South Korea travel guide

Our South Korea travel guide is packed full of highlights to help you make the most of your time including a rather handy map that points out our top recommendations from the cultural contrasts of Seoul to South Korea’s tallest peak, Hallasan, on Jeju Island. Join a small group and sign up for an exciting adventure into a weird and wonderful world where nothing is quite as it seems.

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SOUTH KOREA TRAVEL GUIDE

It’s the little touches that set South Korea apart from more popular destinations in Asia, and as you check out our South Korea travel guide you’ll discover a country offering much more than K-pop and kimchi. (Although those are excellent reasons to visit.) After occupation and war, South Korea has had its fair share of turmoil, but therein lies its character, as this is a nation that’s been knocked down and got back up again to create a contemporary, independent sovereign state bursting with civic pride.

Leave Gangnam Style and the North to politicians as you seek out a side to South Korea that's starting to be glimpsed by a global audience.

Set your sights on the bright lights of Seoul; join Buddhist monks for early morning prostrations; fly to the volcanic island of Jeju; stroll under cherry blossom in Seoraksan National Park; whatever you do, find the space to let South Korea reveal itself in its own time and pay no attention to those pushing for speedier resolutions.

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South Korea is...

the epitome of the motto: Keep Calm and Carry On.

South Korea isn't...

Japan, although it does make for a much more affordable alternative.

Things to do in South Korea

Spend a night in a temple. Slip into temple attire and spend a night in Haeinsa Temple, deep within the gorgeous Gaya Mountains. Sleeping conditions are basic, yet comfortable, with same sex dorms and shared facilities adding to the communal element of life in one of Korea's oldest temples. Silence is to be observed during meals as well as walking single file. You'll also have the option to rise with the sun and join monks for morning prostrations at 3am. Don't forget to set your alarm… Japanese occupation, ideological differences and political corruption have formed the fiercely independent nation that you'll find today, and learning about folk traditions in Andong Hahoe Village or the tragic history of the Korean War at the UN War Cemetery will go some way to helping you uncover the history of South Korea. Follow the independence trail in Seoul's Tapgol Park or step back further into the past at the Joseon Dynasty's Gyeongbokgung Palace or Cheongwadae Museum. On a small group holiday, orientation tours, 24/7 contact cards and domestic flight check in details all ensure you make the most of your time in South Korea – with free time factored in to explore, too. Local guides are a mine of information with advice on everything from which raw fish to try, and which to avoid, to updates on the DMZ and local politics.

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Things not to do in South Korea...

Although it’s possible to get close to the observation points at Panmunjom as part of an organised tour, be aware that trips can get cancelled at a moment's notice so don't set your sights on the North without checking the most up-to-date info first. If you do get a chance to see what's on the other side, it's actually quite remarkable as this was once the location for an amazing railway station to provide a link from China to Europe via Korea. A real shame it never came to fruition. Forget your selfie stick. South Korea is one of those countries where selfie sticks don't actually look out of place, so if you want to join the hip and trendy youngsters doing the 'mobot' or photographing themselves frolicking in fields of yellow rapeseed (apparently this is an actual thing; Theresa May take note) then wield your extension with pride as you forget inhibitions and go with the flow. Stick solely to South Korea. Much of what you’ll discover in South Korea stems from Japanese influence although you’ll be well advised to keep such observations tucked safely in the sleeves of your jungchimak. If you really want to compare raw fish dishes, blossom-covered pagodas and philosophical or political outlooks, Osaka is less than a two-hour flight away with the delights of Kyoto, Nara, Mount Fuji and Tokyo all easily achievable as part of a two-week, bi-country tour.

South Korea travel guide