Spring comes to Seoul in early April, when cherry trees flower along the streams and around the palace walls. By June and July the city is warm and green, and the markets stay busy late into the evening. Seoul is a place where a royal palace from the 1390s stands a few streets away from glass towers and K-pop shops.

This tour packs a first trip to Korea into three full days. Day 2 is outside the city: Nami Island, the Garden of Morning Calm and the Aurora LED display at the Inspire resort near Incheon. Day 3 is old Seoul, with Gyeongbokgung Palace, the National Folk Museum and the lanes of Bukchon Hanok Village, then Myeongdong and Namdaemun markets. Day 4 is modern Seoul: Starfield Library in COEX Mall, Apgujeong Rodeo Street, K-Star Road, Itaewon and Seoul Central Mosque.

The touring days are long, and there are shopping stops at a red pine shop and a cosmetics shop. The first and last days are mostly travel. In return, flights, hotels, most meals and gratuities are all arranged, so you only need to bring comfortable shoes and some spending money.

Quick facts

Duration: 5 days 4 nights
Route: Incheon, Nami Island, Gapyeong and Seoul
Package type: group tour on fixed departure dates
Flights: included, from KLIA, with airport taxes, checked luggage and meals on board
Hotels: 1 night in Incheon and 2 nights in Seoul
Meals: 2 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 3 dinners
Booking: seats are subject to availability. We confirm with the tour operator and email you once your seats are secured.

Highlights

Nami Island, a river island known for its lines of tall trees
The Garden of Morning Calm in Gapyeong
Gyeongbokgung Palace and Bukchon Hanok Village
Starfield Library, with its 13-metre bookshelves, in COEX Mall
Myeongdong, Namdaemun Market and Cheonggyecheon Stream
Seoul Central Mosque in Itaewon

Itinerary

Day 1: Kuala Lumpur to Incheon

Meet the group at KLIA (Terminal 1 or 2, as advised for your date) for the flight to Incheon.

Meals: on the flight.

Day 2: Nami Island, Garden of Morning Calm and Inspire Aurora

Drive to Chuncheon for Nami Island, a small island in the river known for its tree-lined paths and as a filming location of the Korean drama Winter Sonata. Then visit the Garden of Morning Calm in Gapyeong, a large private garden with themed flower beds across a wooded valley.

In the evening, see the Aurora at the Inspire Entertainment Resort near Incheon Airport, a long indoor street with a giant LED screen across the ceiling. This plan is for March to November. For December to February departures, the day goes to a ski resort instead.

Meals: lunch, dinner. Overnight: Incheon.

Day 3: Palaces and markets of old Seoul

Start at Gwanghwamun Gate, the main gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace. Built in 1395, it is the largest of Seoul's royal palaces. The National Folk Museum, inside the palace grounds, shows how Koreans lived and worked in the past. Then walk through Bukchon Hanok Village, a hillside area of traditional wooden houses. People still live here, so keep your voice low.

Stop at a red pine shop and a cosmetics shop. In the afternoon, shop in Myeongdong and at Namdaemun Market, Seoul's oldest and largest traditional market, then walk along Cheonggyecheon Stream, a restored stream that runs through the city centre.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: Seoul.

Day 4: Modern Seoul and Seoul Central Mosque

Visit Starfield Library inside COEX Mall in Gangnam, famous for its 13-metre-high bookshelves, and walk around the mall. Then go to Apgujeong Rodeo Street, a fashion shopping street, and K-Star Road, where bear statues decorated for K-pop groups stand along the pavement.

In the afternoon, visit Itaewon, Seoul's most international neighbourhood, and Seoul Central Mosque, the first mosque in Korea, opened in 1976. End the day at Haneul Park, a park on a hill above the Han River with wide views of the city.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: Seoul.

Day 5: Incheon to Kuala Lumpur

Transfer to Incheon Airport for your flight home to Kuala Lumpur.

What's included

Return flights from KLIA to Incheon
Airport taxes
Checked luggage
Meals on the flights
Hotels: 1 night in Incheon and 2 nights in Seoul
Meals as listed in the itinerary
Gratuities

Good to know

The tour includes shopping stops at a red pine shop and a cosmetics shop. Buying anything is up to you.
Days 3 and 4 involve a lot of walking around palace grounds and markets. Wear comfortable shoes.
There is a stop at Seoul Central Mosque in Itaewon on Day 4.