evening in Busan strolling the Haeundae beachfront boardwalk at sunset, with cool sea breezes and street musicians. For a taste of local life, drop by a pojangmacha tent to sample spicy tteokbokki and sip on tangy makgeolli (rice wine). If you’re up for it, join a casual beach volleyball game or catch a seaside drum-circle performance.

  • 5

    After your temple and village visits, return to your hotel to enjoy its seaside infinity pool and ocean-view lounge. Alternatively, head to Gwangalli Beach to watch the Gwangan Bridge light show and sip on fresh citrus juices from a beachfront café. For a late-night treat, explore the Millak Raw Fish Town stalls, where chefs prepare your catch of the day on the spot.

  • 6

    Take it easy at a harbor-side café, sampling Busan’s famous milmyeon (wheat noodles) while watching fishing boats drift by. Or treat yourself to a rejuvenating jjimjilbang (Korean bathhouse) experience-soak in hot pools, relax in saunas, and try local body scrubs. If you’re curious for more adventure, hop on the Beach Train again or book a tranquil sunset cruise around the port.

  • 7

    Settle into your Jeju resort and savor a welcome drink-perhaps a citrus-infused cocktail made with local hallabong tangerines—while lounging by the pool. Otherwise, wander through Dongmun Night Market, tasting black-pork barbecue skewers and homemade tangerine jam. For a cultural bonus, catch a spontaneous street performance or browse stalls selling Jeju’s famed volcanic-stone crafts.

  • 8

    After your volcano and crater hikes, return to your ocean-view villa for a glass of chilled soju as you watch the sun dip below the horizon. If you’d rather explore, visit a nearby tangerine orchard to pick fruit and learn the art of homemade marmalade from local farmers. For something whimsical, head to a seaside tea house perched on lava rock, where you can sip green-tea lattes with panoramic sea views.

  • 9

    Enjoy a full-day spa treatment at your resort-opt for a Jeju-inspired seaweed wrap or volcanic-ash scrub to refresh your skin. If you prefer to get out, explore the Chocolate Museum to craft your own confections, then wander the Teddy Bear Museum’s charming dioramas. As evening falls, stroll the quiet beach for bioluminescent plankton sightings or relax in a beach-side café with live acoustic music.

  • 10

    Enjoy a leisurely breakfast with panoramic views before your morning flight back to Seoul. Once there, spend any remaining hours browsing Myeongdong’s boutiques for K-beauty gems and artisanal souvenirs. If time allows, indulge in a final street-food crawl through Namdaemun Market or join a pop-up Korean cooking demo to take home a taste of Seoul.

What our clients say about us

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Peter

20 March 2025 ★★★★★

We had a wonderful 12-day trip across Thailand, beautifully arranged by Mr. Stephen from Absolute Asia. Every detail was taken care of, from comfortable stays to fully organized vegetarian meals throughout the journey. Our itinerary covered Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, then we spent five blissful days in Koh Samui. There, we relaxed on palm-fringed beaches, explored Ang Thong Marine Park by boat, and savored fresh tropical fruits at sunset. A big shoutout to our lovely guide, Mr Krit who made the experience even more special with him warmth and knowledge. We’re heading home with unforgettable memories of Thailand’s hospitality and charm. Thank you, Absolute Asia Tours.

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Gari

22 May 2024 ★★★★★

Our recent trip to China and Mongolia was a great success. Overall we found Absolute Asia Tours services to be excellent throughout the two weeks we were in Asia. For us, Mongolia was definitely the highlight. We thoroughly enjoyed or local guides and drives and they were unfailingly knowledgeable, helpful and amusing. Their languages skills were excellent and we felt that we recieved real insight into this fascinating country. We were intinially drawn to the idea of this trip by the reports of the world class fihing and we were absolutely not disappointed. The fishing guide was first rate and we caught more fish than we could have hoped for - more than 25 each day - with the added bonus of being the only other people in sight for miles arround. AAT created a private ger camp for us on the Onon River and we enjoyed delicious food prepared by our chef in a beautiful unspoled atmosphere. They alo arranged for us to visit a nomadic family and spend time with them at home and organized a dinner with an anthropologist with expert knowledge of the region. AAT fullfilled their promise to tkae us to us to one of the world's best fishing destinations in comfort and style. We would be happy to travel with AAT again and will definitely recommend them to our friends.

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Cherry

16 May 2024 ★★★★★

We've had two "A+" experience with Absolute Asia Tours. It is a pleasure to work with an organization where I feel confident that what you say will happen, happens. This was true with our complicated China itinerary six years ago, and was true with our recent itinerary in Vietnam. your on the ground guides and logistics were top - notch, and I would recommend you to anyone to visit Asia.

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James

17 January 2024 ★★★★★

Absolute Asia tours gave us a wonderful tour of Southeast Asia (working with sister-agency My Way Travel based in Vietnam). For our Siem Reap/Angkor Wat journey, our party of two had a private driver and guide named Jak, who was a cheerful and knowledgeable companion, explaining the history, culture, architecture and religious significance of the sites while keeping it always fun. We moved efficiently from site to site, and finished with a boat tour of the fishing village on stilts at Kampong Pluk on the Tonle Sap Lake. During most of our trip we stayed at top-notch locally-owned hotels, but in Siem Reap we were at the excellent local Hyatt hotel. Absolute Asia and My Way Travel our outstanding local providers, less expensive than name-brand group tours, and customized to our interests and schedule.

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Hope

2 January 2024 ★★★★★

We had an awesome time on cycling tour with AAT! It was incredible, filled with good vibes, laughs & a fantastic way to explore Vietnam & Cambodia. Tony our guide made it special by introducing us to locals and showing us the real charm of these countries. The whole tour was well-organized & the way they took care of us awesome. It's an unforgettable trip and I'll definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to experience the beauty of Southeast Asia.

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Nas

1 January 2024 ★★★★★

My group of six completed a 30 day cycling tour in Asia with AAT. We traveled form Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket & Saigon to Siem Reap. Every day we pedaled through stunning countryside views, passing villages, fields & limestone karsts. Our guide Tony was fantastic-interesting, friendly & personable. This experience stood out as the highlight of our Asia trip.

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