Our favourite South Korea tours and excursions

Mountains, beaches, markets and islands are all well and good (who are we kidding – they're pretty amazing here), but if you’re looking for something that can’t be seen or done anywhere else in the world, Korea’s still the place to be.

We know that local people are key when it comes to delving into an exciting new destination – no off-the-peg walking tours here, only experiences that we’ve tried ourselves and loved to bits.

How does visiting a pristine river island sound? Appealing? We can get you there on a zipline, rather than a bus. Want to visit a Korean temple? We can get you bed and breakfast at one – not just any temple, mind you, but one where the monks will teach you martial arts. Want to take a few steps into North Korea, without the danger of stepping on a landmine? Yep, we can arrange that too.

While some experiences will simply become great memories, what happens in SK doesn’t necessarily need to stay there – try one of our classes and you’ll be able to wow your friends back home with authentic Korean dishes, or even the latest K-pop moves.

Hanbok dress-up

Hundreds of wooden buildings once home to royals, with a wall of mountains in the background: the palace of Gyeongbokgung is a fantastic selfie spot. But why not go the whole hog and dress up in some traditional silken clothing for your photos?

Until recently, hanbok was seen as rather simple when compared to other types of traditional East Asian clothing; neither the fit nor the colours had the beauty of a Vietnamese ao dai or a Japanese kimono. However, Korean designers began to tweak the styles to make them more appealing to modern tastes; nowadays you can’t walk around a Seoul palace without seeing visitors wearing rental versions of these prettier new forms. While more popular with female visitors, there’s plenty of choice for men too, including some terrific hats.

Your two-hour hanbok experience includes dress-up, basic hairstyling, and an English-speaking photographer who’ll pop well over a hundred shots. Just note that Koreans tend to say “kimchi!” instead of “cheese!”

Half day trip to Suwon

The last walled city in Korea, Suwon is perhaps best known as the home of the World Heritage-listed Hwaseong Fortress, the 18th-century stronghold built by King Jeongjo to honour the remains of his father. So where better to kick off a half-day history tour?

As you stroll past bastions and artillery towers, you’ll learn how the fortress was expertly designed to defend the city using the very best of Eastern and Western military architecture. Want to get hands-on? To really get you into the Joseon dynasty mindset (or perhaps even that of a modern-day Olympian), you’ll have the opportunity to try some traditional Korean-style archery while you’re here.

After delving into the political and military history of Korea at Haenggung Palace – which once served as the royal family’s retreat during times of war – it’s out of the past, and back into the present: your tour will wrap up amidst the craft stores, workshops, colourful murals and street food stalls of Haenggungdong Mural Village.

Sculpture of golden hands resting on each other as a Gangnam Style monument in Seoul

K-pop dance class

In Seoul’s trendy Hongdae district, you’ll often find students from the local universities practicing the latest K-pop dances. Any flattish area will seemingly do; all the better, if there’s something reflective to show the moves from a front angle...

Whether you’re destined for superstardom or not, having a go at the moves yourself is great fun, especially if you’ve a Korean hero or heroine to emulate. Here in Hongdae, the birthplace of so many top acts, you will spend an hour and a half in the hands of expert K-pop dancers at a local studio, learning step-by-step choreography to the latest hits. Lose yourself in the music and by the end you’ll be dancing like the stars, with your own certificate and personal music video to remember the occasion. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes... other than that, all you need is a bottle of water and some energy!

Two people cycling along a quiet street in Udo Island

Udo Island cycling tour

Just fifteen minutes by ferry from Jeju Island, Udo is Jeju’s “mini-me”: an extraordinarily picturesque islet where the fields are lined with walls of hand-stacked volcanic rock. Bicycles make a delightful way to get around, since there’s next to no traffic, bar the odd tractor.

Your guide will be able to suggest places to cycle to, though the choice is yours. One fine target is Geommeolle beach, known for its black sand; from here you could leave your bike behind for a while, and take the short hike to Udo’s highest spot for a panoramic view of the surrounding turquoise waters. You’ll also be able to ride to some of the island’s many fishing villages – and perhaps sample some of the peanuts Udo is famed for, in ice cream and rice beer form!

After taking the ferry back to Jeju, you’ll visit Sunrise Peak, a volcanic bluff formed by an underwater eruption 5,000 years ago. Its bowl-shaped crater is a truly spectacular sight –and from up here you’ll be able to wave Udo goodbye, too.

Street food vendor spooning vegetable noodles into takeaway bowl

Evening street food tour of Seoul

While you can enjoy Korea’s tantalisingly spicy cuisine pretty much anywhere these days, there are some foods that are simply best discovered here – most notably barbecues and street food, both of which form part of this exciting evening tour.

Your tour will begin at around 6pm, and the first stop is a local barbecue restaurant. Korea’s take on barbecue consists of meat and veggies marinated with sesame oil, soy sauce and garlic, then cooked on a gas or charcoal grill – often at the centre of your table.

After stopping to try traditional rice cakes, it’s on to the Insta-friendly Gwangjang Market, where locals and tourists alike flock to sample the many varieties of street food on offer. Among the specialities are sundae sausages served with perilla leaves, tteokbokki rice cakes drenched in thick chilli sauce, and mayak gimbap – “narcotic rice rolls”, so-called for their addictive qualities. Once you’ve eaten your fill at the market, your tour will conclude at around 10pm.

Wooden door entrance to traditional Korean Hanok house

Full day guided tour of Seoul

It’s amazing how much you can see on this full-day guided tour, which will reveal the traditional heartbeat still pumping beneath Seoul’s modern facade.

Your first stop will be one of Seoul’s sumptuous palaces. The oldest, Gyeongbokgung, was once the main royal residence of the Joseon Dynasty – like a more pleasant version of Beijing’s Forbidden City, and with a mountain backdrop to boot.

After exploring the palace, you’ll make the short trip to Bukchon, a picturesque district of traditional houses that provides a glimpse of old Korea. Today, many of these hanok have been converted into museums and workshops, including a superb folk art gallery.

Nearby, bustling Insadong’s narrow back alleys are lined with art galleries and teahouses. After the traditional culture on show here, depending on the tour, you’ll either finish up at Myeongdong shopping district, Namsan Tower, or Gwangjang Market, ending a day through which you’ll have seen Seoul from as many angles as possible.