South Korea — escorted trip 2027

TEMPLES, NATURE AND VIBRANT CITY LIFE South Korea is a surprising, vibrant and deeply engaging destination, where ancient traditions and futuristic innovation coexist in unique harmony. From Seoul's royal palaces to mountain temples, from preserved historic villages to ultra-contemporary neon-lit districts, the country offers a remarkable diversity of experiences in Asia. As the journey unfolds, discover its many faces: Seoul's captivating energy, Gyeongju's traditional charm, coastal panoramas and peaceful countryside. WHO IS THIS TRIP FOR? This journey is for anyone wishing to discover an unspoilt destination at the crossroads of traditional culture and modern life. It also suits lovers of culture, gastronomy and immersive experiences, and solo travellers, couples or friends seeking discovery. The pace is moderate and accessible to anyone keen to travel. TRIP OVERVIEW Day 1 - Depart Perpignan, fly from Barcelona Airport via Frankfurt Day 2 - Airport welcome, panoramic tour of Seoul, visit to the National Museum of Korea and the Blue House Day 3 - Visit Gyeongbokgung Palace, the National Folk Museum and Bukchon village Day 4 - Travel to Suwon, visit Hwaseong Fortress, Haengnidan and the Samsung Innovation Museum Day 5 - Visit the Korean DMZ, then Seoul's cable car Day 6 - Travel to Andong, stop at Hahoe village, visit Dosan-Dong Seowon Confucian Academy and Woryeongggyo Bridge Day 7 - Depart for Haiensa Temple, visit and settle in for an overnight temple stay Day 8 - Travel to Gyeongju, visit Bulguksa Temple, Seokguram Grotto, Tumuli Park and Donggung Palace Day 9 - Explore Busan, Haedong Yonggungsa Temple and the fish market, followed by a cruise Day 10 - Train to Seoul, visit the shopping district and DDP Plaza, cooking class and farewell dinner Day 11 - Transfer to Seoul Airport, then fly to Barcelona, arriving late, followed by a transfer to Perpignan

DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY Tuesday 6 April – Perpignan - Barcelona - Frankfurt Depart Perpignan for Barcelona Airport. Take off at 10h20 for Frankfurt, arriving at 12h30. After your connection, depart at 15h35 for Seoul with Lufthansa. Wednesday 7 April – Seoul - Panoramic Tour - National Museum of Korea - Blue House Arrive at Seoul Airport at 9h55, meet your local French-speaking guide and transfer to the city centre. Seoul is Korea's capital, with a history stretching back more than 600 years. It is the country's centre of culture, education, politics and economics. A quarter of Korea's population lives in Seoul. Panoramic city tour and lunch at a local restaurant. Then visit the National Museum of Korea, whose main collection showcases the country's art and history, enriched by archaeological research over the years. Permanent exhibitions include galleries of archaeology, Korean history, fine arts and Asian art. Continue with a walking tour of Cheongwadae, commonly known as the Blue House. This is the official residence of the president of South Korea. Located in Jongno district, it takes its name from its traditional blue tiles, of which there are around 150 000! Head to Myeong-Dong for your first taste of the crowds, amid a concentration of brand-name shops, department stores and small stalls. It is an essential stop for discovering Korean shopping culture. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. Thursday 8 April – Gyeongbokgung Palace - National Folk Museum - Bukchon - Insa Dong After breakfast at the hotel, visit Gyeongbokgung Palace, rich in cultural treasures: its stone walls, roofs and Haetae statues reflect the architectural sophistication of the Joseon dynasty. Gyeonghoeru Pavilion and Hyangwonjeong Pond are considered among Korea's finest examples of their kind. Continue to the National Folk Museum, created as an educational venue where visitors can learn about Korean life from the past to the present. Enjoy a special lunch at Tongin Market. With 75 stalls offering some of the best Korean dishes, you will receive coins and a tray, then choose how to fill your meal tray. Walk through Bukchon Hanok Village, the only neighbourhood in Seoul to have retained its original appearance and kept its traditions alive. It embodies the history and charm of traditional homes. Head to the pedestrian streets of Insa-Dong, the ideal place to explore Korean art and crafts. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. Friday 9 April – Suwon - Hwaeseong Fortress - Haengnidan - Samsung Museum - Korean Folk Village Depart for Suwon, 45km from Seoul, home to one of history's most formidable defensive architectural complexes. Visit UNESCO-listed Hwaeseong Fortress, damaged during the war and subsequently restored. Without sacrificing beauty, Suwon's fortress was designed to meet military needs. Local barbecue lunch. Then visit Haengnidan, a timeless retreat. Traditional hanok houses and contemporary cafés line its lanes, perfect for strolling far from Seoul's bustle. Continue to the Samsung Innovation Museum, tracing the electronics industry's development from early inventions to modern technologies such as semiconductors, mobile phones and screens. Interactive exhibitions make this an entertaining and educational experience. On the outskirts of Suwon, visit the Korean Folk Village, an evocative window onto Korea's past. Time seems to stand still as you explore a village shaped by centuries of history. Return to Seoul, dinner and overnight at the hotel.

DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY Saturday 10 April – DMZ - Seoul Tower Early departure for the Korean DMZ, the last frontier of the Cold War. A buffer zone 4km wide, the DMZ divides the peninsula over 250km, some fifty kilometres north of Seoul and 200km south of Pyongyang. The military demarcation line runs through its centre, following the front line where the ceasefire ended hostilities. The area has been a no man's land for more than 60 years, with minimal human presence, allowing lush forest to cover much of it. Lunch at a local restaurant. On your return, take the cable car to Seoul Tower. The tower has long been a major attraction for its views over the metropolis. Rising on Namsan Mountain, it was often called Asia's tallest tower. Following refurbishment, it was renamed N-Seoul Tower. Dinner in the tower restaurant, then overnight at the hotel. Sunday 11 April – Seoul - Andong - Hahoe - Dosan Dong Seowon After breakfast, travel by coach to Andong, Korea's spiritual and cultural capital. Andong is rich in relics of the Joseon era, including beautiful Confucian academies and rural villages little changed over the centuries. Visit picturesque Hahoe craft village. Andong's most famous attraction, this small hamlet around 30 minutes from the city centre has belonged since the 16th century to the Pungsan Ryu clan, associated with the prime minister during the Imjin War. Lunch at a local restaurant. Head to the Dosan-Dong Seowon Confucian academy, almost the Korean Cambridge of the Joseon era. Founded in 1574 by Yi Hwang's disciples, it is an architectural masterpiece. Also visit Woryeonggyo Bridge and its Woryeongjeong Pavilion, where walkers can enjoy a peaceful moment. After dinner, end the day in convivial style with a tasting of famous Andong soju, Korea's best-known spirit with 45% alcohol. Overnight at the hotel. Monday 12 April – Andong - Haiensa - Temple Stay Head to Haiensa Temple for an experience of life in a Korean temple. Haiensa is one of the country's three major temples, alongside Tongdosa and Songgwangsa. It is known for housing the Tripitaka Koreana, Buddhist scriptures carved onto more than 80 000 wooden blocks. Designated a National Treasure by the government and a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, it is the world's oldest surviving carved scripture collection. Lunch at a local restaurant before arriving at the temple where you will stay. Discover the monks' daily routine, join a reading of Buddhist texts and take part in meditation sessions. Activities also include the 108 bows ritual and lantern-making. On arrival, travellers receive uniforms for the next 24 hours. The temple follows these rules: 14h00 - Settle in; From 14h00 to 17h30 - Compulsory temple tour and activities; From 17h35 to 18h00 - Simple vegetarian dinner; From 18h08 to 18h30 - Recital by the monks; From 18h50 to 19h50 - Tea and discussion with the monks; From 21h30 to midnight - Everyone in bed. Overnight at the temple: men and women stay separately and accommodation is simple, in rooms for 3 or 4 people with shared bathrooms.

DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY Tuesday 13 April – Haiensa - Gyeongju - Busan Monastic rules still apply in the morning: 3h10 to 4h00 - prayers; 6h00 to 6h30 - simple vegetarian breakfast; 9h30 to 10h30 - hands-on activities; 11h00 - tidy rooms; 11h10 to 11h30 - simple vegetarian lunch. After this immersive experience, travel to Gyeongju, one of the country's major visitor destinations. Gyeongju was the capital of the Silla kingdom for almost 1000 years. First, visit Bulguksa Temple, built in 774, then take a short walk to Seokguram Grotto. Created in the eighth century, it houses a monumental statue of Buddha looking towards the sea, surrounded by representations of deities. Continue to Tumuli Park, with 23 tombs of Silla dynasty monarchs. Stop at the oldest observatory in the Far East, Cheomseongdae Tower, built in 634. Then visit Donggung Palace, dating from the late 7th century. King Munmu himself ordered its construction. The site includes an artificial pond with flower-covered hills home to many animals. After the visits, depart for Busan. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. Wednesday 14 April – Busan - Gamcheon After breakfast, explore Busan, South Korea's second-largest city. This vibrant city, where sea meets mountains, combines modern life with authentic character, a relaxed atmosphere, beaches, temples and gastronomy. Begin with Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, one of Korea's few coastal temples. It honours the sea goddess who lives in the depths on the back of a dragon. Then enjoy a ride in the sky capsule beach trams before lunch in the fish market district. In the afternoon, take to the water for a relaxing journey along Busan's coastline. Visit Gamcheon Culture Village, Busan's most colourful village and one of its most iconic places, nicknamed the Korean Machu Picchu. At the end of the day, visit Jagalchi Fish Market, then return to the hotel for dinner and an overnight stay. Thursday 15 April – Busan - Seoul After breakfast, transfer to the station and return to Seoul by train (approximately 2h30). On arrival, your guide will take you to Namdaemun Gate, a national treasure with over 600 years of history. Visit DDP Plaza, which offers one of the capital's most beautiful urban landscapes. For lunch, enjoy an interactive class with a professional local chef, discovering the traditions and techniques of Korean cooking. Naturally, you will eat what you prepare! After lunch, stroll along Seongsu Café Street, where traces of the past meet a new energy among warehouses, bakeries and all kinds of shops. Farewell dinner at Sanchon restaurant, followed by a traditional dance performance and a walk along Cheonggyecheon. Friday 16 April – Seoul - Frankfurt - Barcelona - Perpignan Breakfast at the hotel, then transfer to the airport for check-in. Departure is scheduled for 12h20, arriving in Frankfurt at 18h40. Fly again at 21h00, arriving in Barcelona at 23h05. Return coach transfer from the airport to Perpignan.