Experience this...

See Seoul, old and new  

Seoul rewards curiosity. Its palaces and hanok neighbourhoods give you the historical framework, but the city becomes far more interesting when you start moving between those older layers and the places shaping life now. With a dedicated local guide, you’ll explore Gyeongbokgung Palace, once the principal palace of the Joseon dynasty, before visiting the National Folk Museum for a closer look at traditional Korean life, from clothing and schooling to family rituals. Later, a Korean liquor sommelier introduces five regional drinks inside a beautifully preserved hanok, with time afterwards to wander the narrow lanes of Bukchon.

The following day feels more local. Your guide will take you to some of their favourite corners of the city before an evening built around two of Seoul’s great social rituals: Korean barbecue, shared around the grill with banchan and drinks, followed by a hands-on cocktail experience at one of the city’s newer bars.

A slower side of Korea

The KTX high-speed train east from Seoul marks a noticeable change of pace. Gangneung is known for its pine forests, long beaches, and relaxed coffee culture, and feels like a vital pause after the energy of the capital. Anmok Beach is a good place to slow down and relax, with cafés lining the waterfront and plenty of space for an evening walk by the sea. There’s a strong creative side to the city too. ARTE Museum uses large-scale digital installations to transform entire rooms into shifting landscapes, while Haslla Art World brings together contemporary art, sculpture gardens, and an extensive marionette collection above the East Sea.

Food is another big part of Gangneung’s character. Lunch in Chodang Tofu Village centres on the area’s distinctive seawater tofu, before a visit to a distillery that has been producing soju since 1926 using spring water from the nearby Daegwallyeong mountains.

Journey to the heart of Korean history

Gyeongju feels very different from the Korea you have seen so far. Once the capital of the Silla kingdom, it is often described as a ‘museum without walls’, with royal tombs, Buddhist temples, and archaeological sites woven into the fabric of the modern city. With a local guide, you’ll visit Bulguksa Temple before continuing to the Gyeongju National Museum, where some of the country’s most important treasures include elaborate golden crowns, Buddhist relics, and the vast Bell of King Seongdeok. In the evening, dinner is served in a beautifully converted hanok, with recipes refined and passed down through the same family for 12 generations.

The following day begins at Cheonmachong, one of the royal tombs within the Daereungwon complex, before moving to the more contemplative setting of Sayuwon. This privately created garden brings woodland, contemporary art, and architecture by figures including Álvaro Siza together in a way that feels calm rather than curated.

Busan by the sea

Compared to Seoul, Korea’s second city is more relaxed, more open to the sea, and has the kind of easy confidence that comes from being both a major port and one of the country’s favourite weekend escapes. You’ll start your time here at Haedong Yonggungsa, a rare Buddhist temple built beside the coast in 1376. Here, forested paths lead down towards the complex, where Buddha statues, stone lanterns, and uninterrupted sea views give the visit a very different atmosphere from Korea’s inland temples. Later, a docent-led tour of F1963 introduces another side of the city. The former wire factory has been reworked into a contemporary cultural space, with exhibitions, bamboo gardens, and Hyundai Motorstudio sitting alongside original industrial elements.

Later in the evening, you’ll head to dinner at the Park Hyatt Dining Room, overlooking Busan Bay as the city lights come on. The following day is deliberately left open. You could explore Jagalchi Fish Market and Gamcheon Culture Village, take the Haeundae Beach Train along the coast, spend time around the beach bars and restaurants, or unwind with a few hours at Spa Land. Your local Insider is on hand with suggestions, but the day is very much yours.

The rural south

The final part of the journey moves away from Korea’s better-known cities and into places that rarely feature on a first visit. You’ll head to Hwaeomsa, a sixth-century Buddhist temple set among wooded hills, before continuing to Sunchang to meet master potter Kwon Un-ju. With more than 35 years devoted to ceramics, he combines traditional Korean techniques with more contemporary forms. You’ll get to try the wheel yourself, spend time in his workshop, and sit down for tea afterwards. Next is Gwangju, which adds a very different perspective. The city played a defining role in Korea’s modern democratic history, explored through the May 18 Memorial Park and the historic streets of Yangnim-dong.

From here, the route becomes more rural. In Yeongam, at the foot of Wolchulsan Mountain, master dyer Lee Hye-sook introduces you to traditional indigo techniques using plants grown on site. After lunch in the centre’s hanok café, you’ll continue to Gangjin and Baegunokpancha, Korea’s first tea brand, still run by the Lee family. Making fermented tea, walking through the fields, and drinking it together inside a traditional hanok feels like a fitting way to end this part of the journey.

Suggested itinerary

This 14-day journey is designed to cover a great deal of Korea without making the country feel rushed. Private guiding, selected transfers, and a small group size keep the practical side simple, leaving more room for the places and people themselves.

Days 1–3: Seoul – Enjoy full days exploring Gyeongbokgung Palace, the National Folk Museum, and Bukchon, enhanced by private guiding, regional Korean liquor tasting, Korean barbecue, and a cocktail-making experience.

Days 4–5: Gangneung – Travel by KTX to the east coast for Chodang Tofu Village, ARTE Museum, Haslla Art World, and a historic soju distillery, with two nights at SEAMARQ.

Days 6–7: Gyeongju and Sayuwon – Visit Bulguksa Temple, Gyeongju National Museum, Daereungwon Tomb Complex, and Cheonmachong, before lunch, tea, and live music at Sayuwon Gardens.

Days 8–9: Busan – See Haedong Yonggungsa and F1963, dine overlooking Busan Bay, then have a free day to explore the city at your own pace.

Days 10–12: Korea’s rural south – Visit Hwaeomsa Temple, meet master potters and dyers, explore Gwangju, and spend time with the tea-producing Lee family in Gangjin.

Days 13–14: Seoul – Return to the capital for a Korean spa treatment, dinner at Ryunique, and a final night at Sofitel Ambassador Seoul before your onward journey.