South Korea Spotlight

Itinerary

• Day 1: Fly to South Korea

  You’ve got a big travel day (or two) ahead. Don your comfiest airplane clothes, turn up the K-Pop, and get comfy. Then turn down the K-Pop and get some sleep.

• Day 2: Arrive in Seoul

  Welcome to South Korea. On your way to the hotel, take in the sprawling city of Seoul around you. Tomorrow, it’s yours!

  Today's highlights:

  • Meet an EF representative and fellow travelers as they arrive at the airport.
  • Transfer to your hotel to check in and check out your room.
• Day 3: Tour Seoul + optional Korean cooking class + Welcome Dinner

  Fun fact of the day: 20% of South Koreans (nearly 10 million people) live in Seoul. It’s modern, loud, and bursting at the seams with stories to tell. Today, you’ll get to know the place with a local guide.

  Today's highlights:

  • Visit Gyeongbokgung Palace and watch the royal changing of the guards.
  • Feast your eyes on statues and soak up history at Gwanghwamun Square.
  • Walk the narrow, trendy streets of Ikseon-dong.
  • Enjoy a Welcome Dinner with fellow travelers at an authentic local spot.

  Korean cooking class (extra cost)

  Bring an open mind (and mouth) as you learn to cook some classic, mouthwatering South Korean foods.
  
  Why wait? Save money by booking this optional excursion before your trip departs.

• Day 4: Explore Seoul + optional K-Pop dancing class

  Another day in Seoul, another chance to explore more of the city’s 25 distinct districts. Oh, and for the K-Pop fans out there, don’t forget your dancing shoes.

  Today's highlights:

  • Join your Tour Director for a tour of the upscale Gangnam district.
  • Wind through the vibrant, always-bustling Itaewon neighborhood.
  • Hop on a river cruise for scenic city views.

  Free time suggestions

  Seoul Sky: Head to the 123rd floor of Korea’s tallest building, Lotte World Tower, and take in Seoul’s magnitude. Feeling brave? Try the thrilling outdoor bridge walk.

  K-Pop dancing class (extra cost)

  Exactly what it sounds like. Feel the music and dance your heart out to some K-Pop beats.
  
  Why wait? Save money by booking this optional excursion before your trip departs.

• Day 5: Travel to Gyeongju + free afternoon

  Known as a “museum without walls,” Gyeongju is the country’s ancient capital, and it is absolutely brimming with history.

  Today's highlights:

  • Grab a window seat on the bus towards Gyeongju.
  • Tour this ancient city under the moonlight with your Tour Director.
  • Stop at Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond, part of a palace complex constructed in 674 CE during the Silla dynasty.
  • Visit Cheomseongdae, Asia’s oldest surviving astronomical observatory.

  Free time suggestions

  Gyeongju National Park: This national park is more about historical sites and less about beautiful landscapes. Check it out—you won’t be disappointed.

  Gyeongju National Museum: Immerse yourself in the past at this museum dedicated to the culture and history of the Silla Dynasty.

• Day 6: Tour Gyeongju + overnight temple stay

  From 57 BCE to 935 CE, Gyeongju was South Korea’s capital city. That’s nearly 1,000 years of being a v important place. If only there was a local guide who could show you—wait, here they come now!

  Temple stay details: This is true cultural immersion, so get ready to participate in a number of Buddhist practices guided by monks. You’ll wear provided temple clothing, eat vegan meals in silence, partake in group meditations (including 108 prostrations), and wake up at 5am—just like the monks do. Accommodations for temple stays are shared and divided by gender, which means you could share a room with 3–4 UB travelers. Yes, even if you purchase a single room upgrade, you will have roommates. Bathrooms, however, are private.

  Today's highlights:

  • Step into Cheonmachong, an ancient tomb famous for its painting of a white horse.
  • Enjoy an included lunch at a local spot.
  • Spend the night at a Buddhist temple for an unforgettable and immersive cultural experience.
• Day 7: Travel to Busan

  Time to take things coastal—you’re heading to South Korea’s second largest city, Busan. Highlights include (but aren’t limited to) beaches, markets, and street food.

  Today's highlights:

  • Wake up and enjoy the final few hours of your temple stay.
  • Get your last (literal) taste of Gyeongju at an included lunch nearby.
  • Hop on the bus and head to the seaside metropolis of Busan.

  Free time suggestions

  Taejongdae Resort Park: Grab some comfortable walking shoes and check out the many paths of this stunning cliffside park.

• Day 8: Explore Busan

  Do you know what rice wine is? Okay, but do you really know what it is? Well you’re about to! Then, celebrate this newfound knowledge with some beach exploring.

  Today's highlights:

  • Learn to make makgeolli, traditional Korean rice wine.
  • Have lunch at a local restaurant with your group.
  • Visit the serene Haedong Yonggung Temple, situated on the shoreline.
  • Spend a few hours roaming the beaches of the Haeundae district.
• Day 9: Tour Gamcheon Village + Jagalchi Seafood Market

  It’s your lucky day, traveler. You get to see what people refer to as the “Machu Picchu of Busan.” We’ll let your imagination run wild with that one for a bit.

  Today's highlights:

  • Visit the pastel-colored Gamcheon Village and learn about its fascinating history.
  • Follow your Tour Director through Jagalchi Market and sample the freshest seafood of your life.

  Free time suggestions

  Beaches: You’re on the coast, which means there are plenty of beaches to explore. Grab a swimsuit, a towel, and put your feet in the sand.

  Hit the shops: Whether you’re looking to get in some steps at the mall or wander more markets, Busan’s got what you need.

• Day 10: Travel to Seoul + Farewell Dinner

  Later, beautiful coastline. For your last full day in South Korea, you’re heading back to where it all began in Seoul.

  Today's highlights:

  • Travel by train to Seoul.
  • Share some laughs (and maybe shed a few tears) at an included Farewell Dinner with your group.
• Day 11–12: Fly home

  Annyeong, chingudeul!
  Translation: Goodbye, friends! Your next destination awaits—home. But this isn’t goodbye. It’s “See you later.” The only question is, where?

  Please note that return flights from Asia are long, and that depending on your flight itinerary, you could land in your home airport on either Day 11 or Day 12.